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Blues On The Rock, Friday June 12th, 7.30pm

Blue C and Joey Shields & The Wheels

The successful monthly Blues On The Rock blues gig at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, has a radical change of day and time this month only!

Instead of a Sunday afternoon, the next one is on Friday, June 12th, from 7.30pm-10.30pm. And the special guests of host duo Blue C are Joey Shields & The Wheels, who are back by demand.

Last time Joey & The Wheels played the fort, Liverpool’s most down-home blues band drew a capacity crowd so the message is to get there on time for a seat!

Blues memorabilia will be on display, plus a chance to win blues CDs. Cafe/bottle bar open as usual. Admission £4.
More details, www.myspace.com/bluecblues or 0151 709 5484.

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The enigmatic Z Z Birmingham is the special guest of resident duo Blue C at Blues On The Rock on Sunday afternoon, May 10.

Z Z is travelling up from the south-west of England for an exclusive date at the blues club at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton. But he is no stranger to the Wirral. He was actually brought up there and made his performing debut at the old Black Horse Folk Club in West Kirby in the early 60s.

He lived in Derby for many years, from where he and his band made regular forays to the Burnley and Colne blues festivals where they became firm favourites.
Blueprint magazine wrote: “Possibly the most pleasant gig of the entire Burnley Blues Festival . . . Z Z Birmingham has an engaging stage prersence which immediately communicates itself to an audience.”

And Folk Roots said: “Z Z rattles and moans like a freight train with its cow catcher come loose.”

With guitar and harmonica as his main instruments, expect songs, ballads, harmonica breakdowns, stories and chat from the highly-regarded travelling bluesman.
And in the popular Talkin’ Blues segment, Z Z may reveal his true identity and more of his Wirral roots.

That’s Blue C present Z Z Birmingham, Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, 1pm-4pm, Sunday, May 10, admission £4 which includes entry to the fort’s fascinating museum.
As usual, the message is to get there on time if you want a seat as seating is limited.
More details, www.myspace.com/bluecblues or 0151 709 5484.

http://www.zzbirminghamband.co.uk/

Flickr photo Max Molyneaux

The next monthly Blues On The Rock blues club at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, is an Easter Sunday afternoon special!

Blues duo Blue C have as their special guests Smokestack 6, a Wirral band who are fast making a name for themelves.  With a guitars and harmonica frontline, and a repertoire featuring choice covers and quirky, interesting original songs, it remains to be seen whether they can fit on the tiny stage at the fort.

Music is from 1pm-4pm and, as usual, the message is to get there on time if you want a seat. There’s a chance to win CDs, blues memorabilia on display, a cafe/bottle bar. Admission £4, which includes entrance to the fort’s fascinating museum.

That’s Blues On The Rock featuring Blue C and Smokestack 6, Fort Perch Rock, Easter Sunday, April 12th, 1pm-4pm.

More details, 0151 709 5484 or www.myspace.com/bluecblues

Blues fans who were around in the ’60s may remember the Liverpool acoustic duo Jim James & Raphael Callaghan. They appeared on the Liberty label LP Gasoline along with the likes of Jo Ann Kelly and Tony McPhee and their two tracks were critically acclaimed on its release in 1969. They also did sessions for the Mike Raven Blues Show, John Peel In Concert and Alexis Korner’s World Service radio show Blues Is Where You Hear it.

Jim has lived in the USA for many years, but he is flying over for just 3 gigs with Raphael to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Gasoline recordings.

First is this Sunday afternoon, March 8th, for Blues On The Rock, the monthly blues club hosted by Blue C (Raphael Callaghan & Christine Purnell). Music is from 1pm-4pm and there will also be blues memorabilia on display, and a chance to win blues CDs. There is a cafe/bottle bar. Admission is £4, which includes entrance to the fort’s museum. As usual with Blues On The Rock, the message is to get there on time if you want a seat!

The duo are also guests of the Everyman Folk Club (acoustic) in the Everyman Bistro, Hope Street, Liverpool, on Tuesday, March 10th at 8.15pm. Again, seating is limited so get there early.

Their final gig is a blues concert at the home of the Bothy Folk Club, the Park Golf Club, Park Road West in Southport (just around the corner from the top end of the prom). This is on Thursday, March 12th, doors open 7.30pm, music from 8pm. Support act Blue C. Admission £5.

The original Gasoline vinyl LP is valued at £80 in collector circles, but Jim & Raphael will have copies of the CD re-issue for sale at the gigs at a much more modest price . . .

More information: 0151 709 5484, or www.myspace.com/bluecblues

BLUES ON THE ROCK

Blue C & Down At Antone’s: Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton: 08.02.09

The latest of Raphael Callaghan’s Sunday afternoon gigs in the unusual surroundings of the Fort Perch Rock saw the return to action of top North West blues band, Down At Antone’s – back out with original frontmen Neil Partington, on vocals and guitar; and Ken Peace on harmonica – ably abetted by Glen Lewis (keyboards), Steve Brown (bass) and Nick Lauro (drums).

