28 February 2007

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

22 February 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.

21 February 2007

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

Imperial Crowns



Here's the Imperial Crowns live @ A38, Budapest, Hungary. They will be playing the Byron Bay Blues and Roots Fest in April, I'll be there, can't wait!!!

19 February 2007

Gwyn Ashton in August at Biddy Mulligans

The road in his blood, he performs relentlessly across Europe, has toured with BB King, Buddy Guy, Ray Charles, Peter Green, Robin Trower, Wishbone Ash, Vanilla Fudge, Johnny Winter, Mick Taylor, The Yardbirds, Dr Feelgood, Pat Travers, Tony Joe White, Steve Lukather, Dan Baird, Jeff Healey, Walter Trout and Snowy White and has been caught jamming onstage with Hubert Sumlin, Canned Heat and, most recently at Music Live 2006, Derek St.Holmes, Paul Reed-Smith, Johnny Hiland, Martin Barre and Bernie Marsden.

And you'll get to see him in Hamilton at Biddy Mulligan's on August 15th. Watch this space!!!!

Listen to a sample of his tunes from his latest album 'Prohibition'
Click on 'download' or 'store'

Cookie Blues - You think you have em bad!!


Cookie-blues
Uploaded by gun69

Created by Jason Taylor
Music by Lonnie Mack

8 February 2007

The 18th Byron Bay Blues And Roots Fest 2007




For my first time I'll be going to the Byron Bay Blues and Roots Fest in April. As you'll see by the line up it looks to be a good one. Can't wait to see/hear Lee Scratch Perry, Ziggy Marley, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, BO DIDDLEY, Mojo Webb, The Roots, Fishbone, Eric Burdon and the Animals, TAJ MAHAL, BONNIE RAITT, Imperial Crowns, ROBBEN FORD, Blue Shaddy, Bela Fleck and many many more!


The Line Up For 2007


Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday
John Mayer Dave Matthews Band The Roots John Butler Trio Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
Wolfmother Gomez Fishbone Xavier Rudd Missy Higgins
Lee Scratch Perry Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars Bo Diddley Kasey Chambers Bonnie Raitt
Ben Kweller Fred Eaglesmith Fat Freddy's Drop Taj Mahal The Waifs
Tony Joe White Keiran Kane & Kevin Welch Amos Lee Paul Kelly Floggin' Molly
Ziggy Marley Bo Diddley Eric Burdon & The Animals Larry Carlton Go Gol Bordello
Black Sorrows Eric Burdon & The Animals Bela Fleck & The Flecktones Imperial Crowns Larry Carlton

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones Alice Russell Jackson Jackson Normie Rowe

Ziggy Marley Pigrim Brothers Katchafire Imperial Crowns

Paolo Nuttini Eugene Hideaway Bridges Banawarun featuring Troy 'n Trevlyn Banawarun featuring Troy 'n Trevlyn

Pigrim Brothers Fiona Boyes & The Futune Tellers Ash Grunwald Ash Grunwald

Fiona Boyes & The Futune Tellers Kill Devil Hills Chris Smither Chris Smither

The Gin Club The Gin Club Kaki King Kaki King

Mojo Webb Mojo Webb Ghost Writers Ghost Writers



Jim Moginie CW Stoneking



Kill Devil Hills Blue Shaddy



The MOJO tent (Jeff Dawson, 2006)


And the Crowd yelled out for more! (Jeff Dawson, 2006)



Buddy Guy (Jeff Dawson, 2006)

Jeff Dawson
Image Galleries

To order photos e-mail: jeff@echo.net.au : Hi-res printable jpegs $10, 5x7 inch $12, 10x8inch $1

5 February 2007

Malcolm Lane (NZ)


Malcolm Lane a New Zealand blues harmonica tutor digs the Blues Room
(and plays a mighty fine harmonica too!)
Check out his music and book 'How to play blues harmonica by ear.'

Kerri Simpson (Aus)


Thanks to Kerri Simpson
(Female Vocalist of the Year,
Australian Blues Music Festival Awards 2005)
for her wonderful support of the Blues Room.
Check out her latest CD "Confessin' the Blues" click here.
I just love Kerri's voice!

Doug McLeod


Thank-You to Doug McLeod for Supporting The Blues Room
Listen to His New 2006 CD "Where I Been"

JW ENTERTAINMENT

Thank-you to Jeff Weiner at JW ENTERTAINMENT for supporting the Blues Room.
JW Blues Entertainment in Atlanta, USA, aim to bring veteran
Blues artists respect and recognition they deserve plus open the
doors for talented newcomers who are striving to keep the Blues alive today.
(Jeff informed me that he had booked Billy Boy Arnold to play
at the Wellington (NZ) Jazz and Blues Fest
in November 2006 ... Unfortunately I had other things on and couldn't make it, bummer!

Croftstown

Well as names go 'Croftstown' may not mean much to most people but hey.......if you're out to catch some swampy guitar driven blues based rock and aren't offended by the thought of a quirky, butt kickin', bad little dolly up front on vocals and guitar...trading guitar licks & harmonies with her blues/rockin' guitar slingin' husband.....then 'Croftstown' could well mean a lot to you!

The band was formed in the latter end of 1995 by guitarist Christina Crofts who after several years of playing guitar in other peoples bands, began to hanker to play the style of music she really loves and consequently the repertoire still features some awesome covers such as Rory Gallagher's 'Do You Read Me' and 'Bad Penny' (a version of which can be heard on 'Croftstown's' debut CD 'Unboogie'), songs from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, Bonnie Raitt and others.

Thanks for supporting the Blues Room Croftstown!! Hope to see/hear you in NZ sometime.