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The Digital Blues Gig Guide
Article by Ashwyn Smyth, 27 Jun 2007 13:42June 2007 And so to June. These are the gigs of which we have details but there are sure to be more so keep checking back for updates. If you thought May was a good month, just look at what is in store for June! I think I have counted at least four unmissable gigs, at least two of which I will miss!!! Boohoo!!!! The Kings Head, Bad Hair Day make a return visit as Stevie campaigns to have his head appear on the pub’s sign outside!! Especially now that he is another year older! A slightly belated Happy Birthday Stevie! You don’t look a day over**?!? Another great evening in store as Bad Hair day bring their fine playing and varied repertoire to Rochford. We had the pleasure of their company at the Crawdaddy recently and the guys were in great form. You can be sure that you won't be able to sit still when they are playing! Saturday 2nd June Blues at the Farm, Barleylands Depot, Isn’t it typical! I go on holiday for a couple of weeks and loads of the local venues put on unmissable gigs! The Farm open the month with their final evening gig for the time being and what a way to start as they welcome back the Papa George Band. What is there to say about this superb trio? Fronted by Papa George on guitar & vocals and with, possibly, Sam Kelly on drums and Pete Stroud on bass, this is absolutely guaranteed to be a cracker of an evening with musicianship and entertainment of the highest standard. White Horse Public House, The Heaters head out from their weekly appearances at the New Crawdaddy on one of their all too rare forays out & about to play at this popular venue. Now firmly settled into four piece format and with a new CD in the offing together with a very popular track on the Essex Delta Blues Vol ll – A – Z CD, this is a band that is highly popular wherever they play and deservedly so. Many is the time when visiting artists at the Crawdaddy enthuse about the Heaters and comment upon what a cracking band they are. The White Horse is a good opportunity to catch them to see for yourself. Wednesday 6th June Bishops Blues Club, the Half Moon, Bishops Stortford – www.bluesalive.co.uk - 01799 532009 - £7.00 Making what I believe may be their first visit to the Half Moon are Danny Bryant’s RedEye Band, the ever popular powerhouse Rock-Blues three piece with Danny on guitar and vocals. The band is now in their eighth year and have built a very strong reputation and are well respected playing throughout the Thursday 7th June The New Crawdaddy Blues Club at the Belvedere, Hardings Elms Road, Crays Hill, Billericay. Doors at 8.00 p.m. Support from house band, the Heaters at 8.30. Details at www.newcrawdaddyclub.co.uk or call 01702 347007 Another gig which I am gutted to be missing is the very first visit to the Crawdaddy of the renowned Kyla Brox Band, all too rare visitors down South. Kyla has a stunning voice and is probably fed up with being described as Victor Brox’s daughter. The Kyla Brox Band burst onto the scene in 2002 and since then have recorded three great albums and thrilled audiences worldwide, including two tours of The White Hart, King’s Walk, Congratulations go to Chris Ryley, the guvnor at the White Hart which has just been voted South West Essex CAMRA Pub of the Year which is no mean achievement in his first year a the pub. Tonight Stevie King’s Blues Cats play this popular venue, so great beer & great music with this newish band which sees the excellent Stevie on vocals and guitar, Alan Vincent, the man in black, on guitar and the excellent rhythm section of Adrian Shaw & Cormac O’Prey. This is a very experienced and talented team and they should go down a storm at this venue. The Cellar Bar Blues Club, Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey – www.boogaloopromotions.com – telephone 01252 793430 - Doors open 8.15 p.m with blues sounds from DJ Chris and the band starts at 9.00 p.m unless otherwise stated. Ticket price £9. The superb Blue Thunder make an all too rare appearance at the Cellar Bar with a stunning mix of modern and traditional blues fronted by superb singer/songwriter Paul Williams (ex Juicy Lucy, John Mayall, etc), with the sizzling guitar of Steve Smith, Roy Shipston on keyboards and an all-rocking rhythm section with Pete Stroud and Roger Jones. A fabulous band! A fabulous evening! Saturday 9th June Blues at the Farm, Barleylands Depot, A second chance to catch Danny Bryant’s RedEye Band in Essex as they make a welcome return visit to the Farm, a venue where they are always welcomed and draw a goodly crowd. Now in their eighth year and having built a very strong reputation, the band are well respected playing regularly throughout the UK and touring across Europe with appearances in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, France and the