Sometimes you go to a gig expecting a great time and are severly dissappointed. Other times everything gels and you have the best evening ever. Being honest I hadn't seen Bex Marshall before or even have her on my radar. Steve Lockwood I have seen a couple of times and was thrilled to be seeing him again.

The nights entertainment started with Steve Lockwood doing a harmonica workshop. His guitarist couldn't be with him and so Steve opted to do the workshop instead. Aside from this being a novel way to support, this was an opportunity to learn first hand just how skilled he was. In a few short moments we were accompanying the Stones and the Beatles... albeit with 5 notes between us, with the very real possibility of several of us passing out due to lack of oxygen! In between teaching us mere mortals he played a couple of songs which proved just why he was at the top of his game. A lot of people left this evening with harps in their pockets who will no doubt pop to his site to look at learning more.

As soon as Steve finished, Bex came on. A lively rocker romped through her set, working her red stringed guitar to within an inch of its life. Within a few songs Steve was on stage with her and from that point rarely left supporting her 'blind' through many of her tunes. Again his consumate professionalism and skill was clear for all to see as he played along with Bex even to songs he didnt know.

Old favourites like Laydown Sally, Purple Haze and Rooster were given Bex's own flavour. She has obviously learnt her trade listening to Clapton, Hendrix Cale etc. The twang of 60/70's heavy blues was woven in each tune in a delicate way. Well travelled she is an entertaining raconter mixing her songs with the stories and observations from life. She mixed blues, roots, americana and rock into a pounding evenings entertainment. Encore? What encore... she never stopped once on the stage.

And so yes this turned in to one of those wow gigs. The synergy between Bex and Steve was tangible as they played off each other and were clearly enjoying themselves hugely. At one point Steve turned to Bex and said.."we must make an album...". There were 90 people in that room that hope this happens.

Sometimes simple things in life are the best. In this case one woman with a guitar, a Fender amp and one mean harp player accompanying were as close to perfection as you could get.