FREE DOWNLOAD: Saint Hilda's Faithless Boy by Darren Watson

Darren Watson is calling out for support to finish his new album . . . 

Please visit www.pledgeme.co.nz/2080, make a pledge in NZ dollars and select one of the awesome rewards. 

In the meantime you can download Darren's last album for as little as FREE! 

Enjoy. And please spread the word. 

Prestigious US magazine Blues Revue says: 

"New Zealand's Darren Watson has crafted a beautiful album in Saint Hilda's Faithless Boy (Red Rocks Records), a set of backward-looking (but by no means retro) blues recorded with a bracing, contemporary sonic treatment. Watson pops his guitar strings like Johnny 'Guitar' Watson on She Got It All, mines soulful, Robert Cray territory on Love Is An Ocean, and channels Howlin' Wolf in full, stomping intensity on A Desperate Man. Dig the swampy roots-rocker He Don't Love You, the serpentine The Bitter Suite, and the acoustic slide reading of My Love Will Never Die - leagues from Otis Rush's original stylistically, right there emotionally. Watson's hearty vocal approach sounds utterly honest. The supporting cast is superb." 

"Saint Hilda's Faithless Boy gets better each time I listen to it." 

- Bill Mitchell, Blues Bytes, USA 

"This is world class. We are lucky to have him. More people should know that." 

- Simon Sweetman, Dominion Post 

"A strong, and long overdue album." 

- Graeme Reid, elsewhere.co.nz

"...the quality of his songwriting and the easy assertiveness of the performances convince." 

- Gary Steel, Metro

Credits: released 01 November 2010 

Produced by Darren Watson with Tim Farrant. 

Recorded by Tim Farrant and Troy Kelly at STL Audio, Wellington, New Zealand. 

Mastered by Dave Greenberg at Sonopod Mastering, Florida, USA. 

All songs written and arranged by Darren Watson.

Michelle 'EvilGal' Willson (#434)

The Blues Room, 14 May 2014

Episode # 434

Download link: left click to listen, right click to save as

Michelle 'EvilGal' Willson is a powerhouse force of nature, what more can I say. Highly influenced by the blues women who matter - Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown and Etta James - this Boston gal does them proud on her live recording at Scullers Jazz Club called, 'Fortune Cookie'. Check out some of my favourite tunes from her album in this episode and be sure to visit her website to find out all about her and where you can get a copy of her album: http://www.evilgal.com/music

1. The Alibis - Since I fell for You [NZ]

2. Fingerprint - Don't Let The Blues Get A hold Of You [NZ]

3. Darren Watson - Can't Get Enough Of You [NZ]

4. Michelle 'EvilGal' Willson - Relax Max

5. Michelle 'EvilGal' Willson - Fortune Cookie

6. Michelle 'EvilGal' Willson - I Would If I Could

7. Michelle 'EvilGal' Willson - The Music Is The Magic

8. Michelle 'EvilGal' Willson - Fat Daddy

9. Michelle 'EvilGal' Willson - Hallelujah, I Love Him So

10. Michelle 'EvilGal' Willson - New New Blowtop blues

11. Michelle 'EvilGal' Willson - Racehorse

Another Hour Of Blues Power With Darcy Perry (#433)

The Blues Room, 7 May 2014

Episode # 433

Download link: left click to listen, right click to save as

Heres a great way to kick off New Zealand Music Month! Darcy Perry serves up an hour of New Zealand blues and he catches up with blues/gospel singer, sister Jacqui, about her musical journey from Mississippi to Chicago and beyond. PLUS a special live-to-air first time performance of a new song by Darcy Perry with yours truly accompanying him on harmonica. Enjoy!

Check out new projects by these great New Zealand blues artists:

Midge Marsden

Darren Watson

Flaming Mudcats

1. Shayn 'Hurricane' Willis - Muffins

2. Cool Disposition - Teenage Letter

3. Tura 'Bullfrog' Rata and the Undergators - The Hunt

4. Gahu - Shell Money

5. Midge Marsden - Struck Down By The Blues

6. Mike Garner - I'm Gonna Start Drinking Again

7. Kokomo - Travel All Over The World

Sister Jacqui Interview

8. Paul Ubana Jones - Daddy Don't Live Here Anymore

9. Flaming Mudcats - Easy To Please

Joe Bonamassa Announces First Ever New Zealand Show

Bonamassa Will Open for Bonamassa! – NZ Show Will Feature Both Full Acoustic and Full Electric Sets 

Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand, September 12th 2014 : Guitar Hero Joe Bonamassa will perform his first ever New Zealand Show. Tickets on sale Monday May 5th & 6th for fan presales and general public sales from May 7th. Tickets from Ticketmaster.

