Blues In Britain » Editorial

What’s New in Issue 103

BiB webmaster — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:56:21 +0000

June has been really exciting at Blues In Britain. Firstly Sandi Thom came in to talk about her new album Merchants and Thieves, for this issue. You could win one of three copies, which are prizes in this month’s magazine competition. Then slide guitarist Jeremy Spencer was in London so I took him and his wife to Sam Hare’s jam at Charlotte Street Blues, where he played three numbers on Sam’s guitar with some of the regular jammers. Jeremy mentioned that he had been recording in Detroit, so an album may be forthcoming.

Trevor Hodgett landed an interview with Hammond player James Taylor who was playing at the Guinness Blues On The Bay Festival. You can read this very frank article as well as Trevor’s review of the festival. Reviewer Bob Chaffey went to the Boogaloo Weekend at Alvaston Hall in Cheshire and has sent in his report of the festival. It sounds like fun.

We have two e-letters this month. Harmonica player and frontman, Giles Robson and his band The Dirty Aces are touring in July with Mud Morganfield from Chicago, one of Muddy Waters’ sons. Giles has sent in an e-letter to describe how they got together and what to expect. They will be promoting the album Mud and The Dirty Aces: Live, which they recorded in Jersey, where Giles comes from.

Feed Me is a very youthful band from Cumbria, which won the Maryport Battle of the Bands and the right to open the Maryport Festival. In his e-letter, guitarist Jamie Francis introduces the band, which has opened up for visiting artists and is beginning to tour in its own right. The band’s album Blood On the Moon is all ready selling well at gigs.

As we go to press, there is a busy blues weekend coming up and it looks like July will be the same. There are so many festivals that when the press release for the Edinburgh Blues Festival came in, late, there was no room in the gig guide. There are some great artists playing there, including Canned Heat Woodstock Reunited Band , which has three members of the original Canned Heat. More details of that and loads of other festivals are in the Blues News pages.

Make the most of all the wonderful music being played this summer. With the economy as it is, we may not get the opportunity so often from now on. I will be going to the Ealing Festival on 24th July. Perhaps I will see you there.

Fran Leslie

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What’s New in Issue 102

BiB webmaster — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:27:32 +0000

A Blues In Britain reader told me that Larry Miller, our featured artist this month, is very entertaining live. When I heard he was bringing out a new album, called Unfinished Business, it was a good opportunity to invite him in to Blues In Britain for interview. He turns out to be a very determined man as you will learn.

Popa Chubby is coming back for more dates in June. The last time he came to London, I met up with him in his Bayswater hotel and he told me about his latest album The Fight Is On. He will be playing at Blues On The Farm this month.

Solo artist Patrick Sweany is also playing at Blues On The Farm. We have yet to meet, so Patrick sent Blues In Britain an e-letter to explain what we will get when we see him. Blues On The Farm sounds like something to look forward to, so many great musicians are playing there.

Dr Blue & The Prescription is a London based band. The band plays at Ain’t Nothing But and Charlotte Street Blues and is appearing at The Kerry Blues Festival in Ireland this month. Mike Mckeon, alias Dr Blue, sent in his e-letter to fill us in on the band.

Also in this issue have festival reports from Swanage and from the New Orleans Jazz Fest plus regular reviews of gigs and CDs. The summer brings the rainy season but we are not to be deterred from going to as many outdoor events as possible. Take a brolly and take notes and photographs so you can send in a review. Thank you every one who contributes! Please keep them coming in, I can’t do it by myself.

Fran Leslie

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What’s New in Issue 101

BiB webmaster — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:26:21 +0000

Now that Spring is finally with us, visiting blues artists are here again, weather and volcanic ash permitting. Eric Bibb is touring in Europe and will be in the UK and Ireland throughout May. He is promoting his new album Booker’s Guitar, which has him playing solo and with harmonica player Grant Dermody. Eric was in Finland when I called him to ask about it. I am hoping to see Eric and Grant at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, where they are playing on two nights.

Another visiting American is Tommy Castro from California. Although he was touring, Tommy found a moment to send us an e-letter to introduce himself to new Blues In Britain readers. He is doing six dates in the UK as part of his European tour, including his only Scottish date at The Ferry in Glasgow. His latest album, Hard Believer, has been nominated for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year and his band is short-listed for the Band of The Year award, in the Blues Awards; the results are announced in Memphis in May.

The Pete Harris Blues Band, based in the South of England, has recorded a live album, Goin’ Away. Bob Long interviewed Pete Harris, for Blues In Britain, just before he went on tour in New Zealand with Mike Garner. You can see Pete and Mike playing together on YouTube.

