Multi-talented musician Rod Demick has been around so long, we forget that he started off in Northern Ireland. Fortunately Trevor Hodgett, our man in Belfast, has interviewed Rod for Blues In Britain and has filled in some of the details of Rod’s long and varied career in music.

My treat this month was to talk to Ms Lillian Boutté. The singer, who originates from New Orleans, married a German and has lived in Germany for many years. She comes to the UK frequently to work on music in schools projects and has recently started to perform here more frequently. She is playing at the new blues venue, Charlotte Street Blues, on 11th July, and has high profile festival gigs, at Abbeyfest on 24th July, and Regents Park on 2nd August, and a gala fund raiser at London’s 606 Club on 29th July.

Talking of festivals, there are so many enthusiastic festival reviews that we have, yet again, run out of space and will have to hold the more recent ones until the next issue. We are indebted, as ever, to our intrepid reviewers and photographers who send in contributions. Thank you and please keep them coming! And to our readers, thank you for your support and for keeping the blues alive.

Fran Leslie

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