The show will offer two entirely new and exciting band line-ups with Bonamassa essentially opening for himself. The first set will feature Bonamassa alongside the acoustic band from his #1 Billboard acoustic CD/DVD An Acoustic Evening At The Vienna Opera House playing an assortment of rare, vintage, organic and “oddball” instruments alongside performers Gerry O’Connor, Mats Wester, and Lenny Castro. Together they will run through an hour of the signature acoustic performance from Bonamassa’s Vienna show, treating the audience to a gorgeously textured unplugged experience. Bonamassa will then shift into electric mode for the second half of the show featuring his regular touring band: Carmine Rojas (bass), Tal Bergman (drums), and new touring keyboardist (and fellow Black Country Communion member) Derek Sherinian. Recent kudos for Bonamassa include his very first Grammy nomination for Best Blues Album, his twelfth #1 Billboard Blues Album (more than any other artist), and his DVD Joe Bonamassa: Live At The Royal Albert Hall, featuring Eric Clapton joining him onstage, earning platinum status.

Bonamassa has a full catalogue of albums that have blown away New Zealand fans for years “You and Me”, The Ballad Of Joe Henry”,Had to Cry Today”, “Driving Towards Daylight”, “Live The Royal Albert Hall” and “Dust Bowl” are a few of his solo albums. Projects with Beth Hart “Don’t Explain” and “SeeSaw” and “Live in Amsterdam” have added another dimension to his music as have his Black Country Communion albums ( Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham,Derek Sherinan).

This year he will also be working on a much-anticipated new solo studio album featuring all-new, all-original material. Joe is currently playing a few select tracks from this new album Live on Tour.

“Joe is unquestionably among our greatest living guitarists, destined to be counted among the greatest of all-time.”The Orange County Register

“The New King of Blues” Guitarist Magazine

“Right now, there’s no better Blues-rock artist than Bonamassa” gibson.com

“Bonamassa is a bold talent.” Billboard

“Wicked guitar thrills.” Mike Joyce, Washington Post

“This kid deserves to be in the same class with Stevie Ray F*&cking Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck.” Rock guitarist Ted Nugent after a recent jam with Joe for VH-1’s Supergroup

http://jbonamassa.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JoeBonamassa

Happy Birthday Marion Walter Jacobs AKA Little Walter (#432)

Little Walter, 1967 (photo credit)

The Blues Room, 30 April 2014

Episode # 432

Download link: left click to listen, right click to save as

Without a doubt Little Walter is the world's undisputed heavyweight of blues harmonica, period. He's had more novices and advanced professionals envying his harmonica playing since he caused the price of harmonicas to double in price after he recorded that great instrumental, Juke, back in 1952. 

In this episode we pay tribute to Little Walter and wish him a Happy Birthday, he would have turned 84 years old on 1 May 2014 (if he hadn't been fighting!) Here you'll hear some modern masters interpreting some great tunes by Little Walter. We just keep lovin' him!

http://www.littlewalterfoundation.org/

1. Little Walter - Juke

2. Little Walter - Sad Hours

3. Little Walter - Tell Me Mama

4. Muddy Waters with Little Walter - All Night Long (Alternate Take)

5. Jim Liban Blues Combo - Mean Old World

6. Magic Dick - Can't Hold Out Much Longer

7. Billy Boy Arnold - You're So Fine

8. Rod Piazza - Oh Baby

9. George Harmonica Smith - You Better Watch Yourself

10. Ronnie Shellist - Last Night

11. Sugar Ray Norcia - My Babe

12. Dennis Gruenling - Roller Coaster

13. Red Devils (Lester Butler) - Quarter to Twelve

I Put A Spell On You (#431)

