Blues News

Venues & Gigs The Limelight Gigs CD Reviews

Blues Links

Contact Us

(under construction)

(under construction)

Blues News Home Page - Updated approximately every 2 weeks. Last update 24th August 2010. 

We are updating many of our pages and therefore at present the only pages available on the Rocking the Blues website is this Blues News page, Limelight Gig page and the Venues & Gigs page. 

We hope to have the others pages updated and fully working very soon. We apologise for the inconvenience.

 

Rocking the Blues presents  

Blues & Rock Nights at  

The Limelight

Held normally on the 3rd Friday of every month  at The Limelight Theatre, Queens Park Arts Centre, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. www.qpc.org 

For more information visit Blues & Rock Nights at The Limelight page click here

www.bluescdstore.com

Providing The Best Blues on The Plan

Next Gig (no gig in August)  

Friday 17th September   8pm

The Larry Miller Band + The Code

Tickets: £10 / £9 (concs)

Larry Miller is fast becoming one of the must see blues/rock acts of 2010. With his energetic and eclectic style, Larry brings a new dimension of showmanship to his performances. He will be playing songs from his acclaimed new album ‘Unfinished Business’ as well live favourites. If you like Rory Gallagher, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Moore, Walter Trout or The Hamsters, you’ll love the guitar pyrotechnics of Larry Miller.  

The Larry Miller 'Unfinished Business' album launch  is  on Youtube,  click here to view. To buy his new album go to www.larrymiller.co.uk or to buy from Blues CD Store click here  

www.larrymiller.co.uk

Link to WeGot Tickets

Buy online  www.wegottickets.com

If you have any trouble getting through to The Limelight to purchase tickets or get information, call Rocking the Blues on 01296 634991

 

Blues Podcast for The Limelight

You can listen to tracks from blues band's and artists playing at the Limelight on The Limelight Podcast.Just click the play button below.

Paul Stiles presents The Limelight Podcast and has a good site for gigs in the area. You can download the podcast from his site;  www.oxfordblues.info  

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.bluesmatters.com

 
Sunday Blues & Roots At The Hop Pole
Rocking the Blues are going to be presenting three more shows at The Hop Pole in Aylesbury this year starting with some internationally acclaimed old timey music from Canada’s Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley accompanied by the veteran of British blues and boogie piano, Bob Hall. On Sunday 24th of October Toby Walker from the US will play a solo show and on Sunday 28th November The Spikedrivers will entertain with their rootsy blues. 

Check out the beautiful voice of Diana Braithwaite on these Youtube clips;

Back Room Blues & Roots at the Hop Pole

The Hop Pole, Bicester Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 9AZ  www.hop-pole.co.uk  

Sunday 19th September 8pm

Diana Braithwaite Chris Whiteley and Bob Hall

Tickets £10

Buy online by PayPal or credit/debit card (most cards accepted) using the button below;  

or call 01296 631898  

Cat Anderson RIP

This is a very sad announcement.Cat (Iain) Anderson died on Friday 30th July from pneumonia after a brave battle against a brain tumour. He was only 55 years old.

Many will remember Cat from the music scene either as a tour manager and more recently as a promoter of live music and bands. I first met Cat around 5 years ago when he approached me about helping my band Storm Warning get gigs. He helped several others including some international bands. I worked with him on some of the tours as he wasn’t in good health, having had a stroke a few years earlier. He was very proud of being involved with and knowing such great musicians and people involved with music. However the big thing in his life was his partner Marcella and his little boy Jake. He once said to me, he knew he would never see his little boy grow up and now sadly this is the case. Cat Anderson RIP

Derek White

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/22/m_9f336604b4d9e761df9ee628bce25d0f.jpg
 News From Bob Corritore in the US

Ike Turner honored with Mississippi Blues Trail Marker! Ike Turner was a brilliant guitarist and pianist who is considered to be the founder of Rock & Roll. A great business man, producer, arranger, band leader, and talent scout, Ike Turner helped to launch the careers of Howlin' Wolf, Little Milton, B.B. King, Elmore James, and many others. He is best known for his work with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, and for a villainous and misleading portrayal in the movie What's Love Got To Do With It. Ike passed away on December 12, 2007, at age 76, leaving an amazing musical legacy.Though considered a controversial figure in today's world, nobody can deny that Ike was a simply brilliant musical force. Ike Turner will be honored with a Mississippi Blues Trail marker which will be unveiled in Ike's hometown of Clarksdale on Friday, August 6th. The ceremony takes place at 10 am at 127 Third street in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi. Thanks to Alex Thomas of the Mississippi Department of Tourism for this information. To see a photo page dedicated to Ike, click here.  

