Winner of UK Blues competition on way to New Brunswick-Groove-A-Matics to perform to international audience
Published April 2, 2012 |
Tuesday 27 March saw the final of New Brunswick Battle of the Blues, at The Garage, Highbury, London. Winners Groove-A-Matics (featuring Johnny Whitehill), from Gateshead, performed against 4 other quality and original unsigned bands from around the country for the chance of an all-expenses-paid trip to play main stage at New Brunswick’s renowned Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in September 2012.
Winning band Groove-A-Matics from Gateshead entered the competition at the end of last year. Tourism New Brunswick were looking for unsigned musicians creating original sounds - in order to provide genuinely new talent at the highly prestigious North American festival, which is held in Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick, Canada, each September.
Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival’s David Seabrook, who was present at The Garage on Tuesday, said, “When visitors think of New Brunswick they think of our wildlife, whale-watching and our history and culture. Music and the blues is something we care passionately about, so it’s with great excitement that we’ll be welcoming Groove-A-Matics to the province in September. The standard of entries has been extremely high this year, as it was in the competition’s first year, 2011. But there could only be one winner, and the band richly deserves the final prize!’
New Brunswick has an enviable history of music-making, with the Festival drawing fans from across North America and around the world.
Says Groove-A-Matics’ John Morgan of their success; “New Brunswick Battle of the Blues has been a fantastic experience for us and we’re so excited about travelling to the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival and experiencing the province. I know we’ll make some great new contacts there and playing at such a prestigious event will be a dream come true. Thank you New Brunswick!”
For more information about the competition and finalists, go to www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk. All proceeds from the evening’s ticket sales will go to the Rainbow Trust Childrens Charity.
New Brunswick is one of Canada’s 3 maritime provinces and is known as the ‘Jewel of Atlantic Canada’. Only 6 hours flying time from the UK, the province is rich in history, wildlife, culture and natural beauty and music is an integral part of its psyche. Visit www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk for more information.
The Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival is an annual music festival held in Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick. It has an international following and features blues, jazz and world music. This year taking over the city between 13-18 September, it is one of Canada’s premier music festivals. Past artists include such luminaries as Buddy Guy. For more information, visit: www.harvestjazzandblues.com
Finalists for New Brunswick Battle of the Blues at 100 Club on 27th March were
Chris James from Carlisle (winner of the North West heat), Paint It Blue from Bournemouth (winne More info
First Lady Michelle Obama welcomes music students to the White House before a blues workshop
Published February 24, 2012 |
First Lady Michelle Obama welcomes music students to the White House before a blues workshop with Keb Mo, Shemekia Copeland, and Troy Andrews.
More info
BABAJACK ROOSTER ALBUM LAUNCH & Tour dates
Published February 15, 2012 |
Click here to buy the album
BABAJACK play a highly original mix of electro acoustic Roots and Blues based music that has earned them a fast growing base of enthusiastic support. They are Becky Tate – vocals and percussion (Djembe drum, Cajon, stomp), Trevor Steger –guitars / harmonica (acoustic/resonator & wine-box guitars & Harmonica), Marc Miletich Double Bass.
