2023-08-15 00:31:45
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bg_Bild_10_150823_4c © Stephan Lutz
Florstadt (SL). Record number of visitors at the 20th charity blues event in Staden: Mayor Herbert Unger (SPD) welcomed more than 1400 guests on Saturday evening in front of Löw’sches Schloss. The »Florstadt kulturell« program traditionally starts the second half of the year with »Blue(s) instead of brown«.
The event, which used to be called “Blues in the Park”, has been organized in close cooperation with “BuntErLeben” for several years. Admission is free, but donations for a good cause are welcome. The Mayer Band and The Ian Browne Band entertained the audience for more than four hours.
Exciting home game
The omens were good despite a rain shower in the afternoon. As always, joker music ensured a perfect sound and light system, the park was illuminated with fairy lights and individual trees were illuminated in bright colors. Mayor Herbert Unger – for the idea generator of the blues event, it was the last appearance as Florstadt mayor and host – took the opportunity to present all three candidates for the mayoral election in March 2024 and to promote a good turnout.
Cultural Officer Karola Backes-Richter asked for donations for the partnership association. Its chairman, Silke Zettl, wanted active and financial support, because the association not only organizes meetings with the twin towns, but is also looking for private accommodation (see info).
In the first part of the evening, the “Mayer Band” with Sebastian Mayer-Ray (vocals and guitar), Heinz Bolender (bass) and Tobias Jacobi (drums), who replaced Marco Bach, who had an injured arm, created a wonderful atmosphere. According to the motto »less is more«, three instruments are enough for the band. The trio impressed with a broad repertoire that included pieces by blues legends such as John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. All three are only too happy to convey the special attitude to life of the blues, which is expressed through the melodies and lyrics.
The band has about ten performances a year. When she performs, she does so with full vigor and lots of emotions. For Sebastian Mayer-Ray from Staden it was “the absolute greatest thing to play here in the immediate vicinity of my house”. But he also admitted “that it was extremely exciting and exhausting” because the whole family, the neighbors and half the hometown were watching him. Mayer-Ray has always been a Hendrix fan and loves the blues. Although he has already written his own pieces, the band did not perform any of them in Staden. “Perhaps we can afford that if we are allowed to play as the main act here on stage again at some point,” said Sebastian Mayer-Ray after the successful performance. He had been asked spontaneously by the head of the town hall, Unger, and had agreed just as spontaneously.
Absolute gaming mood
»The Ian Browne Band«, whose members come from Wetterau and the Hanau area, then impressed with massive blues rock. Ian Browne heated things up as singer and solo guitarist, his son Jason (guitar and vocals) as well as keyboarder Peter Hensel, bassist Sascha Foltz and drummer Stefan Krämer provided melody and rhythm, the horns Christian Felke, Paul Lanzerath and Volkmar Habermann provided intensive brass -Sound.
Ballads by Eric Clapton and Joe Cocker alternated with more rocking blues works by BB King or ZZ Top. The band was in a great mood to play, although or perhaps because they had already played a show in Hanau that afternoon. Most of the visitors agreed: »This band was not in Staden for the last time.«
#Visitor #record #Stadener #Park