BLUES MATTERS! MAGAZINE

There is to be a Young Blues Bash to be held on 12th March 2011 at The Wave in Maryport.

This is open to young blues artists (under 23). The whole band does not have to be under 23 only the main part.

Maryport Blues Festival Committee are looking to get 5-6 quality artists which will be picked from applicants before the end of January 2011.

The winner on the night picked by panel of 3 judges.

They will receive a contract to play on the main stage of the Maryport Blues Festival 2011.

Any other band which impresses the judges may get a chance to play on the Maryport Blues Trail.

www.maryportblues.com/

After March of 2011 Barry, Dave and Steve will be going separate ways and seeking different paths, which is, of course sad but my word we've had a great time, and as a Beatle once said 'All things must pass' The high's have been tremendous; playing Rory's music in an amphitheatre on a Spanish mountain, late nights with good companions and plenty of Guinness after rocking gigs in Ireland, proudly playing with talented friends at tribute concerts in Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany, Holland, Norway,

and the USA, crying with laughter on tours in Holland, meeting the wonderful people of Greece, travelling thousands of miles round Europe, bringing the message of Rory's memory to all who wanted to hear it, and acquiring great lifelong friends in our own country.

We won't start thanking people because we'd never finish the list if we lived to be a hundred, you know who you are and we thank you ALL. We hope, in our humble way, we have helped to keep the memory of the great man alive and kicking, we weren't the first Rory Tribute band and we won't be the last, there is amazing young talent to keep the flame burning bright and we're sure the public will one day wake up to the genius that we all lost.

We will be trying to get 'farewell' gigs as much as we can but you can pretty much assume that the next time you see us at a venue, it will be 'The Last Time' for Barry, Dave and Steve as Sinnerboy.'

Thank you everybody and thank you Rory Gallagher.

Don’t forget the acclaimed Blues Matters stage in JAKS which this year features: Green Mac, Idle Hands, Dale Storr Band, Clare Free Band, Elephant Shelf, Larry Miller, Delta Ladies and Babajack and of course the now legendary Saturday afternoon JAM with Gary Boner and Roadhouse. Reason enough to come along on it’s own!

CHECK OUT www.bigweekends.com/blues or call: 0845-0704750 quoting ref 323 to get special rates for Blues Matters readers that give you even better value accommodation than is already offered at one of the biggest events of the year and what a way to kick off 2011!.

Every September in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival takes over the city for several days. Featuring leading Blues artists from around the world, over the past 20 years it has become one of Canada’s leading music festivals.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the festival we have teamed up with Tourism New Brunswick to launch the ‘New Brunswick Battle of the Blues’ to find an up and coming UK blues act to appear live in front of an international audience at next years Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival as part of an all expenses* paid trip.

If you think you’re good enough, or know of someone else who is good enough to fly the flag for Britain at next years festival then this is what you need to know and do.

The competition is open to all unsigned Blues acts residing in Britain.

You can be a soloist, a duo or a band, but you must have original material to play both in the heats and in the final, as well of course at the festival in New Brunswick next year.

• There will be 5 regional heats around the UK, one each in Southampton, Glasgow, Billericay, Nottingham and Chorley, all of these will be held during the last two weeks of January.

• Because we expect to get a large number of entries, and because there will only be 5 or 6 places available at each heat, in the first instance you’ll need to upload a video of you playing one song to You Tube and then send the URL of your video to Tourism New Brunswick using the form on their website, www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk

• Entries will be accepted from 11th October until 17th December 2010, and before Christmas all on-line entries will be reviewed and the successful acts for each venue heat will be notified.

• At each heat you’ll be expected to play for 15-20 minutes, which can be a mixture of original music and covers (but mainly original).

• There will be a judging panel at the heats and one act will be chosen to go through to the final.

• In addition at each heat all the acts will be videoed, and the two runners from each regional heat will have one track put on-line on the ww.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk website for the public to choose the ‘best’ runner-up, who will also be invited to participate in the final in London.

• Voting for the runners up finalist place will run from 01 February – 28th February 2011.

• The final will be held in London on 29th March 2011, each act will again be expected to play for 20 minutes, most of which should be original music.

• The judging panel in London will be made up of the Harvest Jazz and Blues organisers who will fly in specially for the final from Canada.

• Matt Andersen, one of Canada’s best-known Blues acts (and is from New Brunswick) will perform on the night of the final and will probably also be included on the judging panel.

• The winning act will be announced that night, and will travel to Fredericton in mid-September 2011 to appear at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival 2011.

• All finalists will receive £250 towards their travel costs to London, plus will be accommodated in or near London on the night of the final.

• The final winning act, in addition to travelling to Canada, will receive a cheque for £1000.

So what are you waiting for? Get your video ready (it doesn’t have to be professional quality) and from 11th October enter at www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk, Who knows, this time next year you could be an international star!