2nd Mar -Talbot, Pershore 9pm
3rd Mar -Banbury Blues Festival
10th Mar -BABAJACK ROOSTER ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY Coach House Theatre, Malvern
24th-25th Mar – Blues @ The Blue Anchor, Brixham, Devon
1st Apr – Scarborough Blues festival – Supp Ian Siegal
4th Apr – Ruthin Acoustic Club
5th Apr – Woodlands Hall, Ruthin
12th Apr – Bromsgrove Folk Club
14th Apr – The Market Theatre, Ledbury
28th Apr – Blues Festival – Brecon (Green Valley Arts)
12th May -The Belle Vue – High Wycombe
19th May – Private Function – Woolacombe, Devon
25th May – Keighley Blues Club
26th May – Ripley Blues Club
31st May – Winchcombe Music Fest
1st June – Trent Navigation, Nottingham
3rd June – Hebden Bridge Blues Festival
3rd June – Miss Brown’s, Leeds
10th June – Prince of Wales, Ledbury
15th – 17th June – Middlewich Folk Festival
22nd June – Cock & Magpie, Bewdley
23rd June – Taurus Blues Fest, Lydney Glos
29th June – Maverick Festival (tbc)
30th June -The Rose and Crown, Charlbury
7th July – Blues at the Fold, nr Worcester
8th July – Band in the Park – Malvern Priory Park
20-22nd July – Upton Blues Festival
26 – 28th July – Warwick Folk Festival (tbc)
3rd Aug – Talbot Pershore
27th Aug – Pershore Plum Fayre
6-8th Sept – Bromyard Folk Festival (tbc)
14 – 15th – Shetland Blues Festival (tbc)
15th Sept – New Inn, Witney
20 – 22nd – Orkney Blues Festival (tbc)
22nd Sept – The Belle Vue – High Wycombe
4th Oct – Cock & Magpie, Bewdley
5th Oct – Talbot, Pershore
6th Oct – Borough Blues Club, Pontypool
More info
The Burnley International Rock and Blues Festival
Published January 22, 2012 |
Doc Redeye Events and Burnley Council Presents
The Burnley International Rock and Blues Festival
In Proud Association with AMS-NEVE
4-6th May 2012
The Burnley Blues festival has been an icon of the international music scene for almost 24 years, bringing some of the world’s greatest artists into the town. Over the last few years the festival has struggled to maintain a three-day schedule, and it has been though the determination of a few local venues and the council that the event has continued to entertain enthusiastic audiences from around the UK.
Now, a new partnership between the Council and Doc Redeye Events has brought the festival back to its rightful 3 day status, and to take the festival to even further international heights, the Oscar and Queens award winning company AMS-NEVE have joined the team to make this one of the greatest events in the music calendar again.
This time the town will truly be involved, as Burnley is to be turned into ‘Little America’ for the weekend, with American themes across the town centre, cafes and bars. The fringe venues will all have their own identities, the Inn on the Wharf (The Chicago stage), the Talbot (The Austin Stage), the Coach and Horses (The New Orleans Stage) and the Bridge (The Memphis stage) are the first to be announced with more to follow. Cafes and restaurants will also be involved serving themed dishes and even pancakes and waffles in the mornings, with some hosting acoustic stages throughout the weekend.
The image of a North West English town becoming Little America for the weekend has already grabbed the attention of the USA with a major city having a real interest in sponsorship for the following year 2013. There will be fun events throughout the town as well as music and themed activities.
Councillor Jeff Sumner, the Council’s executive member for leisure and culture, said: “It’s great that the Blues festival is back to rocking the town over three days and there’s going to be a great party atmosphere over the whole weekend. You won’t have to be a Blues fan to love every minute of what promises to be a brilliant festival.”
The Burnley Rock and Blues Festival is also launching a dedicated website www.burnleyrockandblues.com over the next few weeks as the final contracts are completed and the full line-up announced. The festival team are determined to bring in young bands on the circuit as well to attract new audiences to the live music scene and put the new University town firmly on the map. Fresh from recording their album with producer Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Super Furry Animals) Albany Down will be appearing at the festival alongside another ‘New Generation’ band Virgil and the Accelerators, who have just completed a sell out tour with Joanne Shaw Taylor and Oli Brown. One of the biggest Blues names in the US Jimmie Vaughan will be headlining the opening night in an exclusive UK appearance to keep the blues fans buzzing. More act confirmations coming More info
EUROPEAN BLUES CHALLENGE 2012. Ben Poole, the winner in the BM Writers’ Poll 2011 is to represent the UK at the 2nd European Blues Challenge
Published January 19, 2012 |
2nd EUROPEAN BLUES CHALLENGE
Friday, 16th March 2012
Saturday, 17th March 2012
location: Kesselhaus at Kulturbrauerei, Knaackstr. 97, 10435 Berlin
entrance: entrance: pre-selling: 19 € // box office: 22 € (partial provided with seats)
showtime: 20:00 Uhr
contact:Tom: tom@rufrecords.de
band coordination: Nassos: anastasilakis@yahoo.de
EUROPEAN BLUES UNION present the 2nd EUROPEAN BLUES CHALLANGE in Berlin
The European Blues Union (EBU), a non-profit organization launched by a handful of European blues professionals in 2010, is registered in Brussels, Belgium.
