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The Burnley International Rock and Blues Festival

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

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

Roll up, roll up for the Blues Matters stage in JAKS at the 2012 Rock’n’Blues festival at Butlins, Skegness 27-29 Jan

Roll up, roll up for the Blues Matters stage in JAKS at the 2012 Rock’n’Blues festival at Butlins, Skegness 27-29 Jan. Check out the exciting line-up we have to present for your delight at this cracklin’ venue. (If you are not already a subscriber to the magazine then join up now and you can get a 30% discount on the price if you book before 28th November. If you call to subscribe we can give you the special ref. no. you will need). BLUES MATTERS stage at JAKS CLUB 2012 Here is the menu of music for you and for the 1st time you will have music in JAKS on the Sunday night!!!! Friday: WHAT AN OPENING NIGHT!!! 8.30-10.00 –    BARE BONES BOOGIE BAND launching their new album at JAKS 10.30-12.00 –  MAGGIE ROSS PHOENIX BLUES blew you away on the jam stage in 2011 12.30-2.00 –    IDLE HANDS launching new album at JAKS Saturday afternoon: NOT ONLY A GREAT SET BY THE BAND BUT THE JOY OF THE ‘JAM’ TO BEHOLD 12:45 – 4pm  -  The popular ROADHOUSE  Jam sessions including sets by Roadhouse themselves to start and close Sat night: OH, WHAT A NIGHT REALLY OLD, NEW, NOT MUCH BORROWED AND VERY BLUES……. 8.30-10.00 –   CHERRY LEE MEWIS finalist European Blues eliminators 2011 10.30-12.00 – The BLUES CORPORATION feat. Junior Moore 12.30-2.00 –   STEVE ROUX the return of the man…the band…and the brass! Sunday afternoon acoustic: A SUPERB ACOUSTIC EXPERIENCE 12.00-1.30 –   ROY METTE 2.00-3.30 –     ROBIN BIBI There should be a bit of an acoustic jam after this to work up your appetite for dinner….. Sunday night: NOW THEN, NOW THEN, WHAT HAVE WE FOR YOU HERE? A LOT OF VARIETY AND CLASS TO CLOSE THIS YEARS’ JAKS EXPERIENCE…… 8.30-10.00 – ROADHOUSE giving you a solid 90 minutes of favorites plus a couple of new tunes 10.30-12.00 – BABAJACK by audience request at JAKS 2011 on acoustic stage and launching their new album at JAKS 12.30-2.00 –   EARLY MAC formerly Green Mac to bring the curtain down To book your place phone 0845-070-4759 or visit: www.bigweekends.com/blues NB: To get the 30% discount you will need to be a subscriber to Blues Matters. www.bluesmatters.com More info

TORQUAY BLUES FESTIVAL

It’s not too late to buy your tickets for the TORQUAY BLUES FESTIVAL November 4th, 5th, and 6th The line up: Friday tickets £30 Mike Whellans Will ‘Harmonica’ Wilde Todd Sharpville Late night jam session Saturday tickets £40 Workshops, with Will Wilde and Mike Whellans The Untouchables The Baddest Blues Band Son of Dave Ian Siegal Big Joe Louis and his Blues Kings Late night jam session Sunday tickets £30 Catfish Keith The Hamsters Ben Waters Band You can stay in for £165 ! including half-board accommodation and Festival entry, with an extra Sunday night for £30 (double occupancy) or £20 (single occupancy) There’s a Bays Brewery real ale bar, swimming pool, and carvery and it all takes place in the Rainbow International Hotel’s nightclub, the Club Rainbow Tickets: www.torquaybluesfestival.com 07855 307 556 More info