Cousin Joe on YouTube! Cousin Joe was a New Orleans based blues piano master with a gift of writing songs that tell a story. Please enjoy these two masterful performances, filled with personality:

1) Cousin Joe performing "Cripple Crab A Crutch", click here

2) Performing "Life Is A One Way Ticket", click here

If you want to receive news Bob Corritore's regular Blues Newsletter by email  - email him at bobcorritore@yahoo.com 

No Regular Blues Club In St Albans Anymore

Unfortunately there is now no 'independently run Blues club at The Maltings Theatre in St Albans. Previous blues club organisers lay blame at the increase in the hire charges for the theatre. Bob Ayre who ran 'Shades of Blues' regular club says "Hire charges have been raised to a level that to break even on an event organisers would have to guarantee a sell out and/or raise ticket prices ( Stan Tracey tickets are £16 each, so the organisers can cover costs). This is a real shame as people wanting to bring quality music (of differing styles) to St Albans for  purely altruistic reasons are not able to."

St Albans district council is starting a 3 week consultation on future improvements to their programme of arts, film, drama & music at the theatre starting this monday 23rd August and closes Friday 10th September. One of the ideas i've seen in the local paper is to re-jig the internal space to form a screening room for Film and a much smaller capacity drama/music space. Any reduction in potential audience capacity at the Theatre would seriously compromise any future hirings to be economically viable - - - - so make your voice heard about the theatre's future

Please click on the link to the consultation and get involved in the future of St Albans 'Best kept secret' The Arts Theatre and lets see if we can get live music firmly on the agenda   Click here or go to www.stalbans.gov.uk    and find Maltings consultation.

New Orleans Katrina Movie Proposal

Papa George informs us that there is a Film Proposal about the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the musicians of New Orleans and also about the amazing support of the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic.  The film features a wonderful array of fantastic musicians and gives a realistic picture of how the whole community has suffered and why the situation should be rectified.

He says "We highly recommend that you watch the 2 exerts and, hopefully, this will encourage the promotion of the movie – just click on the 2 Web Links below and enjoy a few special moments in New Orleans."  Last year Papa George had an amazing time in the Big Easy and can verify the great work of the Musicians’ Clinic.

Imdb http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1556948/

Film  http://www.babelgum.com/5000284/recovery.html

Books www.MagicWandaBooks.com

A Little More About The Proposed Film From Those Involved

This is a fly on the wall observational documentary, fused with performances by some of the most respected musicians in the world, which features the extraordinary work of one of the most unique medical centres in the world; The New Orleans Musicians' Clinic.

Run as a charity, it offers free health care needs to the musicians who have made that city internationally renowned.  We have been granted unprecedented access to the Clinic, its staff, its management and most importantly the legendary musicians it treats. 

Through the Clinic’s work and it’s patient’s music and we will reveal how ‘The Big Easy’, devastated by the hurricane, is now, five years on, In Recovery.

We will combine poignant human-interest stories, often involving life and death in this unique institution, with the extraordinary music born out of the need for an expression of freedom generated by slavery.

A taster tape – produced after a short research trip – was entered in the Babelgum Online Film Festival (the new media competition in partnership with the Tribeca Film Festival) and it won the Runner Up Jury Award for Best Documentary. The short filmintroduces some of the principal characters of the film and gives a flavour of the filming style and the music.

Apart from the anniversary, this Autumn sees the television premier of the much vaunted David Simon television drama ‘Treme’.

