Never have I laughed as much at a YouTube clip. Incredible Talent! Eddie Van Halen shreds…….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXbCt_1mrak
Monthly Archive for June, 2007
Worthenbury Blues Festival this Saturday 30 June – £20 all day – good bands + beer tent + free camping (all we need now is a bit of sunshine!!).
Worthenbury Blues and Roots Festival
Glandeg Farm, Worthenbury, near Wrexham. SY14 7AZ – www.hookerblues.co.uk
With Big George Brock (USA)
Bill Abel (USA)
Lisa Mills (USA)
Michael Roach (USA)
Phil Bates (out of ELO)
Smokehouse (Runcorn – new lineup!)
Karac (Welsh)
Kingbees (Wrexham)
Gates 1.30pm, start 3pm, evening 6.30pm to 11pm. All day £20, evening £15. Under 16 half price, under 12 free. Camping and caravan site, hog roast, real ale, side stalls all in a beautiful location.
For tickets, send sae plus cheque made out to Hooker Blues Club to:
PO Box 101, Wrexham LL13 0ZE or call (evenings only) 01948 770215
For those of you with Sat Nav the postal code is SY14 7AZ – Map link
The British summer has conspired against the Worthenbury organisers and a contingency plan is now in operation. Pete says….
Due to the anticipated bad weather on Saturday, a contingency plan is now in operation and our festival is now taking place in a large barn at Glandeg farm. We can’t thank the farmer enough. Health and safety aspects were against us for the open air event as well as the obvious discomfort for all the music fans. The barn is big and dry and all the other planned events are as before.
Great news indeed! I hope that it all goes well. Unfortunately I cannot be there, but I wish everyone the best – it will be a great day.
Hey blueslovers – Sorry for the lack of posts over the last few days: I’ve been in Madrid again all week, it’s end of quarter and I have just been too damn busy to contribute. Pesky day job – getting in the way of all that blues.
What I view to be normal service will be resumed at the weekend…….
Adios
This was the Yorkshire-based band’s first appearance at the Warrington club, but one which promoter, Ray O’Hare, had long been seeking after seeing Paul Judge perform on the acoustic stage a couple of years ago at the Colne Blues Festival.
Paul opened the show in solo mode, delivering a mix of mainly original vocals and instrumentals and accompanying himself on steel guitar. He was then joined by tenor saxophonist Matt Smith on a Lightnin’ Hopkins slow shuffle before switching to his Fender guitar and introducing the rest of the band – guitarist Nick Thompson, drummer Chris Sykes and double bass player Paul Baxter – for a Little Feat instrumental. To complete the first set, two more original numbers were interpolated between “Every Day I Have The Blues” and Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love?”, the latter enhanced by a fine sax solo from Matt Smith.
The second set opened with a lively shuffle, followed by Tampa Red’s “It Hurts Me Too” and an original slow blues that featured another superb saxophone solo. An excellently played version of a Freddy King instrumental was nicely contrasted with the slow blues, “Just Walk On By”, another Judge original, before the energetic set was concluded with a rock and roll trilogy comprising “Good Rocking Tonight”, the Fabulous Thunderbirds classic, “Why Get Up?”, and Fats Domino’s “I’m Ready”. As an encore, the well-received performance ended with enthusiastic audience participation on Elmore James’s “Talk To Me, Baby”.
Lionel Ross
[photograph by Gordon Ariss]
This one has a sweet jazz flavour. It’s right in the middle of jazz and blues – somewhere where I really like to be. You will have to decide for yourself if this is jazzy blues or bluesy jazz. Whatever you decide, one thing for sure Johnny Hartman has a great voice.
If you stick around after the interview ands listen to the second song then we are definitely out of the scope of bluesinthenorthwest.com. However enjoyable never-the-less.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUSZ4wwjRVU
Here’s a reminder from Lionel about this week’s gig at the Harbourside.
Why not treat yourselves to a superb evening out this Thursday (28th) at The Harbourside Club? You know you deserve it. We have the marvellous Australian bluesman, Geoff Achison, lined up for your entertainment. Geoff is an outrageously talented guitarist with a gritty, bluesy voice, and he will be backed by a fabulous band, as detailed in the press release. Tickets are priced at a mere £10, which represents tremendous value for money. So I look forward to seeing you there.
Well done lads……
Flickr photo The Stumble at Buddy Guy’s Legends Club in Chicago
Originally uploaded by The Stumble Blues Band.
Madeleine Peyroux singing Careless Love live in Vitoria 2005.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQKata2M2Es
The previous edition of Hardline Blues, features a lengthy and fascinating interview with Delmark Records founder Bob Koester.