The rust was shaken off in a sparkling hour set of some old favourites and some new choice arrangements – kicking off with the Howling Wolf chestnut “Riding In The Moonlight” – which saw Ken Peace give the valves on his old trusty Fender amp a good workout with his big tone to the fore, and obligatory fine guitar and vocal from Neil Partington – who soldiered through the set despite being stricken with a heavy cold.

The funky “Shakey Ground” saw the band hit a great groove, until the power was lost! Undeterred Nick Lauro continued with a drum solo, accompanied by Ken Peace on acoustic harmonica, and a quick walkabout. The slow blues of Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Cross Your Heart” was definitely a set highlight – tremendous soloing here from Messrs. Partington and Peace, and nice keyboard work from Glen Lewis.

Other treats in an all too quick set were the jazz standard “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” – which worked very well with the harmonica – and the rumba of “Poor Boy”, which actually featured on the band’s Paul Jones blues show session way, way back, as did the rollicking encore “Biting The Bullet”.

Great to see these guys out and about again – with further gigs to come at Warrington, Fleetwood and Colwyn Bay, with hopefully more in the pipeline.

Opening up proceedings was the genial host, Raphael Callaghan (guitar, harmonica and vocals), with partner Christine Purnell (bass), together they make up Blue C, delivering a lovely varied set, starting with Raphael a cappella on the new song “Too Much Rain”, about the perils of global warming.

An old favourite was the great Skip James tune, “Illinois Blues”, with KC Douglas’s “Mercury Blues” - another long-time favourite, being given a rousing airing. A most surprising cover, which worked really well, was a song Raphael had taken a fancy to and decided to have a go at – chart-topping Duffy’s “Rockferry” – given a folky blues feel, and none the worse for it!

GRAHAME RHODES

Raphael just sent me the flyer for this weekend’s Fort Perch, New Brighton - Blues on the Rock session.

Down at Antones

Blue C

Blues on the Rock at at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton

Sunday February 8th - Afternoon Gig

Raphael Callaghan the gig promoter has written in with details of the next Blues at the Rock gig coming up in New Brighton a few short days away.

There is a real buzz about the next Blues On The Rock session at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, on Sunday afternoon February 8th.   For the hosts, Liverpool blues duo Blue C, have as their special guests Down At Antones, who are remembered with great affection by blues fans in the north west for their blistering performances in the 90s. Down at Antones have been “resting” in the millenium years, but the original frontline of Neil Partington on gritty guitar and vocals and Ken Peace on big-toned amplified harmonica are back for selected gigs with a crack rhythm section.

This is a rare one and not to be missed!

Music is from 1pm-4pm, and there is also blues memorabilia on display, a chance to win blues CDs and the ever-popular Talkin’ Blues section where Raphael Callaghan of Blue C will interrogate Neil and Ken. Cafe/bottle bar, too. Admission £4 which includes admission to the fort’s fascinating museum. Be early for a seat! Enquiries, 0151 709 5484, or www.myspace.com/bluecblues.

Flickr photo of the fort by The Bat-Max.

Crop of Ken Peace by Shertila.

I have already published a post about the forthcoming gigs at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton.  Here is the flyer for the next gig.  It’s on Sunday.

Click to see it larger.

News is in from Raphael Callaghan regarding the upcoming shows at the Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton.

Happy New Year!

Our Blues On The Rock season at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, is brimming with great blues for the first part of 2009. Once again, blues duo Blue C (Raphael Callaghan, vocal, slide guitar, harmonica, and Christine Purnell, bass guitar) will host an afternoon of blues on the second Sunday of the month, from 1pm-4pm. Here are the confirmed guests so far:

Sunday Jan 11 - The JP Four (Andy ‘Jnr’ Parker’s soulful blues combo)

Sunday Feb 8 - Down At Antone’s (what can we say? The best in harmonica/guitar swing blues)

Sunday March 8 - Jim James (from the USA, Jim is originally from the UK and one of the best singers and blues songwriters this country has produced. He will also be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Jim and Raphael’s recordings with Jo Ann Kelly and Tony McPhee for the Gasoline LP on Liberty in 1969!).

Sessions start at 1pm, don’t be late! Adm £4. More details on 0151 709 5484, www.myspace.com/bluecblues, or email raphaelcuk@yahoo.co.uk

Flickr photo by The Bat-Max.

I recently posted about the forthcoming Tom Doughty gig at Fort Perch, New Brighton.  The full Tom Doughty gig list follows.

7 Nov : supporting Michael Roach, Southport Arts Centre

9 Nov : 1pm - 4pm Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton

15 Nov : Wirral Guitar Festival, with Woody Mann, Birkenhead Town Hall 8pm

All promoting the new CD “Have a taste of this”

Tom is also promoting a gig for Peter Price.

