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Review of Rocking the Blues at Tring  Rocking the Blues at Tring 2005
    Tring Blues Festival 2006

Tring Blues Festival 2007

For details of Rocking the Blues at the Limelight

Blues News Home Page (last update 11th May 2008)

 

 

The 2008 Blues Music Awards Winners announced by the Blues Foundation

1. DVD - Kenny Wayne Shepherd "10 Days Out: - Blues from the Backroads "
2. Traditional Blues Male Artist - Hubert Sumlin 3. Traditional Blues Female Artist - Koko Taylor 4. Acoustic Artist - Bobby Rush 5. Acoustic Album Bobby Rush - Raw 6. Pinetop Perkins Piano Player - Honey Piazza 7. Instrumentalist-Guitar - Bob Margolin 8. Soul Blues Male Artist - Bobby Rush 9. Soul Blues Female Artist - Irma Thomas 10. Soul Blues Album - The Holmes Brothers – State of Grace 11. Historical Album - Epic/Legacy – Breakin’ It UP, Breakin’ it DOWN 12. Contemporary Blues Album - Tommy Castro - Painkiller 13. Contemporary Blues Female Artist - Bettye LaVette 14. Contemporary Blues Male Artist - Tab Benoit 15. Instrumentalist-Harmonica - Kim Wilson 16. Instrumentalist-Bass - Bob Stroger 17. Instrumentalist-Drums - Sam Lay 18. Instrumentalist-Horn - Deanna Bogart 19. Instrumentalist-Pedal Steel- Robert Randolph 20. Best New Artist Debut - Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy – Cotton Field to Coffee House 21. Song - “Gonna Buy Me a Mule” – Koko Taylor 22. Traditional Blues Album - Koko Taylor – Old School 23. Album - Watermelon Slim & the Workers – The Wheel Man 24. Band - Watermelon Slim & the Workers 25. B.B. King Entertainer - Tommy Castro

Supplied by Blues Blast  www.illinoisblues.com   To join their mailing list visit their website.

 

Blues on the Farm Tickets on Sale

Thursday 19th - Sunday 22nd June

Only six weeks to go and the pace is hotting up with bookings for Blues on the Farm 2008. Set on a farm in Chichester, the festival is one of the best UK blues events, well organised with good camping facilities now in the 17th year ."Friendliest festival in Britain"...... The Times.

 

The line up this year includes; venerable Blues supremos in the British Blues Quintet and Albert Lee & Hogans Heroes (yes Albert Lee's arm should be out of plaster). Flying in from France for their first UK performance together Point Blank, Southern Rock specialists, fielding Rusty Burns and Buddy Whittington out front in dual lead guitar mode. Some exceptionally talented youngsters coming up through the ranks namely Krissy Matthews, Dani Wilde and Rodney Branigan together with young Italian maestro Matthew Lee plus I and

Other names on the list are Innes Sibun, Aynsley Lister, Bullitt, 3 AM, Giles Hedley & the Aviators, Errol Liinton's Blues Vibe, Gary Fletcher, of Blues Band fame, and Albert Nyathi with his Zimbabwean touring group Imbongi. A spectacular four days of music. Visit their website for more details and to buy tickets: www.bluesonthefarm.co.uk

 

 

Chris Barber Presents The Blues Legacy CD Series

The Blues Legacy label have recently discovered a host of previously unreleased material from American Blues Legends including none other than Muddy Waters.

On April 4th 1915 the legendary Muddy Waters (aka McKinley Morganfield) was born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. Muddy Waters is known as one of the greatest, most influential and enduringly important musicians of the 20th Century.  You can hear sound sound clips at MySpace site: www.myspace.com/blueslegacylabel

You can listen to Rollin' Stone by Muddy Waters and When Things Go Wrong by Champion Jack Dupree...both tracks taken from The Blues Lost & Found Volume 2....GO LISTEN!

To buy either or all the 3 volumes of this superb series, you can visit the Blues Legacy Website www.blueslegacy.net  or go to www.bluescdstore.com or visit your local record shop.
 

New Reviews

 

See the reviews page for some new reviews including the recent Hoax re union gig click here

For more music reviews also go to; www.fairhearing.co.uk

 

Sad News

Guitarist Jeff Healey has died in hospital in Canada following a battle with cancel and this wonderful guitarist being blind from infancy was just an amazing player and even more so considering he was blind. He was only 41 and the world has lost a fantastic talent. His new blues album has just been released on Ruf Records and you can buy it by clicking the album cover. People will remember him for the enjoyment he brought with his superb playing. Jeff RIP


 

Buddy Guy In The UK-  Get Tickets Now!!!

 

One of the all time blues legends will be playing the UK in June 2008. This is a rare chance to see this legendary bluesman so get your tickets early, so as not to be disappointed.

