Blues guitarist Josh Smith is kindly joining in Fifty Gigs In A Day and will be mentioning Nordoff Robbins via his social media. He plays Under the Bridge in Chelsea on February 8.
Will Wilde is announcing his much-anticipated new album, ‘Bring It On Home’, to be released on March 9th 2018. He’s also premiering his new single and video ‘Parisienne Walkways’: a classic track by the legendary Gary Moore and Phil Lynott, given the Will Wilde treatment.
Wilde takes the harmonica and touches it like Midas, transforming it from its customary bluesy niche into a full-on rock powerhouse. In his skilful hands, the now not-so-humble instrument becomes a diamond-hard, razor-edged lead that knocks the guitar off its pedestal and steals the limelight.
Wilde first picked up his first harmonica at 16, at a house party. “I basically nicked it,” he admits, “It was a cheap plastic thing, just lying about amongst the drink bottles and cigarette butts, but I was drawn to it.”
At first, his music was steeped in Chicago Blues: “I used to play along to old Muddy Waters’ records for hours at a time,” Will recalls, “Sometimes, I played so much my lips bled.” However, mastering his craft, he wanted to push the instrument to its limits. “I wanted to know everything it could do; every sound it could make. After a while, it became an extension of me.”
As an extension of Will Wilde, the harmonica became a lead instrument for hard rock as he developed his own, more aggressive style. Wilde has gone the extra mile and created his own signature harmonica tunings, so he can hit notes that simply weren’t possible before. “The Wilde tunings help me take things to the next level,” Will explains, “I can hold my own with any rock guitarist.”
‘Bring It On Home’ is a covers album: a passionate tribute to British and Irish blues-rock legends: “It’s my way of repaying the originators of British rock: bands like Free, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin,” as Will put it himself.
The 11-track album was recorded at Brighton Road Studios, mixed and engineered by Ali Gavan, and produced by Will’s bandmate and virtuoso guitarist, Danny Giles.
‘Parisienne Walkways’, the track and video Will is premiering, shows the raw power and expressive range of his chosen instrument, not merely echoing the sound of Gary Moore’s amazing guitar style, but making the song Wilde’s own.
For more information visit Will’s website at https://www.willharmonicawilde.com and find out why Thomas Ruf (of Ruf Records) called this man ‘The Hendrix of the Harmonica’.
Track listing :
Bad Penny — Rory Gallagher
Lazy — Deep Purple
I’m Your Witchdoctor -—John Mayall
Locomotive Breath — Jethro Tull
Love That Burns — Fleetwood Mac
Politician — Cream
The Wizard — Black Sabbath
Yer Blues — The Beatles
My Brother Jake — Free
Bring it on Home — Sonny Boy Williamson/Led Zeppelin
Two great bands touring later this year and Cats In Space release their second album ‘Scarecrow’ in August 🙂
BAD TOUCH + MOLLIE MARRIOTT 9/11 Plug, Sheffield
10/11 Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek
16/11 The Tunnels Bristol
17/11 The Ruby Lounge, Manchester
18/11 The Cluny, Newcastle
19/11 The Bodega, Nottingham
23/11 Stereo Glasgow
24/11 Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
25/11 The Empire Coventry
26/11 O2 Academy Islington London
1/12 The Waterfront Norwich
2/12 The Talking Heads, Southampton
CATS IN SPACE September
Weds 06 The Borderline, London
Tues 12 The Globe, Cardiff
Weds 13 The Borderline, London
Fri 15 Rock City Basement, Nottingham
Sat 16 O2 Academy 2, Birmingham
Sun 17 The Fleece, Bristol
Tues 19 The Haunt, Brighton
Mon 25 G2, Glasgow
Tues 26 O2 Academy 3, Manchester
Weds 27 The Borderline, London
3/12 Planet Rockstock 2017
My first time at the Borderline since its recent refurbishment and it was looking impressive, with trendy seating and bar. Luckily it keeps the same atmosphere for live gigs with the audience crowded round the small stage area.
