An Eye for an Eye - JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS featuring Mick Taylor & John McVie

A six-piece lineup—consisting of Mayall, Mick Taylor as lead guitarist, John McVie still on bass, Hughie Flint or Hartley on drums, and Rip Kant and Chris Mercer on saxophones—recorded the album Crusade on 11 and 12 July 1967. These Bluesbreakers spent most of the year touring abroad, and Mayall taped the shows on a portable recorder. At the end of the tour, he had over sixty hours of tapes, which he edited into an album in two volumes: Diary of a Band, Vols. 1 & 2, released in February 1968. Meanwhile, a few lineup changes had occurred: McVie had departed and was replaced by Paul Williams, who himself soon quit to join Alan Price and was replaced by Keith Tillman; Dick Heckstall-Smith had taken the sax spot. Following a U.S. tour, there were more lineup changes, starting with the troublesome bass position. First Mayall replaced bassist Tillman with 15-year-old Andy Fraser. Within six weeks, though, Fraser left to join Free and was replaced by Tony Reeves, previously a member of the New Jazz Orchestra. Hartley was required to leave, and he was replaced by New Jazz Orchestra drummer Jon Hiseman (who had also played with the Graham Bond Organisation). Henry Lowther, who played violin and cornet, joined in February 1968. Two months later the Bluesbreakers recorded Bare Wires, co-produced by Mayall and Mike Vernon, which came up to #6. Hiseman, Reeves, and Heckstall-Smith then moved on to form Colosseum. The Mayall lineup retained Mick Taylor and added drummer Colin Allen (formerly of Zoot Money's Big Roll Band / Dantalian's Chariot, and Georgie Fame) and a young bassist named Stephen Thompson. In August 1968 the new quartet recorded Blues from Laurel Canyon. On 13 June 1969, after nearly two years with Mayall, Taylor left and officially joined the Rolling Stones.

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Humanity Blues - Ian Parker

Ian Parker (born Ian James Parker, 13 December 1976, Birmingham, England) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. Born in Birmingham, he was brought up in nearby Stourbridge. Inspired by The Beatles, he began playing guitar at the age of 8. His interest in music flourished during his teenage years and following the completion of a BSc degree in Psychology at the University of Derby, his musical career began. In his early teens he began to focus heavily on electric guitar after hearing the music of Jimi Hendrix and Cream. From here Parker became passionately interested the blues, studying the music and its history at every opportunity. In 2003 he recorded his debut album, Insidefor the German blues label Ruf Records. He went on to release a further three albums and two live DVDs through the company. In addition to his interest in the blues, Parker has always considered himself to be a singer-songwriter. His influences are far-ranging and his music has largely revolved around a balance between his song-writing and his blues guitar playing. His most recent recording, a five track EP called Demons and Doubters released through Equator Music, marked a subtle change in direction away from blues-rock towards a more mainstream guitar-lead singer-songwriter identity.  

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The Mighty Bosscats - Boiling Point - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Boiling Point, from The Mighty Bosscats. Opening with I Need A Friend, having a sloitary Dire Straits sound is a likely radio play track for this release. Boiling Point is an easy going blues rocker with smooth harp work from Phil Pawsey sprinkled over like sugar. 2:45 Express is a happy go lucky blues based track with a western twist. Pawsey add cool piano on this track as well. Flashy guitar riffs from vocalist Richard Townend and Terry Hiscock compliment the tight bottom by Phil Wilson (bass) and Glen Buck (drums). A fun based nod to Nashville and rockabilly is Elvis Coming Home. Some sweet chicken picking adds to the general feel of this track. Bad Luck Blues, an easy going shuffle track is complimented by nice key work and harp from Pawsey. Candyman has a more substantial rock kind of sound with a blues base. Slide work creates a cool feel and overall this track is my favorite showing some of the tastiest guitar work on the release. Devil Inside has a loose country like rock sound and Knopfler style guitar riffs and vocals. Lordy Lordy Lordy has an interesting vocal harmony intro. The track then leads to a wide open country gospel style track with nice pickin. Cool. Switch The Tracks is driven by Glen Buck on drums, Pawsey on harp and Stephen Foster-Plikington on violin. Waco Station is a country pop style ballad. Primarily vocal driven, Townend shows his consistent writing style. The release is wrapped with another radio strong ballad, Pride. Nice light guitar work compliments this catchy melody and leaves the listener with a strong flavor of The Mighty Bosscats flavor.  

