Brook's Blues Bar at The Telegraph
Every Friday we are at The Telegraph Pub on Putney Heath
TELEGRAPH ROAD (corner of WILDCROFT ROAD),
PUTNEY HEATH,
LONDON SW15 3TU
Tel:020 8788 2011
The Telegraph – a Country Pub in London where you can
- Enjoy good pub food, real ale and fine wines in style. Waitress service.
- Listen to the best acoustic blues in London in comfort
- Pub open all day and evening
- Food served until 10pm
- Music room opens at 8pm
- Book a table by phone or email: info@brooksbluesbar.co.uk
- Booking advisable if you want to eat.
The Telegraph has air conditioning throughout.
Buses: 14, 93, 85. Free parking in Wildcroft Road .
Minicab: Putney Car Service 020 8870 6050
Bookings correct at time of publishing. Please ring to check line-up for updates or sign up for our regular email reminders: info@brooksbluesbar.co.uk.
APRIL |
|
Friday 4 |
|
Friday 11 |
LEE BATES AND BILLY NEWTON – Exclusive London Appearance |
Friday 18 |
KEVIN STENSON & PETE BURKE – Exclusive London appearance |
Friday 25 |
EDDIE MARTIN – Exclusive London Appearance. |
| MAY | |
| Friday 2 | May Bank Holiday - CLOSED |
| Friday 9 | MICHAEL PICKETT (CAN)– Exclusive London Appearance on UK Tour |
| Friday 16 | MICHAEL MESSER & ED GENIS– BROOKS BLUES BAR DEBUT |
| Friday 23 | 2nd MAY BANK HOLIDAY - CLOSED |
| Friday 30 | BOB HALL & JOHN O’LEARY– Exclusive London appearance |
| JUNE | |
| Friday 6 | |
| Friday 13 | |
| Friday 20 | BILLY JENKINS Solo |
| Friday 27 | |
| JULY | |
| Friday 4 | BOB HALL- SOLO – Exclusive London Appearance |
| Friday 11 | NEIL COW LEY & GI LES HED LEY– Exclusive London Appearance |
| Friday 18 | |
| Friday 25 |
Brooks Blues Bar takes a break for the summer returning in September.
Printer friendly PDF versions of the listings for April, May, June & July 2008 can be downloaded (file opens in separate window) by clicking one of the following links:
APRIL - JULY 2008 LISTINGS
FRIDAY 4 APRIL – WIZZ JONES & SIMEON JONES
Wizz Jones -a ‘musician’s musician’ who learned his craft from the likes of Davy Graham and John Baldry, busking though Europe with Rod Stewart and cited by Eric Clapton as an early influence. His early reputation assured by glowing testimonials from Clapton, Renbourn and Ralph McTell. Very rarely does Wizz get the opportunity to play with his son Simeon but when they get together, Brook's Blues Bar is the venue of choice, with son Simeon on harmonica and tenor sax, an instrument not normally associated with the early blues.
Admission £8
FRIDAY 11 APRIL – LEE BATES & BILLY NEWTON – Exclusive London Appearance.
Lee Bates(guitar), and Billy Newton(harmonica), are a duo from the northeast, making a rare London visit. Their music invokes the earthy blues of Charley Patton, Blind Willie Johnson, Sonny and Brownie, as well as the urban sounds of Muddy Waters, Johnny Young and even The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Mix these together with their own compositions and a healthy dose of irreverent humour for an entertaining evening of acoustic blues.
Lee and Billy had great respect and affection for the late Brian Cookman, who helped establish Brooks Blues Bar. This is their personal opportunity to pay tribute again to a fine bluesman.
‘…well worth seeking out’ – Blues Matters
www.freewebs.com/leeandbilly/music.htm
Admission £8
FRIDAY 18 APRIL – KEVIN STENSON & PETE BURKE- Exclusive London Appearance.
Kevin Stenson(guitar and harmonica) has his musical roots in the country and city blues and jazz of the 1930's, old Appalachian mountain songs and dust bowl ballads. Along his musical path he met, played with and learnt from masters like Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Lowell Fulson, Simon Prager, Steve Phillips and the late Jo Ann Kelly. But these and a host of vinyl influences, including Merle Travis, Lonnie Johnson, Doc Watson and Little Walter have long been absorbed into his own musical voice.
He and his long-time partner Pete Burke, who lives in Spain, get together for their annual appearance at Brook’s.