JUNE 2008

Tue 24th London Shepherds Bush Empire

Wed 25th Manchester Bridgewater Hall

Fri 27th Birmingham Symphony Hall

TICKETS: £27.50

SHOWTIME: 7.30pm

24 HR TICKET HOTLINE:
0870 735 5000
www.bookingsdirect.com
(agency & credit card bookings subject to booking fee)

For further information: www.buddyguy.net
 

 

Eddie Blue & The Ravens UK Tour A Great Success

Eddie Blue's first UK tour has been an overwhelming success. Eddie Blue and The Ravens have had a great response including The Burnley Blues Festival all across the UK.

For info on Eddie Blue & The Ravens and the UK tour click here

NOTODDEN BLUES FESTIVAL2008


MATT SCHOFIELD AND IAN SIEGAL JOIN RAY DAVIES AND BILL WYMAN AS UK REPRESENTATIVES AT 2008 NOTODDEN BLUES FESTIVAL. - 31st July – 3rd August, Notodden, Norway
 

Notodden – northern Europe’s largest Blues festival - will this year stage some 50 artists including John Hiatt, Little Feat, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Pinetop Perkins. Heading the bill are Ray Davies, Koko Taylor and Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings.

Appearing for the first time will be guitar sensation Matt Schofield with his organ trio, and the UK’s no.1 blues voice, Ian Siegal.

Siegal will perform a solo set on the Acousitc stage on the Friday afternoon and then make a guest appearance with the Matt Schofield Trio, who will do evening shows on the Friday and Saturday.

Established in 1988 and an annual festival for the past 12 years, the small Norwegian town of Notodden attracts over 25,000 visitors to it’s Blues festival. BB King, Ike Turner, Robert Cray, Little Milton, Wilson Pickett, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Vaughan, Bo Diddley, Otis Rush, Junior Wells, John Mayall, Jeff Healey, and Johnny Winter are just some of the many well-known names to have played the festival.

 

New Updated Blues Website

Bobje Blues website has been updated and renewed with loads more info on the blues. The website is based in Belgium and has news on international artists, features, reviews etc., and has English translations. There's a new feature which allows you to post your own messages: ads, bookings offers, news from yourself or your band concerts and new releases. Visit this great website; www.bobtjeblues.com and to get on the email newsletter email: info@bobtjeblues.com 

 

LONDON’S BIGGEST BLUES GIG! For Just £1

 

The Ealing Blues N' Roots Festival takes place on Saturday 19th July 2008 in Walpole Park, Matlock Lane, Ealing, London W.5. Amazingly admission is only £1 and gates open from 1.30pm. The line up is up to the usual high standard and includes;

The Dani Wilde Band,  Sam Kelly and the Soul Brittannia Band, Funkydory, Robert Hokum & the Guv’nors, Graham Robins, Pete Smith & Chris Williams, Amrit Sond, Ray Stubbs and his amazing one man blues band,  Downliners Sect

 

Stars Wars and the Blues

What a combination. Darth Vader plays the blues. Have a look at this - superb;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJqPNpUhxPY   

New Festival For WiltshireBlues Music Paul Jones Barn Wiltshire

 

 

 

Blues in the Barn - Wiltshire - August 9th 2008

Wiltshire's unique Charity Blues Festival

Blues in the Barn will be a non profit making festival with all proceeds going to the Macmillan Cancer Support Charity for which it is hoped to raise over £5000. Not only is there a great line up of bands but also a great line up of food & drink.  Unique Real Ale Bar and onsite Indian restaraunt, "The Ratford Spice of Bengall".

Blues in the Barn is a festival of British Blues which will take place on Aug 9th 2008. It is a not for profit blues festival, held in an Equestrian Barn, on a farm in deepest Wiltshire. All proceeds will be going to the Macmillan support charity.

National Bands will be;

The Blues Band - Featuring the BBC's very own Paul Jones

The Eddie Martin Band - Bristol's finest Harp Blues Legend

The Oli Brown Band - Young lad from Norwich, probably the best young up and coming blues guitarist in England

Local interest will come from  No Mean Feat, Very tight band from Bath, Just Jim & Hiproute, Unplugged Singer / Songwriter from Swindon, great bloke, massive talent. Please find all details at;  www.bluesinthebarn.co.uk  

 

.

Papa George Releases First DVD

 
Papa George  Live At The Ram Jam featuring Alen Glen DVD is a peach of a DVD. If you have not seen Papa George doing his solo thing live, this will give you your own intimate gig. If you have seen him solo then you will want to own this. Filmed at the Ram Jam club in Kingston, London,  Papa George plays numbers from his solo album – Being Free..Ain’t No Crime plus well known blues classics and a version of Honky Tonk Woman. He plays resonator guitars and Alan Glen provides subtle harp accompaniment . You feel the personality of the man that lives and breathes blues. There is some bonus footage in home movie style of his 50th Birthday party at the Bulls Head in Barnes, London, a chat with Alan Glen about harps and the bands he’s been with, very informal, no edits. There is also some footage at the very famous Olympic Studios – yes the very one where Hendrix recorded his first albums and where so many famous people have recorded like Eric Clapton and Rory Gallagher. Plus an interview with Paul Jones, unplugged type performance with Hawaiian Ken Emerson and footage from Dr MLK Freedom Festival in Tallahassee USA. There’s also a photo gallery from Papa George’s archive. Over two hours of footage.  At present available from www.papageorge.co.uk or Blues CD Store www.bluescdstore.com   