If you have any questions or have problems uploading your video, email blues@tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk

*The winning act will flown from London to Canada, hotel accommodation will be provided for the duration of the trip and a daily allowance paid per person to cover meals etc. Personal expenses such as laundry, phone bills, insurance, or subsistence costs exceeding the daily allowance will not be paid.

BLUES BOY KING, an original five piece Blues act from Boston, Lincolnshire, have recorded a five track EP of original songs, called 'Back To East Shore'.

Lead singer and guitarist, Jason North said, "We recorded these tracks at Tabby Road Studios, Swinderby, near Lincoln. My wife Sam plays thundering bass on the tracks and her backing vocals are sublime".

Also featured on the album, which is due to be augmented by a further five tracks next month, is none other than Blues drumming legend, Mark Barratt from Lincoln.

"Mark laid down the drums and percussion on this EP and he has done a fantastic job. We are hoping to tour soon with Mark, and promote the CD", Jason added.

Phil Aldridge did the recording and mixing, and "I cant praise him enough" said Jason, also talking about Phil's contribution on Draw Bar Organ.

Rich Taylor, Jase's cousin will be on vocals and guitar for the live dates, which will be viewable at www.myspace.com/bluesboykings and www.bluesboyking.co.uk.

For copies of the CD either purchase from 'Never Mind The Music Store' in Boston, Lincs, UK.

Or order direct via email bluesboykings@hotmail.co.uk - paypal and cheques accepted!

Keep on Lovin' The Blues!

The album has also hit #1 in Official UK Top 40 Rock Album Chart (www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/rockalbums)and #2 in the Official UK Top 40 Indie Album Chart (www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/indiealbums).

The album, produced by Kevin Shirley (RUSH, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, BlackCrowes), features vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple, BlackSabbath), award-winning guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (LedZeppelin, Foreigner) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Billy Idol, DreamTheater). 

Having recently performed a secret concert to a select audience of 160 peoplein London on September 20th, BCC are finalizing details of concerts in the UKthis December.

is now back on the air with a two hour show every Monday evening. The show is broadcast on 103.6 FM by Lincoln City Radio. The aerial is located at the top of the main tower of Lincoln Cathedral so a good coverage is assured. If you are not in the catchment area then go to www.lincolncityradio.com and listen live and there is a studio web cam. The time is 7.00 pm until 9.00 pm and is followed by The Monday Night Rock show.

I am looking to feature British Rock bands and welcome any promo CD's for airplay. In addition if you are in the area on a Monday evening and you are doing a gig in the area then get in touch and we will get you in the studio for an interview and play some of your tracks.

If you have any promo CD,s then send them to Tony Nightingale, FENLAND STUDIO, 42 Spilsby Road, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 6AW 01507 527835

Mojo Weekend is a blues music course run to improve students current playing abilities. Concentrating on one to one tuition and performance workshops, the course is suitable for any level of expertise from beginner to advanced. All details can be found at www.mojoweekend.co.uk Mojo Weekend is run by Rightnote Coaching Ltd

We announce a Mojo Weekend events and BM competition for a free place to the October 23rd / 24th event

The value for the event is £285. Terms for entry is; All participants must be 18 years old or over, and must supply full address, contact number and email address with their entry. prize is non redeemable for cash, non transferable, and only valid when used by the prize winner for the date above. All or part of the winning entry may be used in future advertising by Mojo Weekend or Blues Matters.

The competition is quite easy. All you have to do is write in no more than 200 words what does the term 'mojo' mean.

Closing weekend is 8th October 

Blues duo "Sisters in Grease" are to launch their new album - of the same title, at the Jim's Acoustic Cafe Colne at 3pm this Bank Holiday Sunday during the Great British R&B Festival. The material was recorded during a busy summer period when they played the Acoustic Festival of Britain and had gigging supports with the likes of Eddie Martin and Larry Miller. The event is part of the Free Fringe but get there early as space can be limited.

www.sistersingrease.com

This weekend 28/29th August will see BLUE TOUCH headlining the saturday of this year's "Woodstock Live" Festival in Woodstock Oxfordshire.

BLUE TOUCH will be closing the acoustic stage event from 20:00- 21:00 in the Town Square with an unplugged set before moving indoors for a full on electric set from 21:15.

With three well received CDs released BLUE TOUCH, consistently deliver fresh and exciting interpretations of the blues both live and on record.

WOODSTOCK LIVE-  ITS FREE!!

"Following in the grand tradition that will forever associate the name of Woodstock with live music, this year's celebration in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, will see twenty artists / bands appearing on The Town Stage in the Town Square over the Saturday and Sunday of the late August Bank Holiday, August 28th & 29th. A significant feature of 'Woodstock Live' is the diverse and eclectic nature of the artists, both local and from afar, who are invited to perform."

www.woodstocklive.co.uk