A popular Torfaen blues night celebrates its 20th anniversary this weekend with lower-priced entry tickets to thank “all the people who’ve supported” them over the years.
The Borough Blues Club began a monthly night in New Panteg RFC in 2005. It was an idea from Steve Rees, who was a regular at a jazz night in Griffithstown Social Club.
John Oliver, the club’s treasurer and band booker, told me Steve, who has passed away, saw the success of the jazz club and felt it could work for blues.
John said: “It was started by a couple of guys from Pontypool who decided they’d try and set up a club where local blues bands could play.
“The original were Dave Lewis, Adrian Powell, and John Dixon [and Steve Rees]. There were various others. They were the main people.
“They opened in Panteg and it was an absolute success with people handing out the doors.
“It was rammed.
‘Bigger and better’
“It got bigger and better to the point where we started getting bands from all over the UK, really good quality blues bands.”
The club moved its home to Cwmbran RFC “about eight years ago”.
They hold a blues night on the first Saturday of every month, booking bands to appear on stage.
20 years of the Borough Blues Club
John said: “We’ve come to 20 years this month, this Saturday. We’re a not-for-profit organisation. We simply consider ourselves to be putting on live music for the community of Cwmbran and the surrounding area.
“It’s run by committed people, all volunteers. They make every effort to make it a successful night.”
The next gig is on Saturday 6 September at 7.30pm in Cwmbran RFC.
John said: “We’re going local on this one, a band from Cardiff called The Fugitives, a very good band. We’ve got a celebration cake, and because of the support we’ve had, we’ve reduced the admission.
“It’s a thank you to all the people who’ve supported us.”
The chair of the Borough Blues Club is John Dixon. The committee consists of six dedicated volunteers.