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BLUES AT THE FRINGE WITH…
TOMMY ALLEN & JOHNY HEWITT
At The Llangollen Fringe Festival ‘09
Town Hall, Castle St.
Wednesday 22nd July
Tommy Allen & Johny Hewitt will be performing at The Llangollen Town Hall on Wednesday 22nd July. Tickets Are £7 available from www.llangollenfringe.co.uk and the Fringe Box Office: 0800 046 7665. Doors Open 7.30pm
Ry Cooder is playing at The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Saturday, 11th July. If you want tickets to see be quick because it will be a sell-out.
I’m looking forward to the Worthenbury Festival today. A chance to see some old friends and make some new ones. It’s a great event and is highly recommended.
The weather forecast is not perfect but it is not bad, a bit of drizzle early on then fine later.
http://www.bluesinthenorthwest.com/index.php/2009/06/12/gig-worthenbury-festival-sat-27-june-2009/
See you later.
FRIDAY JULY 17th LISA MILLS & IAN JENNINGS £10
Mississippi born Lisa, our favourite American female blues singer makes a welcome return with Big Town Playboys double bass player Ian. Likened to a mix of Bonnie Raitt, Etta James and Janis Joplin, Lisa has actually played with Big Brother and The Holding Company. She has also performed with Robert Plant, Jeff Beck and Jools Holland and appeared at Glastonbury
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18th THE GUY TORTORA BAND £10
Pasadena native but now living in London, Guy brings his four piece band playing one set acoustic and one electric. A superb guitarist he has built up a strong reputation and has over the last two years played on stage with Eric Clapton, Jon Cleary, Eric Bibb and Pee Wee Ellis.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 23rd LITTLE TOBY WALKER £10
Back by popular demand after an amazing gig last year, Toby from New York makes a very welcome return. A superb acoustic guitarist and vocalist who learnt his trade at the feet of Mississippi’s finest - RL Burnside, Eugene Powell, Son Thomas and Jack Owens.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6th WOODY MANN & TOM DOUGHTY £12
This is a major scoop for us -Woody Man has long been recognized as one of the world’s leading jazz guitarists but was taught blues by Rev Gary Davis and played with Son House, Bukka White and John Fahey. On a UK tour at many major theatres (Including Theatre Clwyd)and Arts Centres, we are the smallest venue on the tour so early booking required.
Check his website www.woodyman.com.
Tom Doughty from Cheshire is a very remarkable man. Severely injured in a rta as a teenager, he only restarted playing guitar a few years ago with the instrument attached to his wheel chair. Even with restricted movement he is an amazing guitarist and has developed a superb technique whilst becoming a firm friend of Woody.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21st THE HOKUM HOTSHOTS AT BANGOR ON DEE HALL
This is a gig we’ve arranged for The Bangor Academicals, a charitable group in Bangor. There will be a limited number of tickets available near the date to see these funtime Geordie Blues musicians. More details nearer the date.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 4th DAVE KELLY £10
Top UK guitarist Dave leaves Paul Jones and The Blues Band at home for this solo gig when he will play all sorts of songs and tunes that have influenced him and made him the UK blues legend that he is.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 18th THE DERRIN NAUENDORF BAND £12
Top Aussie acoustic guitarist Derrin was one of the 1st musicians to play at Worthenbury and is long overdue. This time appearing with his trio, a band that took last year’s Maryport Festival by storm, Derrin is now one of the biggest names on the world blues/roots scene and this will be a memorable night – again cancel all Christmas parties for this night!
There is nore information in the full programme that you can download from here.
Gary Fletcher Band (feat Bernie Marsden)
Southport Arts Centre
4 July 2009
There is a late, and rather exciting, change to the date with Michael Roach, at the Southport Arts Centre on Saturday 4 July…
Rock Legends Step Into the Breach
A last minute hitch, followed by frantic round of phone calls, has created an unexpected treat for Blues and Classic Rock fans at Southport Arts Centre.
Internationally acclaimed Blues star Michael Roach will head back to Southport in July on a star-studded double-bill also featuring The Gary Fletcher Band, with a one-off line-up including former and current members of The Blues Band, Dire Straits and Whitesnake.
The Michael Roach Band wowed the audience at a gig at Southport Arts Centre last year and the full band were due to return until ex-Wizzard star Roy Wood poached Michael’s horn section. So the frontman is coming to perform a solo set, on Saturday, July 4, at 8pm, and Arts Centre Programme Manager John Sprackland has pulled a rabbit out of the hat by adding Gary Fletcher’s band, with special guest Bernie Marsden, to the bill.
Roach, originally from Washington DC, is an internationally acclaimed blues artist, with a soulful voice and fantastic personality and will play a solo set at the Arts Centre before making way for the fantastic Gary Fletcher Band.
Gary Fletcher recently played with The Blues Band to a packed out Crosby Civic Hall, so his fans are in for a treat when he returns this time to Southport Arts Centre with his other band.
The Gary Fletcher Band line up will feature Pick Withers (Dire Straits) on drums, Jack Fletcher on bass, Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake) on lead guitar and Gary Fletcher (Blues Band) on guitar and vocals.
