REVIEW: Cream’d

Huntingdon Commemoration Hall ROCKINBEERFEST s series of fundraising shows at the Commemoration Hall in Huntingdon got off to a fantastic start on Friday, October 27. Real ale and real music were the order of the day with a big crowd enjoying both. Band f

Huntingdon Commemoration Hall

ROCKINBEERFEST's series of fundraising shows at the Commemoration Hall in Huntingdon got off to a fantastic start on Friday, October 27.

Real ale and real music were the order of the day with a big crowd enjoying both. Band founder Ray Minhinnett is an exceptional guitarist and truly submerges himself in the intricacies and style of Eric Clapton's playing. I'm not a fan of fret-gymnastics on the guitar - it shouldn't simply be a workout for the fingers or a feat of dexterity.

As I believe is the case with Clapton - the music's first - the sound, the tone, the feeling and Ray understands and replicates all of these wonderfully.

Ray has previously described the band as an appreciation rather than a tribute and I think that is very noticeable and in their favour. There is no attempt to replicate Cream's appearance and they are never role-playing. They are simply three great musicians playing the songs of a band they clearly love.

The next Rockinbeerfest night at the Commemoration Hall sees La Vida Santana on November 25.

See www.rockinbeerfest.co.uk

CHRIS BOLAND