William the Conqueror was the support act and he took to the stage with his acoustic guitar and bass drum. He did mention he normally toured with a full band but tonight he joked they were replaced by said bass drum. He had an easy going style, both in the music – a mix of blues and Americana – and between song chat – he thought the revamped venue looked like the set of ‘Blake’s Seven’ (I’d wager this refit cost more than that creaky old set!). His new album is due out on August 4 and will be one to investigate further based on tonight’s impressive performance which went down well with the crowd.
Matt Andersen is a Juno Awards nominated Canadian blues guitarist/singer, and tonight’s gig was his final date on his UK leg of his current European tour. Where to start? Let’s just say you need to see Matt Andersen live to fully appreciate him as his acoustic guitar playing is stunning and then there is his voice. I have rarely seen a singer pour so much passion into his singing, a real joy to behold and reinforces why live music is good for your soul and well-being. Take ‘Make You Stay’, he was all over his guitar, his head thrown back, eyes closed as he got into his own groove and took the audience along with him. Amazing to watch and hear.
He has a very laid back, friendly on stage presence and can even slip in some unexpected fun as could be heard on ‘Have You Got The Blues’, where midway through he started playing the theme tune ‘The Pink Panther’. There was audience participation on his version of the classic ‘People Get Ready’, as he has the “guys and gals” singing different backing parts and it made for a one of the evening’s highlights. Needless to say Matt had the audience on his side from the moment he walked onto the stage. Interestingly the audience was made up of a younger crowd than I expected with a few hardened blues fans dotted around the crowd, proof that good blues music and musicians, like folk and country, has the timeless sound and appeal to carry on through generations.
Go see Matt Andersen play when he is town near you as you won’t be disappointed.
Listen up blues fans, HRH have announced the line-up for HRH Blues 2018: a heady swig of the Brandy of the Damned, to be held up at the O2 Academy,Sheffield between Saturday 14thand Sunday 15th April, 2018.
Bernie Marsden and King King will be headlining the event, which boasts a talent-packed line-up.
Best-known as founder member of the iconic Whitesnake, Bernie Marsden wrote or co-wrote many of the group’s hits, such as ‘Fool For Your Loving’ and ‘Here I Go Again’. To call Bernie a major player in rock and blues is an understatement. “There are only two men can play the blues, Eric Clapton and that bloke from Whitesnake,” said B.B. King in a 90s radio interview. High praise indeed!
“King King are setting the Blues world on fire!” proclaimed Classic Rock. That flame is coming to HRH Blues. No smoke and mirrors – just a fist-tight line-up delivering killer songs.
The ‘Pat McManus Band’ are a powerful three piece blues/rock Trio, headed up by Pat McManus (a.k.a. ‘The Professor’), the former Mama’s Boys’ and Celtus’ guitarist/violinist virtuoso.
Glaswegian Steve Nimmo played in The Nimmo Brothers, with his brother Alan (now of King King), but is a strong solo artist, songwriter, guitarist and vocalist. “Man, this guy can sing!” said Storyville, and sing he shall at HRH Blues 2018!
Other great bands announced include:
Danny Bryant
Geoff Achison
Pontus Snibb’s “Wreck of Blues”
Sari Schorr
Ben Poole
Del Bromham
The Danny Giles Band
Chris Antonik
Catfish
Rainbreakers
Jim Kirkpatrick & Heavy Weather
Sugarman Sam and the Voodoo Men
Brian Rawson Band
The Della Grants
Kris Barras Band
Tom Killner Band
Big Canyon
The Black Thunder Revue
Like all HRH events, HRH Blues will be a close-knit community experience, where fans of the music get to meet up, absorb great music, and party with friends old and new. Great acts, chosen by the fans. Quality accommodation, with all hotels on the doorstep to keep the community spirit intact. This will be a two day experience with hotels and breakfast included, as well as entrance to the event over the weekend.