New Rehearsal Studio in North London

There is a newly opened rehearsal studio based in Queensway, Ponders End, EN3, with two fully equipped sound proofed rehearsal studios available for hire at £10 per hour. This includes a drum kit, vocal pa, a bass amp and a guitar amp. They also offer FREE unlimited tea and coffee to all our customers and are open Mon-Sat 10am - 11pm and Sun 10am - 10pm . For more information, visit www.musicshackrehearsals.co.uk  or give them a call on 020 8804 4272 or 07943027059. 

Rock CD Store
 

If you like rock as well as blues, sign up to get information on the new Rock CD Store. Sometimes it is a fine line between what is blues and what is rock. Rock CD Store will cover the more rock side of Blues Rock,  60’s/70’s Rock, Classic Rock, Prog Rock, some Heavy Metal/ Rock and Folk Rock. Email:  rocklist@bluescdstore.com to get on the Rock CD Store mailing list.  

To join the new Rock CD Store Members Club and get 5 FREE CDs click here

 
New Website For Slim Lightfoot

Well at last, Slim pertains that he is the bearer of "Blues for the 21st century" so now his new spangled website keeps pace with this claim....check it out at  www.slimlightfoot.com There will be new content added in the next few weeks and the odd free download available, so keep checking in as the downloads will not stay for long

Music Maker Relief Foundation USA News
Although the summer is drawing to a close, Music Maker events are in full force. With the Pura Fé Trio concerts this weekend, the Warehouse Blues Series starting in September and the Music Maker Rendezvous at the Roots 'N Blues 'N BBQ Festival in October. 

warehouse

Click on the picture above to watch a video about Music Maker's Warehouse Blues Series!

Music Maker's Musical Development Program nourishes the roots of American music by directly supporting the careers of traditional artists. This includes launching an artist's career through the documentation of artists' work and the presentation of their work via concerts and performance tours.

Since the organization's founding 16 years ago, our Musical Development Program has been in full force, discovering the most talented and influential purveyors of the Blues and helping them to become self-sufficient musicians.

In order to sustain this program and continue to launch artists' careers they need the help of supporters.

There are artists waiting to be discovered- you can help develop a musician today!

 

donate now
Blues on the Radio

The Blues Show with Blues Show Bob and Norm -  Mondays, now 8pm - 10pm.    www.myspace.com/gtfmbluesshow  To listen live visit www.gtfm.co.uk 

Tune in to digital blues gateway every Wednesday between 20.00 & 22.00 BST time on Gateway FM, Community Radio for Basildon and East Thurrock . Each show is repeated at 22.00 BST on Thursday. Listen at www.gatewayfm.com

Tune in to digital blues on Kansas City Online Radio at 11.00 a.m. CDST (17.00 UK time) every Sunday at www.kconlineradio.com

The show is repeated at 20.00 CDT Monday (02.00 BST Tuesday) and 11.00 CDT(17.00 BST) on Wednesday, 03.00 CDT (09.00 BST) on Thursday and 14.00 CDT (20.00 BST) on Friday.

Catch digital blues on IndieTalent.ca always available at http://www.indietalent.ca/showsmenu.shtml

If you know of any other good blues radio programmes let us know so we can let everyone else know. Email radio@rockingtheblues.com 

 
 

PHILLIP WALKER 1937-2010

It is with deepest sorrow that we report on the sudden and unexpected passing of legendary blues guitarist Phillip Walker. He died of apparent heart failure at 4:30 AM, early Thursday morning, July 22, 2010. He was 73 years old.

Born February 11, 1937 near Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the small town of Welsh, Phillip Walker's earliest musical influences came via the Cajun and Creole rhythms he heard as a youngster. A second cousin to Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and huge admirer of T-Bone Walker, Phillip began making a name for himself in the early 1950s with his first recording session backing pianist Roscoe Gordon. At the age of 16, Walker left home to tour with Zydeco king Clifton Chenier (who incidentally gave the young fledgling Walker his first bona fide guitar) and never looked back.

After relocating to Los Angeles in 1959, Walker cut his first side as a bandleader; the storming "Hello My Darling", produced by J.R. Fulbright for Elko Records. His first full length album didn't appear until much later though. With the help of long-time supporter and producer Bruce Bromberg, Walker cut the excellent LP "The Bottom of the Top" in 1973 for Hugh Hefner's short-lived Playboy label. Over the next three decades Walker's musical career continued to pick up steam with numerous recording projects for HighTone, Black Top, Rounder, JSP and Alligator Records.