Festival and tour promoters, clubs, agents, specialist magazines, radio deejays, journalists, researchers, photographers, blues musicians and communities, independent record companies and distributors represent a dynamic scene characterized by idealism, personal commitment and a passion for honest, handmade music.
Few music genres may call on such a loyal fan base. To achieve our common purpose of bringing the blues into the public limelight, the European Blues Union has started a various activities. The annual European Blues Challenge (EBC) represents one of the organization’s main networking tool for an annual meeting of the European blues community.
On 16th and 17th March 2012 blues artists from nineteen different European countries, each of them winners of their respective national blues contests, will compete at the 2nd European Blues Challenge, which will be held once again at Kesselhaus in Berlin’s Kulturbrauerei, an industrial-style venue in a beautiful late 19th century brick stone building in the heart of Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district. At the end of a two-day blues marathon, the winner of this year’s competition will be announced.
For further information:
http://www.bluesoul.de/news.html
The winner of the challenge will have the chance to play on following festivals:
•Lucerne Blues Festival, Switzerland
•Blues Sur Seine, France
•Notodden Bluesfestival, Norway
•Vienna Blues Spring, Austria
•Roots & Blues Parma, Italy
Line-Up – Friday, 16th March 2012:
Ismo Haavisto Band (FI)
The Downstrokes (HR)
John F. Klaver Band (NL)
Lubos Bena (SK)
Roland Tchakounte (FR)
Marco Marchi & The Mojo Workers (CH)
Chehols (LV)
slavek wierzcholski i nocna zmiana bluesa (PL)
Lightnin` Guy & The Mighty Gators (B)
Line-Up – Saturday, 17th March 2012:
Vasko The Patch (BG)The Downstrokes (HR)
Dago Red (IT)
Slindin`Slim (SE)
Norbert Schneider (AT)
Rita Engedalen & Backbone (NO)
Mingo & the Blues Intruders (ES)
Ben Poole (UK)
The Blues Express (DK)
Michael van Merwyk (DE)
T. Blues Mob (GE)
afterwards:
announcement of the winner
show of the winner
Jam-Session of all artists
pre-selling link: http://www.rufrecords.de/catalogue/2nd-european-blues-challenge-2nd-european-blues-challenge.c2703.html
More info
URGENT NEWS ON AVAILABILITY
Published December 11, 2011 |
We have been advised by one of our distributors WWMD that they have been instructed by their parent company NOT to supply any HMV stores with any magazines/products with immediate effect and this comes after ten years of trading with them.
This means that unless their situation is resolved you will not be able to buy Blues Matters in any HMV or Waterstones stores…….HOWEVER YOU CAN NOW GET BLUES MATTERS IN 351 NEW OUTLETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY – click here for the list. These outlets mean that we are now available in parts of the country where we have not been before so there is good news at the end of this.
Of course you can always >> SUBSCRIBE to ensure you get your copy safely
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Another Harvest of the best of British Blues
Published December 2, 2011 |
Following the resounding success of this year’s UK-wide search for Britain’s best emerging Blues talent, the world-renowned Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in New Brunswick, Canada, is launching, for the second year running, its ‘New Brunswick Battle of the Blues’. The competition is looking for unsigned bands and artists creating original, quality music and the winner will be showcased on a world stage at the Festival in September 2012.
New Brunswick Battle of the Blues will accept entries until 15th December. Heats for qualifying artists will be held on 13th January at the True Blues Club, Newton Le Willows, near Warrington; 18th January, at The Thunderbolt, Bristol; 19th January at New Crawdaddy Blues Club, Billericay; and 27th January at St Peter’s Social Club, Byker, Newcastle.
Hosted by the Province of New Brunswick, the competition is a fantastic opportunity for emerging or established British blues artists to raise their profile, play on a world stage – and experience the wonders of the Canadian maritime province!
Says Lisa Gagnon, who’s organising the competition in the UK for New Brunswick, “Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival is looking for new international talent to add to its line-up for 2012. There are exceptional blues musicians in the UK and this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Heat winners, plus one runner-up chosen by the public, will play at the final in London on 27 March. We will then fly the overall winner out to Fredericton, New Brunswick, in September 2012 for their performance at the festival.”