GET DOWN TO BLUES IN TOWN and help raise funds while watching a great line-up

The Venue Chelmsford Social Club (rear of Tesco), Springfield Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6JG Time and cost Noon to Midnight doors open 11.15am. tickets £20 each There will be catering on site with a large good quality festival catering firm for the whole event. The venue has a good bar serving a good range of range of real ales as well as everything else you would expect. We have the fabulous Sue Marchant who will present for the day. We have 12 fantastic acts including Larry Miller, Bad Influence, Guy Tortora, Ben Poole and more playing and Blues CD Store will be there with a massive selection of CD’S to buy. I have been so lucky with the line up and know all the acts being a blues harmonica player and great fan of the music. I have been in and out of the music scene for over 40 years with many years as a guitar roadie with some great names. Now I am fundraising manager for The J’s Hospice who provide respite, hospice and end of life care and bereavement support for 18 to 40 year old patients their families and carers across Essex. This is the only service of its type in the UK to find out more visit www.thejshospice.org.uk. We need to raise this year £450,000 to deliver this very important service. Tickets are limited so book online now to save disappointment at http://www.thejshospice.org.uk/index.php/events/1-uk/68-blues-in-the-town Thank you for your help we hope to raise £10,000 on the day with your help and publicity we hope we can get there. Blues in Town – Sat 22nd Oct Noon to Midnight Jon Cook Blues Band                                    12 noon to 12.30 Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective        12.40 to 13.10 The Mighty Boss Cats                                    13.20 to 13.50 Timmy Moore                                                  14.00 to 14.45 Back Porch                                                      14.55 to 15.40 Ben Poole                                                        15.50 to 16.35 Automatic Slim                                                16.50 to 17.35 The Heaters                                                      17.50 to 18.35 Roy Mette                                                         18.50 to 19.35 Guy Tortora                                                      19.50 to 20.40 Bad Influence                                                   21.00 to 22.00 Larry Miller                                                       More info

Wilko Johnson talks about his forthcoming tour

Former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson talks about his forthcoming tour and about his time with Dr. Feelgood, modern technology, Norman Wattroy, Dylan Howe and much more … More info

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY BLUES SPECIAL AT ABBEY FEST!

The forecast for August Bank Holiday is good and the music promises to be even better. The ever popular Abbey Fest at Merton Abbey MIlls in London SW19 has a great line up of classic blues & R&B, running from Friday 27th to Monday 29th August. Some of the finest up and coming acts in the UK will grace the stages of the bandstand and the lovely Colorhouse Theatre. The Line-up includes -The Robin Bibi Band with guitar master Robin Bib, Bad Influence featuring the wonderful blonde bombshell Val Cowell, Crosstown Traffic with Charles Shar Murray and Buffalo Bill Smith, Elephant Shelf featuring the boogie piano and red-hot fiddle of Diana Stone, Roadhouse with the elementally powerful guitar of Danny Gwylim, Incredible Blues Puppies with harmonica virtuoso Alan Glen, the Dave Raphael band with (yes you got it) Dave Raphael, B’Mused, and others. Bandstand events are free Colorhouse Theatre events incurr a door charge – BOX Office is 0208 542 5511 and a full list of events is on www.abbeyfest.co.uk More info

Cambridge Rock Festival 4th to 7th August

Cambridge Rock Festival 4th to 7th August CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL 2011 – The best ever! This year’s Cambridge Rock Fest from 4th to 7th August looks like the best ever with a stunning line up that will appeal to Rock, Prog and Blues fans. For Prog rock fans there is a major coup with the booking of fabled Canterbury rockers CARAVAN, there’s also the prog-rock epic specialists THE ENID – for heavy rock there are THE HAMSTERS on their farewell tour, THE QUIREBOYS and ESSEX legends EDDIE & the HOTRODS. For Blues and Rock fans one of the festival highlights has to be LARRY MILLER – Larry always produces a peak performance for this festival – 2010 was a stunner and Larry promises an even better show for 2011- he’s at an artistic and creative peak. Blues & R&B fans are in for a treat – there’s rising star CHANTEL McGREGOR, circuit names include ROADHOUSE, BAD INFLUENCE, ELEPHANT SHELF, BEN POOLE, THE MUSTANGS and JAY TAMKIN. There are a host more bands, 70 real ales and its just £79 for four days. Not to be missed. More info