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Have You Ever Loved A Woman - Ben Poole

“F***ing amazing! I loved his playing…I really loved his playing!” -Jeff Beck “A Really great player!” -Gary Moore “This is a young man to look out for as he is no doubt a rising talent and should be supported when he comes to a local venue.” -’Blues Matters’ Magazine When you hear comments such as the above from two of the worlds’ greatest guitar players and one of the leading UK guitar magazines you just know they have heard something very special. Twenty-five year old Ben Poole is currently being described as the most exciting young blues guitarist to come out of the UK for a long, long time.  










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Geoff Whitehorn

Geoffrey Charles 'Geoff' Whitehorn (born 29 August 1951, London, England) is a guitarist and singer-songwriter, who has played as a member of If, Crawler and Procol Harum. In August 1973, Whitehorn joined the pioneering British jazz-rock band, If, in what was their third and final line-up, appearing on their last two albums, Not Just Another Bunch of Pretty Faces (1974) and Tea Break Over, Back On Your 'Eads (1975). During that period, he recorded his first solo album, Whitehorn (1974, Stateside), featuring fellow If members Dick Morrissey and Cliff Davies. This was followed by two largely instrumental solo albums, Big in Gravesend and Geoff Who? which he also re-recorded and expanded as Geoff Who? 2002. In 1976-1979, Whitehorn played in the band Crawler (formerly known as Back Street Crawler), replacing the band's founder Paul Kossoff after the latter's death. Geoff also played as lead guitarist with Chuck Farley with Steve Simpson, Boz Burrell, Poly Palmer and Alan Coulter. In 1979 Whitehorn joined Roger Chapman' s Band The Shortlist, touring Europe extensively and recording ten albums with Chapman. His playing in the Band was inspired by jazz - harmonies. He left Shortlist in 1988. In 1991, he joined the group Procol Harum, and is now their longest serving guitarist, having played on all of their recent recordings, such as The Long Goodbye, One More Time - Live in Utrecht 1992 and The Well's on Fire as well as on Procol Harum's live DVDs in Denmark and at Union Chapel (Concert on Friday 12Th December 2003), and one recorded with an orchestra in 2006 at Ledreborg Castle, again in Denmark. He has also played live and recorded with The Palers' Project, the Procol Harum quasi-tribute collective. He changed his style into a more Classic Rock solo performance. Whitehorn has also contributed to the recordings and performances of other artists, such as Bad Company, Jethro Tull, Kevin Ayers, Elkie Brooks, The Who, Roger Waters, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Paul McCartney, Billy Ocean and Paul Rodgers. In 2007, he worked with Elkie Brooks on her UK tour. Exceptional performances of Free's All Right Now (with Paul Rogers), The Who's Quadrophenia in Hyde Park & New York playing lead (while Pete Townshend strums acoustic), Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven (with Never the Bride and the British Rock Symphony) can be found on a popular internet video site.  

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Proper records artist: Henry Priestman - The Last Mad Surge of Youth - New Release Review

I just received the newest recording (February 17, 2014) from Henry Priestman and it is a strongly constructed and very melodic release. Opening with At The End Of The Day, Priestman and co writer Lotte Mullan present a very nice ballad. True Believer is accompanied by acoustic strings, guitar and flute. With an upbeat pace, Priestman paints with words over a warm familiar melody. Writing in retrospect, We Used To be You, Priestman tells the story of how we all go through the pains of youth and adulthood. Reflective and interesting. Goodbye Common Sense continues along the lines of introspect but adding more acoustic instrumentation with fiddle and banjo or mando. Valentine Song is a simple love song written over arpeggiated chords on electric guitar with reverb. Nice track. Horns and Banjo open In My Head, a light poppy track again showing very strong writing and arrangement. Title track, The Last Mad Surge Of Youth, shows nice harmonies and again reflections of someone seeing youth slip away. Rant'N'Rave, a folk rock track with a lot of pop style continues the thought that the listeners aren't too old to do a lot of the stuff we used to do. Huntin' and Gatherin',  a sweet simple reflective ballad with personal implications. Again very nice. Same Circus Different Clowns has a light "John Hartford" pace with banjo and steel guitar. I Cried Today in 3/4 time is one of the warmest tracks on the release. Rich harmonies and strong writing make this my favorite track on the release. A Pint Of Bitter and Twisted Please ventures back to the rock world but still on the light side. With a sense of drums and electric backing agan keeping to the folk construction makes this a good song to wrap up the set.