24 Pesos were the overall winners of the 2011 New Brunswick Battle of the Blues and they have recently returned from their trip. Says Julian Burdock from the band; ‘We got the chance to play on 4 different occasions, once with Matt Anderson. We also did a live radio show for the CBC! The audience were so receptive and really loved what we did. We also did some fantastic things like whale watching and cycling in kilts, going out to clubs and drinking beer. Everyone was so welcoming, we can’t wait to go back. And since we’ve been home it’s been non-stop. The winners of 2012 have a wonderful – and career enhancing – experience ahead of them.”
‘New Brunswick Battle of the Blues’ invites bands or solo singer/songwriters to enter the first stage of the competition by visiting www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk. Here they will find all the information they need to enter. Artists will need to demonstrate the ability to produce new and original work, though some covers are permitted. To qualify, they will need to be unsigned at the time of the competition (including the final). Entries will be accepted until 15 December.
For further information, interview, images or press tickets, please contact Rachel Shimell or Miranda Johnson on 02380 732981/ 01962 890208 or
email: Rachel.shimell@ntlworld.com or mirandajohnson@btinternet.com
Details of More info
PUTTING RIGHT AN INJUSTICE: Obtaining a gravestone for Richard “Hacksaw” Harney.
Published November 30, 2011 |
I conducted an interview with Steve Salter who co-ordinates donations so he can obtain blues artists a grave marker, rather than they earthly remains are subject to relative obscurity. After the interview was submitted in mid July 2011 I put it to Steve that if he ever collected for a proposed marker for Mississippi guitarist Richard “Hacksaw” Harney then I would be willing to send him a donation.
Richard “Hacksaw” Harney was a phenomenal guitarist who predominately played in a ragtime style of Blues. It has been noted that Robert Johnson had held in esteem, and that he was one of the very few who he actually played toe-to-toe with. In almost all Blues music books, there is no mention of Hacksaw Harney, and if the do it is sparse, sometimes just that he played with his brother, Maylon, calling themselves Pet & Can (Richard’s nickname, short for Candy). Richard Harney was born in Money, Mississippi (where Emmett Till was murdered), July 16th 1902 and raised in Greenwood, MS, and Marvell, Arkansas. Research has found that Harney later resided in both Clarksdale, MS and Memphis, Tennessee. In David Honeyboy Edwards’ glorious book, “The World Don’t Owe Me Nothing” he mentions that he played with both Hacksaw and Tommy McClennan, and that in fact that McClennan got the song “Cross Cut Saw” from Harney. Gene Rosenthal of Genes/Adelphi records Big Joe Williams who travelled around perhaps more than any other Bluesman had to say to after he introduced him to many top blues artists of the day, “You ain’t heard nothing yet. Wait ‘til you meet Hacksaw”. In an interview with “Living Blues magazine” Robert Junior Lockwood said, “I really think that Hacksaw was a big influence on Robert” (Johnson). “He (Hacksaw) was the only somebody who could compete with him…He played the guitar very, very well”. Pinetop Perkins reckoned he got his nickname as he carried a hacksaw with him in which he could fashion almost anything into a piano key. That was the double whammy that Hacksaw had, well he could play the piano, yes, but he supplemented his guitar playing living by tuning pianos, and doing repairs to them. On Hacksaw Harney’s business card that Woody Mann shared with me, it also stated that he repaired sewing machines as well AS PIANO TUNING AND REBUILDING. Harney recorded with his brother Maylon as back-up for four sides by Pearl Dickson and two with Walter Rhodes, both in December 1927, when Richard’s brother died, in his own words he said he had to learn to play both parts, hence the intricacy of his playing from there on in. Michael A. Stewart who recorded himself as “Backwards Sam Firk” tracked him down, and Hacksaw subsequently recorded “Sweet Man” for Adelphi/Genes. He then moved to Jackson Mississippi from Memphis Tennessee, where he died of stomach cancer on Christmas Day 1973.