The Blues Room, 23 April 2014

Episode # 431

Download link: left click to listen, right click to save as

Friends are telling me of the wonderful times they had at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014. I've seen photos of the 5-day musical festival and have started reading online reviews, some of the best are at the Bluesfest message broad, and from what I can gather Peter Noble and his marvelous crew have done it again and delivered yet another outstanding festival. Well done Bluesfest, I'll see you in 2015! Pictured above is a photo of Jeff Beck and Joss Stone when they collaborated to perform, I Put A Spell On You, at Bluesfest 2014.

 http://taojonesphotographer.com/

http://www.bluesfest.com.au/

1. William Clarke - Easter Bunny Boogie

2. Cash Box Kings - Tom Cat Blues

3. Mannish Boys - Bricks In My Pillow

4. The Kingmakers - Oh Glory

5. Kokomo - Travel All Over The World [NZ] << FREE DOWNLOAD

6. Omar Dykes and Gary Primich -  Down In Mississippi

7. Big Jay McNeely - Rock Candy

8. Jimmy Smith - Back At The Chicken Shack

9. The Bo Keys feat. Calvin Newborn & John Williams - Back At The Chicken Shack

10. Booker T. Jones feat. Gary Clarke Jr. - Austin City Blues

11. Jeff Beck feat. Joss Stone - I Put A Spell On You

12. The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Lonely Highway

BLUESFEST 2014 - Thursday 17 April

Arakwal Opening Ceremony  Photo Joseph Mayers Photography — with Nigel Stewart at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

 Peter Noble with Arakwal Dancers  Photo Joseph Mayers Photography — at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

 Buddy Guy  Photo Paul Smith Images — at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

 Buddy Guy  Photo Tao Jones Photographer — at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

 Charlie Musselwhite Fan Page  Photo Tao Jones Photographer — at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

 Dr. John  Photo Paul Smith Images — at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

 Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros  Photo Tao Jones Photographer — at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

 John Mayer  Photo Paul Smith Images — at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm 

 Photo Natalie Grono Photographer — at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

 Playing For Change Photo Tao Jones Photographer — at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

 Public Opinion Afro Orchestra  Photo Tao Jones Photographer — at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

Seun Anikulapo Kuti  Photo Tao Jones Photographer — at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

The Silver Anniversary: 25th Byron Bay Bluesfest Special (#430)

The Blues Room, 16 April 2014

Episode # 430

Download link: left click to listen, right click to save as

Some of the Blues line up at Byron Bay's 25th Anniversary Festival. WOW!

1. Buddy Guy - Damn Right I Have The Blues (LIVE at Legends)

2. Charlie Musselwhite - Bad Boy

3. Music Maker Blues Foundation feat. Dr. G. B. Burt & Ardie Dean - It

Hurts Me Too; What Can An Old Man Do But Sing The Blues

4. Valerie June - Workin' Woman Blues

5. Boz Scaggs - Corrina, Corrina

6. Claude Hay - I Love Hate You

7. Dr. John and the Nite Trippers - Revolution

8. Clairy Browne & The Bangin Rackettes - Baby Caught The Bus

9. Nikki Hill - Ask Yourself

10. CW Stoneking - Seven Nation Army

11. Ray Beadle - Who Loves You Baby

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

http://www.bluesfest.com.au/

Bluesfest is one of the best music festivals I've been to! 

This year they celebrate 25 years and they'll be doing it without me : (

Nevermind, I'll have a Bluesfest spotlight this week on The Blues Room.

Click here for the playing schedule

Have A Good Time (#429)

The Blues Room, 9 April 2014

Episode # 429

Download link: left click to listen, right click to save as

What ever you're doing make sure you have a good time doing it. As my father would often say, 'if you don't enjoy yourself, its your own jolly fault.' Wisdom then, wisdom now.

1. Big Walter Horton - Have A Good Time

2. Branch, Cotton, Musselwhite, Norcia - Harp To Harp

3. Eric Bibb, Rory Block, Maria Muldaur - Don't Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down

4. Eddie Cotton - Berry So Black

5. The Flaming Mudcats - Lately [NZ]

6. John Brim - Be Careful What You Do

7. Hound Dog Taylor - Give Me Back My Wig

8. Albert Castiglia - Bad Avenue

9. Blu Acid - Here I Go