31 May 2007

Darcy Perry Blues Band - Heavy Rain Video


A new Blues find in Dunedin

Stumbled across some band websites for 'the Resonators' and 'King Leo & the Growling Dogs' Mighty fine stuff I must say coming out of Dunedin. If only I could get down there easily! Played a few tracks from these bands on my show last night.



Formed in early 2006, The Resonators feature Double Bass, Acoustic Resonator Guitar, Harmonica and Vocals. Their music is upbeat with a genuine blues feel featuring some of the authentic blues greats like Muddy Waters, Freddy King, Little Walter, and Jimmy Reed.


King Leo and the Dogs doing the big show, Octagon 2007



23 May 2007

Alligator Records - Crucial Blues!!!

May 22nd marks the release of the new Crucial Blues series from Alligator Records but you can order yours right now! Buy all three and save!!!!

Each of these budget priced releases contains at least 12 tracks of masterful blues from some of the best-known names in the genre, perfect for serious fans and newcomers alike.

As with all Crucial Blues titles, these new editions contain no repeat tracks from any previous Alligator Records collections!

Crucial Rockin' Blues

Highlights some of our rockin-est tracks from Coco Montoya, Johnny Winter, Lonnie Mack w/ Stevie Ray Vaughan, Shemekia Copeland, Roy Buchanan, Tinsley Ellis, The Holmes Brothers, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, The Paladins, Guitar Shorty, Lee Rocker, and Dave Hole.

Order CRUCIAL ROCKIN' BLUES for the low price of $7.98 (including free U.S. shipping)!!!

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW


More Crucial Guitar Blues

Features more electrifying guitar performances by Albert Collins, Luther Allison, Lonnie Brooks, Elvin Bishop, Son Seals, Michael Burks, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, Roomful Of Blues, Lucky Peterson, Long John Hunter, Kenny Neal, and W.C. Clark.

Order MORE CRUCIAL GUITAR BLUES for the low price of $7.98 (including free U.S. shipping)!!!

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW



Crucial Acoustic Blues

Showcases dynamic acoustic performances by Kenny Neal & Billy Branch, Koko Taylor w/ Keb' Mo', Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Cephas & Wiggins, Lonnie Mack w/ Stevie Ray Vaughan, Sonny Terry, Johnny Winter, Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women, John Jackson, Corey Harris, Carey & Lurrie Bell, Bob Margolin w/ Nappy Brown, and Johnny Jones
.
Order CRUCIAL ACOUSTIC BLUES for the low price of $7.98 (including free U.S. shipping)!!!

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

The Crucial Blues 3-Pack

Buy all 3 and save! The Crucial Blues 3-Pack is now available for the low price of $21.98!!! Simply order the Crucial Blues 3-Pack and you'll receive Crucial Rockin' Blues, More Crucial Guitar Blues, and Crucial Acoustic Blues.

Order the CRUCIAL BLUES 3-PACK for special price of $21.98 (including free U.S. shipping)!!!

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

For more information on anything Alligator, go to www.alligator.com
or if you have specific questions about our online store or anything in our catalog, you can call us toll-free at 1.800.344.5609.

Bringing you the best houserockin' music for over 35 years, Alligator Records

Now you can listen to over 225 songs from the Alligator catalog on our online jukebox at www.alligator.com

15 May 2007

Blues On BroadBeach 2007 is TOTALLY FREE!!

They'll be dancing in the streets, the parks, the malls and venues at this years Think Mobile Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival.

Experience multiple shows by national and international talent in intimate club settings, wide open beach front parks and vibrant street parties throughout this picturesque Gold Coast suburb.

One of the most scenic music festivals in the country, the Think Mobile Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival takes place every May in Broadbeach, a world-famous Gold Coast town in the heart of the Great South East of Queensland.

The festival is a five day celebration of blues music held throughout the precinct of Broadbeach, an outdoor music venue with breathtaking beaches for a backdrop. By day, experience live blues and roots music, a wide variety of food and arts and craft vendors, children's activities, and more - all on the festival grounds. By night, enjoy the free street parties and concerts in the park or one of the intimate venues transformed into a late night juke joint and after-hours jams.


'Think Mobile Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival, entering its 6th year, will prove to be one of the greatest, most exciting festivals we have presented. People will be saying it was the best one yet'. says Joy Heldon, festival organiser.

Where else in the world can you see over 70 different acts - of all styles of the Blues- FOR FREE!!!


