Tom Attah - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2012
For some obviously colourful reasons, The Hat enjoys the jokes that the charismatic Tom Attah tells as part of his relaxed rapport with the audience. However, the fall-about patter does nothing to stop you from being totally aware that this is a seriously accomplished guitarist who understands the meaning, history and styles of blues playing and delivers them to you in an articulate and intelligent way.
He is not above riffing off into tales of Leeds, acting and burlesque and his number on nice Lucy the dancer otherwise known as Bam-Bam brought the house down - and yet the next minute he wheels out Son House and Howlin', the audience silences and we know we are listening to a proper bluesman. Top drawer.