Netherlands all slated for 2007. Sadly, due to visa delays, their projected Riga Music Bar, 228 London Road, Westcliff On Sea, Essex SS0 7JG – www.rigamusicbar.co.uk – Telephone 01702 348020 - £tbc. The guys at the Riga welcome back the man known as the voice, no not that limp wristed so called tenor who seems to have usurped the soubriquet, this is the real Voice. What’s he blathering on about I hear you say? None other than the super Nicky Moore who appears with his great band, the Blues Corporation, which includes rising guitar star, his son, Timmy Moore. Nicky is celebrating his 60th birthday this year and is touring like mad celebrating. Former Lead Chorister at Exeter Cathedral (not many people know that!!!) Nicky has enjoyed (and continues to enjoy) a long and illustrious career which has seen him part of the music scene in many genres. He has also toured or worked as session musician with names such as Gerry Rafferty, Paul Young, Gallagher & Lyle, Mary Hopkin & Paul Kossoff amongst others. A great night in store at the The Spread Eagle, Bad Hair Day play the second of their two June gigs at this pub which is described thus in an online pub guide: “Not bad which makes it the best in Rayleigh!” Well tonight it gets a whole lot better as the follically challenged BHD get on down and strut their funky stuff to the delight of the local populace. Go on, you know it makes sense, Bad Hair Day, two great guitarists, two great vocalists, a smashing drummer and Rapunzel himself, the one they call Stevie King on bass. The Wheatsheaf, 3AM make a return visit to this Romford venue for another fine evening of their own style of real r’n’b “how it used to be” fronted by the glorious vocals of the glorious Helen Turner who continues to enthral audiences wherever the band play. Watch out Guilfest! Just imagine Helen (3AM) and Lorna Reilly (funkydory) on the same bill! Sunday 10th June Blues At The Red, Red Lion, Poor old Stevie King is going to be a tired bunny as he plays his second gig in two days, this time with the Blue Cats who visit this popular music venue which has glowing reports on the beerintheevening.com website both for the music ?& the beer. So a great way to pass a Sunday evening with a drop of real ale and the Blue Cats. Monday 11th June The Cellar Bar Blues Club, Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey – www.boogaloopromotions.com – telephone 01252 793430 or ring the Maltings Box Office on 01252 726234.- Doors open 8.15 p.m with blues sounds from DJ Chris and the band starts at 9.00 p.m unless otherwise stated. Ticket price £10. ZZ Top and Hendrix special with everyone's favourite rodent rockers... Thursday 14th June The New Crawdaddy Blues Club at the Belvedere, Hardings Elms Road, Crays Hill, Billericay. Doors at 8.00 p.m. No support tonight, just three great headline sets! Details at www.newcrawdaddyclub.co.uk or call 01702 347007 Tonight the Crawdaddy presents an absolutely cracking triple header gig as the Guitar Legends play the Club. Papa George, Roy Mette and Roland Chadwick, a mighty triumvirate of guitar player/singer/sonwriters probably unmatched anywhere. Suffice it say I am not speaking to Club organiser Paul Dean given that I am on holiday and so will be missing this superb gig. Roy & Papa George are well known to readers of this guide but Roland Chadwick may not be so. The opening paragraph on his website says it all: “Half Man - Half Guitar. Some say he’s the Guitar Slinger. Some say he’s the Wizard of Oz. Others say they saw him in the Cotswolds selling his soul to a blind man with a Red Hat holding a magic plectrum made of solid sound. The mystery deepens and the truth may never be told but those in the know, know that Roland Chadwick is music to his bones.” Without a doubt, tonight will see three very different but supremely talented guitarists performing at what could be one of the gigs of the month in a month that has some superb gigs. This is definitely one of those do not miss gigs! The Cellar Bar Blues Club, Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey – www.boogaloopromotions.com – telephone 01252 793430 - Doors open 8.15 p.m with blues sounds from DJ Chris and the band starts at 9.00 p.m unless otherwise stated. Ticket price £10. A second chance to catch the superb Kyla Brox Band down South. As the daughter of bluesman Victor Brox, Kyla was surely born to sing the blues and her stunning voice is matched by a band of uniquely talented musicians! The band combines the tight musicianship that comes with a long playing relationship with their original explosive chemistry. Unmissable! Saturday 16th June Blues at the Farm, Barleylands Depot, This afternoon the Farm presents a band about whom I know little. Smokin’ Hogs are a four piece blues rock band who hail from Riga Music Bar, 228 London Road, Westcliff On Sea, Essex SS0 7JG – www.rigamusicbar.co.uk – Telephone 01702 348020 - £7.00. The multi-year, multi Digital Blues award winning Rockin’ Armadillos make a visit to this Digital Blues award winning venue for another great helping of Texessex rocking and smoking blues. With the excellent Digital Blues award winning Jane English on vocals, Digital Blues award winning Tim Aves on vocals, harp and guitar, Digital Blues award winning guitarist Alex Hall, Digital Blues award winning Rob Barry on bass and Digital Blues Award winning drummer Paul Lester and possibly Digital Blues award winning guitarist Owen Barry if he is not off Purple Meloning, this cannot be anything other than an award winning evening with this great band! Wednesday 20th June Bassment Blues, The Bassment Club, 16 Wells Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1HZ – Telephone 01245 358480 – www.alterstates.co.uk - £6.00 in advance at www.wegottickets.com/location/449 £8.00 on the door - doors at 8.00 p.m. music from 8.30 p.m. details at www.alterstates.com/ - www.bassmentblues.com - www.thebassmentclub.com Tonight sees a long overdue return to Thursday 21st June The New Crawdaddy Blues Club at the Belvedere, Hardings Elms Road, Crays Hill, Billericay. Doors at 8.00 p.m. No support just two great sets from headline. Music from about 8.30. Continuo with great sounds from Digital Blues. Details at www.newcrawdaddyclub.co.uk or call 01702 347007 Believe it or not, I actually rearranged my holiday so that I did not miss this gig (and missed two other top gigs because of it!!). The stunning Australian singer and guitar player, Geoff Achison makes what I think is his first appearance at the Crawdaddy and is the first gig of a twelve date UK tour, his first since he relocated from Oz to Atlanta in the US where is now often seen playing in huge stadia with his friends Hot Tuna (founder members of Jefferson Airplane). Geoff is often described as a guitarists’ guitarist equally adept at acoustic or electric styles, either choice can be beautifully intricate or feature high energy explosiveness and we will be treated to some of both at this gig. He is also blessed with a great rich and soulful voice. As always, he will have with him a top class band comprising the prodigious Paul Jobson on keyboards, New Yorker Dave Clarke on bass and multi-award winning drummer Sam Kelly. In a month of great gigs this one really stands out. Miss it and you will be very sorry! The White Hart, King’s Walk, Chris Ryley’s award winning venue welcomes the Electric Experience who are always popular when they play here in The Cellar Bar Blues Club, Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey – www.boogaloopromotions.com – telephone 01252 793430 - Doors open 8.15 p.m with blues sounds from DJ Chris and the band starts at 9.00 p.m unless otherwise stated. Ticket price £10.00 Tonight, Boogaloo present the King Earl Boogie Band, the Friday 22nd June Concert for Suzie, Parmiter’s School, High Mike Chase from the Grapevine Blues Band contacts Digital Blues with news of an open-air charity event in memory of his daughter Suzie who was killed in a road accident whilst in Saturday 23rd June Blues at the Farm, Barleylands Depot, A second chance this month to catch Stevie King’s Blues Cats as they play the Farm. This newish band sees the excellent Stevie on vocals and guitar, Alan Vincent, the man in black, on guitar and the excellent rhythm section of Adrian Shaw & Cormac O’Prey. This is a very experienced and talented team and they should go down a storm at this venue. Sunday 24th June Bassment Blues, The Bassment Club, 16 Wells Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1HZ – Telephone 01245 358480 – www.alterstates.co.uk - £8.00 in advance at www.wegottickets.com/location/449 £10.00 on the door - doors at 8.00 p.m. music from 8.30 p.m. details at www.alterstates.com/ - www.bassmentblues.com - www.thebassmentclub.com As mentioned in May’s Gig Guide, tonight is another very special night at the Bassment Blues as Ian Flavill has secured as headliners the superb Matt Schofield Trio. With their excellent new CD, ‘Up From The Ground’, receiving a lot of airplay and some glowing reviews this is most definitely a candidate for gig of the month and the Bassment is sure to be busy. Matt is a superbly skilful guitarist and is increasingly writing really strong material which he delivers so well. With two top class musicians backing him in Jonny Henderson on organ and Evan Jenkins on drums, this evening is irresistible. Early booking is recommended. Tuesday 26th June The Bottleneck Blues Club, The Roffen, Tonight, John Adams, the man who having said never again to tour organising, relented to organise Geoff Achison’s tour, presents the man himself at his great Kent venue. I can do little more than quote John: ‘I couldn't abandon my old mate Geoff after last years astonishing tour....so I've organised another