SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL
SOLVESBORG - June 2002
by Bruno Bages

The season's festival opened june 6th, in Solvesborg, in southern sweden. Many great bands were scheduled fo this event with people such as Steppenwolf, Ted Nugent or Status Quo, but the southern rock fans were not forgotten this year as they could see on stage Doc Holliday, Savoy Truffle and Lizard.

Holliday, Savoy Truffle and Lizard.

We arrived there on june 5th, late in the evening ; the trip has been so long since Brittany and this late arrival will not allow us to see the Savoy Truffle 's performance. By the way, everybody we talked to agreed with a really big show from these japanese band offering southern blues-rock music, just as Gov't Mule does.

It was 1:30pm on june 6th when Philomena Lynott, mother of the late Phil Lynott (from Thin Lizzy) declared the festival opened. Doc Holliday took the Main stage, and the band starts their sowh with the song "Jail Break", their tribute to Phil Lynott. It seems Bruce Borrkshire and his buddies are doing great as they will deliver such a great show. They will play "Last Ride", "Dixie". The audience starts following the band as dixie banners can be seen, as well as people wearing Ronnie Van Zant T-shirts. Eddie Stone, on the keyboards seems having a great time playing as the band plays its classics, "Redneck R'n'Roll Band", "Southern Man", "Moonshine Runner", only great songs ! They will play "Lonesmome Guitar" and "A Better Road", from the last album, as an encore. As Doc Holiday leaves the stage, wr're going backstage to meet so many great poeple : the Savoy Truffle band was there, as was Georg Bayer from the Lizard band and Johannes, the Record Heaven Music label's boss. Great moments with all these poeple, Bruce Brookshire gives us drinls (mineral water ! the rednecks are sober these days ! ). We got the confirmation Savoy Truffle signed a european distribution contract fot their live album "LIve ou our way" with Record Heaven Music. It's time for the addresses exchange, Bruce Borrkshire gets the Savoy Truffle's album and T-shirt. He explains he has to leave as he has to perform an other show.

Everybody's leaving for lunch as we go and see the Steppenwolf show. John Kay's always so good on stage. As they're always playing two shows in Europe, we couldn't miss him. Later in the evening, we're moving to the Spendrups Stage (there are 4 stages on the site ! ) where the german band Lizard is performing its show, a great show. Most of the songs played are from their great last albuml, "Southern steel". We'll have the great surprise to see Eddie Stone and Bruce Brookshire from the Doc Holliday band on stage with the Lizard band.As Bruce doesn't get his guitar, he's playing a snare drum ! and Eddie Stone sings background vocals. What a happy end for a show which proves the spirit of talented musicians is really far away from the big rock stars. Simplicity, spontaneity and humility are words that go well with these people.While these kind of people will be in the souther rock music, we don't have to be anxious for the future of this music.

Doc Holliday Set List :
Jail break
Last ride
Never another night
Dixie
Redneck rock'n roll band
Magin midnight lady
Moonshine runner
Southern man
Doin' it again
Ain't no fool
Lonseome guitar
A better road

Bruno Bages

Photos of LIZARD on stage

Photos of DOC HOLLIDAY on stage

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