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Provogue Records artist: Matt Schofield - Far As I Can See - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (February 18, 2014), Far As I Can See, from Matt Schofield and I really like it! First I'll start out by saying that this is not a pure "blues" release but blues based and fresh. Opening with From Far Away has more of a contemporary jazzy feel along the lines of Robben Ford. Schofield is an excellent singer and he spends no time at all showing what all the clamor is about with his guitar playing. Clean Break is a really slick shuffle track with solid organ contributions from Jonny Henderson. Schofield really swings this track with crisp articulated guitar runs and Jordan John is tight on drums. Getaway is a funky progressively timed track with cool bass work from Carl Stanbridge. Schofield really jumps on this track with some of the cleanest guitar riffs I've heard on a record in a long time. Excellent. One track that is bound to be a common denominator for everyone is Albert King's Breaking Up Somebody's Home. Schofield does an excellent interpretation of this classic with super vocals and scorching hot blues riffs. The anchors at bass and drums (Stanbridge and John) give Schofield freedom to give the track a lot of vocal soul and the guitar soloing would make Albert smile. Vocal backing adds just the right amount of warmth. The Day You Left is a rolling slow blues with soulful vocals contrasted against the tension of the timing of the rhythm of the bottom. Schofield adds his solos in open field here. The work is masterful and exciting. Chord progressions on the chorus give it a sophisticated feel showing a multidimensional writer/player. Again organ work by Henderson is just right. Another really super track. Oakville Shuffle is a very fleet instrumental track. With a blues bottom and jazz components this track gives the players the opportunity to really let it out. Henderson puts up a really solid key solo and Schofield shows his jazz chops. Still strongly influenced by blues this track is nothing less than superb! Hindsight has a lot of funk and even some extremely sweet sax work from James Morton. With a bit of that southern flare, Schofield shows that he's really been listening. His guitar work on this track is super and work by both Stanbridge and John is right on the money. I this track doesn't make you hop around in your seat...check your pulse...you may be dead! Everything starts off with a slower deliberate pace but erupts into a full blues shuffle with all hands blazing. Shifting gears a few times as smooth as a Porsche with paddle shifters, Schofield really shines on this track. The Neville Brothers Yellow Moon is up next and Schofield may even give it a bit more Latin than the original. Spanish guitar riffs on electric guitar is a really nice touch and splashes of street drumming really gives it a special kick. Schofield makes it really hard to review his release when every track is spectacular... I mean how many different ways can you say... this is terrific! Tell Me Some Lies ventures into two-step territory with rockin piano work from Henderson bringing that Jerry Lee Lewis flavor to a primarily vocal track with a Texas guitar twist. Final track, Red Dragon, is a Hendrix influenced blues ballad. Signature Jimi riffs are blended into an almost Roy Buchanan like blues dirge giving Schofield the opportunity to really throw his gloves down. If you like wide open guitar... this is your ticket.

 I have to say this is one of the most exciting guitar releases I have heard in a long time. It has components of a lot of different styles of music blended together and executed in a spontaneous yet meticulous manner. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves guitar music. There has to be something here that will push you buttons... if not everything!

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Handle On The Blues - Nick Woodland

Nick Woodland (23 January 1951 in London ) is a British rock 'n' roll - and blues guitarist who lives in Munich. He was influenced by musicians such as Alexis Korner , Eric Clapton , John Mayall and Peter Green . He played in rock bands such as Amon Düül II , poison , Sahara and The Clash , accompanied the pop -sizes Donna Summer and Boney M. , jazz flutist Herbie Mann and went with Marius Müller-Westernhagen on tour. With his own band he joined in 1982 in clubs and at festivals. From the mid-80s, the band played as Nick Woodland and the Magnets with George Esser (bass) and Fats Fries (drums). Between 2002 and 2008 worked Zinkl Walter (bass), Holger Brandt (drums) and Klaus Reichardt (keyboards, pedal steel guitar ) with the band. Since 2008, the new line-up of Tom Peschel (bass), Manfred Mildenberger is (drums) and Klaus Reichardt (keyboards, pedal steel guitar ). Since the 1990s he was a member of the band of George Ringsgwandl , this cooperation was terminated in 2012. In 1992 he wrote the music for the movie We grandchildren of the cabaret artist Bruno Jonas . Since 2006, he also plays with the reunited German prog rock band Sahara. One legend is that he was once on the verge in the Rolling Stones as a replacement for the departed Mick Taylor to enter.  

