Bluesnews 17 March 2009

Hello again. Here is another edition of a newsletter setting out all the blues news for South East Queensland.

I finally got to see my first Peregian Original’s show last weekend. This free event happens on the grass beside the Peregian Surf Club every second Sunday (or thereabouts), and highlights Sunshine Coast musicians. It’s a great atmosphere – you can sit on the Surf Club balcony, or have a picnic on the grass (there’s a bottle shop across the road) and enjoy four acts from 1.30pm to 5.30pm. Last Sunday’s event headlined a band who impressed at Woodford – A French Butler Called Smith.

Unfortunately, this very popular event, (which has been running for around nine years) is being hassled by a group of (not very nearby) neighbours who don’t like the noise/cars/happy faces/life in general/whatever. The event organisor, Jay Bischoff, is doing a great job trying to keep these residents happy and the music happening.

You can join his email newsletter and get notified of future events here. Make the trip one Sunday to see for yourself.

And don’t forget, you can see this newsletter on the net. Click here

Cheers

Mark Hipgrave
0418 556048


NEWS
RADIO/TV
FESTIVALS
REGULAR STUFF AND GIG GUIDES


NEWS

John Cephas, Guitarist With the Duo Cephas and Wiggins, Dies at 78

John Cephas, a guitarist and singer who kept the Piedmont blues style alive as part of the duo Cephas and Wiggins, died on Wednesday 4 March at his home in Woodford, Va. He was 78.

The cause was pulmonary fibrosis, said his companion, Lynn Volpe.

Since teaming with the harmonica player Phil Wiggins in 1977, Mr. Cephas had been one of Piedmont style’s most prominent exponents, winning a National Heritage Fellowship in 1989 from the National Endowment for the Arts. Cephas and Wiggins were regulars at music festivals around the world.

More here and here.


Willie King, Bluesman, Is Dead at 65

Alabama blues singer and guitarist Willie King died Sunday near his home in the rural community known as Old Memphis, 8 March. He was 65.

His death was announced on his website.

The NY Times reported:

He died suddenly of a heart attack, said Rick Asherson, who had been playing keyboards with him for several years.

With a voice reminiscent at times of Howlin’ Wolf and a style similar to John Lee Hooker’s, Mr. King appeared at blues festivals here and abroad. He first came to prominence outside west Alabama with his critically acclaimed 2001 CD, “Freedom Creek,” on the Rooster Blues record label. He brought an understanding of history and contemporary subject matter to songs like “Second Coming,” which invoked John Brown and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Mr. King started the Freedom Creek Festival in 1997 on his farm on Freedom Creek in Pickens County, Ala., near the Mississippi state line. Since then, it has attracted top blues musicians and bands. It is scheduled for May 29 and May 30 this year. Mr. Asherson said there were hopes of keeping the festival going as a memorial to Mr. King.


Robert Johnson Speeded Up??

Arthur Elliott sent me this link to an interesting article which was published on the web a few years ago.

It starts out:

An abiding mystery about Robert Johnson is the rpm conundrum. Is it true, as a Japanese musician told me it is widely held to be in Japan, that Robert Johnson’s records play way too fast? Should he actually sound much more like his great mentor, Son House?

And finishes off with

If the theory I’ve advanced is not completely crazy, a possible motive for speeding up Johnson’s records might have been to try to make them more exciting for an age in which the Delta tradition he came out of was already a thing of the past.

The author includes sound bites of RJs music as currently published, and slowed down. It’s an interesting proposition. Check it out for yourself.

The theory has generated lots of comment on guitar bulletin boards

If that’s not enough, here is a recent article on the continuing arguments surrounding RJ’s burial site.

If you want more here is a review of a book ‘Crossroads: The Life and Afterlife of Blues Legend Robert Johnson’ published in Oct last year


Press Articles – Various

John Lee Hooker Jr.’s drug addiction almost killed him, but it also gave him the blues, from Boulder Weekly
Bob Dylan announces 'romantic' new album release date, from The Guardian
Alan W. Livingston, Talent Spotter Who Signed Beatles, Dies at 91, from the NY Times
A Tradition for 20 Years: Allman Band at the Beacon, also from the NY Times
BB King & Buddy Guy Play the Beacon, NY, from Jam Base
That 1 Guy in Chicago, also from Jam Base (he’s playing at ECBRF)


RADIO/TV/YOU TUBE

Arthur Elliot reports on his upcoming Sidestream shows– for Brisbane listeners 99.7 FM, Wed 7pm to 9pm.

