Blues in the North West UK

More on the new site

2006-11-25T20:27:00.000Z

All of the domain nonsense is now resolved and the new permanent address for bluesinthenorthwest.com is

http://www.bluesinthenorthwest.com

Thanks
Ken

New Website is LIVE!

2006-09-02T09:58:00.000+01:00

Hello,

I am pleased to announce that the all new bluesinthenorthwest.com website is now live. Please point your browsers to the new site as this blog will no longer be updated.

http://www.bluesinthenorthwest.com

The new site will continue to present the same old stuff that you have been complaining about for the last year but will have some additional stuff.

One of the enhancements is that I will be delivering is a database on northwest blues bands and blues venues. So all you bands and venues out there prepare to send me your details.

Thanks for all the support in the last year - long may the blues scene thrive in this region. See you all at the new site.

Gig : After Hours - Dickie Doodles - 02 Sep

2006-08-30T21:48:00.000+01:00

A late gig addition for the upcoming weekend for After Hours at Dickie Doodles, Kendal on 02 Sept.

They also play at The Talbot, Burnley on 30 Sept.

Gig list for September

2006-08-29T20:34:00.000+01:00

02-Sep - KylaBrox - LH Studio Grand Theatre, Blackpool
02-Sep - Last Chance - Fletcher Christ. Cockermouth
02-Sep - The Badge - Bowering Park Hotel, Liverpool
03-Sep - Radio KFK - Fletcher Christ. Cockermouth
03-Sep - The Badge - O'Connor's Bar, Ormskirk
06-Sep - Smokehouse Blues - The Welcome, Whitfield
08-Sep - Eddie and Frank Thomas - Worthenbury
08-Sep - Hitman Blues Band - Warrington Blues Club
08-Sep - Olly Allcock - John Paul Jones, Whitehaven
09-Sep - Slingshot - Fletcher Christ. Cockermouth
10-Sep - Hitman Blues Band - Navy Club, Maryport
10-Sep - Olly Allcock - Fletcher Christ. Cockermouth
14-Sep - F and E Thomas - Fletcher Christ. Cockermouth
15-Sep - Appleby Beer and Blues Festival
15-Sep - The Groovecats - John Paul Jones, Whitehaven
16-Sep - Appleby Beer and Blues Festival
16-Sep - Smokehouse Blues - The Talbot, Burnley
16-Sep - Trafficker - Fletcher Christ. Cockermouth
17-Sep - Appleby Beer and Blues Festival
17-Sep - Baudelaire Bros - Fletcher Christ Cockermouth
21-Sep - Wabash Cannonballs - Fletcher Cockermouth
22-Sep - Joe Bonnamassa - Manchester Academy
22-Sep - Les Wilson and Mighty Houserockers - Hookers
22-Sep - Wabash Cannonballs - John Paul Jones Whitehvn
23-Sep - Under Influence - Fletcher Christ Cockermouth
24-Sep - Joe Bonnamassa - Boardwalk, Sheffield
24-Sep - No Time for Jive -Fletcher Christ Cockermouth
28-Sep - Ana Popovic - Alexander's, Chester
28-Sep - Sam Kelly - Fletcher Christ. Cockermouth
29-Sep - Nimmo Bros - Thornton Lttle Thtre - Cleveleys
29-Sep - Sam Kelly's Primo - Warrington Blues Club
30-Sep - Revelator Band - Fletcher Christ. Cockermouth
30-Sep - Sherman Robertson - Southport Arts Centre

Gig : Frank & Eddie Thomas - Worthenbury - 08 Sep

2006-08-29T20:11:00.000+01:00

Angels On The Backroads - the history of Highway 61

Brothers Eddie and Frank Thomas from Iuka, Mississippi make a welcome return to Worthenbury on Friday September 8th as part of their latest UK tour following their last sell out tour in April 2005.

Professional film maker Frank, who has worked in Hollywood will present a film of Highway 61 the legendary music highway from Memphis to New Orleans encompassing all of the sites, scenes and sounds that made this highway the most famous music trail in the world whilst Eddie a most accomplished multi instrumentalist adds the narration in an amusing and informative style whilst playing the songs of the legendary blues and jazz men like Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson.