That's right! The Think Mobile Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival is the largest free music festival in Australia. It's completely FREE!!

So come on down! Bring the family, your friends, kids and neighbours. Come by car, train, bus or plane. Come on down and enjoy great music, a large variety of food, arts and crafts and carnival rides.

Join the party this 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th May 2007.

9 May 2007

Charlie Musselwhite loves NZ! (He's got good taste!)


When I heard Charlie Musselwhite was coming back to New Zealand (2006) I knew I had to get along to see him. He was bringing his own band which included Kid Andersen, a Norwegian guitarist who sounds like he grew up in Memphis according to Charlie.

Opening act were two stalwarts in the NZ blues scene, Midge Marsden and Bullfrog Rata, both top acts in and of themselves. So when they teamed up together for Charlie's nationwide Delta Hardware tour they struck the right chord with the crowd.

From start to finish Charlie and his band performed every note on the button, every song to its original form and once again satisfied a full house of blues converts. I say converts because in the truest sense thats what we all are - people who have become profoundly fascinated by the music created by black sharecroppers from the Mississippi Delta. And thanks to people like Charlie Musselwhite we get to hear and experience what could be said as the literal tradition of that original 'stuff' they call Blues.

I caught up with Charlie after the show and took a few photos and asked him a few questions, generally hung out with him - WOW! A real treat. This guy had walked, talked, learnt and drunk (oh yeah quite alot of drinking!) with some of the greatest blues peoples around - Big Walter Horton, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, James Cotton, Will Shade, the list goes on.

When Charlie comes to a town near you, you best go see him, he's a modern day master, nuff said.

Check out what he said about New Zealand to Billy Hutchinson in May 2006 while in London on his Delta Hardware tour.

Billy: Once again you are to tour New Zealand, not a typical blues tour destination. What’s with Charlie Musselwhite and New Zealand?

Musselwhite:There are a lot of blues fans in NZ and some real
good blues players there too. It is a beautiful country and I love to go and play there. If you've seen Lord of the Rings then you know how beautiful it is. The people are wonderful and I have many good friends. It’s one of the nicest places in the world: the air is clean, the water is clean, they are environmentally concerned – they are good hearted people – and they LOVE blues.

Here Memphis Charlie brings to the stage Midge Marsden
and Bullfrog Rata to help tear the roof off the sucker!

__________

And here I get to spend some time hanging out with Charlie after the gig. A very genuine guy. Notice the Community Radio Hamilton sticker in his harp case and the pounamu (Greenstone/Jade) taonga/gift/necklace he's wearing ! Mate, he could be one of us E-Z-P-Z!


Charlie's Website is worth a visit, go there by clicking here

7 May 2007

May is NEW ZEALAND Music Month


In New Zealand during May we focus on the many many contributions to music by the many many New Zealanders around the place. Here's some ideas for how you could enjoy NZ music month this year in a BLUES stylee.

Visit Mike Garner's site for a list of extensive Blues bands in NZ and check out where they are playing http://www.blues.co.nz/directory/

Buy yourself a Blues CD

Get a bunch of people together and go Busking!

Find a Blues jam and go for it.

Tune up your home stereo baby!

Cheryl Arena & Aaron Burton - Gone To Texas



What caught my eye upon stumbling on this video at youtube was that Cheryl plays harmonica. Theres not as many women playing harmonica as there are men, so big ups to you Cheryl.

Go to Cheryl's website and tell me that ain't the biggest harmonica you've seen!!!

http://cherylarena.com/ca/index.html

The mystery Blues man


A few friends are wondering who the mystery man in this graphic is and in fact where the graphic originated from. Anyone have any ideas? Please let me know if you do.


2 May 2007

Flecktones - The Sinister Minister (Victor solo) Bluesfest 07

Victor Wooten is my most favorite bass player now after seeing him in action at the Byron Bay BluesFest 2007. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones are by far the best jam band I have witnessed LIVE.

John Mayer - I Don't Need No Doctor - BluesFest 2007

John Mayer is fantastic! He makes it to my top five performances for BluesfEst 2007 along with Ben Harper, Bo Diddley, Larry Carlton with Robben Ford, Xavier Rudd, and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

Dancing at BluesFest 2007



Here's some shots of the dancing, the video screens, and the
distance to the Crossroads stage.
Bluesfest is something to experience.
If you wanna team up for 2008
express your interest. You won't be disappointed!

The artist is Eugene Hideaway Bridges.