Blues Jam
Smokin' Ade plays with the Smokin' Blues Band and did a great acoustic set when he was here with Steve Ajao last year. Ade will be joined by Pete Mastrantone on guitar and bass for this gig.
Abie is a young and gifted singer and guitarist with a great talent and enthusiasm for country blues. She has just recorded an album of traditional country blues with a little help from Michael Roach on guitar and Johnny Mars on harmonica.
Clive's clean finger picking and warm vocal style combine to give faithful interpretations of the songs of Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Boy Fuller and many others.
Clive and Abie have both impressed audiences in the open mic sessions, so expect a great evening!
“. . . a pre war blues style augmented by collarless shirt and braces of the period . . . ".
"A unique style -
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Dave Bristow's Video Links - recorded at The Marrs
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See photos from gig
PAUL COWLEY WEB SITE
PAUL COWLEY MYSPACE SITE
Solid Country Blues and great original compositions.
The Sorentinos are a hugely talented band from Santa Rosa, California, who happen to be touring the UK - and three of the band are dropping in to play an acoustic set for us. Their style is best described as Roots Rock, Americana, Blues and Country. Although they are not strictly a Blues band, these guys are GOOD - and they have promised to put some Blues numbers in the set!
'I really like the Sorentinos. Their music is fresh, lyrically original, slightly de-constructed and in the tradition of the best American guitar-driven singles' - Bob Harris - BBC Radio
Click here to visit the Sorentinos web site or here to visit their MySpace site.
A talented guitarist and singer, Sam's unique and entertaining approach to playing Blues and Gospel will leave you wondering just how he does it!
See photos from gig
An original and talented young Blues band who have been picking up gigs all over the Midlands since we last booked them - catch them before somebody whisks them away!
Slide Boy Roy is a Chicago Blues inspired band. They have played at open mic and jam sessions at The Crossroads and always delivered great musicianship and entertainment. With an ever-evolving set-list, no two performances are the same, so be prepared for the unexpected - and a jam session at the end of the evening!
The Ragtime Jug Orchestra evokes the authentic African American sound of the early 20th century, playing a good-time mix of ragtime, country blues, hokum, skiffle and jug band music.
Mark Bennett usually plays what is best described as 'laid back acoustic rock with a hint of blues and just a dash of jazz'. You can perhaps expect a little bit of cross over, but for this set the emphasis is very much on his first love, the blues.
Caramany are a songwriting trio featuring guitarist Alan Garwood with effervescent vocalists Sarah Kaye and Asha Banjoko. Wide ranging musical traditions are explored by the trio with classic soul, jazz and blues well to the fore.
Graham Robins is a powerful and emotive singer–songwriter with a career spanning four decades whose heart and love of performing is still as young as yesterday with passionate and heartfelt songs that draw on years of experience and influences crossing musical borders. ‘If you want some original rootsy music, gutsy singing and understated top class accompaniment with atmosphere by the spadeful, look no further!' Graham made a big impression when he made an impromptu visit to the Crossroads Blues Club last year- so we booked him!
Yes, it's our turn! This time, we will be organising the Chickenbone Blues Review. We'll be press-ganging a few musicians into doing a song or two with us. Some of them are people you may expect to play some Blues - and others may be a bit of a surprise.
Mike is an experienced and talented local Blues/Jazz bass guitarist who, amongst other things, performs solo gigs with just the bass guitar and his own vocals, using a chordal approach on the bass. Have a listen to What's Got into You on his MySpace site - it's a great, original sound.
Paul is no stranger to The Crossroads and consistently delivers Solid Country Blues and great original compositions.
They will each be doing separate sets and, after that, well...anything could happen!
The Lonesome Dogs took shape in the fall of 2002. They went out for a walk off their leash, and to date have done over 150 gigs headlining + supporting the likes of The Climax Blues Band, playing the Upton Blues Festival, Cheltenham Fringe and Rootsville last year. Their electric repertoire of home grown originals sits comfortably alongside hand picked classics, to date they have released 2 Albums and one EP. Catch them at the Crossroad Blues Club performing an 'unplugged' acoustic set.
