Blues Show 135 playlist & stream

©2004 Douglas Mason:  Coco Robicheaux

Coco Robicheaux – Crossroads
Jimi Hendrix – Red House
Groovamatics – Misdemeanour
The Mustangs – Crackin’ Up
24 Pesos – Standin’ At The Station
Tom Attah – Long Time
Oil City Connection – Don’t Point Your Finger
Lincoln Durham – Living This Hard
Earl Seratte & The Blues Kings – Complicated
Hill Country Revue – Highway Blues
The Suitcase Brothers – Motherless Children
John Alex Mason – Cypress Grove
The Motives feat. Matt Taylor – Leap of Faith
Sharrie Williams & The Wise Guys – Gotta Go Through Hell
Magic Slim & The Teardrops – Treat Me The Way You Do
John Lee Hooker – Big Road
Chris Duarte Group – Another Man
Chris Adams – Fire
Charley Patton – Pony Blues
Preacher – Listening For Trains
Nick Moss – Turn Around
Omar & The Howlers – Muddy Springs Road
Lance Lopez – Black Cat Moan
Jimmy Warren – Nothin But Blue

Two Rubber Souls – debut novel by local writer

“Pete…was going to remain ensnared within a seemingly eternal chasm of torment, being neither a child nor an adult, tethered by heavy, binding chains that refused to break.”


The idea of this book appeals to me a lot – though I’m from an older generation, the story of a thoughtful, music loving boy from the North East of England, struggling to grow up a little in the 80s, resonates deeply with me.
I’ll write a review once I’ve read the book. In the meantime, visit Paul’s site and read a few extracts, find out more about Paul, or order a copy.

New Brunswick Battle Of The Blues – Blues Show interview with Lee George

In 2010 we held the first ‘New Brunswick Battle of the Blues’ to find an up and coming UK blues act to appear live in front of an international audience at next years Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival as part of an all expenses* paid trip. It was so successful, and the winner was so well received we decided to do it all over again.

If you think you’re good enough, or know of someone else who is good enough to fly the flag for Britain at next years festival then this is what you need to know and do.

The competition is open to all unsigned Blues acts residing in Britain.

You can be a soloist, a duo or a band, but you must have original material to play both in the heats and in the final, as well of course at the festival in New Brunswick next year.

• There will be 4 regional heats around the UK, one each in Bristol, Newton le Willows, Billericay and Newcastle, all of these will be held during January.
• Because we expect to get a large number of entries, and because there will only be 6 places available at each heat, in the first instance you’ll need to upload a video of you playing one song to You Tube and then enter the URL of your video on this website here.
• Entries will be accepted from 15^th October until 15^th December 2011, and shortly before Christmas all on-line entries will be reviewed and the successful acts for each venue heat will be notified.
• At each heat you’ll be expected to play for 15-20 minutes, which can be a mixture of original music and covers..
• There will be a judging panel at all of the heats and one act from each heat will be chosen to go through to the final.
• In addition at each heat all the acts will be videoed, and the two runners-up from each regional heat will have one track put on-line on the ww.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk website for the public to choose the ‘best’ runner-up, who will also be invited to participate in the final in London.
• Voting for the runners up finalist place will run from 01 February – 28^th February 2012.
• The final will be held in London in March 2012, each act will again be expected to play for 15-20 minutes, most of which should be original music.
• The judging panel in London will be made up of the Harvest Jazz and Blues organisers who will fly in specially for the final from Canada.
• The winning act will be announced on that night, and will travel to Fredericton in mid-September 2012 to appear at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival 2012.
• All finalists will receive £250 towards their travel costs to London, plus will be accommodated in or near London on the night of the final.
• The final winning act, in addition to travelling to Canada, will receive a cheque for £1000.

So what are you waiting for? Get your video ready (it doesn’t have to be professional quality) and from 11th October enter here, Who knows, this time next year you could be an international star!

Blues Show 134 playlist & stream

Oil City Connection

Show broadcast Sunday 20th November on 105.9BishopFM and BishopFM.com
Studio Guests Oil City Connection playing demo tracks & phone interview with Lee George about New Brunswick Battle Of The Blues

The Allman Brothers – Statesboro’ Blues
Greg Nagy – For The Love of A Woman
Marcus Bonfanti – Medicine Man
Trevor Sewell – Where The Wild Ones Go
Oil City Connection – Down By The Jetty
                                    Milk ‘n’ Alcohol
                                    Keep It Outta Sight
                                    Don’t Point Your Finger
                                    Going Back Home
Martin Simpson – Little Liza Jane
Sons Of The Delta – Change My Clothes
The Park Royal Blues Band – Crocodile Tears
The Nimmo Brothers – Be My Friend
Tom Principato – Don’t Want To Do It
24 Pesos – Maxwell Street
Interview: The New Brunswick Battle Of The Blues with Lee George
Sean Chambers – Full Moon On Main Street
Jackie Leven – Desolation Blues
Tim Elliott & The Troublemakers – Hard Work Ain’t Easy
Peter Parcek – Rollin With Zah

