APRIL
10th – Telford’s Warehouse, Chester, UK (Jon Amor Band)
11th – The Wave, Maryport, UK (Jon Amor Band) TBC
Tag Archive for 'blues'
Cherry Lee Mewis
The Academy Buckley – 26 Mar 2010
Ironworks, Oswestry – 27 Mar 2010
When you think of blues, you don’t tend to think 5 foot nothing brunette women. From Wales. Who are 24 years old. And very attractive. With a powerful, soulful voice and model looks, Cherry Lee Mewis is the perfect candidate to be an X Factor winner, but she has eschewed such gratuitous commerciality in favour of playing and writing the kind of real music that makes her tick. The blues.
And in doing so she has managed to turn roots and blues music into a cool swinging fusion that is both classic and yet contemporary. Her music is a heady mix is a heady mix of foot-stomping barnburners to bluesy slow-cooked rockers with even a spoonful of jazzy shuffle all helping to secure Cherry Lee Mewis place as one of the rising stars on the UK blues and roots music scene.
Whilst packed with great original blues numbers, Cherry’s sets also feature new arrangements of many classic blues numbers that are red hot and smoking, proving not to be just an echo of their original raw originators. The soft and sultry vocal delivery on Travellin’ Light, the rockin’ All You Need and wonderful swing-blues of Shake That Thing all showcase those signature Cherry growls and tender vibratos.
So while Cherry is something new and exciting in the world of Blues, she is also very much focused on what makes blues so fascinating and capturing its rawness and its this dichotomy that makes her such a fascinating artist to see.
Here’s an exerpt from the spring press release from the Citadel in St. Helens.
Danny Bryant’s Redeye Band, The Animals and Friends, Mark Radcliffe’s The Big Figures with support from Citadel favourite Tom Doughty and a return visit from Wilko Johnson.
For further information or to book tickets call the Citadel box office on 01744 735436 or visit www.citadel.org.uk
John and Lorraine Welsh have put together a magnificent programme of Liverpool-based gigs for 2010, which will see the return of a number of top class internationally acclaimed performers and the first appearance of the highly talented Mark Flanagan, best known as the guitarist in Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. Details of the fabulous line-up are as follows:
Friday, 12th March – The Hamilton Loomis Band (at Garston Royal British Legion) – the young man from Galveston, Texas, combines supreme artistry with a spell-binding stage presence. He presents funky-edged good-time blues at its very best.
Friday, 23rd April – The Mark Flanagan Trio (at Garston Royal British Legion) –out of the shadow of the Jools Holland Orchestra, Mark Flanagan delivered a brilliant set on the main stage at last year’s Burnley Blues Festival where he matched his undisputed mastery of the guitar with equally fine vocals.
Thursday, 20th May – The Backbones (at Liverpool Marina) – fronted by singer and supreme harmonica player, Big Pete van der Pluijm, The Backbones are one of the very best blues bands in Europe, who provide a stunning programme of Chicago-style blues infused with the powerful influences of Junior Wells and Lester Butler.
Wednesday, 23rd June – The Geoff Achison Band (at Liverpool Marina) – now resident back in his native Australia, after a triumphant two-year stint in the USA, Geoff Achison guarantees a vibrant, unforgettable show, with his exceptional guitar playing and distinctive, gritty vocals.
Friday, 17th September – Hans Theesink (at Garston Royal British Legion) – on his previous visit to Liverpool (at the Marina), the Dutch master charmed the very appreciative audience with his warmth, his rich voice and his consummate skills on acoustic guitar. A class act.
October (date to be confirmed) – Toby Walker – another prize import from across the Pond, Toby has become one of the firm favourites at the Marina with his combination of scintillating finger-picking guitar work, fine vocals and fascinating reminiscences.
Thursday, 4th November – Doug MacLeod – our third guest from the USA will be welcomed back with open arms. He complements his fabulous vocals with highly accomplished guitar work, while humour is never far from the surface in his lyrics and his wonderful anecdotes.
Tickets are available from John Welsh by telephone (0151-428 2855) or by email (johnswelsh@hotmail.com)
Lionel Ross
Geoff Achison
Toby Walker
Two highly regarded blues artists will be playing dates in the region this autumn. Little Toby Walker is playing Liverpool on 28 Oct and Geoff Achison is playing Warrington on 08 Oct.
There are gaps in the schedules of these two excellent performers and agent John Adams is looking for dates around the dates above to fill the schedule and to make the tours more viable.
If you have any leads or you are a theatre or club owner with available dates then please contact John at john.adams@mail.com.
http://www.littletobywalker.com
I have never seen Geoff Achison, but I have heard some great reports. I was lucky enough to see Toby Walker at a brilliant gig in Worthenbury last year.