Clive's clean finger picking and warm vocal style combine to give faithful interpretations of the songs of Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Boy Fuller and many others.
Dave's style has been described as “. . . a pre war blues style augmented by collarless shirt and braces of the period . . . ".
Two authentic bluesmen making a welcome return to The Crossroads!
Once described as 'Robert Johnson in a cardigan', Abie is a young and gifted singer and guitarist with a great talent and enthusiasm for country blues. She made a lot of new friends when she was here earlier in the year and we are delighted to welcome her back.
Mike & Nick have played alongside Walter Trout, Mike Sanchez, Duck Baker, John Renbourn, Dana Gillespie, Dino Baptiste, Zoot Money, Wizz Jones amongst many others.
Mike is a vocalist and harp player in a traditional blues style who sings a range of songs from the blues greats including “Tired as a man can be.” (Sonny and Brownie); “I just can’t be satisfied” (Muddy Waters); “Dust Pneumonia Blues” (Woody Guthrie) and “I’m so lonesome” (Hank Williams). Nick is a highly accomplished player on both guitar and resonator. It takes a special talent to hold an audience spellbound with just guitar, voice and harmonica and Mike and Nick manage this brilliantly!
Smokin' Ade plays with the Smokin' Blues Band. He did a great acoustic set when he was here with Steve Ajao last year and we had a rockin' night when he played a gig for us earlier this year. This time, he is returning with the talented Jo Godfrey on keyboards.
Newly formed by and built around the lynchpins of Midlands Jump-Jive Heroes The Doctor Teeth Big Band, Simon 'The Duke of' Kemp and genuine, larger-than-life Chicago Blues Belter Stephen 'The Doctor' Steinhaus and featuring award-winning drummer Tasha 'Boom Boom' Buxton this upstart trio play stripped down original r-and-b, jazz standards, a batch of blues tunes, ragtime, stride and a few gospel classics thrown in for good measure. This is soulful, uplifting stuff played the way music was meant to be - live, personal and sweaty!
What we play is a stew, really…a mix of our own personal influences, tunes that have inspired us, songs we grew up with…the blueprint for what, for me, music is supposed to be! --- Stephen Steinhaus.
Slide Boy Roy is a Chicago Blues inspired band. They have played at open mic and jam sessions at The Crossroads and always delivered great musicianship and entertainment. With an ever-evolving set-list, no two performances are the same, so be prepared for the unexpected!
Also, a great bluesman from 'up North', Graham Robinson, will also be stopping off on his way to Upton Festival to play a short set in the Open mic session.
The evening will be hosted by Kirsty & Kenny
The evening will be hosted by Paul Cowley
An original and talented young Blues band who have been picking up gigs all over the Midlands since we last booked them - catch them before somebody whisks them away!
The evening will be hosted by The Lonesome Dogs
This event will be sponsored by Harmonicas Direct
Mike is an experienced and talented local Blues/Jazz bass guitarist who, amongst other things, performs solo gigs with just the bass guitar and his own vocals, using a chordal approach on the bass. Have a listen to What's Got into You on his MySpace site - it's a great, original sound.
Paul is no stranger to The Crossroads and consistently delivers Solid Country Blues and great original compositions.
They will each be doing separate sets and, after that, well...anything could happen!
Plus...Jack Blackman, the remarkable
14 year old blues guitarist/singer will be dropping in to play a 20min set
in the open mic session.
www.jackblackman.com
www.myspace.com/jackblackmantheguitarist
Mark Bennett usually plays what is best described as 'laid back acoustic rock with a hint of blues and just a dash of jazz'. You can perhaps expect a little bit of cross over, but for this set the emphasis is very much on his first love, the blues.
A talented guitarist and singer, Sam's unique and entertaining approach to playing Blues and Gospel will leave you wondering just how he does it!
Plus...the Delta Blues Band will be dropping in to play a
short set
in the open mic session.