One of the many up and coming young players is Jack Blackman. He plays solo acoustic blues and writes his own songs. He already has a six-track CD out called Just A Game. He too sent in an e-letter, taking time off from his GCSE studies and playing guitar in the garden shed to write it. Jack will be playing at festivals and support gigs for visiting artists this summer and is working on an album. Who says the blues is old people’s music!

This month we have an election. Remember, when we are approached by people wanting our vote, we must ask what their candidate will do to support live music. The Live Music Bill will be re-presented to Parliament after the election. We have to make sure it is passed into law. Music is an important part of our cultural life and our economy; blues is important to us. Let’s keep the blues alive!

Fran Leslie

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What’s New in Issue 100

BiB webmaster — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:02:22 +0000

This is the one-hundredth issue under the title Blues In Britain, which would have been more obvious if the last issue, number 99, had not been erroneously numbered 98! The magazine, first published in 1989, was originally called Blueprint and reached 80 issues by December 1996. Relaunched in July 1997 as Blueprint Volume 2, it reached 54 issues. Then the title was changed from Blueprint to Blues In Britain in January 2002 to avoid confusion with several other magazines of the same name and the current name describes exactly what the magazine is about, the live blues scene in the UK.

This month’s magazine puts the spotlight on Earl Jackson who will be playing at The Big Blues Weekend in Torquay in May, alongside US guitarist Buddy Whittington and legendary UK band The Producers. I went to meet Earl at Boogaloo House and you can read some of what he told me about his music and his guitars.

The Internet is a useful tool. I could not pop over to Baton Rouge to interview singer-songwriter and guitarist Larry Garner, so I sent guitarist Norman Beaker questions and he, with Larry’s help, emailed in the answers. Larry Garner is touring here, with The Norman Beaker Band, in April and May. They have recorded an album Live At The Tivoli.

I was also rescued by e-technology when my recorder broke down during an interview with guitarist, singer and songwriter Sam Hare and the spare one turned out to be off the premises. Sam and I discussed the questions and he emailed in the answers. His band, Sam Hare’s Soul Junction, has a new album out, called Down To The Sea, which was launched in March.

We have several more e-letters. One is from a very impressive young band, Virgil & The Accelerators, whom I have seen supporting The Hoax. The second e-letter is from veteran acoustic blues man Dick Wardell, who has two new CDs out, and plays solo gigs as Kid Wardell and duo gigs with Fish Feathers MacTeeth as High Steppin’ Papas. Then there is an e-letter from London based band Little Devils (my capitals); though I have read it several times, I can’t understand it but maybe you can fathom it out.

We also have a Blues Venue piece on The Anchor, home of Blues With A Bottle in Sevenoaks in Kent, and a review of The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. Thanks to everyone who sends in reviews and photographs. May the blues be with us all!

Fran Leslie

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What’s New in Issue 99

BiB webmaster — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:37:12 +0000

As a teenager in the sixties when the popular music of the day was based on r&b, I became a born-again blues fan after I saw the light at one of Eric Clapton’s 24 Nights shows at the Royal Albert Hall. Many of the people I interview have been blues men who have, as Chris Rea put it, ‘a day-job of successful recording artist’. Or, as in Snowy White’s case, they have been in such demand as guitarists that they have not had time to play the music they love. Apart from playing with Cockney Rebel, Al Stewart, Pink Floyd and the like, Snowy White had his own band The White Flames. Recently however, partly because his fans want to hear him play the blues, he has formed The Snowy White Blues Project, which includes guitarist and singer Matt Taylor. Last year, the band released an album, called In Our Time of Living, and is touring the blues circuit in the UK and Europe. I called Snowy up to ask him about The Project for Blues In Britain.

The Blue Devils is collaboration between the fine guitarist Richard Studholme and bass player Jim Leverton. They are also involved in the Mojo Music Weekends in Kent. Michael Prince fills us in on the details.

Australian Tommy Emmanuel is a guitar virtuoso who plays with skill and fire. He is on tour currently but he found time to send in an e-letter to tell us about the new show he is doing with The Frank Vignola Trio and the album they have recorded together.

Singer and bass player Fran McGillivray and guitarist Mike Burke are known to many as part of So Long Angel. They have been on the UK blues scene seemingly forever. They have just released an album as a duo, The Road That You Believe In and Fran has written an e-letter to tell us about that and about Mike and her.

