Frank Thomas telling a Welsh joke in Iuka, Mississippi During their UK tour earlier this year, Eddie and Frank Thomas enjoyed a joke that I told over a meal at Christine Harrop’s house near Wrexham. We challenged Frank to tell the joke at a gig when he got back home to Iuka, Mississippi. The joke [...]

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

The great American blues lady Candye Kane has again been stricken by cancer, and is currently awaiting further surgery. Here’s a beautiful, inspirational and moving video about her struggles made by her friend and director Javier Velasco. http://youtu.be/0tmyX3iyQRo

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 [...]

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.

Here is a great band from the Birmingham area, looking for some high quality work in the area. The Brothers Groove http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLT_fJnc72Y http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w91U6lzM3K4 brothersgroove@hotmail.co.uk

15 years or so ago, back when I was playing harmonica regularly.  My friends in the north east always used to tell me that Lyndon Anderson was the best harmonica player around in that region. I see that in the 15 or so years that have passed he has not been easing back.  He is [...]

…from 1995 http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/the-black-crowes/video/leaving-trunk_1005339.html http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/the-black-crowes/video/leaving-trunk_1005339.html From Wolfgang’s Vault.

Belated happy birthday, yesterday (Friday, 30th March) to Eric Clapton . . . 67. Here’s a nice clip of “Old Love”, the co-write with Robert Cray, that King King and Forty4 do really nice versions of. http://youtu.be/d1lFxgNj4WU

A second appearance this year for the superb Delbert McClinton, “Every Time I Roll The Dice”, from “Austin City Limits” in 1992, with the late Stephen Bruton on guitar (far right). http://youtu.be/q7tFeVLNH5E

The very talented Liverpool-based, Irish-born Dave O’Grady, hot-foot from a huge tour supporting Rich Robinson, has three gigs coming up in his home city . . . with both band and solo. Here’s a nice little video from the afore-mentioned tour . . . http://youtu.be/01_bGy9fsL0 www.daveogrady.com

The new Janiva Magness album, “Stronger For It” is released today, 13th March, on Alligator Records . . . a full review will follow soon . . . here’s a taster, the sublime “I Won’t Cry”. http://youtu.be/L7m1n5IFmyA

http://youtu.be/0RPkJeziNyI Not sure if Bob Dylan has ever featured on the site . . . but this is pretty cool, the bluesy and rolling “Thunder On The Mountain” from 2006, with a trawl back through his career on the video, and even a glimpse of the legendary Mick Ronson!