22 Nov : Peter Price at Harlequins Theatre, Northwich. Tickets £7.00 from 01606 891988

Liverpool blues duo Blue C host their fifth Blues On The Rock blues afternoon at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, this Sunday, November 9th, when their special guest is the wonderful lap-style slide guitar player Tom Doughty. Tom is greatly in demand in the USA and all over the UK, so this is a rare chance to see him in the intimate setting of the fort’s basement room.

More seating is promised after last month’s packed club for Joey and The Wheels, but the message is get there early to ensure a seat! Music from 1pm-4pm, £3 admission. Cafe/bottle bar, blues memorabilia on display, chance to win blues CDs, even LPs for sale. Don’t be late! Enquiries, 0151 709 5484 or visit www.myspace.com/bluecblues

Tom will be promoting his brand new record ‘Have a Taste of This’.

This is Tom’s third CD and follows the critical acclaim of his previous works, ‘The Bell’ and ‘Running Free’

Tracks from Tom’s new CD have just been featured on Radio Lancashire, Bluenotes and Radio Merseyside and like both his previous albums, Tom hopes to see ‘Have a Taste of This’ featured on the BBC Radio 2 Paul Jones Blues programme in the imminent future.

An organic development of his previous work, ‘Have a Taste of this’ sees Tom develop his composing and writing skills further, with 9 of the 13 Tracks being Originals; including the already acclaimed song, ‘Zimbabwe’.

Strongly rooted in the Acoustic sound of the 20s and 30s lap slide playing, Tom’s music brings a fresh approach and is bang up to date and full of instantly recognisable music that lets the listener know that this is Tom Doughty. He sounds like no other player of the genre.

Tom’s CDs are available from his web site: www.tomdoughty.com ; www.cdbaby.com and will soon see a Distribution deal in place to make all 3 CDs available in the shops and through internet sellers like Amazon and Play.com

http://www.tomdoughty.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/slideytunes

http://www.myspace.com/tomdoughty

Blues On The Rock is back this Sunday, October 12th, when Blue C host another afternoon of blues music and conversation at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, with their special guests Joey Shields and The Wheels playing gritty, down home blues. Music from 1pm-4pm, £3 admission.

Don’t be late!

The next event in the excellent Blues on the Rock series happens next Sunday 14 Sept.

Blue C host their third Blues On The Rock session at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, from 1pm-4pm this Sunday, afternoon, September 14th. Their special guests are the Xander Brothers.

Keith and Stuart Alexander, as part of their larger group Xander and The Peace Pirates, have already played at the Philharmonic Hall twice in recent months, supporting Eric Bibb and Buddy Guy. Not bad! So here is a rare opportunity to catch the Xanders performing a blues set in the intimate surroundings of the fort’s basement music venue.

The Talkin’ Blues segment will attempt to shed some light on Keith’s phenominal guitar technique. There will be a display of blues memorabilia and a chance to win blues CDs. There is a cafe/bottle bar and admission is £3. Sunday afternoon, September 14th, 1pm-4pm. Don’t be late!

http://www.myspace.com/xanderandthesmokepockets

Forty 4 - Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton - Sun 10 Aug  - 1pm

Liverpool blues duo Blue C host their second Blues On The Rock gig at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, on Sunday afternoon, August 10th.

Special guests this time are the fine blues band Forty 4, led by ex-Down At Antones frontman Neil Partington, so an afternoon of quality music is assured.

Raphael Callaghan of Blue C will also be talking to Neil about his career in blues music. There will be a display of blues memorabilia, and blues CDs to be won. There is a cafe/bottle bar, and music is from 1pm-4pm. Admission £3.

Blues on the Rock at Fort Perch Rock

featuring Blue C

13 July 1pm to 4pm

Merseyside bues duo Blue C are hosting a series of 2nd-Sunday-in-the-month blues sessions at an unusual but superb venue - Fort Perch Rock at New Brighton.

Raphael Callaghan, singer, slide guitarist and harmonica player of Blue C, got the idea from attending the long-running and hugely successful Merseybeat Story events at the historic fort, when veteran members of Merseybeat groups of the 60s would perform in the intimate setting of the venue’s tiny basement room.

Callaghan, whose harmonica work has graced sessions by Alexis Korner, Eric Bibb and Bonnie Raitt, said: “We hardly ever play in Liverpool these days and it is hard to find a suitable venue for our kind of music”.
“But the basement room at Fort Perch Rock just oozes with atmosphere even before a note is played. What with Tony Davis’s jazz sessions there as well, I hope the fort will become the place to be for quality roots music on Merseyside.”

Blue C’s special guest at the first Sunday bues afternoon on July 13th is Al Willard Peterson, whose pedigree goes back to the Cavern days and stints with Almost Blues, Supercharge, 29th And Dearborn and his own long-running R & B band, The Lawnmower.

Music is from 1pm-4pm. There will also be a blues disco, a display of blues memorabilia and CDs to be won. The fort has a cafe and bottle bar, and admission is only £3.

Further Sunday blues afternoons with Blue C and guests are scheduled for August 10th and September 14th. Enquiries: 0151 709 5484.