blues news – blues reviews – blues gig guide
I am taking a holiday and, unusually for me, I will be completely out of contact for a whole week. I have set the site to auto-publish a set of posts while I am gone but clearly, bluesinthenorthwest.com will not be responding to topical news.
Please all behave while I am away.
Hasta pronto
Flickr photo “Blue hour at Luxor Temple” by [Jezza].
Tommy Allen and Johny Hewitt will be doing The Nantwich Jazz and Blues Festival on Sunday April 4th @ 5.30pm at The Black Lion.
This Easter has the usual entertainment over in Nantwich, Cheshire at the Nantwich Jazz Festival. bluesinthenorthwest.com local favourite Tom Doughty has a couple of slots on the bill….
Saturday 3rd April: 2-4pm Solo: Gig and Workshop at The Nantwich Museum
Sunday 4th April: 4-6pm Solo at the Crown Hotel
The Simon “Honeyboy” Hickling Band
at Garston Royal British Legion
Friday, 23rd April 2010 (doors 8pm; show starts at 8.45pm)
Simon Honeyboy Hickling is widely acclaimed as the finest harmonica player on the current British blues scene. As well as being a superb musician and a fine blues singer, he is a highly charismatic performer. He is backed by a terrific band that features the excellent Bob Wilson on guitar and boasts the marvellous rhythm section of Tony Baylis and Frank Walker.
Three decades of touring and recording have honed Simon’s individual, blistering harp technique to earn him an international reputation as a virtuoso player. In addition to his front-line performances, he has recorded with Bo Diddley and played alongside the legendary Steve Marriott. In 2001, he appeared on the Steve Marriott memorial concert with Paul Weller, Midge Ure and many others, where he stole the show with his customary, brilliant version of Marriott’s Big Train. This is a band that never fails to delight.
Link: www.honeyboyhickling.com
Garston Royal British Legion is situated at Haig House, Woolton Road, Garston, Liverpool L19 5NQ, just around the corner from Liverpool South Parkway station.
Tickets for the concert (£11 each in advance and £12 each on the door) are obtainable from John Welsh on 0151 428 2855 or johnswelsh@hotmail.com.
MARK RADCLIFFE’s THE BIG FIGURES LIVE @ THE CITADEL
On Friday 16th April, Citadel favourite and Radio 2 funnyman Mark Radcliffe brings his new blues rockin band “The Big Figures” to the Citadel.
A proper R&B band in the classic Dr Feelgood mould, The Big Figures features Mark Radcliffe’s best mate of over thirty years P J Walmsley and the line-up is completed by three more hunks of burning Lancastrian love: ‘Go-go’ Johnny Jobson (harmonica), Cameron Sweetnam (bass) and Andy Hyams (drums). Feelgood aficionados will know that The Big Figures was the drummer in the original group and that explains the name of this band.
Expect this to be another classic foot stomping Citadel blues gig, with some lifelong friends sharing a few real ales and playing some of their favourite songs with no doubt a bit of banter with the audience in between.
The Big Figures are also delighted to be sharing the stage with lap steel, one man blues band Tom Doughty. A pie eating and dog walking companion of Mark’s, Tom creates a unique sound and atmosphere with his orginal songwriting and range of vintage instruments.
The Big Figures & Tom Doughty will be performing at The Citadel on Friday 16th April. Tickets are £10 / £8. Doors open at 8pm.
For further information or to book tickets call the Citadel box office on 01744 735436 or visit www.citadel.org.uk
What a stunning player West Weston is. A national treasure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab99Ug0XQ6U
A lovely piece in today’s Observer about session drummer Clem Cattini. How different would rock music have been if the meeting between Clem and Peter Grant had gone ahead.
THE DIRTY ROBBERS
“Please Mr Jailer!”
(self-release)
Following on from their self-titled debut release, The Dirty Robbers, unleash a mixed bag of goodies on this follow-up, “Please Mr Jailer!” – complete with a couple of downright saucy numbers that has merited an ‘adult material’ warning on the cover, as bandleader, guitarist and singer Oliver Darling wears his varied musical influences on his sleeve.
