Having attended the Muddy Waters tribute night and missed the Cyril Davies memorial night I wonder how many more musos are going to organise memorial or tribute nights. I seem to remember doing a Junior Wells one, for a start. I’m reminded of this because I recently received some promotional flyers for the Chicago Blues Festival from June 11th to 13th, which this year celebrates the centenary of Howlin’ Wolf, whose birthday was apparently on June 10th. Also mentioned in the flyer are Little Walter’s birthday, on May 1st and Robert Johnson’s birthday or what would have been his 99th birthday on May 8th. I’ve no doubt we shall be seeing more celebrations of these dates over here next year. Personally, I’ve given up celebrating my birthday, you‘ll all be pleased to know. Continue reading →

I keep getting reminded that I haven’t entered anything here lately, so I’d better get my finger out. I went down to the Oval in East Croydon for the annual Muddy Waters remembrance gig and did a couple or three numbers with Chris Youlden on vocals along with the house band. Apparently I also got up for the finale but I have no recollection of that. I am assured by Gigi that that was so, but whilst I gradually recovered some of the memory of how we got home, the finale still eludes my hardly overworked brain. Continue reading →

March’s gig at the Inn on the Green with Top Topham depping for Bernie Pallo on guitar sounded great and all the band enjoyed the vibe. It’s great that we can get people to fit so easily into the band without any rehearsal and let them add their own distinctive contribution, giving each line up a unique collaboration. Thanks again to Top. Continue reading →

The February gig at the Inn on the Green was as quiet as February gigs always are, but enjoyed by the afficianados, netherthe less. Afficianados? No that’s not another name for the band, you’ll be pleased to know.  We’ve been trying out a different PA System so maybe we can improve Chris’s vocal balance which one of you out there commented on. Hope we are getting it right.  We appreciate constructive feed back, so thanks to any of you that comment, especially when it’s polite. Continue reading →

We enjoyed another interesting gig at the Oval Tavern a week or so ago. Pete Miles depped on drums for Dino Coccia and Alan Vincent was on guitar. Chris Youlden was back with us after his illness and Jim Mercer was on bass.We had a good time and so did some other people, which was where the interesting thing comes in. Continue reading →

 Guest Post by Mel Wright – January 2010 

“It’s progress isn’t it?” the massive Nigerian security guard said, hovering over me in a kindly way on the corner of Dean Street and Diadem Court, Soho.
“But my history is at stake,” I protested, pointing to the boarded up building behind him. Continue reading →