Thursday 28th June The New Crawdaddy Blues Club at the Belvedere, Hardings Elms Road, Crays Hill, Billericay. Doors at 8.00 p.m. Support to be confirmed at 8.30. Continuo with great sounds from Digital Blues. Details at www.newcrawdaddyclub.co.uk or call 01702 347007 To round off what has been an extremely strong month at the Crawdaddy, a welcome return by Southend based jump blues & boogie outfit, the Zoltans. These guys and a gal (assuming she is not off touring with Michael Bolton or some such!) always play up a storm with music by the likes of Louis Jordan and Wynonie Harris as well as some of their own material. Put on your dancing shoes and turn the clock back as the Zoltans take you on a time warp! The Cellar Bar Blues Club, Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey – www.boogaloopromotions.com – telephone 01252 793430 - Doors open 8.15 p.m with blues sounds from DJ Chris and the band starts at 9.00 p.m unless otherwise stated. Ticket price £9.00. Tonight, Nicky Moore makes one of his regular visits to the Cellar Bar where you can join him for his 60th birthday celebration! Known as ‘The Voice’ Nicky Friday 29th June Beat Roots at the Blue Boar, After taking the Bassment Blues Club by storm a month or two ago, the superb talent that is Kris Dollimore visits the Swamp Cats great monthly event. The Blue Boar offers excellent food and real ale and the venue for these musical evenings is a glorious medieval building dominated by a wardrobe whose doors can only lead to Narnia! Kris is a stunning performer and boasts an incredible musical CV which includes stints with Del Amitri, the Godfathers, the Damned & even Adam Ant! His solo CD, ‘02/01/1978’ has met with universal acclaim with our own Tim Aves writing in Blues Matters! saying of it, “This album is hard to fault …… It is beautifully recorded and sympathetically produced. In short it deserves to be a huge hit.” Anyone who has listened to Digital Blues recently will have heard regular tracks from the CD which is a great favourite with us. With the excellent Swamp Cats opening proceedings in their own inimitable style and, no doubt, rounding off the evening with a bit of a jam with Kris, this will be one superb occasion. Saturday 30th June Blues at the Farm, Barleylands Depot, This afternoon sees a return visit by the City Shakers who are one hell of a band. Formed in the summer of 2003, they are a powerful four piece 50's style blues band, following in the tradition of people like Howling Wolf & Little Walter. The band played their very first gig at JULY 2007 Holidays over, for me anyway, but for many this is the month when they head off, be it to Bridlington, Benidorm, Barbados or the back garden! Also some great Festivals in prospect this month with highlights being the GuilFest in Guildford’s lovely Stoke Park running between the 13th & 15th which, although no longer the Folk & Blues event that it started out as, still has a smattering of acts which fall into the blues genre including this year funkydory & 3am – details at www.guilfest.co.uk. On the 28th the Codifest at Codicote in Herts and features the Hamsters, Larry Miller Band, 3 am and the Coalhouse Walker Blues Band - details at www.codifest.co.uk. Cast your eye over the gig guide before you go to see what you are going to miss!!! And don’t forget, this is just for starters, there are bound to be more gigs added so keep on coming back to check! Monday 2nd July Bar Lambs, The Lamb and Lion, The Monday Night Jazz Club is putting on some excellent gigs and tonight is no exception. Described as “When Jimmy met Ramsey” sees renowned local keyboardist Simon Campbell bringing his own interpretations of Jimmy Smith, Ramsey Lewis, Alan Hawkshaw's Mo'hawks and other essential musicians of the period at the regular downstairs jazz session. Always a blues and jazz devotee at heart Simon has played keys in bands at the Marquee and similar legendary clubs. He will bring along his custom built organ system that recreates as closely as possible the original flare-trembling vibes of the incredible Hammond B3 organ. Jimmy Smith and Ramsey Lewis both epitomised a high point of the early 60's soul groove sound, one on Hammond organ, the other on piano so expect some grooves, some funk, some swing and a blues ballad or two for good measure. Wednesday 4th July Bishops Blues Club, the Half Moon, Bishops Stortford – www.bluesalive.co.uk - 01799 532009 - £12.00 A great Independence Day Special from Richard Pavitt as he brings to the Club a great American act with a great British band. The big Texan, Sherman Robertson returns backed by his regular European band, the excellent BluesMove for what promises to be a humdinger of an evening. I was fortunate enough to catch the guys at the Theatre Municipale in Abbeville whilst I was on a weekend break in Thursday July 5th The New Crawdaddy Blues Club at the