It’s for all of us of a certain age who remember the 1970s and enjoyed the recent BBC time-travel police programme (“cop show” in modern US English) “Life on Mars”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyLjxDlNawU This is TV genius.  Enjoy!

Thanks to Dave Sawyer for a list of new February gigs that have been added to the calendar today.  There are new gigs from Backwater Blues Band, Dr Feelgood, The Stumble, The Bluesblasters and Steven Seagal! Here’s the whole list for Feb 01-Feb      -    Rob Tognini – Fletcher Christian, Cockermouth 01-Feb     – [...]

Garry Potts from The Cadillac Kings is always telling me how good West Weston is. Until today I’ve not had the chance to see for myself as West does not seem to drag his blues shoes north very often. I don’t recall that he’s ever played in the north west. Anyway, enough of my wittering, [...]

I know that there are some Tony Joe White fans who read bluesinthenorthwest.com. Ths good news is that the latest Woodsongs Radio Hour features Tony Joe playing live available as LoFi MP3, HiFi MP3 or High Bandwidth WMV video. All available from the page for Show 422.

Here’s a treat for all the Aynsley Lister and Ian Parker fans here in the north west. Southport Arts Centre feature Lister and Parker on Saturday 10th February at 8PM. Aynsley Lister and Ian Parker represent all that is great about the new wave of British Blues-Rock, and without question they are the spearhead of [...]

Pete Evans writes…. Just let you know I am now also promoting blues, predominantly acoustic but also electric as time goes on, at a great new venue in Oswestry which technically might just be outside the North West but is only 15 miles from Wrexham. It’s at “Number 35″, a very nice restaurant bar but [...]

  This was the first blues gig at the Allerton Manor Club, which is set in the grounds of the Allerton Golf Centre in Liverpool. The gig was arranged in conjunction with Brian Roberts by John and Lorraine Welsh, who organise the marvellous blues nights at The Harbourside Club. Many of those present are regulars [...]

I have a bit of a sore head this morning, but we certainly had a fun time last night. Neil brought his blues and soul band “Band of Thieves” down from Liverpool and I have to say that he hasn’t lost any of his talent in the years since I last saw him. Great show [...]

Alan Hewitt sends in the following press release….. Wow! Fresh from a mention, and a track being played on the Paul Jones show ( and a plug for the FC ) we welcome Rob Tognoni to Cockermouth. The band played their tour opener and warm up last night and wow. If you had something else [...]

Yes indeedy, blues lover, family man, Chester City supporter, top bloke, and bluesinthenorthwest.com contributor Grahame Rhodes is celebrating a significant milestone on this very day. Born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear on 28 Jan xxxx Politeness prevents me from mentioning his actual age (think C/2) however please let me wish Grahame all the very best [...]

Now here’s a strange one for you. Today’s YouTube clip features the first known video of bluesman Guitar Shorty knocking them dead on the vintage US TV show The Gong Show. I used to think that The Gong Show was a tripped out gig featuring gliss guitar and pot head pixies, I was completely confused, [...]

Check out the user contributed reviews on the Amazon UK site for the Peter Andre and Jordan CD.  I might buy that CD, it looks very good indeed.

! !  C A N C E L L E D ! ! March gives us the opportunity to see one of the true stars of the UK Blues, RnB and Boogie Woogie scene. Mike Sanchez has been one of our leading attractions probably since the 1980s. I remember seeing him leading The Big Town [...]

JJ Cale: To Tulsa and Back German director Jorg Bundschuh follows JJ Cale back to his roots as the troubador discusses his life, his band, his songs and his background in America’s west. BBC Four, Fri 26 Jan, 21:00-22:00  60mins  Stereo  Widescreen Repeated – Sat 27 Jan, 00:20-01:25 and Sat 27 Jan, 02:55-03:55

Remember that Ray and Barbara have set up a great line of Blues for 2007 in two locations in Warrington. 23-Feb – The Stumble 02-Mar – Ian Siegal 10-Mar – Mike Sanchez at Alford Hall 30-Mar – Marcus Malone 13-Apr – Johnny Mastro & Mama’s boys The three March gigs are specifically to celebrate 10 [...]

A really sweet slow blues by SRV, Angela Strehli, Jimmie Vaughan and Kim Wilson. Recorded in Austin TX in 1983. Great performances by all concerned and a great song too.