Lord Clement-Jones, Tim to his friends, is a Liberal Democrat peer with responsibility for Culture, Media & Sport. He is championing a new bill through Parliament, which aims to restore music to small venues without the need for an expensive and punitive licence. This is a cross-party matter rather than a party political one. He took time to call me up to explain the aim of the bill and strategies we can adopt to help it get passed. It is due to go to the House of Commons for a second reading on Friday 12th of March. You can email your MP and ask him or her to support it and you can sign the petition on the Number 10 web site. If someone tries to solicit your vote, in the run up to the election, ask what the candidate is doing to support the bill. Read the full interview with Lord Clement-Jones here.

Fran Leslie

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What’s New in Issue 98

BiB webmaster — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:01:51 +0000

Our cover artist Ray Gelato, unusually for Blues In Britain, is at the jazz end of rhythm and blues. His band Ray Gelato’s Giant reflects the time when every American r & b and rock and roll band had a saxophonist. I went to see Ray and he told me all about his influences and experiences. His music swings!

The Brazilian guitarist and singer, Alamo Leal, lived for many years in Europe but has settled back home. Happily, he returns to the UK from time to time and, when he was here last year, Scott Duncan interviewed him for Blues In Britain. Naturally they talked about Alamo’s new album, named simply Alamo Leal. Alamo tells me that he hopes to tour here in the Autumn.

We have three e-letters for this issue. One is about the acoustic duo Dr Stenson & Pete Burke. Pete Burke has been persuaded to come back from Spain for a brief tour and Kevin Stenson has written to tell us how they got together and about their style. The band 24 Pesos has a second album out, Neckbones & Gumbo. Since they formed in 2007 they have had some exciting gigs in Europe and the UK. You can read about it in their e-letter. The third e-letter is from Skyport Ade and when I read it the first time, I laughed out loud. I guess his gigs must be rather entertaining. Skyport Ade’s Pottingshed Band also has a new album out, called Mortimer Blues, named after the village where Ade lives.

Despite the dreadful weather, there have been a number of great gigs lately, which have been well attended. There are more to come. As we are going to press, we have had news of two festivals in London in February: The 2nd North London Festival, at The Intimate Theatre London N13, and a week long event The Blues Kitchen Festival of R & B, at the new venue in Camden High Street in London NW1. Check the magazine for more details.

As ever, we are indebted to the many reviewers and photographers who contribute to the magazine. Without you, the magazine would not exist. The same goes for you the readers. Thank you all for your support.

Fran Leslie

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What’s New In Issue 97

BiB webmaster — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:32:54 +0000

To start the year we have two major articles on UK artists who excel at different ends of the blues. Justin Adams has gone from being a major mainstream musician to working in the World music genre with African musicians. He has a 2009 album out, Tell No Lies, which he recorded with Gambian, Juldeh Camara. They are touring in the UK in January. I met Justin Adams at Kings Place, the new venue in London, just before a gig he did with Juldeh in October last year.

Guitarist Marcus Bonfanti and pianist and keyboard player Paddy Milner joined up to form Paddy Milner & The Big Sounds and to work with the fabulous US soul and r & b singer Earl Thomas. They both write songs and sing soulfully too as you will hear on the eponymous album, Paddy Milner & The Big Sounds, on Marcus’ 2009 album, What Good Am I To You, and the next Paddy Milner album, which will be out soon. Marcus and Paddy came into Blues In Britain to talk to me.

We have three e-letters this month. Two are about US bands, Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three and The Wiyos. Pokey was so successful in Edinburgh last year he and his band have been invited back to play as part of Celtic Connections, the Glasgow based festival. The Wiyos also play there and both bands have a few dates in England as well. The third e-letter is from Craig Blundell, a session drummer, who has been brushing up on his shuffles to play with Alan Nimmo’s band, King King.

A new venture is the Blues In Britain Facebook Group. If you join the group you will receive updates on gigs and tours and other blues news from other members, flagged via your email address. Go to www.facebook.com and type Blues In Britain into the search box on the top right corner. If you want to post something yourself, add it to the site but also send a brief message to all members by clicking on message all members on the top left.

Thank you to all of our photographers and reviewers who have covered the recent festivals and live gigs or reviewed albums. Information is coming in about blues festivals and tours for 2010. It looks like a good year!

Fran Leslie

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What’s New In Issue 96

BiB webmaster — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:15:28 +0000

The last issue of the year gives us a chance to look back and a tour by The Hoax has Scott Duncan looking back over the past twenty years. I recall this band when it was composed, mostly, of teenagers. They grew in talent and status and then were gone before they fulfilled the band’s promise. This was mostly because of a record company that wanted something they didn’t. They have all achieved a lot in their individual careers but have reunited for a short tour because The Hoax was a band that was always meant to be. I hope they will do it again from time to time. They have three dates in Holland, four in England. See them if you can!