John Sprackland, Performing Arts Programme Manager at Southport Arts Centre, says: “They say every cloud has a silver lining and the circumstances that brought this amazing line up together proves it! When Michael Roach found out at short notice that his band were not going to be able to make the date I jumped at the chance to put the Gary Fletcher Band on, only to find that Gary’s regular guitarist was unavailable. Then, a few phone calls later, Gary told me that he’d persuaded Whitesnake legend Bernie Marsden to join him for one night only! So, there you have it * a genuinely unique not-to-be-missed event.”
Tickets are £10 or £8 for concessions, available by calling Southport Arts Centre box office on 01704-540011 or by logging onto www.seftonarts.co.uk
Bernie Marsden picture from Stellacart
Thursday 25th June - at BJ’s Blues Club - TOMORROW
the Hop Pocket, Carr lane, Chorley www.hoppocket.co.uk
The Boozie Woozie Band
And now for something completely different!
The Boozie Woozies are a ‘splinter band’ from The Winchesters fronted by the irrepressible Andy Stones on Keyboards. The name of this band really gives you more than just a clue, yes it’s fun & musical frolics all the way. The big question is what really is holding the Yellin’ Yettis “15 Quid Drum Kit” together?
Five Star Entertainment!
Sorry no web site for these guys…..they are so far ‘off the radar’.
The Boozie Woozies line up as follows:-
PAUL KISTER – Lead guitar/Vocals
HORACE DOGSON - Bass Guitar/Vocals
ANDY STONES – Keyboards/Lead Vocals
YELLIN’ YETTI – “15 Quid Drum Kit”
9.30 Its Free!!
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Yes, after several years’ absence, the boys are back in business - or, more graphically, in the words of promoter Ray Bruchez, ‘the Prods are prodding again’. Before their break-up, The Producers were undoubtedly one of the best and most popular blues bands in the UK. The reformed ensemble still boasts the exceptional talent of singer/guitarist Harry Skinner and Dave Saunders on bass guitar. New additions are Ray Drury on Hammond and piano and Biff Smith on drums. They will be playing their usual mix of Harry’s superb originals, including some newly-penned compositions, and excellent versions of some well-loved covers. What a mouth-watering prospect!
Bed and breakfast accommodation is also available at the hotel at £50 for a twin room and £30 for a single room. So come along, relax, enjoy the band, have a good night’s sleep and enjoy Ray’s legendary breakfast - that’s two mouth-watering prospects in a single visit.
The Royal Hotel is situated at 7 Nantwich Road, Crewe.CW2 6AG. Tickets for the concert (a snip at only £5 each) are obtainable from Ray Bruchez or Sonya on 01270-257398 or by email to rylhotel@yahoo.co.uk.
Tommy Allen and Johny Hewitt
Wyre Blues sessions at The Marine Hall, Fleetwood
25 June 2009
Thursday June 25th sees the next of the popular Wyre Blues sessions at The Marine Hall, Fleetwood with the first appearance in the area of Tommy Allen & Johny Hewitt. Tommy is better known for his guitar duties with Nicky Moore’s Blues Corporation and Trafficker and Johnny plays with Cheshire based Smokehouse Blues.
A mutual love of acoustic delta blues and electric Chicago blues saw them get together to jam and later, play pubs & clubs up and down the country.
A few words from their myspace site:-
The well-balanced musical mixture of Tommy Allen and Johny Hewitt has come from years of love and passion of the true blues. These two guys in everyday life perform in totally different style bands; though grown from the same roots, these roots are where Allen and Hewitt meet and take us on their very own journey to where the delta headed to Chicago and became electrified. You would have seen and heard music like this along Maxwell Street every day with the likes of Robert Nighthawk, Carey Bell and many other artists who bridged that pre-war acoustic and post-war urban electric styles. Tommy Allen and Johny Hewitt, the duo, are no-frills, no-nonsense, raw and honest and like Johny says, “Let the music speak for itself”.
Thursday June 25th at 9.00 in the Marine Hall, Fleetwood. Admission £2.50.
B.B. King and Special Guest John Mayall
MEN Arena Manchester
Manchester
Wed 24 Jun 2009, 19:30
Steve James is playing Mojos in West Kirby on 24th June 2009as part of his UK tour. All welcome to this free gig.
Described by the Houston Chronicle as an “underground legend”, Steve’s finger-picking and slide guitar playing coupled with his exuberant stage persona have won over audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
A well known name for devotees of American folk and blues Steve has a lifetime’s experience of playing gigs alongside such luminaries as John Hammond, Bo Diddley and Buddy Guy. His recording credits include slots with James McMurtry,Maria Muldaur and Jesse “Baby face” Thomas.
Don’t forget that you can see the all new Tommy Allen Band featuring Johny Hewitt at the Academy in Buckley tonight.
See the original post for more information.
STOP PRESS Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges is appearing at Jalons Restaurant on Smithdown Road this Sunday, 21st June.
Photo by Dave Arcari.
Here is the poster for the tour in this region soon.