Tickets for this unique evening cost £10 and can be reserved by ringing 01948 770215 (eves)

Cancellation : Kyla Brox - Harbourside Club, Liverpool

2006-08-28T20:20:00.000+01:00

Lionel writes with sad news of a cancellation and other Harbourside Club news......

Unfortunately, the Kyla Brox gig due for 13th September at the Harbourside Club has been cancelled. The next gig will welcome Phil Bates (ex ELO PartII) on Wednesday, 25th October. Phil performs a brilliant acoustic set. I'll send you more details nearer the time of the gig. Following that, Kevin Thorpe's Out Of The Blue will be appearing on Wednesday, 6th December. Many of you will remember that cracking band from a few years back. Kevin has recently reformed it with all the old favourites on board. Next year will see Doug McLeod (USA), Geoff Achison (Australia) and the return of Little Toby Walker (USA).

NEW WEBPAGE COMING SOON

2006-08-28T11:26:00.000+01:00

I'm really busy with the launch of the all new bluesinthenorthwest.com website right now. It will be here soon and will have all the stuff that you currently get with the blog but with some advanced features.

WATCH THIS SPACE

News from the King Bz

2006-08-27T20:29:00.000+01:00

The King Bz write in to tell us......

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Chantelle McGregor into the King Bz, an absolutly outstanding player who has played for amoung others Bonnie Rait, Joe Bonnamassa and many many more, Her Bio will soon be on the Web-site in the next couple of weeks so just keep checkin www.kingbz.co.uk for any updates.

We would also like to wish Tony Carter (TC) all the very best for the future "keep on blowing dude"

So on to next year, soon we hope to be in the studio to record our first album of original material, with also a tour of Europe planned and possibly the US its looking like the King Bz are about to fly again we will keep you posted.

New UK Blues Podcast

2006-08-27T09:05:00.000+01:00

JimmyC emails to announce the launching of his brand new Podcast, Jimmy says....

Hambone's Blues Rumshack will concentrate on playing and promoting British Blues bands and internet sites for bands like Podshow, Garageband and MySpace.

Episode one featured tracks from Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Cephas and Wiggins, MG James, Dave Arcari, Lazy Poker and Shetland's very own and the program house band the Rumshack Blues band.

I'm looking for bands to get in touch if they want to be played by supplying CD's of their music, so if you could give me a mention on your blog and pass the word around of the podcasts existence I would very much appreciate it.

The link is at http://www.shetlandpodcaster.co.uk

Tribute to Sam Myers on Jonesy's Blues Show

2006-08-24T21:02:00.000+01:00

I was lucky enough to catch Jonesy's blues show tonight, it was very good indeed. If you didn't get the chance to catch the show, he did a great tribute to the recently departed Sam Myers including the copper bottomed classic "Sleeping in the ground", there was also an excellent session by Mary Flower; you can listen again to the show by clicking here.

Question: What got you into the Blues?

2006-08-24T19:27:00.000+01:00

I am quite disappointed by the lack of responses to my post of a couple of weeks ago. Come on! I know you all want to tell your stories. Email me now!

Today's YouTube is Lester Butler and Alex Schultz

2006-08-22T23:35:00.000+01:00

I always loved the Red Devils and I always loved Alex Schultz (in fact Alex is on many of my favourite recordings of all time). So when these gentlemen got together to make the "13" album in 1997, I was delighted.

I am equally delighted to present a YouTube film of one of the band's rehearsals in Europe. Schultz is amazing...... and I think that the drummist is the legendary Eddie "Lips" Clark.