We have two e-letters this month. One is from guitarist and singer-songwriter Andy Sharrocks who, dare I say it, is a reformed punk. He has worked in the music business in various roles for many years. He has now launched his second solo album, Dirt, which features original material written while he was on the road. The other e-letter is from Adam Norsworthy, the singer and guitarist of The Mustangs. The band’s fifth album, Cut Loose, is now out. On the rockier edge of the blues, the album consists of eleven original tracks, played live in the studio.

The live scene has been very healthy this year. Apart from reviews of some of the many recent gigs around the country, we have reviews of eight festivals, one of them in Katmandu! The 2010 festival season starts off in March with Banbury and Swanage festival programmes already out. We have had confirmation that the festivals at Burnley, at Easter, and Colne, over the August Bank Holiday, will take place next year. However, Burnley has lost its sponsor so the major events in the Mechanics Institute will take place on Easter Saturday only. Ashburton Blues Festival, in Devon, is held over the late May Bank Holiday weekend. Support the festivals and support your local gigs; blues it or lose it!

Season’s Greetings to you all!

Fran Leslie

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What’s New In Issue 95

BiB webmaster — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:41:54 +0000

In this issue there are articles on two touring US musicians. The much-celebrated Boston based guitarist, singer and bandleader Tom Principato is visiting the UK, briefly, for the first time, as part of a European tour. He is playing at Carlisle Blues Festival and at Famous Monday Blues in Oxford. He will be coming back next year for a longer tour. Zach Prather has toured the UK before, as drummer for Luther Allison. Zach fronts his own band on guitar and vocals and is now based in Zurich, so we hope to see more of him too. Both artists have contributed e-letters to introduce themselves to Blues In Britain readers.

Our two home grown featured artists are Tony Remy and Pete Mitchell. Pete Mitchell’s Drive is at the blues-rock end of the genre. As he writes in his e-letter, he has both an album and an autobiography out. Tony Remy has had a career working with jazz and mainstream artists and is currently working with Annie Lennox. In between tours and dates, he is to host a blues evening on Monday nights at London’s Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, in Soho. Recently, Tony came in to Blues In Britain to tell me about it.

We also have a photographic review of the 2009 Great British R&B Festival at Colne, courtesy of Alan White of Early Blues. His web site is one of the most informative about blues festivals in the UK. All the photographs we were sent arrived too late for the last issue, so we are running some of them now as a souvenir of a great weekend. Our grateful thanks go to everyone who sends in reviews and photographs.

There are at least two great blues festivals in November, at Tenby and at Carlisle. I cannot get to either, as I will be working on the December issue of the magazine. I will be going to the Cricket St Thomas Blues Weekend, in Chard Somerset, 20th – 23rd November. The hotel was used in the making of the TV series To The Manor Born. If you are there too, please come and introduce yourself! There are lots of great touring shows on the road. Even if it is just a gig at your local venue, get out and see something! The music needs our support.

Fran Leslie

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What’s New In Issue 94

BiB webmaster — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:21:56 +0000

Our cover artist, Bobby Tench, is a musician who has played and recorded with so many people that his biography reads like a Who’s Who of British blues. He began his career as a bass player and was a noted singer. He has since developed as a formidable guitarist. And the beat goes on because he is touring with Alan Price, Chris Farlowe, Maggie Bell, Zoot Money and co on the Maximum Rhythm ’n’ Blues Tour this month and next. The tour celebrates The Flamingo Club, which is where they all started out in the sixties. I went to meet Bobby Tench in Barnes, where he regularly plays with Barnes Blues Band at The Bull’s Head.

One of the new generation of guitarists, Simon McBride, from Northern Ireland, has achieved acclaim with his first solo album. He played with a heavy metal band before joining Andrew Strong’s touring band but is now playing his own brand of rock-blues. Trevor Hodgett caught up with him for Blues In Britain.

Soul singer Earl Gaines is gracing our shores again this month. He will be touring with Catfish Kings. Earl telephoned in his piece from his home in Nashville.

Blues Sans Frontières is a project that has grown out of a collaboration between guitarist Robert Hokum and drummer Sam Kelly. The band comprises an eclectic mix of musicians including Mehboob Nadeem the sitar player and flautist Keith Waithe, from Guyana. The band is playing a rare gig at The Bush Hall in London W12, on 29th October, so Bob has sent in an email to tell us how it came about.

We are just catching up on reporting some of the many blues festivals that have taken place in the UK and Europe in the Summer. Thanks to all the writers and photographers who send in copy! We also have around 800 gigs in the Gig Guide. So much music, so little time! Get out there and enjoy it!

Fran Leslie

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