Delta Blues Band MySpace
Delta Blues Band Web Site
PERRY FOSTER & ABIE BUDGEN
PERRY FOSTER: During the Sixties, Perry was associated with the original YARDBIRDS, but, as their music became more 'pop' orientated he left them and stuck with the blues. He took any opportunity of meeting and playing along with such greats as HOWLING WOLF, REV. GARY DAVIS, SLEEPY JOHN ESTES and of course, SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON, for whom he acted as a 'minder' for a while, and who gave him a blues harp Perry still plays during his gigs to this day. Around this time, back in the Midlands, he formed his `Delta Blues Band' which was noted as a hotbed of talent: local musicians he recruited were CHRIS WOOD, later of `TRAFFIC' and a very young ROBERT PLANT, of LED ZEPPELIN, on vocals and washboard!
ABIE BUDGEN: Once described as 'Robert Johnson in a cardigan', Abie is a young and gifted singer and guitarist with a great talent and
enthusiasm for country blues. She made a lot of new friends when she was
here earlier in the year and we are delighted to welcome her back.
Clive Sheard and David Bristow will also be doing short sets in advance of their gig the following week.
Clive's clean finger picking and warm vocal style combine to give faithful interpretations of the songs of Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Boy Fuller and many others.
Dave's style has been described as “. . . a pre war blues style augmented by collarless shirt and braces of the period . . . ".
Two authentic bluesmen making a welcome return to The Crossroads!
This remarkable 14 year old is a great solo performer & the lead guitarist with 'Red Kyte'. He will be playing acoustic guitar, singing and playing harp for the first part of his set and then joining the House Band on electric guitar for the second part.
www.jackblackman.com www.myspace.com/jackblackmantheguitarist
Caramany is a five piece band. Founder member Alan Garwood (guitarist/songwriter) has been joined by vocalist Asha Jazz, guitar wizard Aaron Rodericks, bassist Christian Nokes and drummer Paul de Gallier. There is a strong blues feel to the band's music which is also inspired by classic pop & rock, jazz, country with a pastoral tinge for good measure. Live performances are memorable for the abundant vocal talent of Asha Jazz.
'A VERY GOOD ALL-ROUND ENTERTAINER. SHE SINGS WITH A POWERFUL CLEAR
VOICE AND HAS BECOME A VERY DYNAMIC PIANO'. Scott Duncan, Blues In
Britain.
'A YOUNG TALENT WHOSE MUSIC IS SOAKED IN SOPHISTICATION YET HOT ENOUGH TO FIRE ALL EMOTION’S'. Daily Mail. UK.
'Payne’s voice is as smoky as a jazz club at closing time and as full bodied as a Rubens muse,there is purity, purity so compelling it might just force Jool’s into the slow lane'. Jonathan Blackstaffe. Blues In Britain.
The Ragtime Jug Orchestra evokes the authentic African American sound of the early 20th century, playing a good-time mix of ragtime, country blues, hokum, skiffle and jug band music.
Madi is a talented and versatile guitarist and vocalist making his debut at The Crossroads - watch him go when he turns his hand to Blues, Gypsy Jazz and Ragtime!
Graham is a talented and entertaining Blues/Ragtime player from Colne in Lancashire. He dropped in to an open mic session in the summer and we are fortunate to have been able to book him for a gig as part of his tour of The Midlands.
Graham's playing reflects the styles of the early blues masters particularly the east coast, syncopated styles of Blind Boy Fuller and Blind Blake. Other major influences include Bo Carter, Lonnie Johnson, Rev. Gary Davis, Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Big Bill Broonzy, Fred McDowell, Sleepy John Estes, Mississippi Sheiks, Delmore Brothers, and the Memphis Jug Band to name but a few.
Graham Robins is a powerful and emotive singer–songwriter with a career spanning four decades whose heart and love of performing is still as young as yesterday with passionate and heartfelt songs that draw on years of experience and influences crossing musical borders. ‘If you want some original rootsy music, gutsy singing and understated top class accompaniment with atmosphere by the spadeful, look no further!' Graham made a big impression when he last played at The Crossroads - if you missed him last time, be sure to catch him this time around!
The evening will be hosted by Alan Garwood from Caramany.
This night will ROCK!