There is new music galore in Sidestream on March 18, with top class CDs from Canada’s Annabelle Chvostek, the Hot Club of Cowtown, Buddy Miller, Danny Schmidt, Euphonia, the duo Liz Carroll & John Doyle, and others.

More new music follows in the blues hour at 8pm, with Chris James & Patrick Rynn, Fontaine Brown, Bobby Jones, Mitch Kashmar, and Steve James, plus Kate Meehan and Roadhouse Rebels from Australia.


In the first hour of Sidestream on Wed March 25, you’ll hear music from Roger McGuinn, Catherine MacLellan, the Field Mouse Conspiracy, Konono No.1, Rodney Crowell, and Australian bands Sunas and Symbiosis.

Then from 8pm, there’s an hour of blues, with excellent recent albums from Collard Greens & Gravy, Mark Easton, Leigh Sloggett, and Steve James, as well as Asa Broomhall, Eddie Martin, Roomful of Blues and more.


The Daily Planet, Weekend Planet and Music Deli (ABC Radio National)

The Daily Planet website, the Weekend Planet website and The Music Deli website all have links to shows broadcast over the past few weeks.

Check out the James Hunter past program on the Daily Planet archive for 4 March


Coming Up On ABC2 TV

Montreux Jazz Festival 2003 - 70s Rock
7:00am Sunday, 22 Mar
Joni Mitchell: Woman Of Heart And Mind
7:55am Sunday, 22 Mar
Wyclef Jean's All Star Jam At Carnegie Hall
10:00pm Monday, 23 Mar
Montreux Jazz Festival 2003 - World Music
7:00am Sunday, 29 Mar
Johnny Cash: Behind Prison Walls
7:55am Sunday, 29 Mar
Classic Albums - Deep Purple: Machine Head
5:10pm Sunday, 29 Mar

Full program details are here


You Tube Selections

Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater from 1978

Willie King -1
Willie King -2



FESTIVALS

ECBRF Announces More Acts and a Cabaret Stage

Easter is now only a few weeks away. Last week, the organizers announced:

‘New artists announced today include recent Grammy award winning Zydeco master Terrance Simien, the toast of the last Tamworth music awards Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, well-known Kiwi icon of sheer songwriting quality Tim Finn, ska-punk-funk legends Fishbone (exclusive Bluesfest performance), singer / guitarist from the righteously popular Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, and one-man rhythm and groove band, and absolute hit of the recent Woodford festival, That 1 Guy.’

We told you about the new InDIG stage, a few weeks ago. Taking the lead from the very successful and popular cabaret stage at Woodford, the ECBRF people have added their own:

‘Bluesfest 2009 introduces a brand new Cabaret stage featuring international and local artists including – Mic Conway’s National Junk Band, Mojo JuJu & The Snake Oil Merchants, Opposable Thumbs, Old Spice Boys, Pugsley Buzzard, Kush Cabaret and a further assorted motley crew of jugglers, fire eaters and twirlers, ferals and real live hippies!

You might recall I raved about Mojo JuJu after her appearance at Woodford. Let’s hope she brings the mechanical cow and the milkmaid!

It’s also good to see the Old Spice Boys get a gig again after an absence of a few years.

Full details on the ECBRF are here


Brisbane Blues Festival

Festival founder Rob Hudson writes:

The Brisbane Blues Festival finds a new home at The Jubilee Hotel in Fortitude Valley on Saturday, May 16 and this year’s line-up features some rare treats.

The Chrome Daddies, after being on an extended hiatus are back as well as Big Kitty and the Scaredy Cats. Johnny Hucker and Coojee Timms perform rare solo spots and crowd favourites Natural Ball, Blind Lemon, Asa Broomhall and Mojo Webb return to the festival stage.

Add in new boys and girl band Mama Voodoo and you have daylong feast of the blues. Doors open at 2PM and tickets will be available at the door on the day. More information at www.brisbanebluesfestival.com or 3252-4508


Wintersun 2009

It’s a while off but,

Australia's Leading Rock & Roll Nostalgia Retro Event....