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Rambling On My Mind - Blues Boy Dan

Dan was born on the 11th of May 1992 in the market town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire. As a young boy Dan grew up overlooking fields, making fires, building dens and enjoying life in the country. Dan did not particularly enjoy school and took to the guitar at the age of 9. Through music, Dan found that he could express himself, and his affinity with the guitar started when introduced to the Blues by his teacher, Richard Pharo. Dan’s guitar skill and understanding of the Blues continued to develop through his school years, playing in various bands and as part of a duo supporting his older sister Claire on open mic nights around the county. When Dan left school he undertook a joinery apprenticeship with the ambition of becoming a professional guitar maker. Unfortunately, this was cut short following a tragic accident in the workshop involving his eye. Although no cosmetic signs remain, he suffered severe damage to the retina resulting in continued deterioration of his sight. Dan now looks back at this as a pivotal moment. It was to alter the course of his life permanently. After seeking solace in the Blues to deal with the aftermath of his accident, Dan decided he would pick himself up and embark upon a full-time music career. The support from his family, along with the encouragement of local musicians and manager Tony Skeggs, spurred Dan on to broaden his horizons and experiment with singing. To the astonishment of himself and others, a voice emerged which has resulted in the label 'Blues Boy Dan'. Word in the local Blues community began to spread, and throughout 2011 Dan found himself gigging twice a week, leading to a video posting on Youtube of his performance of the “Ballad of Hollis Brown”. The video attracted the attention of Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac who tracked Dan down and has since become Dan’s mentor. Dan will be travelling to Nashville in April this year, to record with Grammy award winning producer Vance Powell (Kings Of Leon, Jack White, Willie Nelson), he will also be performing at Glastonbury, and starts a world tour with ZZ Top as support act in June.

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Alex McKown Band

Alex McKown was born in 1996 and he first picked up the guitar when he was 6 years of age. When he was 8 he asked if he could have an electric guitar for Christmas. Alex quickly progressed and spent many hours playing along to guitar legends such as Eric Clapton and BB King. When Alex was 11 he started to have lessons from Samuel C Lees at Tameside Music Academy. A passion for the blues was ignited ! Alex developed his performance skills by performing regularly at the blues/rock jam at The Whittles in Oldham. Alex then started to listen to the artists appearing at the major blues festivals in the UK and met Hamilton Loomis from Texas over the internet. Hamilton kindly agreed to let Alex sit in on his UK tour in 2009 and this helped to raise his profile. In 2009, Alex performed with his own band at The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne, Newark Blues Festival and Ramsbottom Blues Festival. In 2010 Alex opened the British Stage at Colne followed by further appearances for Boogaloo Blues and Newark Blues Festival. In 2011 Alex performed two shows at the Zinc Blues Festival in France and also appeared for the second time at the Colne Festival on the British Stage. The highlight of 2011 was a nomination in the British Blues Awards and inclusion in the Best Newcomer Poll by Blues Matters Magazine. Alex was nominated for a second British Blues Award in 2012 and also appeared on a compliation CD called "The Cream of Electric Blues" alongside the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout and The Royal Southern Brotherhood. Another nomination in the 2013 British Blues Awards followed and a stellar line up of festival and headline gigs are scheduled for 2014.  

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Katie Bradley

Few artists have traveled so far, and so quickly, after releasing a self-released album, and Katie Bradley is increasingly regarded as one of the most impressive stories to emerge on The British Blues music scene. Blessed with a truly expressive, exceptional voice and dynamic blues-harp playing, Katie Bradley's music is a unique and contemporary take on the classic sounds of Blues, Gospel and Soul; all underpinned by a simply compelling and a dynamic range of heart felt songs of rare emotion. After releasing "She's Ready" independently in October 2012, an album which featured two original songs "I Hear The River" and "Be Careful With my baby", the reaction to the record has been amazing, with a nomination in The British Blues Awards 2013 for her song 'I Hear The River', and worldwide critical acclaim from the Blues world in International Blues Magazines with reviews and interviews that picked up on her notability. In June 2013 Katie received a phone call from Paul Jones "The Blues Band" who directly requested a copy to play on his Premier Blues show on BBC Radio Two. The airplay resulted in a No.7 entry on the i-tunes Blues Charts shoulder to shoulder with Festival favourite Seasick Steve and Blues Master Son House. Katie was the only British name in the top 10 also the only female artist. The British Blues Awards were announced at the end of August 2013 and Katie made the final, with the public vote bringing her nomination runner up with Oli Brown to multi award winning Blues Giant Ian Siegal. Katie has spent most of career travelling, writing and collaborating with musicians across the globe earning her place as one of Britain's most accomplished Blues Vocalists. In 2012 Katie teamed together with guitarist and composer Dudley Ross, and cut her début blues album with the pick of the best blues musicians available including: Dudley Ross – guitar (Gary Moore, Imelda May), Paul Jobson – keys and vocals (Chaka Khan, Ben E king), Joe Sam (Cut The Funk, Noel McCalla), and multi award winning Drummer Sam Kelly. Katie has earned further recognition with performances and support for International artists such as Hamish Stuart, Dana Gillespie and Suzanne Vega which displays Katie's appeal and resonance.

