News

"Yet for many the 2009 festival will be remembered for the long-awaited Cropredy appearance of Steve Winwood, fresh from his acclaimed reunion with his old Blind Faith pal Eric Clapton. The ex-Traffic man opened with I’m a Man and instantly showed why he has long been regarded as the ultimate musician’s musician. Members of his top band were given all given opportunity to indulge in lengthy solos, with the man himself seemingly as brilliant on guitar as keyboards. Thankfully the sound system was worthy of such high-class musicianship as Winwood opened wide a stunning back catalogue with electrifying performances of Higher Love, Dear Mr Fantasy, Gimme Some Lovin’ and Low Spark of High Heeled Boys."

We were saddened to hear of the passing of Barry Beckett, one of the core musicians in The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Fans of Traffic will know that Barry, together with David Hood, Roger Hawkins and Jimmy Johnson played on many of the soul hits that came out of the American deep south in the 60's and 70's in particular for the likes of Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge and Etta James amongst many others. And of course with Jim Capaldi for his ‘Oh how we danced' album and Traffic on ‘Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory' and the ‘Traffic on the Road' albums as well as touring as part of Traffic at that time (1972/1973).

-From the Coloured Rain E-Zine