"Excellent acoustic fare from harmonica/guitar man Kevin Stenson and slide man Pete Burke, embracing blues, Appalachian songs and dust bowl ballads.." Time Out
Admission £8
FRIDAY 25 APRIL – EDDIE MARTIN Exclusive London Appearance.
"Easily the best .. guitarist this country has produced since Clapton" What's On In London,
"among the UK's most respected ..musicians..a sassy combination of house-rocking slide and Buddy Guy like pyrotechnics" The Times ( London),
"A Blues Master" New Jersey Times
"The scoop on Martin is that he is special" Blues Revue USA.
"Whether playing as a one-man-band, in a trio or big band, Eddie Martin excels". Blues in Britain .
"the stuff of legend" Guitarist Magazine
"a live act not to be missed" Blues Revue USA.
A master songwriter, acoustic and electric guitarist, harmonica player and powerful singer, Eddie Martin - described as "the most remarkable blues man of his generation" by Blues in Britain, makes his Brooks Blues Bar debut.
Eddie turned professional after being nominated for Best British Blues Guitarist, Band and Album between 1996 and 1998. Since then he has built a strong following as an acoustic artist and charismatic band leader. He has also recorded and performed with many greats from both sides of the Atlantic, including John Mayall, Peter Green, Buddy Guy, and Taj Mahal, and electric stars Freddy King, Albert King and Buddy Guy.
His prolific recording and touring schedule takes him from his native UK all round the world to major events. His big band headlined the Colne International Rhythm and Blues Festival in the UK, his trio perform at the prestigious Cahors Blues Festival in France, and he attend the World Harmonica Festival in Germany where he performed solo, held a harmonica masterclass and judged the world blues harmonica competition.
His acoustic style has developed into a percussive blend of traditional blues slide and fingerpicking styles with flamenco rasguerdo techniques. These he combines with rack harmonica playing and foot percussion in the style of the one-man-blues bands such as Duster Bennet, Joe Hill Louis and Dr Ross.
Most strikingly innovative is the simultaneous rack harmonica and guitar style that he has developed and which caused the International Harmonica Federation to single him out as one of the innovators on the instrument at the World Harmonica Festival in Germany.
He has recently released two Cds on Blueblood Records, "Contrary Mary" and "Flowers to the Desert".
Admission £10
FRIDAY 2 MAY – MAY BANK HOLIDAY – CLOSED
FRIDAY 9 MAY - MICHAEL PICKETT (CAN) – Exclusive London Appearance on UK Tour
Michael Pickett’s award sinning harmonica skills, and powerful vocals deliver a charismatic passionate performance – putting his own spin on the musical legacy of Robert Johnson, Bukka White, Mississippi John Hurt, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. He has shared the stage with the legendary Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, Muddy Waters, Sunnyland Slim Taj Mahal, as well as John Hammond and Rory Block.
“His songs transcend the urban blues idiom…” Billboard (International)
“Gives good chase to John Hammond on guitar and leaves him behind on harp.” Blues Matters ( UK)
Admission £9
FRIDAY 16 MAY – MICHAEL MESSER & ED GENIS – BROOKS BLUES BAR DEBUT
‘ Michael Messer is one of the most important bluesmen in Britain and mightily relevant throughout the blues world.’ Joe Cushley – Mojo/Blues Matters
Michael Messer’s significance as a blues artist is further confirmed by his inclusion in "The Virgin Encyclopaedia of the Blues.” Messer’s name appears alongside many of the blues ‘greats’ who influenced his playing. The American magazine, ‘Spirit’ listed Michael as one of the greatest slide guitarists ever alongside Duane Allman and Ry Cooder. This year he celebrates 25 years of playing duo with Ed Genis.
Admission £10
FRIDAY 23 MAY – SPRING BANK HOLIDAY - CLOSED
FRIDAY 30 MAY – BOB HALL & JOHN O’LEARY – Exclusive London appearance.
"The finest blues and boogie woogie piano player this side of the Atlantic" Folk Roots Magazine .
There is a rare pairing of two of the UK’s celebrated blues musicians as Bob Hall and John O’Leary make their debut duo appearance at Brooks Blues Bar tonight. This is one of Bob’s rare London appearances since he moved out of the city some years ago.
The name of John O’Leary is synonymous with British Blues and Blues harmonica playing at its best. He is part of a British tradition that can be traced back to the sixties. Check out his website for more background.
