Cherry Lee Mewis.

Lev 1. Esquires Bedford. 19th December 2010.

As Cherry Lee Mewis shouts at at approximately five o'clock this afternoon, "It's the last Sunday session of the year. Let's make it a good one!" We have, despite the snowy conditions, a sizeable turn out. They've braved the icy weather to enjoy a pre-christmas singalong, allied to a few beverages of course!

Cherry's Blues Gems are on parade, led by the brilliant Max Milligan, aided and abetted by the flexible Robbie Stewart-Matthews, and the ever dependable Flow on drums. Unfortunately, the 'doyen of the dobrio', Mr Nicky Slater is ill. Feeling sympathetic, Cherry informs us that "He's at home on facebook"! With "Kissing in the Dark" and "Western Star" to get us in the mood, the sassy young lady cannot wait until she gets to "Midnight in Memphis". This girl knows what she's talking about after her trip of a lifetime to Memphis earlier in the year. It's the origins of the blues and she gleefully retraced the steps of history.

Dressed in an appropriate and fetching Santa outfit, "A Way to you Heart" is a new one. Cherry reckons her keen fans deserve it and it's a reward to them "because you have all been good!". Her stories continue to enchant as she describes the recent visit to the Orkney Blues Festival. An eventful journey with a difficult and interesting ferry trip. Naturally, "Man Overboard" is the next song on the set list! "All You Need", the opening track from Cherry's second album, today includes backing vocals, courtesy of the Blues Gems. They take over "Start It Up". Robbie also heavily contributes to "Wade in the Water" as well as telling us about his "big ten inch"! Lucky man! "Are we feeling all festive?" Cherry asks excitedly, as she follows up by pointedly adding "Christmas is Saturday"!

With the snow lying deep, crisp and even, we are indeed "Walking in a Winter Wonderland". Thankfully for this reviewer, Cherry does include her marvellous version of Henry Glover's "Cherry wine". It's obvious that the Sunday crowd have also had one or two tipples and, sensing this, Cherry decides to seize the moment and asks for some participation on "Mercedes Benz". She prompts and they respond by clapping in unison to bring the evening to a close. Not for long though as, of course, an encore follows, in which the hugely popular "Southbound Train" takes over. It's the 'ace in the pack' and Cherry knows it as she cries out "You know this one!". The chorus rings out loudly around Danny's Bar as the crowd join in, all together "Gotta keep moving moving, Gotta stop losing losing"! Cherry Lee Mewis And Her Blues Gems really did send the Sunday sessions 2010 out with a bang! In fact, it's all been "Red hot"!