In 2007, Randy Chortkoff signed Phillip Walker to Delta Groove Music and released the critically acclaimed CD "Going Back Home". The recording session featured the renowned guitarist going back to his roots and exploring the rich musical history of Louisiana, Texas and West Coast Blues on classic material by Lowell Fulson, Ray Charles, Lonesome Sundown, Lightnin' Hopkins, Champion Jack Dupree and Frankie Lee Sims among others. Going Back Home was later awarded Best Album of 2007 in the New Recordings / Contemporary Blues category by the Living Blues Awards Critics' Poll.

Label CEO Randy Chortkoff shared some of his fond remembrances of working with Phillip these last few years by stating "Phillip was a consummate gentleman and it was an absolute pleasure working with him over the years. It was a pleasure producing his last album "Going Back Home". We chose the music on that album based on Phillip's musical tastes and background. He especially enjoyed doing the Champion Jack Dupree song "Bad Blood". It later became a standard in his live repertoire, in addition to one I wrote for him, "Lay You Down". We also had a great time with him years ago at the Moulin Blues Festival in Holland where he performed with The Mannish Boys, and the again at Ground Zero in Clarksdale, Mississippi for our 3rd Annual Delta Groove All-Star Blues Revue. There's some great footage of him playing at Ground Zero that we hope to one day put out and share with everyone. He was definitely a one of a kind. He will be missed."

© 2010. Delta Groove Music

 Delta Groove produce a superb array of CDs. You can buy Delta Groove CDs including Philip Walker CDs from Blues CD Store www.bluescsdstore.com

More Bad News - Ray Bartrip RIP

Ashwyn Smyth reported the sad news and here is what he has to say. He was a good friend of Ray's and knew him well, so it is fitting for Ashwyn to speak of his friend. British blues has lost a fine musician. Ray was also an amazing artist. Check out his work.

I am sorry to tell you that Ray Bartrip died in hospital last night (Wednesday 21st July 2010) after a long fight with cancer. As you will know, Ray was an important figure on the Essex music scene playing with a number of bands including Bad Town Blues, Rolling Thunder, the Customtones & the Bootlegs and he composed much of the original material that these bands played. He did much to help bands and artists through his Moon Recording Studio and his own record label, Bad Moon Records. I was proud to work with him on the production of the two Essex Delta Blues CDs which served to showcase Essex blues talent and bring it to a wider audience.

Ray was also a very talented and respected surrealist artist whose work was often exhibited, notably in the Leytonstone Festival art show, the "Epicentre" in Leytonstone and "The Changing Room" gallery in Lloyd Park, Walthamstow (of William Morris fame).

You can read more about him at www.raybartrip.com

Ray’s passing will leave a big hole in many peoples’ lives and my wife & I have lost a very good friend. Ray helped me a great deal over the years with Digital Blues, getting the website up & running and in so many other ways. Time spent with Ray was always joyous time and his wonderful enthusiasm and love for his fellow man, and woman, always rubbed off and left one feeling better!

If you want to leave a message or post your memories of Ray, I have set up a Facebook page – Ray Bartrip RIP – so if you are a Facebook member please do drop by and have your say.

ASHWYN

 
.New Pictures And Rupe's Gig Guide Updated

 The gigs mainly cover High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas. To visit,  http://www.rupesgigguide.co.uk

 
Blues CD Store New Mini Mag - The Bluesletter 210 Now Available

The latest Blues CD Store mini mag The Bluesletter is now available to read online.  To read Bluesletter 210 Click Here If you want to receive The Bluesletter by email or through the post email mailinglist@bluescdstore.com with your details. You can also join the Blues CD Store Members Club and get 5 free blues CDs per year as well as other benefits. See below;

Join The Blues CD Store Members Club   -  Best Blues Deal On The Planet!

Benefits Of Membership:

Ø  A free CD of our choice with every Bluesletter

Ø  5 Bluesletters  per year = 5 free CDs per year

Ø  Special offers and reduced prices only available to members 

Ø  Competitions/prize draws only available to members

Ø  Discounts on tickets at selected Blues Festivals and events

 The Cost: Only £20 per year  (until 1st September – increases to £24.75 thereafter)

You don’t need to order CDs to take out the membership.