The band, apart from ex-Cadillac Kings and Mike Sanchez guitarist Darling, consists of Matt Foundling (piano), Craig Rhind (bass) and Matt Cowley (drums), aided and abetted by The Brass Bandits – the saxophones of Paul Corry, Nick Lunt and Martin Winning – together they mine a treasure trove of 50s and 60s styles, but given a more modern edge.
The opening three tracks provide a snapshot for the album – kicking off with the title cut of “Please Mr Jailer!”, coming on like a classic 50s r&b number with honking saxophones and impassioned vocal from Oliver Darling; a move up to the 60s on the Beatles-inspired “Try To Love Me” – jangly guitars, harmony vocals and Matt Foundling’s driving piano; and the Elmore James meets Jeremy Spencer slide-driven stomper, “All The Time” – showing Darling’s love for the Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac, and really well done, with the brass well in evidence again, and more pounding ivories from Foundling.
The band kick up a Junior Parker boogie on “Bogey Man”, with some lusty harmonica here from Sam ‘Big Boy’ Powell, and fine guitar from Oliver Darling, with sterling work from the rhythm section of Craig Rhind and Matt Cowley. Things then turn a little saucy on a cover of “Dick Habit”, with a terrific hook from the guitar and horns, and the slow grind of “Muther F*ckin Trucky”, with its slinky slide guitar and The Brass Bandits to the fore.
The sparse “Leaving” is another Oliver Darling original, underpinned by Matt Foundling’s organ work, before the very retro stomper “It Hurts To Be In Love”, which is followed by the muscular “Lemon Squeezer #2”, with dynamite guitar solo blasting in halfway through. The two-part “Bury The Hatchet” is co-written with Dean Beresford, the short intro of part one, leading into the “Telstar”-like second part – very early sixties, with that Joe Meek production feel and twangy guitar and organ a-plenty!
Proceedings end with a reggae groove on Darling’s “Water Off A Ducks Back”, and the madcap “We Stole The Show”, with John Bonham drum intro, a Bonzos style spoken piece before heading into a driving r&b tune with lashings of wild piano and guitar – then complete with false ending, before some studio tomfoolery with band intro, spoken outro and some more great swinging music over the tracks 11 minutes.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this band on the two occasions I have seen them and also both albums, and anyone with a feel for classic 50s and 60s grooves should check them, and this cd, out. A young British band to keep an eye on for sure – all power to their elbow!
GRAHAME RHODES
www.myspace.com/thedirtyrobbers
Album available from the excellent www.rootscd.com
Boogaloo Blues Promotions Blues Weekend
Alvaston Hall, Nantwich
30 April to 03 May 2010
There is a fantastic line up of international and national talent appearing at the forthcoming weekender in Cheshire.
Set in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, Alvaston Hall is the picturesque setting for a storming weekend of blues and R&B. Superb leisure facilities, including heated indoor pool and spa pool, sauna, steam room & fitness studio, tennis, archery and croquet, plus 9 hole EGU standard golf course.
Artists include….
Download the flyer here.
http://www.boogaloopromotions.com/weekends.html
West Weston image from Blues in London
Liverpool blues duo Blue C have two gigs at the 14th Nantwich Jazz & Blues Festival over the Easter weekend.
It’s a great festival and Blue C have played 12 of them and attract a good crowd each time.
The gigs are at the Crown Hotel bar on Easter Saturday afternoon, April 3rd, from 3pm-5pm, and at The Residence Restaurant and Bar, Mill Street, on Easter Monday afternoon, April 5th, also from 3pm-5pm.
These are just two of the 90 or so pub and bar gigs around the town over the weekend, admission by £5 wristband for the whole festival! There are also ticketed events at the Civic Hall, this year featuring Geno Washington, the Animals, the Move, Ben Waters, Blockheads, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, Nearly Dan and more. They ALWAYS sell out.
Well worth a visit to the lovely town of Nantwich over Easter if you are looking for a wide range of music.
Blue C are Raphael Callaghan (vocal, slide guitar, harmonica) and Christine Purnell (bass).
www.myspace.com/bluecblues
www.nantwichjazz.com
I have been ignoring my blues rock loving readers the last few weeks so over the next two days we’ll have some guitar for you.
