Reporter: Tony Sheldon
Date online: 12/06/2008

Always popular visitors to Castleton, Jim Wilkes Stompers had a little opposition from the summer heatwave, but a fair attendance welcomed his mixture of humour and popular numbers.

Arriving as if he had just walked the Pennine Way, his trumpet play was far more 'legciting'! Perhaps the intro number of 'Weary Blues' was trying to tell us something. A long first set featured Terry Arnold's trombone and Brian Herbet's guitar and vocals. But it is always a delight to listen to the solos of reedsman Paul Broomhead who excelled with clarinet in 'Girl of my Dreams' and saxophone in 'Trouble in Mind' interspersing with vocals as well!

After a liquid cooling off the band went straight into 'Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight'. Wilkes used his vocal chords to good effect in 'Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams', 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' and inviting audience participation in the crazy 'Jumpin' the Line'. Herbet completed his rendition of 'Little Ol' Wine Drinker Me' despite the front line interruptions, Arnold reminded us of the old Pasadena number 'Me and Jane in a Plane', whilst guest bassman Gerry Clayton featured 'Big Noise from Winetka' backed by guitar and Howard Maud on drums - but the highlight was the superb clarinet of Broomhead with the powerful 'St Philip Street Breakdown'.

There wasn't much time for a third set after 'Strike Up the Band' but they still managed a New Orleans funeral ('Free as a Bird' and 'Didn't He Ramble') and a 'Jolson Medley' before their usual farewell number 'Lovely Way to Spend an Evening'.

Jim Wilkes Stompers
10 August 2003