**TOMORROW** THUR 17th MAY – BILL SHEFFIELD + DAVE SAUNDERS Alexanders Jazz Cafe + Bar, Rufus Court, Chester. CH1 2JW  01244 340005 Adv £8.00      Door £10.00       Doors 8pm www.alexanderslive.com Although the foundation for Bill Sheffield’s music is the Blues, the live concert contains elements of many other genres’; folk, country and gospel. Classifying it as [...]

A two minute career highlight. http://youtu.be/CKGPrS1zi-Q

      Very sad news.  Arkansas based bluesman Michael Burks passed away yesterday.  He suffered a major heart attack in Atlanta airport.   The King Biscuit Festival and Pinetop’s Homecoming Festival will never be the same. The Arkansas Times carry a well written obit. RIP Michael Burks

**TONIGHT – 1ST MAY** Tommy Allen will be hosting a new jam night at Greenhill Bank and Dudleston Heath Workingmen’s Club, near Ellesmere, Shropshire SY12 9LU.  All performers and ‘spectators’ welcome; free entry. 1st May 12th June 3rd July 7th August

On sale now at www.liverpoolphil.com or 0151 709 3789.

Sir Trev was in Mississippi and Tenessee last night on his “The Mighty Mississippi with Sir Trevor McDonald” programme. Although factually suspect and a bit lightweight, we should always be happy when the blues gets some prime time attention. See shots of downtown Clarksdale and Ground Zero Blues Club.  Then Sun Studios and Beale Street [...]

A great article on the wonderful Jon Cleary.   Jon Cleary: All By Myself :: OffBeat :: New Orleans and Louisiana Music, Food, and Art News.

The lineup of the Worthenbury Festival has been announced. You can download the flyer here. www.bluesinthenorthwest.com/Media/flyer2012.pdf

There are still some tickets left for this coming week’s Buddy Whittington gig at the Band on the Wall, Manchester. http://bandonthewall.org/events/3385/ http://youtu.be/gbIAmTHSkiY

Musically speaking, the juke is the most important place in the world. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57410403/musical-history-of-the-blues-found-in-juke-joints/ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57410403/musical-history-of-the-blues-found-in-juke-joints/

There are some bluesy related items available on the Woodsongs site. Show 650 – Ruthie Foster and Marquise Knox http://www.woodsongs.com/showdetailspage.asp?SN=650 Show 651 – Imelda May http://www.woodsongs.com/showdetailspage.asp?SN=651 These available in audio MP3 or video format from the archive page http://www.woodsongs.com/showlist.asp

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-17686424 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-17686424 Today only.

Following the success of The Vintage Trouble & Rich Robinson, Worlds Biggest Events are putting on another event at The Ironworks- The Martin Harley Band Sunday 29th April Fresh home from a trip across the pond to the US, the Martin Harley Band have bought back more than duty free and jet lag; A management [...]

Friday 27th April  – Marcus Bonfanti  £8 – Eric’s, Liverpool 2011 is witnessing some kind of natural, unforced blues revival and Marcus Bonfanti is front and centre of it. Both Bonfanti’s albums are full of the highs and lows we all know, referencing a cool range of influences from Tony Joe White to Led Zeppelin. [...]

Thursday April 26th. Bluefunk @ the WMC, Poynton,  Doors 8pm Tix £15 THE MATT SCHOFIELD TRIO These days when you see the name Matt Schofield you can’t help but get excited. The undisputed leader of the guitar pack in Europe, he is now setting out his stall to conquer the Americas. A totally stunning player [...]

Saturday, April 21, 9pm   MARK RADCLIFFE AND THE BIG FIGURES Tickets: £10 Venue: Main Theatre (standing) The Big Figures is a proper R&B band in the classic Dr Feelgood mould, featuring BBC 6 Music DJ Mark Radcliffe and his best mate of over thirty years, PJ Walmsley. Feelgood afficionados will know that The Big [...]