The Citadel Arts Centre, St.Helens
Animals & Friends
Saturday 20th March 2010
Doors Open at 8pm
Tickets £14 / £12
On Saturday 20th March, 60’s legends The Animals & Friends make their debut performance at the Citadel.
Animals & Friends will be performing songs from the animals catalogue such as ‘We Gotta Get Out Of This Place’, ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’, ‘Baby, Let Me Take You Home,’ and the bands’ multi-million selling anthem and Number One hit across the world – ‘House of The Rising Sun’.
Be sure that the Citadel will turn into the swinging sixties by these fantastic musicians recreating the sounds note for note that will no doubt send a shiver down your spine! With original members John Steel and Micky Gallagher who are joined by John Williamson and Peter Barton. Animals & Friends are still very popular internationally and they stop off in St.Helens for an exclusive North West show.
Animals & Friends will be performing at The Citadel on Saturday 20th March. Tickets are £14 / £12. 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
Band: The Producers plus support from ‘Feed me’
Venue: The Brickyard
Date: Saturday 27th March
Time: Doors open 8.00 – support start 8.30
Cost: £10 in advance £12 on the door
Award winning Blues band ‘The Producers’ return to play in Carlisle on the 27th March following a top notch performance at the excellent Blues festival last November.
Dave Saunders and Harry Skinner formed The Producers in 1990. They went on to be one the most popular blues outfit in the country at that time winning the ‘Blues Band of the Year’ award an incredible Four times, releasing 7 CD albums one of which ‘Ain’t No Love in the World’ was nominated for the ‘Best Blues Album’ award.
Throughout the 90’s the Producers regularly sold out venues around the country and appeared at countless major festivals including Colne, Burnley, Stanley Blues, Dublin Templebar, Cork, Farnham, North Wales Blues Festival. Belgium, Ireland, Holland and France played host to Producers tours and a month long tour of New Zealand in 1998 was also undertaken. In fact the Producers became the first band since the Rolling Stones to be banned from New Zealand in 1999 when the musician union refused them entry because it would take work from local artists. They certainly would have done as the history of the band testifies to their raw talent and unmistakeable professionalism that few bands could hope to meet.
They were featured in session on the Paul Jones Blues Show on BBC Radio 2 and have been praised by both Johnnie Walker and Bob Harris. Playing at the Alexis Korner Memorial Concert at Buxton Opera House they were spotted by Peter Greens management during Peters first major gig and asked to support the Fleetwood Mac guitar legend on his first national tour for 25 years, The Producers also featured on the BBC documentary of the Buxton concert.
The Producers gave their last concert on New Years Eve 2001/2 after undertaking a 6 month farewell tour of the UK, needless to say it was a complete sell out.
They returned in 2009 and are touring to sell out crowds yet again. Harry and Dave still front the band ably assisted by Ray Drury on Organ and Piano and Biff Smith on the sticks and percussion. New songs have been written and loyal fans will recognise some reworked stage favourites as they move on from but definitely not forget the past musical history of the band.
The Carlisle gig is being held at the excellent live music venue – The Brickyard – on Fisher Street with support being provided by exciting young Cumbrian band ‘Feed Me’. Doors open 8.00 with Feed Me starting at 8.30. Tickets are £10 in advance from Ticketweb, £12 on the door or ring Chris on 077930 19958.
This gig was booked six months ago before Carlisle football club reached a final at Wembley which is being held the next day! Bad news for Chris – good news for the 20,000 plus who will be going to London so please support the gig and keep music live!
**NOTE DIFFERENT VENUE**
Warrington Blues Club
Saturday March 27th
Dani Wilde Band With
Will ( Harmonic ) Wilde
At Grappenhall Cricket Club
Broad Lane
Grappenhall
WA4 3ER
Doors Open 8pm
£10 On The Door
01925 444332
http://www.myspace.com/daniwildemusic
Here are details of Ray O’ Hare’s next gig and a personal message from Ray.
The blues club has been loosing money for some time now.
Unless audience numbers improve we are seriously considering closing.
So we are asking you to please rally any blues lovers you know
if you just bring one extra person it will make a vast difference.
Otherwise sixteen years will be the last.
Friday March 12th
Paul Lamb and The King Snakes
At Burtonwood Catholic Club
Phipps Lane
WA5 4HQ
01925 444332
Doors Open 8pm
£10 On The Door
16 Years Of Great Blues
Don’t let it be the last
‘The Lymm Festival Committee is holding a number of Winter Warmer events in February and March as a prelude to the main festival which commences at the end of June.The Winter Warmer events include a reprise of the popular Festival Blues Night which will take place at Lymm Golf Club on Friday 19th March starting at 8:00pm.