Harvest Time Blues Festival 2-3-4 September 2011 Monaghan Ireland

The story of the Blues and the history of its people unfolds in the line-up at this year’s festival. Press Release Harvest Time Blues Boo Boo Davis from Drew, Mississippi in the heart of the Delta, raised in the richest Cotton land,which attracted some of the best blues players. The sharecroppers sang loudly to help pass the gruelling hours of work. Boo Boo developed his loud, bellowing voice based on the singing he heard in the fields as a young boy. In the 1920’s, the Blues left the fields and went to Church. Hundreds of different Churches opened up, it was the only place of sanctuary the ‘Blacks’ (African-Americans) had. Within these walls the Blues developed into Gospel, known then as the Devil’s music, but it was God’s music first! Sharrie Williams unique style of “Rockin’ Gospel Blues” is surrounded by strong and powerful vocals and arrangements, with songs that grab your soul. Sharrie touches souls with her talent and passion for her music, combined with her smoky, sexy and imitable style. Out of church, heading to the industrial North went over 2 million peoples, the largest migration of people in the world, even today! It was on the streets and clubs of Chicago that the first Electric Blues sound was founded by the great Muddy Waters. The blues had left the church and went to the bars and juke joints. On Saturday, his eldest Son Mud Morganfield from Chicago performs, “he is so similar to his father’s vocal style and energy that it is downright spooky”.  The South-Western states took this electric blues and created the Texas sound. In the late 1960s and early 1970s the blues scene began to flourish, particularly in the clubs of Austin. The diverse style placed particular emphasis on powerful lead guitars, Smokin’ Joe & Bnois King bring their scorching Lone-Star State Blues with their twin frontman line-up to late Saturday night. Later on in the 1980’s, Jump blues was revived by internationally renowned bands such as Roomful of Blues a swing revival big band. Duke Robillard one of the founder members, creating this new energised sound which was Duke’s calling card, Jump, Swing and blues !! Sunday gives you the chance to catch his groovin’ sounds…. B. B. King himself has called Duke “One of the great players, one of God’s guitarists”. The festival closes with the new generation of Torch-Bearers of the Blues, Michael “Iron Man” Burks stands tall as a major contemporary blues, poised on the brink of major stardom. A fierce flamethrower guitar slinger and an exciting soulful singer, his music has phenomenal firepower. He plays with a decidedly urban, contemporary blues style, and a soul-infused vocal style that suggests some down-home cooking. He is the proof that the blues is alive and well in the skilful hands of this Iron Man. The Main Artists performing at the Marquee: Boo Boo Davis Mississippi Friday “This how Mississippi blues sounds in 2011”. Boo Boo remembers musicians such as John More info

THE LEGENDARY PETE BROWN WITH HIS BAND PSOULCHEDELIA WITH PHIL RYAN THIS COMING MONDAY JUNE 6th.

THE ‘FAMOUS MONDAY BLUES’ AT THE ‘BULLINGDON’ COWLEY ROAD, OXFORD IS HONOURED & PROUD TO PRESENT THE LEGENDARY PETE BROWN WITH HIS BAND PSOULCHEDELIA WITH PHIL RYAN THIS COMING MONDAY JUNE 6th. AFTER SHARING A STAGE WITH FELLOW BEAT POETS WILLIAM BURROUGHS & ALAN GINSBERG IN THE 1960′S BROWN WENT ON TO WRITE LYRICS FOR ‘CREAM’ INCLUDING ‘THE WHITE ROOM’ & ‘I FEEL FREE’ BEFORE TEAMING UP WITH PIONEER GRAHAM BOND & LATER PRODUCING MICK JAGGER & JEFF BECK AMONGST OTHERS! WITH HIS NINE PIECE BAND WHICH INCLUDES FORMER ‘MAN’ KEYBOARD PLAYER PHIL RYAN YOU CAN COME & SEE A MOST SPECTACULAR & MEMORABLE SHOW. THIS WILL BE AN HISTORIC EVENT AT OUR SHOW, TOTALLY UNMISSABLE!. DOORS AT 9pm. CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON http://www.famousmondayblues.co.uk More info

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6 MITCH LADDIE Burning Bridges
7 LARRY MILLER On The Edge
8 THE CASH BOX KINGS Holler and Stomp
9 STEVE SUMMERS BAND Lookin Back, MovinOn
10 KING BIZKIT Selling My Soul

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