Mississippi Hill Country Blues trio 3 Kings will take to the stage as part of the all day food and drink festival in Hoole, Chester on Sat 03 Oct. http://www.kash-bars.com/kash-tap-room-events/ Ten of Chester’s finest bars and pubs will do battle in two competitions – the Mocking Bird Tap, the Oaklands, Luke and Gin Rickeys, Joseph […]

Review for the GREAT BRITISH R&B FESTIVAL @ Colne 2014 – A ‘Trail’ viewpoint http://www.bluesfestival.co.uk/ Rosy Greer from Lancashire Blues Archive goes to Colne For 25 years The Great British R&B Festival has graced the streets of Colne, so this was a special celebration for a special festival on the Lancashire calendar. For us the […]

This morning I have been enjoying the band The Midnight Ramble. Formed in October 2010 by singer/songwriter Paul Dunbar the 6-piece soul/rock/blues outfit is an award-nominated (‘Album of the Year’, Liverpool Music Awards 2012) and critically-acclaimed outfit from Liverpool, UK. The band has featured on BBC Introducing, had consistent radio plays nationally and internationally, had […]

Hello bluesinthenorthwest.com readers. The recent announcement of a new blues jam in Chester got me thinking.  It would be really good to update our listings of good quality local blues jams. A jam night should be a focus of musical talent and should be getting players together and giving up and coming youngsters a chance […]

BURNLEY INTERNATIONAL ROCK AND BLUES FESTIVAL 2013   –  ’25 YEARS’ Saturday evening review by Rosy Greer (Lancashire Blues Archive) We arrived in plenty of time this year (which makes a change!) and were able to actually find somewhere to sit. The Mechanics in Burnley is a great venue, but I was surprised  the place was […]

Did you manage to catch Dick Farrelly and Mat Walklate on their recent tour?  If not – here’s what you missed. Follow the link to hear some live recordings from the tour. http://snd.sc/122RkXn https://soundcloud.com/Matwalklate

LANCASHIRE BLUES ARCHIVE GOES TO SHREWSBURY The Theatre of Blues Festival, Shrewsbury – April  2013 – A personal Diary As a strong supporter of all genres of  ‘the blues’  and host to the Lancashire Blues Archive which is part of the British Blues Archive, I like to get out and about to as many blues […]

Stockdale – Chester Town Hall Saturday, 16th March Always nice to give a local gig a plug . . . here’s a charity event taking place at Chester Town Hall on Saturday, 16th March: www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-news/local-chester-news/2013/03/07/rock-n-roll-band-stockdale-to-perform-gig-at-chester-town-hall-for-good-cause-59067-32935864

http://youtu.be/mN8OJaTvqW0 A little bit ‘off topic’, but 52 Skidoo bring their music from the era of the Speakeasy, Prohibition, Vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley, New York rent parties, Harlem Stride Piano and Hot Jazz to several small venues as part of the Cheshire Rural Touring Arts programme . . . I’m not sure though that the […]

Just a reminder that American acoustic bluesman Kent DuChaine is at Alexander’s in Chester this coming Thursday, 14th February: Here’s the link to the original posting: www.bluesinthenorthwest.com/index.php/2013/01/07/gig-kent-duchaine-alexanders-rufus-court-chester

http://youtu.be/AqQOiMYPsA8 One of the most talked about new groups in these isles, The Strypes, visit Liverpool for the first time in March. Tipped by the NME as one of the ‘Most Exciting New Bands of 2013’, the Irish four-piece have won high profile fans including Jeff Beck, Paul Weller and Elton John for their primal […]

http://youtu.be/nyOhTarWX3k The latest newsletter from the Potteries-based outfit, Cry Baby And The Hoochie Coochie Boys: Hello Friends It might be belated but lets start by wishing you all a happy, healthy and peacful new year. Well 2012 was a great year for the band, kicking off with awards and great reviews for our debut album […]

Word has come in from Dave Sawyer that the Lymm Festival Winter Warmer Blues Night, featuring the ‘Chicago Duo’ of Tommy Allen and Johnny Hewitt, as well as two sets with friends and members of the Smokehouse Blues Band, at Lymm Golf Club on Friday, 1st February is now SOLD OUT.

Here’s a relatively-new outfit from the Runcorn area, which amongst others, features Gaz Clarke and Barney Barnett, ex-Smokehouse Blues. Here they are in action at The Railway Hotel in Runcorn. http://youtu.be/71N8zqsYl2Y Further details on the band can be found here: http://www.reverbnation.com/littlejothemisfits

Stalwart of the North West blues scene, Tony always attends gigs with a camera.  His Flickr stream is well worth a browse. –

Paul Webster has uploaded a superb set of pictures from the Carlisle Rock and Blues Weekend. Sharing via blogs is not permitted so you will have to follow the link and check them out on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigoax-blues/sets/72157632101685934