 

 

 

 

Electric Blues Club website is dedicated To blues and other styles of music, musicians and a lot more - Blues information, blues news, blues articles & interviews, blues gift shopping & sites!! www.electricbluesclub.co.uk

 

Giles Hedley News

Giles Hedley is on youtube! The National Harmonica League has uploaded a couple of songs from his set at the national festival: one bottleneck guitar/harmonica duet with some lovely playing by harmonica ace Laurie Garman http://youtube.com/watch?v=LLcupYuFDvk  and a solo nose/mouth harmonica extravaganza http://youtube.com/watch?v=qmwVP74mxkc

Merv Osborne gave Giles Hedley a very nice review of “Wake Up It’s Nearly Dark” in the latest edition of Blues Matters:

GILES HEDLEY AND THE AVIATORS – WAKE UP IT’S NEARLY DARK is available from their website www.gileshedley.com  and www.bluescdstore.com
 

Blues CD Store Appointed Exclusive UK Distributors for Juke Joint Videos
Blues CD Store has been appointed exclusive UK distributor for the US company Juke Joint Videos who produce some wonderful DVDs of current blues artists. Videographer Richard Pelletier has gained critical acclaim for his camera work and is currently working on projects with the North Atlantic Blues Festival. Ironically, the first UK released DVD from the Juke Joint Video series is Little Milton  - 'His Last Concert' filmed at The  North Atlantic Blues Festival. Seven tracks are featured including the blues anthem 'The Blues Is Alright'.

The 75 minute long DVD shows Little Milton enjoying performing, whether singing with his great soulful voice or playing those blues guitar licks that only older bluesmen seem to master (see review, click here). This last performance captured on video is a testament that he was one of the greats and he will be sadly missed. You can buy this piece of history exclusively from Blues CD Store for only £14.99.

 

If you want to get on the Blues CD Store mailing list email info@bluescdstore.com or call 01296 634991

 

Blues in London News

To read about news and gigs on the London Blues scene visit;

www.bluesinlondon.com

 

Darth Vader Plays The Blues

Darth Vader plays the blues. Have a look at this - superb;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJqPNpUhxPY   

Great Site For Playing The Blues

Visit http://www.desktopblues.lichtlabor.ch  - it's great fun if you can get the hang of it. New feature you can now play some heavy metal as well!!!!

Toilets Around The World

More Pictures

If you are easily offended don't go to see more pictures. These have been sent to Rocking the Blues and we publish these on the site as they are rather amusing but wouldn't want to offend anyone click here

Peter Kay Funnies and Quiz Show Maddness -  click here

 

 

Rocking the Blues at the Limelight

is held normally on the 3rd Friday of every month  at The Limelight Theatre, Queens Park Arts Centre, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Next Gig

Friday 16th May

 Mick Pini Band

+ The Code

 

Adm £9.50 / £8.50 consc.

For more info on Rocking the Blues at the Limelight and to buy tickets on line 

click here

Alternatively, to purchase tickets over the phone call

01296 634991 or 01296 431272 / 424332

www.blueslegacy.net

 

www.bluesmatters.com

 

 

You can advertise on the Rocking the Blues website from £50 per 3 months or £150 per year. For more information email:

ads@rockingtheblues.com

or Tel: 01296 634991

 

 

A big thanks to the Tring Festival Company for their support for the last 5 years of The Tring Blues Festival

Although the Tring Blues Festival is no more, the Tring Festival Company do stage some great music, comedy and theatre at  he Court Theatre,  Pendley, near Tring, Herts. 

To see what's on visit www.courttheatre.co.uk 

To visit the Blues CD Store

Click Here

If you are in a blues or blues/rock band and you want to sell your cds on the fastest growing website for blues bands and artists visit;   www.bluescdstore.com

or click here  for more info.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Robert Johnson

Limited Edition 

Picture Disc

Featured in the Blues CD Store website, is this heavyweight 12" vinyl of Robert Johnson's recordings  in a picture disc format. Only 1500 copies worldwide will be produced making this a great collectors item. Ideal as a present! Even if you no longer have a record player and have Mr Johnson's songs on cd, these picture discs look great hanging on the wall or in a frame.

On one side is the picture of Robert Johnson sitting playing dressed in a suit. On the other side, the picture is a close up Robert Johnson's face smoking a cigarette.

There is also a black vinyl version available with retro red label. For more info  Click here and go to 'Product Overview'

www.bluescdstore.com

 

 

Full Circle is the first live CD from Zoot Money's Big Roll Band for 25 years and is released on the R&C Music label. Price £12.99

You can purchase a copy by clicking here or visiting;  www.bluescdstore.com  

 

Joe Bonamassa CD, Sloe Gin was released recently and  it 's awesome. There's plenty of Joe's trademark blues rock guitar plus some acoustic with a mix of originals and covers including Bad Company's Seagull.

Click here to buy the album

or visit;

www.bluescdstore.com

 

 
       

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