Belvedere, Hardings Elms Road, Crays Hill, Billericay. Doors at 8.00 p.m. Support from the Jives at 8.30. Continuo with great sounds from Digital Blues. Details at www.newcrawdaddyclub.co.uk or call 01702 347007 The Crawdaddy kicks off the month with a welcome return visit from the superb Nigel Bagge Band which, of course, includes the wonderful harmonica playing of Eddie Armer. I saw Eddie & Nigel in duo format back in May and they were on fine form. Nigel’s band is always comprised of top musicians, often including Grant Tunbridge on bass, Paul Jobson on keyboards and Ed Collins on drums. Full details of this gig’s line-up as soon as we get them. The White Hart, King’s Walk, Chris Ryley’s award winning venue welcomes the big man, Bill Hurley & the Enforcers, assuming that Bill is fully recovered as he has been unwell recently and, as a result, has had to cancel a number of gigs. Digital Blues wishes him well. Bill is a real legend and possesses the most wonderful voice with a four octave range. He has a real on-stage charisma and really knows how to deliver a song. He and his great band should go down a storm at this popular venue. The Cellar Bar Blues Club, Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey – www.boogaloopromotions.com – telephone 01252 793430 - Doors open 8.15 p.m with blues sounds from DJ Chris and the band starts at 9.00 p.m unless otherwise stated. Ticket price £8.00. Tonight Boogaloo present the excellent Trafficker for some red-hot blues and rock with an original twist. Fronted by sensational guitarist/singer/songwriter Tommy Allen, with super-talented bass player Barry Pethers and Craig Bacon on rock-solid drums this is a band whose excellent songs combine with superb musicianship to make for an unmissable night of great music! You know it makes sense! Saturday 7th July Blues at the Farm, Barleylands Depot, Thursday 12th July The New Crawdaddy Blues Club at the Belvedere, Hardings Elms Road, Crays Hill, Billericay. Doors at 8.00 p.m. Support from Tim Aves at 8.30. Continuo with great sounds from Digital Blues. Details at www.newcrawdaddyclub.co.uk or call 01702 347007 The last time tonight’s headliner was at the Crawdaddy, the Club was still at The Cellar Bar Blues Club, Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey – www.boogaloopromotions.com – telephone 01252 793430 - Doors open 8.15 p.m with blues sounds from DJ Chris and the band starts at 9.00 p.m unless otherwise stated. Ticket price £8.00. Some years ago whilst walking down the High Street in Friday 13th July Bar Lambs, The Lamb and Lion, 3am make a welcome return visit to this great venue which recently changed hands. Belatedly, a vote of thanks go to the lovely Sue who did so much for live music in the area when she opened this excellent venue. It is good to see that the new owners are continuing to present music of all sorts of genres. Tonight the vaulted ceiling of the Bar Lambs will reverberate to the golden tones of the superb voice of Helen Turner, so often compared with Maggie Bell, as she & the band go through a set which includes their own material as well as great covers given the 3am touch. Saturday 14th July Blues at the Farm, Barleylands Depot, Top local band, Bad Hair Day make one of their regular visits to the Farm with their own very individual mix of rocking Blues & r’n’b featuring both well known & not so well known material from the past 50 or 60 years. With the flowing locked Stevie King on vocals & bass, the less flowing locked Roger Woods on drums and the twin guitars of the barely locked at all Tony Myers and John Edmonds on guitar (and vocals) this is a very polished outfit who always entertain and offer great variety with two members sharing the vocals and two guitarists who come from very different schools! Monday 16th July Bar Lambs, The Lamb and Lion, The Monday Night Jazz Club presents a quick return visit by Martin McNeill’s Bottleneck Blues Band featuring Martin on guitar & vocals, Roy Webber on drums and Pete Nash on keyboards. The Bar Lambs’ website suggests that Graeme Turner will be a special guest although I am not sure whether this is correct or not. What you can be sure of is that this will be a wonderful evening of bottleneck guitar mastery as only martin can produce. A great way to spend a Monday evening. Thursday 19th July The New Crawdaddy Blues Club at the Belvedere, Hardings Elms Road, Crays Hill, Billericay. Doors at 8.00 p.m. Support from The Heaters at 8.30. Continuo with great sounds from Digital Blues. Details at www.newcrawdaddyclub.co.uk or call 01702 347007 3am are a band who are busy on the circuit with successful appearances at this year’s Mayfest as well as playing this year at Guilfest (which takes place the week-end before this gig). Fronted by the glorious voice of Helen Turner, certainly in the premier division of female vocalists on the circuit