Admission £10
Bagge and Armer play an eclectic mix of the ‘blues and beyond’, featuring the sensitive soulful guitar and smoky passionate voca ls of Nigel Bagge and the me lodic harmonica wizardry of Eddie Armer. Drawing on a wealth of experience their music disp lays many roots – from classic blues through soulful ballads with a hint of country to driving rhythm and b lues, all played with feeling and empathy.
Admission £9
FRIDAY 13 JUNE – FRAN McGILLIVRAY & MIKE BURKE
Influences run from soul through funk and jazz and indeed Fran's singing career began in roots music. But at the heart of everything she sings is the blues - and Fran sings everything with heart. Her cool, soulful voice gets straight to where it matters. Fran, (bass), & Mike, (guitar), perform internationally as a duo in clubs and at concerts & festivals, as well as with their band So Long Angel.
Admission £9
FRIDAY 20 JUNE – BILLY JENKINS Solo.
Only one in 20,000 English bluesmen inhabits a recognisable reality. Step forward Billy Jenkins, anarcho guitarmeister and arch-demythologiser. Pure genius'. Mike Butler City Life
Bill y Jenkins has produced a large body of nearly 40 recorded albums including 'Scratches of Spain', 'Motorway At Night', 'Entertainment USA' and 'Music For Two Cassette Machines'.
Since 1995 he has preferred performing live with his Blues Collective, solo, or duo with fellow guitarist Steve Morrison in Here Is The Blues! He also teaches at the Royal Academy of Music.
Admission £9
FRIDAY 27 JUNE – PAPA GEORGE & ALAN GLEN
Papa George is one of Britain’s leading blues artists, well known to blues audiences countrywide. He has entertained audiences across the UK, Europe, the USA and S. America since the mid-seventies. He is not only an accomplished singer and guitarist, leading his own band, but he is also in great demand for his National Steel and Electro-Resophonic solo performances.
Alan Glen is acknowledged as one of the UK’s finest harmonica players. He has toured the world as a member of “The Yardbirds”. and recorded with “Nine Below Zero”, “Little Axe”, and his own band “The Barcodes”.
Admission £9
FRIDAY 4 JULY – BOB HALL- SOLO – Exclusive London Appearance
"The finest blues and boogie woogie piano player this side of the Atlantic" Folk Roots Magazine .
Bob Hall has played with John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Jimmy Witherspoon, Chuck Berry, Homesick James, Lightnin’ Slim, Lowell Fulsom, Charlie Musselwhite, Snooky Prior, J B Hutto, Lazy Lester, Baby Boy Warren, Eddie Burns, Eddie Taylor, Big John Wrencher, Mickey Baker, Sonny Terry and Eddie Clearwater.
As an acknowledged authority on blues and boogie woogie piano, Bob has contributed to a number of magazines and books and is the sleeve-note writer for Yazoo Records piano blues series.
Admission £8
FRIDAY 11 JULY – NEIL COWLEY & GILES HEDLEY – Exclusive London Appearance.
In what is best described as a Brooks Blues Bar Special, Neil Cowley and Giles Hedley come together as the blues duo with a difference. Giles who sounds uncannily like Howling Wolf with his huge blues sound combines with Neil’s piano wizardry to create a whirlwind of energy.
Admission £10
FRIDAY 18 JULY – RAY STUBBS & HIS AMAZING ONE-MAN-BLUES-BAND
Ray Stubbs , a rare visitor from the North East, returns to Brook’s Blues Bar and showcases an even rarer blues phenomenon – the blues one-man band. Only a few have ever been recorded – Joe Hill Louis, Dr Isiah Ross and ‘Lone Cat’ Jesse Fuller, all of whom have left their mark on Ray. From Louis there is a fierce Memphis rhythm, from Ross controlled and driving guitar and harmonica and from Fuller the timeless quality of the blues.
Admission £9
FRIDAY 25 JULY – SIMON PRAGER & KEVIN STENSON
Simon Prager (Vocal and Guitar) was a member of the ‘South London Blues Mafia’ which grew up around the late Queen of the Blues – Jo Ann Kelly. He performed and recorded extensively with harmonica player Steve Rye and blues pianist Bob Hall as ‘The All Star Medicine Show’. Simon’s ‘up front’ style is influenced by Rev Gary Davis, Brownie McGhee and Blind Blake.
Kevin Stenson(guitar and harmonica) has his musical roots in the country and city blues and jazz of the 1930's, old Appalachian mountain songs and dust bowl ballads.
"Excellent acoustic fare from harmonica/guitar man Kevin Stenson…”" Time Out
Admission £9