It’s at: http://www.hardlineblues.com
I include the following as I know that we have many lovers of high energy rocking blues in the fold and these gigs are barely out of the region – easily driveable if you are in the east of the bluesinthenorthwest.com area. I have been contacted by the King Bz who are acting as the band for Tracy Conover as she does a short UK tour. The KingBz say…..
TRACY CONOVER – this Texas bombshell is a veteran, road tested, world-traveled performer playing a high powered Blues/Rock mixed with her own style of slower ballads. Tracy offers incredible depth and soul as a vocalist and songwriter and practically explodes with energy and sensuality on stage, manhandling her Stratocaster with an intensity and abandon most players can only dream about. Tracy has played with Albert Collins, toured Sweden, France and Japan with Earl King, recorded in 1991 and again in 2000 with Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon (Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Double Trouble”) and opened shows for the likes of Dick Dale, BB King, Buddy Guy, Ted Nugent, Charlie Daniels and the Marshall Tucker Band to name a few. This is high voltage entertainment that is NOT to be missed! Come along and see this sultry wild thang work her guitar magic. (see http://www.tracyconover.com)
Wed 4th July
The Raggles Country Inn,
Brighouse and Denholme Rd,
Queensbury,
Bradford,
West Yorkshire, BD13 1NA
01274 884421
On stage at 9.00pm Indpendence Day Theme
Tickets £10
Thursday 5th July
The Calder Blues Club
The
Golden Lion
523 Gibbet Street
Highroad Well
Halifax
West Yorkshire.
01422 353621
On Stage 9.00pm Blues club gig
Friday 6th July
The Friendly Inn
Burnley Road
Sowerby Bridge
Halifax, HX2 2UG
O1422 839159
On “stage” 9.00pm unplugged solo gig
Saturday 7th July
The Queen Victoria
10-12 Victoria Place
Northowram
Halifax, HX3 7HY
01422 202952
On stage 9.00pm
Sunday 8th July
The Bradshaw Tavern
Bradshaw Lane
Halifax
West Yorkshire, HX2 9XB
HARPER – “Day By Day”
Blind Pig Records (BPCD 5512)
The second Blind Pig offering from Australian musician Harper offers a heady mix of roots music – from funk to blues to rock – with the 12 original tracks all beautifully sung and performed, featuring his own harmonica and didgeridoo, together with the odd sample and effect.
Harper (aka Peter D. Harper) is a fine talent, soon to hit these shores, and well worth catching live on the evidence of this release – indeed he has a very busy 2007 with tours in the US, Canada and a trip back home to Australia.
He has surrounded himself with some sympathetic backing musicians, including the excellent Andy York on guitar, who has stints with John Mellencamp and Ian Hunter on his CV, indeed the guitar work is very nice as a whole, with Gregg Leonard and Tyler Mac sharing the duties.
It is obvious Harper likes to present his listeners with intelligent and thought-provoking songs – such as the funky opener “Do What Is Right” – a case of morals against politics; his didgeridoo makes an appearance on “One Day”, another song with a funk feel and crunch guitar work.
The smoky, laid-back “Watch Your Back” is a tale of contractual small-print, but for me the best track is the lovely “Feel’s Like Sunday Morning” – lovely slide guitar from Andy York and a nice summery feel – definite Radio 2 material; the rocking “Get Out Of This Mess” kicks off with some fine harmonica – with a lyric about the mess in Iraq!
Harper’s harmonica may not be to the blues purists taste, sometimes it is perfectly fine, but I can do without the John Popper-style workouts and effects, but I’m sure many will love it. The thought of a didgeridoo-playing Australian releasing an album on one of America’s finest blues labels will have some holding their hands up in horror, but this release is a delight which I can thoroughly recommend!
GRAHAME RHODES
Raised in the beautiful coastal city of Perth, Western Australia, Harper is known for his soulful vocals, unique harmonica performances and his innovative song writing style. He also includes the intensely spiritual didgeridoo (Australian indigenous instrument) . Harper grew up listening to folk, soul and blues music and surfing Western Australia’s incredible coast line. Harper has been taking his music to the world performing in Australia, the USA, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore and France. Harper has received multiple Australian Blues awards for “Male Vocalist of the Year”, and “Song of the Year” and “Acoustic Artist of the Year”. His 2003 release “Way Down Deep Inside” also was awarded, “Album of the Year” and two harmonica awards. In recent years Harper began a journey of self discovery and revelation which began with a chance meeting with a Hopi “Dan Running Bear” in Silverton, Colorado. Harper became fascinated with the spirituality and culture of the American Natives. He also became aware of how little he knew about the Australian Aborigines of his homeland. He set himself a course which completely changed his whole concept of the indigenous culture of the land in which he lives. Harper dedicated his “Way Down Deep Inside” CD to the first Australians. Harper’s latest cd “Down To The Rhythm” (Blind Pig Records) continues his spiritual journey. Written, arranged and produced by Harper, “Down To The Rhythm” is Harper’s most powerful work and follows his multi award winning CD “Way Down Deep Inside”. His rich soulful voice, virtuoso harmonica solos and didgeridoo rhythmic sounds, combine to create a truly Australian take on the roots music genre. It is also a disc layered with incredible songwriting and meaningful lyrics.