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Goldrush - Rosco Levee & The Southern Slide

Rosco Levee is a singer songwriter and guitarist from Kent, who has been playing the guitar for the last 23 years...and he’s only 28 now! Music and writing songs is in his blood; every day he composes a new song, a set of lyrics or a new melody to work with. Spurred on by his good friend, the notable singer songwriter Pete Molinari, Rosco has gone back to his roots where he was brought up on a diet of blues, country and rock ‘n’ roll. Artists such as Robert Johnson, Delaney Bramlett and Elvis, and bands such as The Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones and The Band are all major influences.







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Little Red Rooster - LUCY ZIRINS

“As a 12-year-old it was so hard to comprehend the death of my lovely uncle Chris, aged just 41. An accordion player like my granddad, he was learning to play acoustic guitar. When his stuff was cleared out, the guitar and his books and CD tutorials were about to be skipped and I asked if I could have them. I guess I learnt to play guitar to keep his memory alive.”Roll the clock forward to 2008 and the confused young girl who first picked up a guitar just four years ago is now an apprehensive 16-year-old, stepping out onto King Rollo’s Acoustic Stage at the Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival in Colne. By the time she steps down from that stage half an hour later, Lucy’s life will have been transformed. As Alan White of earlyblues.com wrote after the event: “I saw Lucy for the first time at the Colne R&B Festival 2008 and all I can say is… ‘Wow!’ This young lady will go far – such a natural talent for the blues in one so young”. Lucy Zirins At The 2011 Great British Blues Festival Roll forward another four years and the 20-year-old Lucy has just been voted runner-up in the ‘British Young Artist’ category at The British Blues Awards and in the ‘Blues Matters’ Writers’ Poll has been voted winner of the ‘Best Newcomer’ category and runner-up to Ian Siegal in the Best Solo Artist category. She has just finished recording her debut album at Liam Watson’s famous Toe-Rag Studios in London, with Michael Messer in charge of production and some of Britain’s finest session musicians in support. Lucy’s burgeoning CV now boasts music festivals across the UK, tours to Italy and France, stages shared with such music legends as Buddy Whittington, Walter Trout and the late great Louisiana Red, selection by PRS for Music to represent Britain’s most promising new talent… And what effect has success had on Lucy Zirins? As an entertainer, it has undoubtedly helped her develop a strong bond with her audiences, boosting her confidence and refining her stagecraft. But as a person she remains the same giggly, engaging, generous and utterly delightful young lady who made me cry “I love Lucy” when I first sat in one of those audiences and saw her perform. How did Lucy get started in music? “Well”, she explains, “mum and dad played tapes and CDs in the car since I was a baby and I guess the music they listened to rubbed off on me – 60s/70s/80s for mum, blues and rock for dad. I used to make up song lyrics in my head to the sound of the indicators – maybe that’s why I’ve such a good sense of rhythm now!” At this point Lucy breaks into a fit of giggles. It’s not the first time I’ve heard that lovely Lancastrian laughter… and I’m sure it won’t be the last. With family roots in Cumbria and Latvia, Lucy Zirins was born in Burnley, Lancashire in 1992. She made her stage debut in school as a 9-year-old singer and actress with the lead role in Lynn Brittney’s nativity play ‘Babooshka’. Graduating from Shuttleworth College with excellent GCSEs, she enrolled at Nelson and Colne College, achieving A levels in Music, Music Technology and English Literature – the ideal platform for a guitarist and singer-songwriter. Lucy also achieved Grade 7 Trinity College Vocal (with Merit), Grade 5 Rockschool Guitar and Grade 6 ABRSM Music Theory and was the recipient of college prizes for Music and English. But, as they say, it’s not so much what you know as who you know. Lucy’s introduction to professional rhythm & blues and the slide guitar came via her influential music teacher at high school, Saph Wright, whose multi-instrumentalist husband Paul Corry played with and wrote songs for the Michael Roach Band and featured with such stars as Jamiroquai and Roy Wood. Paul gave Lucy her first brass slide and after a few months’ practice she bought her beloved resonator, Talulah. Still just 15 years old, Lucy’s contact with Paul Corry led to her attending a Michael Roach workshop at Burnley Blues Festival, where she so impressed the professional musicians present that she was offered a scholarship to attend Euro Blues Week later that summer. On her first visit Lucy received The Sam Mitchell scholarship for slide guitar players and the following year Lucy was asked to return on part scholarship in memory of the late great John Jackson for young people playing blues. The visits introduced Lucy to such greats as Orville Johnson, Steve James and Rick Franklin and gave her a week’s tuition in acoustic and slide guitar under the watchful eye of Michael Messer. “I have not seen a young girl play and sing blues like Lucy since Jo Ann Kelly, Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams started their careers”, declared maestro Messer, a musician regarded as one of the greatest living practitioners of slide guitar and listed by ‘Spirit’ Magazine alongside Duane Allman and Ry Cooder. Lucy Zirins With Michael Messer And The Late Great Louisiana Red With Michael’s patronage and support and a rapidly-expanding fan base, Lucy’s career began to take off. 2009 saw her cutting an EP of blues covers and originals, ‘Angel Blue’, performing at festivals in Stockport, Morecambe, Burnley and Colne, appearing on BBC Radio Lancashire and becoming one of the youngest ever musicians to receive royalties through the Performing Rights Society. “Music is my passion because there’s nothing else like it in the world”, explained Lucy.“Nothing else can express feelings like music does and it’s the greatest feeling ever when you can pass those feelings on to the audience. It felt amazing to receive my first cheque from PRS for Music – it was amazing to have earned money for the thing I love doing most in the world!” Within a year Lucy and her roadie / photographer / chauffeur / videographer / sound engineer / manager / father Ian had packed their passports and crossed the Lancashire border for festivals and club gigs in Ripley, Harrogate, Keighley, Todmorden and Carlisle. And Lucy was off to the Big Smoke, having been invited to join an elite group of young singer-songwriters at the inaugural 2010 ‘PRS for Music Class Of…’ event at their London headquarters. Where Yorkshire and Cumbria beckoned, the world opened its arms and Lucy found herself on stage in Orkney in Scotland, Beauvais in France and the Franciacorta Festival in Italy. But there was always time for home appearances, including a fourth successive annual appearance at the 2011 Colne R&B Festival. By now it was becoming increasingly difficult for Lucy to balance the competing demands of her day job and her stage appearances, as she found herself spending an increasing amount of time writing songs. So busy had she been that she didn’t even have her own website. It was time to take stock. At the start of 2012, Lucy Zirins made the decision to pack in the day job and work towards a professional recording contract. Since then she has written several great new tracks and spent time in recording studios with music professionals, working on material for promotion and future album release. Now a mature and confident 20-year-old, Lucy told me excitedly about the broadening of her musical direction. “I’ll always love blues and I’ll be forever grateful to the amazing blues musicians who have helped me along the way. Joining Michael Messer and one of the last great Bluesmen, Louisiana Red, on stage was an experience I will never forget. But I’m getting more into soul, jazz, folk and country, and really beginning to find my own sound as a songwriter and performer and I think that’s really important. There are only two types of music – good and bad – and I want to write good strong songs that make people feel something. I want to leave a stamp on peoples’ hearts; the way Eva Cassidy, Aretha Franklin and Carole King all did on mine.” I’ve known Lucy both as an avid fan and as a personal friend now for long enough to know that when she says she’s going somewhere, she’ll get there. It may have thrilled me to see this incredible young musician walk away from the 2012 British Blues Awards bearing the runners-up certificate as Young Artist of the Year, but it didn’t surprise me in the slightest. Lucy Zirins is destined for great things in the months and years to come.  

