21/08/2024
Statement from Ealing Blues Festival Founder Bob Salmons (aka musician Robert Hokum) as he bids farewell to the event he started in 1987 and where he remained Artistic Director, until 2024.
"Well it's not so much ‘Elvis has left the building’ as ‘Bob is leaving the park’ as I have joined the likes of Stephen Hawking and Rob Burrow in having Motor Neurone Disease and thus have to say ‘goodbye’ to the event that I have brought to Ealing’s Walpole Park since 1987.
The Ealing Jazz Festival started in 1985, I tried to get involved, but was turned down. So, I thought ‘Sod that, I'll run my own gig then….’ and in 1987 following some shenanigans with Ealing Council,, my band at the time ‘The Amazing Rhythm Burglars’ played Walpole Park.
For some of the early events, I had to find funding and sponsorship, but the shows, which only featured local bands, were successful and after a few years Ealing Council suggested more event coordination and the Ealing Summer Festival was born. By this time The Amazing Rhythm Burglars had split and I was playing with the Guv’nors who would be the Blues Festival house band until 2011.
With the added resource, the event grew and in 2011 I helped found the Ealing Club Community Interest Company to start promoting Ealing’s heritage as the ‘Cradle of British Rock Music’. Thus providing impetus to the er****on of a Blue Plaque at the former premises of The Ealing Blues Club where British Blues/Rock kicked off in 1962 and the film ‘Suburban Steps to Rockland - The Story of The Ealing Club’.
With the er****on of the Blue Plaque in 2012 by The Ealing Club C.I.C. the Ealing Blues Festival became a 2 day event in 2013 and is now London's longest running Blues Festival.
There are downsides of being the person behind a successful Festival.
* A lot of people think you're making money from it - that couldn't be further from the truth.
* It's a lot of hard work.
* You're surrounded by people who think that they know more about running festivals than you do.
* And then there’s the other needy lot who think you’re the answer to it all.
* One has to deal with agents and musicians whose egos are bigger than their talent. I've even been hustled for a gig while shopping in Sainsburys.
“ Then there's all the Social Media nonsense…
But, on the upside….
Music has defined my life. It's given me community, friendships and some amazing experiences. I've gigged in everything from cathedrals to prisons to famous Museums and worked with some amazing musicians from across the world.
The Ealing Blues Festival gave me the chance to play to an audience of thousands every year for almost 4 decades, and for that I'm very grateful.
Importantly though, music is also about legacy. I have lost many musician friends over the years. But they are still here on records and channels like YouTube. My music can be found on Spotify, YouTube and SoundCloud. Check them out, keep music live and please support whoever takes over The Ealing Blues Festival.
Thanks for your support and applause over the years"
www.youtube.com/roberthokum
www.soundcloud.com/robert-hokum
