Review of

The Blues Collective

New Years Eve 2003

 What a wonderful way to see in the new year! For many people New Years Eve is a time to reminisce and think about the past whilst waiting for the new year in hope and anticipation. It can be quite an emotional time. For me nothing could compare to once again being able to relive the feeling, emotion and sensation of seeing “The Blues Collective” live once more!

 For many years during the 80’s and early 90’s The Blues Collective were a Milton Keynes institution drawing in sell-out crowds wherever they played. New Years Eve 2003 was no exception. The Woughton Centre was packed out to the rafters. Some first timers and Blues Brothers look alikes, but mostly old friends from times gone by.

 Ok so the people were a bit older, we all were! But the music was still the same, exactly how I remember it. An infectious and mesmerising cocktail of Blues and Ska with a wicked wry smile and a twist of good time fun.

 This was no cut-down pale imitation of a show from long past but rather a rocking 21^st century show that took no prisoners. The “Blues Collective” are a band that demand attention.

Everyone was there all 16 members (or was it 18?). With Messrs. Scriven and Dee on vocals, Animal on drums, Caz and Lorna on backing vocals and the whole brass, keyboard and guitar section driving the show this was a gig that had everyone shaking their booty and singing along to every tune. I know cause I was one of them and in true ageing body style had a few sore and aching limbs the next day to prove it! Well worth it!

 “No great band ever dies” so the saying goes, “their music lives on” and so does the Blues Collective, in a show that put simply was the gig of the year!

 In a time of live music venues closing thick and fast around the country, how splendid it was to go once more and support the band that for many was not only the soundtrack to their youth but also perhaps that of the young and growing Milton Keynes!

 No one could ask for a better one-off mega gig. I only hope that this will be one of many one-off mega gigs to come for The Blues Collective.  At the end of the night with the songs still ringing in my ears from an amazing sound system I could not help feel that, we need you….you….you!