Gigs for the rest of August

2006-08-22T23:34:00.000+01:00

24-Aug - Boogie' Bill Roberts - The Red Cat, Wheelton
25-Aug - Colne Blues Festival
25-Aug - The Badge - The Hanover Hotel, Liverpool
25-Aug - The Stumble - Barrow R & B Club,
26-Aug - Cat Dog - Duke Of Edinburgh, Barrow
26-Aug - Colne Blues Festival
26-Aug - John O Leary - Fletcher Christ. Cockermouth
26-Aug - Slingshot - The Musketeer, Leigh
26-Aug - The Badge - The Stag Inn, Orrell
27-Aug - Ben Ruth - Fletcher Christ. Cockermouth
27-Aug - Colne Blues Festival
27-Aug - Lightnin Willie - Maryport Navy Club
27-Aug - The Works - Duke Of Edinburgh, Barrow.
28-Aug - Colne Blues Festival
31-Aug - The Badge - The Red Cat, Wheelton

Gig : Paul Rogers at The Lowry, Salford Quays

2006-08-22T23:31:00.000+01:00

John Welsh tells me that Paul Rogers is playing a gig at Salford Quays on 08 October.

Take a look at the Paul Rogers website for a bit more information.

Review : Shana Morrison in Cockermouth

2006-08-22T23:22:00.000+01:00

shana2

Here's the review. Sounds like it was a great night.

I'm back

2006-08-21T11:11:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone.

Try this bit of YouTube slide guitar for starters. I have never seen anything like this before.

Gig : Tonight Worthenbury

2006-08-18T17:36:00.000+01:00

I can't make it as I'm still enjoying el sol y muchas cervezas in Valencia, however those still in Blighty can pop down to Worthenbury tonight to see Zach Parrish.

ZACH PARRISH & BRAD WHEELER
As part of their UK tour, American musicians Zach Parrish from Austin, Texas on guitar and Brad Wheeler from Ogden, Utah on harmonica will be appearing at Worthenbury Village Hall on Friday August 18th as guests of the "Goin' Up The Country Blues & Roots Club".

Playing a good mix of authentic Delta blues and American roots music, they
will be on stage at 9pm. Doors open at 8pm and the tickets cost £8.
Info line 01948 770 215

Greetings from Spain

2006-08-17T20:47:00.000+01:00

Just a quick hello to let you know that I'm still alive - if a little browner.

New domain names

2006-08-08T19:11:00.000+01:00

There's a new and improved way to get to this blog.

I have registered the following domain names and pointed them here. This is in preparation for a full blown website to be launched later this year.

Please update your bookmarks to
www.bluesinthenorthwest.com
or
www.bluesinthenorthwest.co.uk

Cheers
Ken

Righto - I'm off!

2006-08-08T18:55:00.000+01:00

I'm taking a well deserved break. Back in two weeks or so.

Cheers
Ken

8th August

2006-08-08T13:25:00.000+01:00

Just realised that today is 8th August. I always have a little celebration on this date every year as my last cigarette was on 8th August 1988 - 8/8/88. I have been an ex-smoker for 18 years.

Hello to all other ex-smokers.

Gig : Zach Parrish - Worthenbury Fri 18 Aug

2006-08-07T21:12:00.000+01:00

This is my last chance to mention Zach Parrish and Brad Wheeler at Worthenbury on 18 Aug.

Zach Parrish is a guitarist from Austin, Texas who plays a mean slide and National Steel and is on his first UK tour accompanied by harp player Brad Wheeler from Ogden, Utah.

Downloads from Zach's website suggest a great gig so go on down to the country for a great night of blues for £8.

Blues Interviews

2006-08-07T18:42:00.000+01:00

Two brand new interviews have been posted on the "Two for the Blues" shoe website from WORT FM 89.9 Madison, WI.

The new interviewees are Magic Slim and Jerry McCain. Check out the link to play online or download.

Today's video clip - Carey Bell

2006-08-07T18:37:00.000+01:00

Carey Bell playing the Muddy Waters classis I'm Ready. With Debbie Davis on guitar.

My route to the Blues - JimmyC

2006-08-07T18:30:00.000+01:00

You are a man after my own heart, I owe the same debt to John Peel, it was Elmore James for me. Also Tommy Vance played a lot of vintage sessions on the Friday Rock Show which got me into Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac.

Paul Jones was a Godsend when he started. My tapes of the sessions are up in the loft must get them out and digitize them sometime soon.

Got back into music when I got broadband a couple of years ago, listening to blues radio stations, downloading concerts.

[Note from Ken : I too have a load of cassettes from the early Paul Jones shows.]