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Blind Alley - Marcus Bonfanti Band

From the first note of Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” sixteen-year-old Marcus Bonfanti knew he wanted to be a guitar player. After spending his youth as a trumpet player in brass bands, working 12 hours a day in a kitchen to buy his first guitar, dropping out of a prestigious Music College and touring the world with different artists for almost 10 years Bonfanti has become the sum of all the great music he was exposed to as a young boy growing up in North London. His 2008 debut album, ‘Hard Times,’ set the scene and sent some subtly effective messages about a new British voice demanding to be heard. 2010’s ‘What Good Am I To You’ (Listed in Classic Rock Magazine’s top 50 albums of 2010 & Single "Give Me Your Cash" top 40 songs of 2010) made good on all those promises. The critical acclaim that both albums received earned him the 2012 British Blues Award for Best Songwriter. He was also invited by Paul Jones to perform at his 25th Year anniversary show at BBC Maida Vale Studios and as special guest at his legendary Cranleigh Arts Centre Christmas gig. After 2 sold out shows at London’s prestigious Jazz Café this year, he has been chosen as the support act for the legendary Shuggie Otis for his first ever UK shows. 2013 will see the release of his much-anticipated 3rd studio album. Recorded at ‘The Grange’ with Dave Williams (Ike and Tina Turner, John Mayall, Peter Green) it will be released in the spring. Bonfanti is known for his high-energy live shows with his 3-piece band that have been receiving rave reviews over the last 2 years and solidified his reputation as one of the most exciting live performers on the UK scene. Marcus will be traveling the UK to promote this new album through a set of intimate solo gigs throughout February 2013 and then embarking on a UK & European tour with his band in April and May to coincide with the release.

