The Old Bush Blues Festival
The Old Bush, Callow End, Worcestershire
21st – 23rd August 2026
Indeed, only the truly callow would believe the Old Bush Blues festival, in Callow End Worcestershire, is like any other music festival but if you are determined to compare and contrast…
Across two venues and three stages, the micro festival’s mission statement is to provide a memorable weekend of eclectic, loosely blues focused performers. Tick.
It is obvious OBB know their audience. Moreover, it is easy to know a little about the OBB audience. No need to discuss joints, ailments or medication. You simply had to check out the t-shirts on display…Captain Scarlet gave way to a tribute to Top Cat and the Wacky Racers legend t-shirt raised a snicker of familiarity.
Clearly, many were familiar with Hollie Rogers in the replete Garden stage. Readily embracing her brand of “country-tinged” vocals and genuine band, the assembled were in the mood for an audience with Hollie Rogers. Aware and socially conscious… “it doesn’t matter if you have small TV or a crap car”…Rogers songs contained intelligent and witty lyrics. And you can’t help but feel Dolly would have approved. Hollie Rogers hair seemed to reflect the late afternoon sun as the singer-songwriter worked the room.
No one worked harder than the pocket-sized, glass-collectors over the weekend!
Contrastingly, unlike some festivals OBB do not escalate their onsite prices for the three day event. Pleasingly, a round in the Callow End Social Club – the acoustic venue – gave change from a tenner!
In the social club The Rainsford Brothers hats filled the stage, the audience filled every corner of the room and their harmonious melodies filled the dedicated space. Offering “heartfelt original songs” and “singalong covers” on their acoustic guitars, the siblings – co-joined by music – cemented their already growing reputation. Their version of Country road would surely have ignited the Stretford End? The vulnerable Connor Selby proffered a blues tutorial infused with tales from the greats of the genre. The home-grown “All out of Luck,” impressed with the acoustic fret work and the singer’s voice. The standard “Making Whoopee,” notable for all that that the blues can offer was a pleasing addition to Selby’s set on the day. In so many ways the set was an education.
In contrast, the robust pub-blues of the Vincent Flatts Final Drive had the Fothers stage rocking & rolling like a 2CV bouncing across a ploughed field. The barrack-room humour, aided and abetted with back-pocket whisky, satisfied a crowd who knew the VFFD like an old friend. The muscular blues-rock of the Jon Amor Trio ram-raided theFothers stage and proved why this triumvirate of musicians are respected and admired. For me the pink telecaster was a symbol of both defiance and musical freedom. How many blues opuses are there dedicated to Devizes I wonder? Five Point Gang worked the stage nearly as hard as the invaluable glass-collectors. The guitarist’s physical rock shapes mirrored convoluted chord shapes and the bare chested bassist – after just three songs – underlined the band’s determination to prove a bloody point; FPG can make a greater impact on a festival than a rapacious “street vendor” at a corporate festival charging £15 for a burger.
Another late70s t-shirt depicting the Muppet show sashayed around the festival…
On the balmy Saturday evening, we thoroughly enjoyed our savouries – from the onsite delicatessen – all for a reasonable price and, of course, we had no recourse to take to Trip-advisor. The intimate nature of the OBB festival allows for an amiable time and the humour of the garrulous Welsh group we sat with – fleetingly captured the weekend. Even the onsite security seemed to revel in the festival’s easy-going charm.
Once he had been coaxed out onto the stage, the ever bashful James Olive Band ensured the Sunday service was going to be memorable. Memorably, some of the audience were attired in summery straw hats, flamboyant earrings, colourful dresses and fluorescent wigs and this was just the men – Mr. Kemlo please give me a ba-dum-tish. JOB at OBB was an abbreviation for high-octane rock & rolling blues that saw the band and the assembled enjoy a sun-drenched gig laced with laughter. Even the “one slow one” did not spoil the mood. When the band is on this kind of form there is no comparison…
The Peanuts cartoon inspired shirt worn at the festival symbolised so much. Furthermore, the back shot of Charlie Brown and Snoopy looking into the near-distance, seemingly to make sense of all they surveyed, suggested a reflective mood. Only the naive would believe the country isn’t unhappy and broken but “Good-grief Charlie Brown, what a bloody great festival!
By: The Swilgate Scuttler