HAVING just completed the biggest tour to date, blues rocker Rebecca Downes might be looking forward to a well earned rest.
Instead, accompanied by her highly accomplished four piece band, she is heading to Teesdale to headline Mickleton Live on Saturday, March 17, having impressed one and all when she first appeared at the club about 18 months or so ago.
She says it was the reception she received from the Mickleton audience that meant she signed up for a return visit without hesitation.
“There was a great crowd and we enjoyed it – that’s why we are coming back,” she says.
“People were really receptive to us. Not everyone knew about us but they were there to have a night.”
The singer-songwriter, who hails from the Black Country, has spent much of the past few weeks touring the country opening for veteran rockers Magnum, whose chart topping heyday may have been about 30 years ago, but who continue to record, tour and draw a sizeable audience.
While Ms Downes is used to performing in front of festival crowds and has been the support act on other tours, this has been a step up – and it couldn’t have gone any better.
The tour drew to a close with dates in Southampton and Brighton earlier this week (a snowed-off gig in Birmingham has been rearranged for next month).
“We have been playing to 400-800 people a night in bigger venues than I am used to,” she says.
“The Magnum fans have blown me away with their love and warmth, not just accepting us but really loving the music.
“You never know what you are going to get when you are the support, but they have been researching us before they come to the show and have come out to see us rather than stay in the bar.”
After the first couple of dates, word spread through a Magnum fan group on social media that the support band was not to be missed.
“I was so nervous before the first gig,” she says.
“I was praying that they would like us and that we would not mess up – and it turned out great.
“The crowd cheered us and screamed us off. You never quite get comfortable with being the support band but since that first one, the reception has been the same – the fans have been incredible.”
Her set has been based around her most recent releases, the critically acclaimed studio album Believe and last year’s live set BeLive.
At Mickleton, in among these favourites will be a couple of new tracks.
“We have got a new album pretty much all ready to go, it just needs to be mixed.
“It will probably be out in the early autumn – the single has already been chosen and the video has been made.
“So we’ll play a couple of new songs – we hope people will enjoy them.”
Tickets for Rebecca Downes at Mickleton Live are £12 in advance or £14 on the door at the village hall. Doors open at 8pm. For more details and to book, go to www.mickleton live.uk and follow the link to events. For more details on Rebecca Downes go to rebec cadownes.com.
