The Venue For the Blues and Roots Fest

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Have you seen the line up???

Wolfmother ~ Joss Stone ~ The Roots ~ John Butler Trio ~ Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals ~ John Mayer ~ Bela Fleck & The Flecktones ~ Ozomatli ~ Xavier Rudd ~ Taj Mahal
~ Lee Scratch Perry ~ Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience ~ Fishbone ~ Missy Higgins ~ Fat Freddy's Drop ~ The Waifs ~ Ziggy Marley ~ Amos Lee ~ Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars ~ Bo Diddley ~ Eric Burdon & The Animals ~ Bonnie Raitt ~ The Black Sorrows ~ Larry Carlton Blues Project with Robben Ford ~ Eugene 'Hideaway' Bridges ~ Imperial Crowns ~ Kaki King ~ Mihirangi ~ Blue King Brown ~ Jan Preston ~ Blue Shaddy ~ Mojo Webb ... AND WAY MORE, IN FACT FIVE DAYS WORTH!!!!!

See the full line up here

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

Steppin Out on YouTube

Delta Groove Music

Randy Chortkoff

Delta Groove Music/Productions is a labor of love and culmination of a lifelong obsession with blues and roots music on the part of celebrated producer and successful entrepreneur Randy Chortkoff. Each Delta Groove project is undertaken with the guiding principle that quality speaks for itself, so the utmost care is given to every detail, from A&R to production to packaging to promotion - but first and foremost, the performances. Delta Groove is all about the music. Without great performers and great performances, nothing else matters.

The newest member of the Delta Groove family is, Jason Ricci & New Blood. Jason is an extraordinary artist whose skills on his instrument of choice, the harmonica, continue to reach new levels. At the age of 21, Jason placed first in the Sonny Boy Blues Society contest in Helena, AK and shortly thereafter began working and paying his dues with the likes of Junior Kimbrough and R.L. Burnside. Over the years Jason has crossed paths and worked with other up & coming talent including Enrico Crivellaro and Nick Curran, in addition to winning numerous awards including the "Muddy Waters Award" for most promising talent, and signing on as an endorsee with Hohner Harmonicas. His upcoming release for Delta Groove will be produced by the Grammy Award winning producer John Porter. With a touring schedule of over 300 days a year, you can be sure it won't be long before you can catch this rising star performing in your own home town. www.jasonricci.com

Get a taste of the great artists signed to Delta Groove by viewing these video clips.

JOHN LONG 01/26/07 at Cozy's with the Hollywood Blue Flames

ANA POPOVIC 2007 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL - "WHAT LOVE IS" AFTER PARTY
(January 24th, 2007 / (Park City, UT)

THE DELTA GROOVE BLUES REVUE "Live @ 9"
Television Show / May 12th, 2006 / (Memphis, TN)
Featuring: Finis Tasby, Kid Ramos, Al Blake, Mitch Kashmar, Randy Chortkoff, Tom Leavey & Richard Innes

Black and Tan Records

A label that is just a little bit different from the rest !!

For Jan Mittendorp and the crew at 'Black and Tan' blues is a part of the rich folk-music tradition. Story telling music that was created by artists who wrote and sang their own songs. To paraphrase Big Bill Broonzy when he was asked if he sang folk music, " Well I guess you'd have to call it folk music, 'cause I never heard a horse sing."

At 'Black and Tan' you will find artists that can really sing, write good songs and have a story to tell. The instruments support the lead voice but the voice and the story are predominant because to us, they are the roots of this vital music. So don't expect merely 'guitar heroes' or 'harmonica wizards' on 'Black and Tan'.

It is the goal of 'Black and Tan' to get this great and handmade music to music fans all over the world.

As a small independent label the Internet is a very useful addition to their distribution network. So be aware that all the music of 'Black and Tan' is also available at stores like Amazon or at download sites like Itunes, MSN Music, eMusic, Ourtracks etc.

BB KING and TRACY CHAPMAN

Strange, I've seen that face before ...

Detroit Women Rock!

Detroit Women

Who would have guessed that the keyboardist for one of the hottest Rhythm and Blues Women's Bands would be someone who has lived in New Zealand?

Susie Woodman has been the keyboardist for both Meatloaf and Grammy Award winner Richard Wagner of Alice Cooper and Lou Reed fame and Road Manager for Question Mark and the Mysterians. She plays keys for the fabulous band Detroit Women.

Kate Hart Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, playwright and actress, put together the Motor City’s most outstanding female vocalist and musicians.

The ladies are all soloists in their own right, range in age from young to “it’s not polite to ask” and come from a wide variety of backgrounds that cover a gamut of blues and R&B styles including swing, Chicago shuffle and Texas romp. Scanning the long list of luminaries that they have performed with reveals notable names like Ike and Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Joe Cocker, Hall and Oats and Etta James.