currently, the band play a nice mix of original material together with covers of well known and not so well known songs, each given the 3am treatment. So alongside the original “Red Hot & Blue at the Paradise Bar”, “Cold Harbour Woman” and the excellent “Sister Sunshine”, featured on the Essex Delta Blues Vol ll A-Z CD, expect covers of “Summertime” and “Walking the Dog” as well as many more. The White Hart, King’s Walk, Chris Ryley’s award winning venue is the place where, tonight, Deja Blue make an all too rare appearance. With TC leaving the band in the near future to head off to sunnier climes, they are on the look-out for a new bass player. Expect a fine evening of hard hitting Chicago Blues with the harmonica skills of Tom Mccree, the vocals and guitar of Johnny Kieran and lead guitar of John Kieran Jr. This, combined with Chris Ryley’s award winning beers means you have it all in one place! The Cellar Bar Blues Club, Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey – www.boogaloopromotions.com – telephone 01252 793430 - Doors open 8.15 p.m with blues sounds from DJ Chris and the band starts at 9.00 p.m unless otherwise stated. Ticket price £9.00. The flamboyant Dr JJ has been away from the scene for too long and it is great to see him back with his “new” band. With the superb Tim Moore on guitar, Grant ‘Cheeky’ Tunbridge on bass and Ed Collins on drums, this really is a great new line-up and sees Dr JJ back at his best with all the charisma and stage presence for which he is renowned. ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ indeed! You can be sure they will at the Cellar bar tonight! Saturday 21st July Blues at the Farm, Barleylands Depot, Making what I think is their very first appearance at the Farm are the excellent Bad Influence, not seen too often in The Bitter End, Another fine music venue which is putting on music of many different genres tonight presents 3am with the third of their Sunday 22nd July David Lloyd Health Club, Snakes Lane, Southend on Sea SS2 6XT Pete Bailey of Bare Wire tells me that after a number of excellent local gigs at Bar Lambs, the Thursday 26th July The New Crawdaddy Blues Club at the Belvedere, Hardings Elms Road, Crays Hill, Billericay. Doors at 8.00 p.m. Support to be confirmed at 8.30. Continuo with great sounds from Digital Blues. Details at www.newcrawdaddyclub.co.uk or call 01702 347007 The regulars at the Crawdaddy are going to be seeing quite a bit of Fergie of the Groove Doctors given that he is at the Club with the band tonight and also returns next month with Lightnin’ Willie & the Poorboys. The Groove Doctors are, to me, a seriously underrated band whose star should be a great deal more prominent than it is. Luke Arnold on vocals and harp imbues his performance with passion & emotion aplenty in a style which is entirely his own whilst guitarist Tim Leslie is very much from the unflashy yet superbly talented school of playing, wringing out notes from his instrument that leave you wondering where they came from and complementing Luke’s vocals so well. Fergie prowls the stage like a caged lion (albeit with a shorter mane these days) combining with drummer John Butters to create a great tight rhythm section. There is no other band like the Groove Doctors and it will be a pleasure to see them at the Crawdaddy. The Cellar Bar Blues Club, Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey – www.boogaloopromotions.com – telephone 01252 793430 - Doors open 8.15 p.m with blues sounds from DJ Chris and the band starts at 9.00 p.m unless otherwise stated. Ticket price £10.00. The ever popular and very successful female-led blues-rock band, Never The Bride, play the Cellar Bar tonight. Featuring the stunning vocals of Nikki Lamborn and with songwriter Catherine ‘The Been’ Feeney on keyboards, this is a brilliant band whose wonderful song ‘The Living Tree’ (one of my all time favourites) has recently been recorded by none other than Dame Shirley Bassey! A fabulous evening in store and, I am told, Sam Kelly on drums although I think this might eb an error as his website show shim as being in France two days before and Prague the following day. However, knowing Sam, anything is possible!!! Saturday 28th July Blues at the Farm, Barleylands Depot, Today the Farm welcomes a band who always seem to be gigging as the Andy Robinson Band make a visit to this popular Saturday afternoon venue. Left handed Andy plays a mean guitar and chooses his material well as is evidenced by his lovely take on’Little Wing’ on the first Essex Delta Blues – A Sampler CD. Tuesday 31st July Bottleneck Blues Club at the Roffen, John Adams presents one of my all time favourite In support is Paul Malsom, ‘a fine contemporary finger-style guitarist. He supported Geoff Achison last year & Geoff was very impressed. Influenced by the likes of Charlie Byrd, Martin Taylor, Pat Metheney, |