 If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Since You Went Away - Jules Carter Trio

The Jules Carter Trio. Three guys who aim to recapture some of the excitement of the great guitar, drum and bass trios of the past! They have been immersed in music ranging from Cream to Hendrix. Stevie Ray Vaughan to Eric Johnson, Mike Stern and beyond. But the band is not only limited to music by trio bands! They have a great passion for the music of Steely Dan Now Steely Dan are anything but a trio... but their music is so interesting, diverse and so strong, that the band's own renditions of their songs always impress Dan fans. JCT has recently written a set of songs for the next all-original CD. These songs are going down well at gigs ... come to a gig soon and check 'em out! The band certainly understands that there's something about the stripped-down and open sound of a three-piece group, that makes the music sound great So, in a nutshell, the Jules Carter Trio are three highly skilled musicians taking their favorite covers and original music, and enjoying the freedom to improvise, the space to explore new musical ideas as they occur and the excitement of jamming in front of a live audience!  

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Final Approach to Home - Rosco Levee & The Southern Slide

Rosco Levee is a singer songwriter and guitarist from Kent, who has been playing the guitar for the last 23 years...and he’s only 28 now! Music and writing songs is in his blood; every day he composes a new song, a set of lyrics or a new melody to work with. Spurred on by his good friend, the notable singer songwriter Pete Molinari, Rosco has gone back to his roots where he was brought up on a diet of blues, country and rock ‘n’ roll. Artists such as Robert Johnson, Delaney Bramlett and Elvis, and bands such as The Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones and The Band are all major influences. FINAL APPROACH TO HOME is the debut album from Rosco and the fantastic musicians he works with in the band. Lee Wilson on keys, Simon Gardiner on bass, Andy Hayes on guitars/mandolin, and long time friend David Tettmar on the Kit. Also joining the band on the album were Duncan Mackay (Primal Scream, Death in Vegas) on horns, the supreme talent of Ian Cutler on fiddle and Pete Jackson on banjo and BVs. To support the release of FINAL APPROACH TO HOME, Rosco, along with the band will be touring the UK during 2012, and also appearing at several festivals in the summer months.

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Ball and Chain - Kyla Brox Band

Kyla was born to sing. Hailing from Manchester, she grew up listening to her dad play the blues and her mum singing opera. At the age of 12 her dreams turned to reality when she started performing in her father’s band, The Victor Brox Blues Train. Since then, Kyla has grown to be an incredible singer, widely regarded as Britain’s number one female Blues singer. With five albums already recorded, Kyla has just released “Grey Sky Blue”, an acoustic extravaganza, featuring the unique guitar skills of song-writing partner, Danny Blomeley. Kyla’s music is a heady mix of moody, classic blues and moving personal reflection, along with the cheeky lyrics and chunky, funky riff-driven songs that showcase Danny’s explosive guitar style so well. Never one to hold back, when Kyla performs you’re guaranteed an awesome performance, brimming with heart and soul and bursting with energy. BIO: Kyla was born to sing. She grew up in Manchester, England, listening to her dad singing the blues and her mum singing opera, not to mention the soul and rock exploits of her four older siblings, so it seems inevitable that she would be bitten by the music bug. By the age of 3 she had her heart set firmly on becoming a singer (even asking for Chaka Khan’s clothes, hair and voice for Christmas!) and by 1993, at 12 years old, she had already begun to sing in her father’s band, the Victor Brox Blues Train  

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Peter Frampton's Roundhouse concert follows Humble Pie reissue

Following his critically acclaimed new album Thank You Mr Churchill, and his successful 35th Anniversary Tour of his multi-platinum selling live album Frampton Comes Alive!, Grammy®-winning guitarist and songwriter Peter Frampton will play a rare UK concert at the London Camden Roundhouse on Tuesday 5th November.

This special one-off UK concert will see Frampton performing songs from his extensive catalogue. FCA! 35: An Evening with Peter Frampton, a live 2DVD, Blu-ray and 3CD set of the 35th Anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive! was released last November by Eagle Rock Entertainment. On the DVD, Peter performs the best selling live album in its entirety along with a second set including songs from his Grammy®-winning career.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday 26th April from www.kililive.com, 0844 871 8803 or 0844 482 8008.