I received a copy of their latest release 'Sassitude' and played the first track, 'Down in the Basement' while my children were brushing their teeth this morning. Man you should have seen them shake their bootie! They were having the time of their lives, even our two year old was shaking her stuff. You won't be able to hold back too once you spin this Cd, it features a range of solid blues, RnB and soulful stylings of some wonderfully written songs. A CD I'll be spinning on my blues radio programme for sure!

Link to Detroit Women at myspace.com

New CD from Blue Collar Band - Hear it in the Blues Room!

(click above for band website)

Blue Collar Band are a raunchy, tight 4 to 5-piece Classic hits covers Band portraying a happy Blues, Soul & Rock’n Roll flavour. Consisting of guitar, bass & drums, harmonica and sometimes keyboards - with both strong male and female vocals with full BV’s and harmonies. Many of Blue Collar Band’s covers numbers are re-designed and performed in their own unique style.


The original 4 Blue Collar Band members are : Greer Wilcox, John Ellis, Phil Pritchard and Sheree Wilson, who perform awesome classic hits covers plus down-to-earth Blues and Soul with a touch of good old Rock-n-Roll thrown in when applicable. Blue Collar Band have become well known for their excellent vocals, performing plenty of good old classic hits, driving Blues-Rock, slide-blues, tasteful jazz-blues, and soul. Blue Collar Band’s latest CD release “HEADING SOUTH” is the Band’s 5th release. Only very recently Blue Collar Band met Harmonica player/vocalist Nina McSweeney and were so impressed with her ability, they asked her to assist the Band in appropriate/suitable gigs. She has a natural talent with this awesome instrument as well as vocal, songwriting and keyboard playing skills. Blue Collar Band plan to record a 6th CD, early in 2007 which will include a host of original material written by the members. All members are able to make a worthwhile contribution in this area.

Phil is brilliant with the musical arrangements and has previously played with several famous Bands while living in Australia for 20 years. John has a natural gift as a lyricist as well as being a competent drummer. Greer has now converted to 5 string bass and also plays Hammond organ and rhythm guitar. He too has a few original songs to “throw in the pot”. Greer and Phil contribute BV’s in many numbers.

Sheree joined Blue Collar Band in February 2006 and has added amazing versatility to the Band’s overall sound. She has a powerful Blues & Soul voice and is constantly being likened to Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin. One of the unique, differences of this Band is that the male lead vocalist is also the drummer !

Blue Collar Band perform mostly covers music, but many songs are less commonly thrashed numbers (but still familiar). The Band’s own adaptations and arrangements of non-original material is what they prefer. This way their individual expression can be incorporated in the music.

Look out for Blue Collar Band both around town and around the country - also at most NZ Jazz/Blues Festivals – you won’t be disappointed. The Band’s website is www.bluecollarband.co.nz

Blue Collar Band’s latest CD “Heading South” is available for purchase at gigs.

The Band were undoubtedly one of the most popular at the recent Mission Bay Jazz & Blues Street festival, performing to the largest crowd numbers.

For bookings contact : Greer Wilcox

Phone: O9-4762492 or Mobile : 021-728345

www.bluecollarband.co.nz - email : bluecollar@xtra.co.nz

BCB at the Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Street fest 2007

The Blues is Back and this time at Biddy's

This news item featured in our local paper (better in the News section than in the WANTED by POLICE section!!!) Click it to read the text.

Bonnie Raitt to Play New Zealand

Bonnie Raitt to headline New Zealand festival

Legendary blues singer confirms Christchurch concert

Best-selling American blues singer and multi-Grammy award winner Bonnie Raitt will headline the New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival in Christchurch in April.

Raitt has become an institution in American music, releasing 18 albums over the 30-year span of her musical career. She has won nine Grammy Awards and her 1991 Luck of the Draw album, featuring the hit single “Something to Talk About,” went seven-times platinum.

Raitt’s Christchurch concert on April 13 — part of her international Souls Alike tour — marks the start of the New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival and represents a major coup for festival organizers.

Festival marketing manager Marianne Hargreaves is ecstatic a musician of Raitt’s calibre is going to perform as part of the festival.

“She’s legendary and it’s great we’re giving New Zealand fans a chance to see her perform live. We couldn’t ask for a better way to start the festival. This truly is going to be a festival to remember,” Hargreaves says.

The festival runs for nine days and features a fantastic lineup of international performers as well as some of New Zealand’s best musicians. Details can be found online at www.jazzfestivalnz.com.

The Christchurch International Jazz Festival, now named The New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival, began in 1998 as a biennial event and is now presented annually.

The largest jazz festival in New Zealand, the event comprises more than 100 national and international jazz artists performing at a variety of venues in the Christchurch region.

The Festival is core funded by the Christchurch City Council and receives donations from a range of other in-kind, contra and financial supporters.

Her downunder tour includes :
9/4/07 ~ East Coast Blues and Roots Fest, Byron Bay, NSW, Australia
13/4/07 ~ The New Zealand International Jazz and Blues Festival, Christchurch, NZ
14/4/07 ~ Aotea Center, Auckland, New Zealand