Harper has two dates in the northwest on his 2007 UK tour.
On Friday 27th July he plays the beautiful Welsh venue Worthenbury – start time 8pm.
On Sat 28th July he plays the main stage of the Marport Festival – start time 4.45pm.
http://www.myspace.com/harperband
CD Review to follow.
Here’s a press release from Pete Evans one of the organisers of the Worthenbury Blues and Roots Festival – the festival looks fabulous but I am afraid that I will not be able to go as I am at a wedding on that day. I am hoping that some bluesinthenorthwest.com readers will take some pictures and write some reviews for me to feature on the site. Anyway, enough of me – here’s Pete………
Our festival is nearly upon us and as usual the pace is now getting frenetic – this is my tenth festival and I stillI don’t know why I do it – I’m sure it has made my hair go grey!!
The 3rd Worthenbury Festival is on June 30th at Glandeg Farm Worthenbury on June 30th. The gates open at 1.30pm and the music starts at 3pm through till 11pm.
The tickets are £20 for the day and £15 for the evening session which starts at 6.30pm. There is camping and caravanning available and plenty of space. A real ale tent is complemented by a hog roast.
Morning After Music (Colne and Burnley cd sales) will be there plus a guitar stand with guitars for sale and rarities for looking at and playing. Pablo the artist will be there and there will be other side stalls.
Headlining will be Big George Brock from Clarksdale. This 75 year old harp player was rediscovered a few years ago.He is an amazing character having been brought up on a cotton plantation and made his name as a boxer in his youth and knocked out Sonny Liston. He also wrestled with a grizzly bear when a travelling show called in his town. He has fathered 42 children and ran blues bars in St Louis where his wife was shot dead by a drunk one night.
A man entitled to sing the blues, he is one of the last old Mississippi blues men.
He is backed on guitar by Delta blues man Bill Abel, one of the best of the current Mississippi guitarists.
Also appearing is Lisa Mills the phenomenal singer guitarist from Mobile Alabama. A mix of Bonnie Raitt, Etta James and Janis Joplin she actually sings with Big Brother and The Holding Company on their reunion tours. She has toured the USA with Robert Plant who raves over her. She will be joined on stage by Plant’s keyboard player Mark Stanway and Phil Bates the ex lead guitarist from ELO who will also be performing a solo acoustic set.
Headlining the acoustic stage is Michael Roach the now Cheltenham resident but originally from Washington DC. An outstanding guitarist and blues historian, he also formed Euro Blues Promotions which promotes residential blues instruction events at the University of Northampton in August.
Finally, on the electric stage there are the newly reformed SmokeHouse playing their first gig. Harpman and band leader Johnny Hewitt is regarded by many as one of the UK’s top harp players and with Barney Barnett on guitar they are looking forward to introducing their new rhythm section to everyone. They will also be be backing Big George Brock and Bill Abel
Karac are a four piece Welsh bilingual country roots band from the Caernarfon area and are creating a lot of interest with their excellent sound. An American company has shown a lot of interest in their work. Pablo the Colne artist shows his musical talents with the band.
Opening the show are Wrexham band The KingBess. All in their 60s they had the chance to make it in the 60s but decided against it. They reformed for a fun gig three years ago and enjoyed themselves so much they decided to have another crack but this time with a difference. All their gig fees go towards the local hospices and to date they have raised over £10000. They once opened for The Lovin’ Spoonful and played them off the stage!
Anyone wanting to go check on www.hookerblues.co.uk then click on Goin’ Up The Country gigs.
Yesterday there was a short blues festival at the Hotel California venue in Birkenhead. My old friend Neil Partington’s band “Band of Thieves” played a short set ahead of the latest hot young guitarist Olli Brown. There were also three other bands on the bill with a wide range of talent and style.
Here’s “Band of Thieves”
I’m not saying that the event was loud, but even the sound engineer had some headache pills on hand. Spot the yellow packet below.
Not just Muddy and George but an array of blues talent from what looks very much to be the late 1960s or early 1970s.
Fabulous! Here’s “Walking through the park”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z05S3fAuAzY
Bonus YouTube is “Got my mojo working“
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