Joe Bonamassa studio footage for the song “Ballad of John Henry” from the 2009 CD of the same name. If you can, the video was made to be seen in HD for both video and sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaCjPdtDBxo
Here’s the latest news from Pete Evans – please note gig date change…..
?FRIDAY MAY 14th ONE OFF SPECIAL USA ACOUSTIC BLUES NIGHT
SHAR-BABY with STEVE PAYNE & JOHNY HEWITT plus THE BLACK OIL BOYS
We always try to present genuine African/American blues performers when we can so we are delighted that Shar-Baby from the Alabama woods is here on her 1st UK tour. With a Delta guitar playing style and captivating vocals, she is a regular on the deep south blues circuit and is accompanied by excellent UK acoustic guitarist Steve Payne and our old friend Johny Hewitt on harmonica. Opening this great night are Chicago trio, The Black Oil Boys. They are regulars at House of Blues and Buddy Guy’s Legends and deliver superb guitar and harmonies. The lads are on a 2 week UK tour. A top night in store and all for only £10. Show starts 8pm
FRIDAY JUNE 11th RORY ELLIS (WAS THE 4th – NEW DATE) The Aussie sensation who was the star of our festival in June 2009 returns with Alex Roberts on slide guitar. Possessing an amazing voice Rory delivers a superb selection of self penned songs to back up the top quality musicianship £10
FRIDAY JULY 16th THE MARTIN HARLEY BAND This brilliant acoustic guitarist and singer and his band are rapidly making a big name in the roots and even the commercial world. They recently completed a full UK tour as support for James Morrison and this date is one of a full UK tour promoting the new cd “Drumrolls for Somersaults”. This is quite a coup for us as we believe Martin will soon be a household name. £10
Keep an eye on this site for Martin’s upcoming dates in the region.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jM2k4lon08
CHERRY LEE MEWIS
“Southbound Train”
(CherryJam Music: CM02)
The second album from Colwyn Bay singer, Cherry Lee Mewis – now based in Bedford – contains a generous 14 tracks, highlighting her breezy, mainly acoustic-based blues, but with a jazzy tinge to some of the cuts – again with Max Milligan as her ‘right hand man’, as co-producer, engineer and mixer, and playing guitar and bass.
Cherry Lee Mewis has a warm, appealing voice, with a smoky lilt at times and sweet at others – proceedings open with a nice, swingy version of Koko Taylor’s “All You Need”, with some tasteful harmonica from Jeff Dakin, who features several times here; the following “Shake That Thing” has some lovely finger-picked guitar from Max Milligan, who turns to Dobro on the excellent “Midnight In Memphis” – again featuring Dakin’s harmonica.
The ragtime feel of Blind Willie McTell’s “Oh Lord Send Me An Angel Down” sees Marc Patching on Dobro and Milligan on acoustic guitar – leading into a jazzy interlude with a gorgeous vocal on the standard “Travellin’ Light”, with some quite delightful tenor saxophone from Andy Hamilton, and the original “It Means Nothing To Me” – her vocal here recalling the fragile beauty of Corinne Bailey Rae – a big favourite of my daughter!
Legendary blues lady Memphis Minnie’s “Kissing In The Dark” again has a nice swingy down home feel, with “Time Limits” given a country flavour with Jack Muir’s mandolin, and the lady herself contributing some harmonica. The excellent title track, “Southbound Train” rides on a great groove from Max Milligan’s three-string electric slide guitar – dare I suggest a little Seasick Steve influence here?
Elsewhere the dreamy “Dancing Like Diamonds” sees another strong vocal performance from Cherry Lee Mewis, with the versatile Milligan on Hammond B3 organ, guitar, bass and percussion; “Tried Everything” is a short and snappy country blues, with the bonus track “Something You Can’t Have” moving away from the overall feel of the album, and being in a more country/folk mode, and for me the best track, with heartfelt emotion in the vocal.
GRAHAME RHODES
www.myspace.com/cherryleemewis
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