Saturday 27th June
in Worthenbury Village
Come and enjoy yourself in a relaxed all day party atmosphere with real ale tent, hog roast, side stalls. Bring your deckchairs, barbeque, wine coolers and enjoy some brilliant music.
Put the date in your diary now
The Festival is certainly attracting a lot of newcomers with ticket pre-sales already beating all previous pre-sales with three weeks still to go.
Tickets have already been dispatched to Jersey, Gloucester, Ross-on-Wye, Tamworth and Yorkshire as well as many locally.
With that in mind, it is important that people wishing to buy tickets do so sooner rather than later as changes to licensing of such events has meant that the ticket numbers are strictly controlled to 470. As 550+ attended last year, we don’t want to disappoint genuine blues lovers with “Sold Out” signs.
The line-up has also recieved many favourable comments with firm northern favourites The Stumble headlining and the remarkable top 90s blues band The Producers making their northern come back at the event.
Retro 50/60s blues and rock ‘n’ rollers The Dirty Robbers open the evening session whilst Chester based Down At Antone’s deliver their classy blues act as afternoon headliners.
Other electric acts appearing are the nine piece Big Blues Tribe with a 5 piece brass section and a big, big sound and the very promising blues rock trio Papa Legba with the opening act a young 4 piece blues band Hopson, all still in the local 6th form college.
The acoustic acts are the superb touring Australian guitarist Rory Ellis who has an amazing baritone voice and is joined on lap steel guitar by Alex Roberts. Finally recent graduate from LIPA Naomi Mather who has been getting great reviews for her blues guitar playing and vocals completes a great line-up.
Details
1.30pm to 6pm and 6.30pm to 11.15pm - £20 all day ticket, £15 from 6.30pm
Under 12 free, 12 to 16 half price. Caravans/campers £5 for the night, tents £3 for the night.
Is there a festival anywhere that gives better value for money – last year we sold out all 500 tickets so be sure to reserve your tickets as soon as possible.
Worthenbury is a beautiful rural village to the south east of Wrexham. The village is between Whitchurch and Wrexham just off the A525 very close to Bangor-on-Dee.
Contact details 01978 780807 or 01978 312755
Club 35, Carlisle
27 June 2009
John is a master harmonica player from Ireland who surrounds himself with a cracking band of consummate Blues professionals - Roger Inniss (Bass), Jools Grudgings (Keyboards), Wayne Procter (Drums) and David Day on Guitar.
You will remember Wayne from the Hoax, Jon Amor and Ian Parker, Jools plays with Bluesmove and Sherman Robertson, Roger has worked with musicians all over the four corners of the globe including the USA, Japan and Europe and David Day takes over the guitar slot from Jules Fothergill so he’ll have his work cut out meeting that standard..
Anyway John started out in the sixties with the famous Savoy Brown Blues band and has continued to win awards and play numerous gigs and festivals ever since. His gigs are ussually characterised by selling out and the audience dancing - so lets hope it continues in Carlisle!
Listen to the website, feel the quality and come down to see them oh and bring your friends!: www.johnolearyb.com
Tickets will be available later this week, £8 in advance £10 on the door from Club 35 or you can send a cheque to Chris Denton, 20 Whiteclosegate, Carlisle CA3 0JD.
Future gigs are…
July 11th - Chantel McGregor - listen to her Hendrix covers.. phew
September 19th - Innes Sibun - remember the Taildragger album - this is him live….He hasnt toured up here for some time and this’ll blow the post summer holiday blues away.
October 10th - Geoff Achison (with Sam Kelly, Paul Jopson and Spy!!) - Geoff is an australian who is equally adept on acoustic or electric. He is here for a short tour so its great to get him. Its big blues festival quality at a local venue.
The John O’Leary Band
at Liverpool Marina
Thursday, 25 June 2009 (doors at 8pm: show starts at 8.45pm)
John O’Leary boasts a tremendous pedigree in British blues music. In the sixties, he was a founder member, with guitarist Kim Simmonds, of the highly acclaimed Savoy Brown Blues Band. Other bands enhanced by John’s involvement featured many stalwarts of the British blues scene including pianist Bob Hall, guitarist Tony McPhee, saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith and the multi-talented Victor Brox. He also recorded an album with the legendary New Orleans pianist and singer Champion Jack Dupree.
In recent years John O’Leary has fronted his own band, supplementing his excellent harp playing and vocals with an array of superb musicians. The band currently includes the exceptional young guitarist Jules Fothergill, who will be making his final appearance with the band at the Marina gig. The other band members are guitarist Dave Day (who has been appointed to replace Jules), talented keyboard player Jools Grudgings and a splendid rhythm section that combines the considerable skills of bass guitarist Roger Inniss and drummer Wayne Proctor. Together they present a wonderfully authentic programme of Chicago-style blues that always hits the spot. It is guaranteed to be another night to savour.
Liverpool Marina is situated at Coburg Wharf, Sefton Street, Liverpool L3 4BP.
Tickets for the concert (£11 each in advance and £12 on the door) are obtainable from John Welsh on 0151 428 2855 or email: johnswelsh@hotmail.com.
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