Review: Gary Grainger & Virgil & The Accelerators

I played a support slot for Virgil & The Accelerators on Saturday Night. I had a great time, hanging out and shooting the breeze with the guys and Martin, their manager. The audience were very receptive, listening to my almost hour long set, which was great. I then had the pleasure of introducing Virgil, Gabriel and Jack for their storming set.
Here’s a review from Mike Craggs, a big fan of the band:


Mainsforth Community Centre and, my 10th VATA show. What a show it was: going in and chatting to the guys beforehand, the glint they had in their eyes, I knew something special was on the cards. Mainsforth is a 1920’s dancehall come theatre, so the guys were let loose on a big stage in a big, booming room; maybe not for the first time, but tonight, they weren’t backing and they weren’t supporting, it was THEIRS and they were going to make the most of it. Mustachioed Gary Grainger from Bishop FM did an opening set for the lads, some well picked (and chosen) acoustic Americana; ZZ Top, Grateful Dead, Little Feat, Janis Joplin, Steve Miller were among the selection. Good listening to get the “new meat” audience in the mood. Wow, VATA didn’t hold back. Gabriel’s drumming messed with everyone’s heart rhythm while Jack’s bass was fluttering the diaphragms , the Virgil kicked-off and the “Working Man” opening riff sounded more like the Jurassic Park T-Rex than the previous night’s wounded bear. From then on, it was “business as usual” in terms of the set list, but Virgil had a stage to own, and he set about it in fine style – not running about like he was on fire, but prowling to the edge to check out this strange phenomenon – people dancing!!! It wasn’t just Virgil and the good folk of Ferryhill enjoying themselves, Gabe and Jack were having a high ol’ time too. Then came “The Strorm” and “Voodoo Chile”; I know Virgil is good, damn good to be precise, but this night, he went right through the zone and took everyone with him. “Silver Giver” set closer and a great encore left the crowd wanting more right until curfew time. There aren’t many bands come to Ferryhill, Mainsforth, which is a shame as it’s a cracking venue, but there’s even fewer make such a mark as VATA did. Bill made a bold decision inviting the band, so hats off to him, and a big show of appreciation to the guys on the sound desk for letting VATA roar.

Blues Show Guest Trevor Sewell Wins Hollywood "Music in Media" Award at the HMMA in Los Angeles.

Trevor Sewell is a triple nominated British Guitarist who has just won a major award in the prestigious Hollywood Music in Media Awards, held at the Kodak Complex in Los Angeles on November 17th 2011.

Online PR News – 19-November-2011 –British musician Trevor Sewell has won the Best Blues Award in the prestigious Awards ceremony in the U.S.A. Other nominated acts included Linkin Park with the lifetime Achievement Award going to Smokey Robinson at the ‘Red Carpet‘ Ceremony, which took place on Thursday evening in Los Angeles.
The advisory board of Judges include such luminaries as Dave Mason, Nile Rogers and co-organizer Jim DeCicco who also votes on the Grammys.
Trevor Sewell who initially received 3 separate nominations successfully claimed the No 1 spot for his song ‘Where the Wild Ones Go!’ in the Category for ‘Best Blues. The song is featured on his current album ‘Calling Your Name’ which is available Worldwide through iTunes Amazon CdBaby etc.
‘Calling Your Name’ continues to attract widespread radio play in the U.S.A. and the awards have recently escalated interest in his music seeing Sewell continuing to ride the current New Wave of British Blues in America.

Sewell commented “To be accepted by the Blues fraternity at this level in such an American dominated genre is really fantastic and it has been very encouraging to see the support from the Blues community in the U.S. The HMMA are providing a great platform for Indie artists and I am really pleased to have received this award.”
Sewell has also been invited to submit tracks to the worldsongnet, an invitation only music library in Hollywood which serves, Major Studios such as Universal and Disney and includes other artist collections as diverse as Aerosmith, Snoop Dogg, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles and Sarah Vaughan.
Sewell who has only recently embarked on a solo career after many years of playing sessions and touring with other artists said:
“Just to be nominated for such a prestigious event was great but to go on and win it, really is amazing. I’m just letting it sink in for now and investigating any opportunities that may arise from it. I’m already working on the next album and am currently focusing on demoing songs for possible inclusion. I’m amazed at how far its been possible to go in such a short time as it was only 12 months almost to the day from my first release to actually winning the award in Hollywood.”

Blues Show 133 playlist & stream

Colin Hodgkinson – .38 Special
Tweed Funk – Black Coffee
Binsness Bluesboys – Drunk
Stan “The Man” Hedges – Waitin’ For The Sky To Fall
Taj Mahal – Dirty Oil
Chris Rea – Electric Guitar
Simon Raw interview with:
   Robert Nighthawk – Six Three O
   Ian Siegal & The Youngest Sons – The Skinny
   Ry Cooder – John Lee Hooker For President
   Howlin’ Wolf – Smokestack Lightnin’
   T-Bone Walker – Mean Old World
   Hound Dog Taylor & The Houserockers – Give Me Back My Wig
   Elmore James – Dust My Broom
Southside Johnny w. La Bamba’s Big Band – Down Down Down
George Thorogood – Dynaflow Blues
Virgil & The Accelerators – Backstabber
Blues n Trouble – The Dark Street
Blues n Trouble Interview
Maggie Bell – No Mean City
Mulebone – Untitled