Perhaps the best account of Richard “Hacksaw” Harney’s life is in the liner notes of his Adelphi CD “Sweet Ma More info
The BM Poll
Published November 13, 2011 |
We have counted the votes in from the BM ‘team’ for the Poll many of you have asked us to
do, and here ladies and gents are the results:
UK
Best Studio Album:
1. King King – Take My Hand
2. Ian Siegel – The Skinny
3. Todd Sharpville – Porchlight
4.Tied – Roadhouse – Dark Angel and Aynsley Lister – The
Tower Sessions
In with a shout – Ben Waters-Boogie with Stu, The
Spikedrivers-Front Porch Swing, Joanne Shaw Taylor-
White Sugar, Sean Taylor-Walk With Me, Hokie Joint-The
Way It Goes Sometimes.
Best Live Album:
1. Aynsley Lister – The Tower Sessions
2. Tied – The Spikedrivers – Front Porch Swing and King
Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys – Life At Last
In with a shout – Matt Schofield-Live From The Archive,
Eddie Martin-Live At The Wharf.
Best Solo Artist:
1. Ian Siegel
2. Marcus Bonfanti
3. Sean Taylor
4. Matt Schofield
5. Eddie Martin
In with a shout – Geoff Achison, Davy Knowles, Chantel
McGregor, Larry Miller, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Errol Linton,
Gary Fletcher, Stompin’ Dave.
Best Band:
1.King King
2. Hokie Joint
3.Tied – Nine Below Zero and Black Country Communion
4. Matt Schofield Band
5. The Barcodes
In with a shout – Band of Joy, Sean Webster Band,
Norman Beaker Band, Roadhouse, Billy Jenkins Blues
Collective, 24 Pesos, The Stumble, The Producers.
UK Record Label:
1.Nugene Records
2. Ace Records
3. Proper Records
4. JSP Records
5. Tied –Manhaton, Note Records, BGO, Document,
Armadillo.
Best Vocalist:
1.Ian Siegel
2. Paul Cox
3. Connie Lush
4. Tied –Jo Jo Burgess, Marcus Bonfanti, Bruce Johnson,
In with a shout – Chris Farlowe, Kyla Brox, Sandi Thom,
Sean Webster, Harry Skinner, Joanne Shaw Taylor.
Blues Matters! 58
Best Drummer:
1.Sam Kelly
2. Dino Coccia
3. Wayne Proctor
4. Brendan O’Neill
5. Maurice McElroy
In with a shout – Jason Bonham, Pick Withers, Joe Banks,
Boyd Tonner, Rob Townsend, Mike Hellier, Darby Todd,
Simon Dring.
Best Guitarist:
1.Matt Schofield
2.Dennis Greaves
3.Tied – Alan Nimmo and Ian Siegel
4.Gary Moore
5.Larry Miller
In with a shout – Todd Sharpville, Sean Webster, Jeff Beck,
Davy Knowles, JoAnne Shaw Taylor, Oli Brown, Norman
Beaker, Bernie Marsden, Otis Grand.
Best Bass:
1.Andy Graham
2.Tied – Ian Jennings and Gerry McAvoy
4.Tied – Ron Sayer
5.Fergie Fulton
In with a shout – Pino Palladino, Jack Bruce, Norman Roy-
Watt, Roger Inniss.
Best Keyboards:
1.Johnny Henderson
2.Ben Waters
3.Bob Hall
4.John Cleary
5.Tied – Bob Haddrell and Dale Storr
In with a shout – Paddy Milner, Steve Winwood, James
Godwin, Dan Healy, Paul Jobson, Jason Rebello.
Best Harmonica:
1.Paul Lamb
2.Tied – Giles King and John O’leary
4.Paul Jones
5.Alan Glen
In with a shout – Giles Robson, Errol Linton, Peter
Narojczyk, Will Wilde, Wes Weston.
Best Newcomer:
1.Ben Poole
2.Alex Mckown
3.Sean Taylor
4.Chantel Mcgrgeor
5.Lucy Zirins
In with a shout – Al Price, Diamond Joe, Aaron Keylock,
BabaJack, Giles Robson, Simon McBride, Cherry Lee
Mewiss, Grey Goose Blues B More info
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Another Harvest of the best of British Blues
Following the resounding success of this year’s UK-wide search for Britain’s best emerging Blues talent, the world-renowned Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in New Brunswick, Canada, is launching, for the second year running, its ‘New Brunswick Battle of the Blues’. The competition is looking for unsigned bands and artists creating original, quality music and the winner will be showcased on a world stage at the Festival in September 2012.
Read more