Thursday 3 August 2017

Mike Whellans, George Square Piccolo, Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival

The Singing Pipecleaner, as he's known in Germany.  Whippet thin Whellans is a Scottish folk and blues legend, and deservedly so for you won't see another one man band like him.  Right foot controlling the bass drum, left the hi-hat, hands on his guitar and the mouth alternating between harmonica and vocals.  For a man who says he's basically a drummer he's a more than competent guitarist and one of the best blues harmonisicists.  Also one of the more eccentric.

Now well into his seventies, Mike has a deep fund of anecdotes and great comic timing.  Not only does he chat to his audience, but he trusts them too, to join in at the right moments.  The basic diet of blues standards broken up a bit of Gaelic singing, some Scottish folk songs, comic songs, and his unique and awesome mouth percussion technique.

Long may he continue.  Whellans is a man you should make the effort to see at least once.

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