REVIEW BY AGG.

JUST when the dust was settling from the opening event for 2012 by the legendary Zombies, and the festival was moving into erudite lectures on careers, histories, poetry and prose etc., producing the effect of sweet and satisfied smiles on the faces of the paying guests, some sweet distant thunder was about to flood the town with the excitement, joy and raw passion of the Ruby Turner experience.

Let those who were abed on this glorious night live long to regret it; SHE WAS A BLAST!

Stomping through upbeat, uplifting spirituals to downright “tell it like it is” Blues she left an indelible mark on the audience who left the Mercure Hotel still wanting more.

She was in touch with the audience from the first bar of her opening number to the encore, closing the show with that extra treat that left everyone feeling that a return visit next year is a must.

Her renditions of her own material and traditional spirituals opened the show, her voice paying homage to Mahalia Jackson and early black church pioneers whose message will live forever in Ruby Turner.

The second half developed the more secular side of her talent from wonderful rocking tunes to the Etta James classic “I would rather go blind” leaving some of the audience ,and I suspect herself, in tears.

The joyful finale that followed, with the introduction and outright praise of her band who had an opportunity to shine, was the perfect way to round off a truly wonderful show.