The evening will be headlined by the fabulous Smokehouse Blues who will be returning to the festival for the first time since their sell-out show in 2007.Support will be provided by the superb Tom Doughty who played at the first Festival Blues Night in 2005, also a sell-out.
Tickets priced at £10 will be on sale from 20th February and demand is expected to be high, so please call Alison on 07890 392535 or e-mail your order to tickets@lymmfestival.org.uk as soon as possible.
Thursday 4th March at BJ’s Blues Club,
The Hop Pocket, Carr lane, Chorley
9.30 pm Start
Free Admission!
THE HEXMEN
High Octane R&B of the highest order from this band who have been delighting audiences where ever they perform with their own brand of new wave infused music A no nonsense approach with great covers and original material including a ‘killer’ version of Gloria makes this band a ‘must’ see in your diary !
The Hexmen are :-
George Hexman – Vocals/Harmonica
Dave Woods – Guitar
George “Big Shed” White – Bass
Wayne Dangerous – Drums
Hexmen Websites
http://www.thehexmen.com/
http://www.myspace.com/thehexmen
Always Starts 9.30pm Free Admission!!
Nick Dow
True Blues, Earlestown, Newton le Willows
06 Mar 2010
On Saturday 6th March the True Blues Club are welcoming BBC Radio Lancashire’s “Lancashire Bluenotes” presenter Nick Dow and his band to their unique venue!
Nick’s love of the “Blues” and his passion for live music are second to none. Steve & I are licking their lips in eager anticipation of another terrific night in the “Chicago style Blues Lounge”
“One of the finest venues I have played in 40 years” – Cliff Stocker
“Fantastic set up” – Mark Thornley
“Unbelievable” – Robin Hoare
The resident band, Crossfire, will open the evening’s entertainment once again at 8pm.
Doors open at 7.15pm and tickets are £10 each
www.truebluesclub.co.uk
Having travelled all the way from Guildford in Surrey, Debbie Giles’ Midnight Train deserved a much bigger crowd than that which assembled in the Burtonwood Catholic Club. Fortunately, however, as Debbie warmly acknowledged, the sparse gathering proved to be a receptive and attentive audience, which contributed significantly to the undoubted success of the event.
Expertly driven by Sam Kelly on drums and Chris Belshaw on bass guitar, the band got instantly into its stride with a meaty, medium-paced opener and Etta James’s “Somebody To Love” before delivering a fine version of BB King’s “Help The Poor”, which allowed guitarist, Pete Emery, and keyboard player, Steve Oakman, the opportunity to strut their stuff with tasty solos. The first set also included Keb Mo’s slow blues, “Don’t Try To Explain” and Prince’s “Automatic” and ended with a splendid rendition of “On The 7th Day”, which particularly suited Debbie Giles’s sultry vocals.
The second set began with a jumping instrumental followed by an excellent rendition of “The Fundamental Things” from the Bonnie Raitt songbook and the funky, Ann Peebles hit, “I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home”. The varied and lively set also featured “Stormy Monday”, Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” and a bouncing delivery of John Cleary’s “Take My Heart”. Understandably, there was a loud demand for an encore, which was provided in the shape of BB King’s “When Love Comes To Town” to round off a very enjoyable evening.
Lionel Ross
Flickr photo from Shertila Tony. Follow the link for more of his excellent photos.
Saturday 13th March
The Stumble
Hallmark Hotel Ballroom, Court Square, Carlisle
A night of scintillating Rhythm & Blues from one of Britains` top blues bands
“WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO OTHER WORTHY CONTENDERS, THERE IS
NOW NO BETTER BLUES BAND IN THE UK” Blues in Britain April 2008
8pm. Tickets £12.00
Tel. 01228 531951
www.thestumble.com
Photo by Paul Webster
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigoax-blues/
ON SALE @
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
New event(s) going live on our box office this week… get tickets whilst you can!
General Sale: Friday 26 February
Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings
Monday 3 May 7.30pm
£25, £30
Rock n roll icon, author, and former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman has seen it all and continues to live life to the full. His latest musical rebirth as the driving force behind the fabulous Rhythm Kings sees him return to his musical roots. This set of virtuoso musicians superbly bring back to life the kind of classic rhythm and blues that first inspired Wyman to pick up the guitar as a teenager. A show imbued with quality.
To purchase tickets, please call the box office on 0151 709 3789 or order online at www.liverpoolphil.com.
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