You can pay by cheque using the order form attached or pay by credit/debit card over the phone.

You can pay online now for membership

To subscribe to Blues CD Store Members Club membership click here

 
Fender Gibson & Warwick For Sale

Fender Precision Bass 1970 USA

Genuine vintage bass. Great sound and feel. I've played it since mid 1970's but gigged and played very little over the last 20 years. The bass is original but has a couple of modifications to enhance the bass. These are a brass nut and an active circuit. The jack socket is now on the side allowing an extra tone control and a switch for adding active circuit or for by passing it. It is a unique one off bass.

Price -  £1800.00 ono

To buy or for more info call 01296 634991

(Cash /PayPal or Debit/Credit cards excepted)

 

Warwick Pro Bass Cab 211 

300w RMS 2 x 10 with horn and attenuator 8 ohms.  Price £140

To buy or for more info call 01296 634991

(Cash /PayPal or Debit/Credit cards excepted)

 

Gibson J40 Acoustic Guitar USA electro-acoustic

Very late 1970's or early 1980's. It has had some modifications to it. The open backed machine heads have been replaced many years ago with sealed Groover machine heads, as used by Gibson. High quality pick up is fitted under the bridge saddle. 

It feels great to play and is in reasonable condition but does have signs of wear and use over the years as you would expect with a 30+ year old guitar. A small split on the soundboard has been professionally repaired and does not affect the sound or appearance. The top has a lovely old aged look to it and the original Gibson factory finish. It needs a loving home and someone who can enjoy it.

Price £950 ono

To buy or for more info call 01296 634991

(Cash /PayPal or Debit/Credit cards excepted)

Something For The Musicians

YOU KNOW YOU'RE TOO OLD TO PLAY GIGS WHEN:

It becomes more important to find a place on stage for your fan than your amp.
Your gig clothes make you look like George Burns out for a round of golf.
All your fans leave by 9:30 p..m.
All you want from groupies is a foot massage and back rub.
You love taking the elevator because you can sing along with most of your set-list.
Instead of a fifth member, your band wants to spring for a roadie.
You lost the directions to the gig.
You need your glasses to see the amp settings.
You've thrown out your back jumping off the stage.
You feel like hell before the gig even starts.
The waitress is your daughter!
You stop the set because your ibuprofen fell behind the speakers.
Most of your crowd just sways in their seats.
You find your drink tokens from last month's gig in your guitar case.
You refuse to play without earplugs.
You ask the club owner if you can start at 8:30 instead of 9:30.
You check the TV schedule before booking a gig.
Your gig stool has a back.
You're related to at least one member in the band.
You don't let anyone sit in.
You need a nap before the gig..
After the third set, you bug the club owner to let you quit early.
During the breaks, you now go to the van to lie down.
You prefer a music stand with a light
You don't recover until Tuesday afternoon.
You hope the host's speech lasts forever.
                                                                                                    

You buy amps considering their weight and not their tone or "cool" factor.
You can remember seven different club names for the same location.
You have a hazy memory of the days when you could work 10 gigs in 7 days and could physically do it!
Your date couldn't make it because she couldn't find a babysitter for the grandkids.
The set list has to be in 20 point type.
Your drug of choice is now coffee.
It seems impossible to find stage shoes with decent arch support.
You fart on stage and don't laugh.

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 www.desktopblues.lichtlabor.ch

Here's a new site for blues impro - you'll love it whether you play or don't. Instant blues musician and band www.instantblues.com

..................

Blues CD Store

To receive either by post or email the bi monthly Bluesletter from Blues CD Store, call 01296 634991 or email info@bluescdstore.com  

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  click here  for more info.  

 

www.bluescdstore.com

.....

Blues News

Venues & Gigs

The Limelight Gigs

CD Reviews

Blues Links

Contact Us

(under construction)

(under construction)

Rocking the Blues.com

Rocking the Blues does its best to ensure information is accurate but does not accept liability for any inaccurate information that may appear within its pages or on any third party links. All information published is to help promote mainly blues and blues/rock music and is published in good faith.