Wintersun 2009 starts on Friday 29th May and ends with the huge Best of Wintersun Concert on Monday 8th June. Wintersun is Australia's leading annual Retro Nostalgia Festival. Featuring almost 1500 Hot Rods, Custom and Classic Cars, more than 100 bands and performers, dancing, movies, and competitions.

The festival is held in the border coastal towns of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads on the New South Wales & Queensland border. Many events are free, some are in the streets while others are in the local clubs and shopping centres.

The lineup is now available here.


Blues on Broadbeach

The lineup for this festival, at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast from Wed 27 May to Sun 31 May has been announced


REGULAR STUFF AND GIG GUIDES

There is more blues at the Palmwoods Hotel in March:


Entering the 3rd month of 2009 and with the worldwide recession in full swing, the Palmwoods Hotel is providing a stimulus package tailored for dancing, carousing and partying the economic woes into submission.

On Sat March 21, from 5.30pm, the Palmwoods triples the value of your blues & roots dollars

With no less than 3 of the East Coasts premier blues and roots acts on the bill for the all inclusive price of $0, maybe K Rudd should be jumping the courtesy bus and shaking out the cabinet cobwebs at the sunshine coasts home of quality blues & roots

Mark Easton likes to sing about the skeletons in his closet. Back in the 80’s he was the hard living frontman of Sydney rockers “The Candy Harlots”. These days, he’s a little more considered in his lifestyle choices but no less hard core when it comes to performing his blues. His new album “Money Is The Root Of Evil” is the realization of his musical and philosophical vision and will be available for the first time at the show

Long regarded as one of the sunshine coasts finest singer/songwriters, Asa Broomhall will be returning with his rocking 3some to continue the high quality roots rhythms as day turns to night and the bar staff start to run

The last time Mojo Webb played Palmwoods, he was recovering from a shocking motorbike accident which left him in intensive care. After 3 months of 7 nights a week playing in Thailand, its hard to know if he’s recuperated but there’s no doubt that he’s playing better than ever and with his roadhardened band in tow, the joint will be rockin…if not reelin


At the Jubilee Hotel in the Valley, every Sunday afternoon, commencing 2pm:

· Sat 21 March BASEQ Rent Party with Blind Lemon
· Sun 22 March Bushfire Fundraiser
· Sat 18 April Blues Harmonica Blowout, featuring Ian Collard, Mojo Webb, Jamie Symons, Mark Gibbons, Greg Baker & more to be announced. Ian Collard will be back the next day running a harmonica workshop
· Sat 2 May 09 Even Divas Get The Blues with Kate Meehan & Skip Landy, Mama Voodoo + More

And mark your diary:

· Fortitude Valley Festival of Blues Sat. 25 Jul 09, with Muddy Waters' Number 1 Boy Child - Mud Morganfield + more


Coming up at The Troubabour

· Sat 21 March Dallas Frasca, Blackwater Fever and Texas Tea
· Sun 22 March Martin Martini


At Joes Waterhole, Eumundi

Look out for:

· Fri 20 March Bill Chambers
· Sat 21 March Martin Martini
· Thurs 26 March Luka Bloom
· Sat 28 March Dallas Frasca
· Fri 3 April Ruthie Foster


At The Tivoli you can catch

· Thurs 19 March Eric Bibb
· Sat 28 March Luka Bloom
· Sun 5 April CW Stoneking
· Sat 11 April Zappa plays Zappa


At the Cooly Hotel

· Sun 21 March Mason Rack Band
· Fri 3 April The Go Set


And at The Judy.

Coming up:

· Sat 21 March Dhafer Youssef
· Thurs 2 April Ruthie Foster


At The Zoo

· Sat 21 March The Gin Club
· Sun 5 April Paprika Balkanicus


At The Soundlounge, Currumbin

· Fri 27 March Dallas Frasca, Blackwater Fever & Texas Tea


And look out for Lori Lee’s next outings:

· Sat 2 May The Vaudevillains cd launch at The Step Inn with The Jim Rockfords and more.

More details here

Lori let slip last week that after a few years without an international headliner at Greazefest, she has got one booked for this year’s festival, coming up on the weekend of 30 July to 2 Aug.