PETER FRAMPTON
London Camden Roundhouse
Tuesday 5th November 2013
Tickets: £30 (+ booking fee)
24 hr Box Office: 0844 871 8803
Roundhouse Box Office: 0844 482 8008
Book Online:  www.kililive.com
Doors: 7pm
Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8EH
www.roundhouse.org.uk

Peter Frampton – Biography

Peter Frampton remains one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history. At 16, he was lead singer and guitarist for British band the Herd. At 18, he co-founded one of the first super groups, seminal rock act Humble Pie. His session work includes such legendary artists as George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, David Bowie, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ringo Starr, John Entwistle and many others. His fifth solo album, the electrifying Frampton Comes Alive!, is one of the top-selling live records of all time.

Peter Frampton Online
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter

Angel - Wille and the Bandits

Having toured their unique brand of rock music with the likes of Deep Purple, Joe Bonamassa, The John Butler Trio and Status Quo, Wille and the Bandits are now due to release their brand new studio album 'Grow'. The band are renowned for creating an astonishingly huge sound, incorporating eclectic grooves from world music to heavy rock, using unusual combinations of instrumentation such as tongue drum, djembe, lap steel guitar and double bass they push the boundaries of what is expected of a modern three piece. Although difficult to pigeon hole, Wille and the Bandits are taking rock music to places it has never been before with a unique take on song writing which is fresh, but at the same time laced with nostalgia. The band really stand out as something special with how they successfully engage three generations of music lovers, all captivated by exquisite musicianship and soulful song writing which flows effortlessly throughout their performances. Even the most experienced of music lovers will have their head turned by the spellbinding concoction of Wille Edward’s mastery of the slide guitar, Matthew Brooks’ wizardry on the 6-string bass and Andrew Naumann’s ability to conjure an irresistible groove from his vast selection of percussion. Where the current trend is for superficial and predictable lyrics, Wille and the Bandits’ words carry a sense of rational judgement and hope delivered with a whiskey soaked drawl which ebbs and flows with emotion. Playing over 250 shows a year worldwide, their songs are a social commentary on what their road worn eyes have seen, never shying away from even the most poignant subjects. This is the time for change and that is exactly what the band seek to highlight with songs such as “Mammon” and “Still go marching in” echoing around your head with a Dylan-esque profoundness. The band has developed a loyal underground fan base right across Europe, mainly from their explosive live shows. Their success in building a core fan base is a result of their versatility; whether busking or in a sold out arena the band have the songs and musicianship to command an audience and connect with people who will return for more. After playing many major festivals and events such as Glastonbury, Fusion Festival, Isle of Wight and the Olympic games, the band were chosen by The Kaiser Chiefs as one of the top unsigned acts in the UK and were described as having a distinctive sound and being “destined for big things”. With the band now ready to release their new album, the anticipation is that the UK’s best kept secret is about to be let out.  

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Hard To Please - Ron Sayer Jr & Charlotte Joyce

Ron began playing guitar at seven, was gigging by the time he was 10 and never really wanted to do anything else. Taking the rocky road from Hank Marvin to Robert Johnson and stopping off pretty much everywhere in-between!! He became pretty well qualified in music, gaining a BA (hons) in classical music, trained at Homerton College, Cambridge University and won the coveted title of "Guitarist Of The Year" a few years back, playing at Wembley Live Music Hall and appearing in Guitarist Magazine, not to mention winning a beautiful custom shop Fender. Also he took grade 8 in both guitar and bass guitar, went on to be an examiner for Rockschool, taught guitar for many years (and still does) and is still giving lectures in blues improvisation at various colleges including Cambridge University. He has toured the globe and played with/supported Buddy Guy, John Mayall, Walter Trout, Robin Trower, Ten Years After, Imelda May, Matt Schofield. Debbie Davies, Nine Below Zero, Stan Webb, Aynsley Lister, Oli Brown, Buddy Whittington (ex-John Mayall), Popa Chubby, Dani Wilde, Chantel McGregor, Dr. Robert (Robbie Gladwell-ex Suzi Quatro and currently with Steve Harley) Mr. Big, L7, The Quireboys, Gregg Wright (Ex-Michael Jackson) and Pete Best (ex-Beatles). Has had many of his original songs played on local radio and Radio One, and had a live concert broadcast on Radio One on Tommy Vance's Friday Rock Show. He has worked for an international music distribution company for several years and as a result has released over 100 albums of different genres. While he was working as bassist for Oli Brown he won the Best Band award at the Newark Blues Festival in 2011. After a time working on chops and studying the beautiful thing that is music, Ron is now back with his band writing original tunes.He currently performs at venues around the UK with his own band. His music is a combination of blues, funk and rock and strives to create something fresh and uncomplicated for guitar music lovers everywhere.  

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!