A very new outfit fronted by Ray Bartrip on vocals, Hammond & piano. Alan Vincent plays guitar, Malcolm Benson is on bass guitar, Phil Hughes on vocals, harp & sax and Matt Dobney on drums. Ray tells me there may be a second sax as well as one or two other surprises! Expect something a bit different with this band which Ray describes as: "not the hairy arsed, beer swilling, "in yer face", denim clad type of blues but more the suited and booted, cool, mint-julip drinking, laid back style of grown-up blues and boogie, if you know what I mean. We will play some originals and some covers but my aim is to write some more and do all originals eventually." Well my appetite is well & truly whetted, how about yours? 

Cadillac Kings

I am so thrilled to have got the Caddies to play the BluesFest, they are one of the reasons Digital Blues exists! It will also be a good opportunity to catch all too rare appearance by the band in Essex. It will also be good to see local Blues aficianado and damn fine guitarist, Chris Pearson standing in as the band's guitarist.

With Mike Thomas on vocals and, far too rarely, slide guitar, Gary Potts, hailed as one of the top harp players in the UK, on harmonica, keyboard maestro, Mike Adcock tinkling the ivories and occasionally launching into a Zydeco style romp on accordion, the highly experienced and very well respected Orlando ‘Orly’ Shearer on stand-up bass and the superb Roy Webber on drums, the Cadillac Kings are one of the foremost blues, swing, boogie, jive & Rock ‘n’ Roll outfits around and are in huge demand throughout the UK as well as Europe & particularly Scandinavia. They play “with simple intentions (the way it used to be) - we want everybody to have as much fun on the dance-floor as we do up on the stage!!”

To learn more, visit www.cadillackings.co.uk 

funkdory 

Recently formed, funkydory grew out of a number of musicians who regularly jammed together deciding that they wanted to take it further. The band comprises Lorna Reilly - "Blessed with the voice of an angel" – and Jules Fothergill both of whom have been stalwart members of Roadhouse for some time. Marc Le Guerrannic “plays in a way possibly unrivalled on the live circuit at the moment” whilst Hayden ‘Pumperfoot’ Doyle comes from a hard rock band background. Finally, bassist Fox, as enigmatic as ever melds with Hayden to form an unique rhythm section.

Writing in Blues matters! recently, man about the Blues, Alan Harvey had this to say of the band’s third gig: “They play a wide-ranging set, covering artists as diverse as Ike and Tina Turner, Eva Cassidy, Grateful Dead and Eric Clapton. The latter's Layla is as good as you could wish for, with inspirational guitars and wonderful vocals. Lorna's singing on Stormy Monday was totally awesome. For me, though, the highlights of the evening were what is effectively the future of the band - their original compositions. On this evidence they have a very exciting future! Lorna writes the lyrics and the band join forces with the sounds. Full of variety and inventiveness they are clearly thriving in the freedom this new band opportunity provides. Long Time Coming and Mercy are both really good songs and Mission Impossible an interesting instrumental.

Grapevine Blues  

“Musicians of outstanding quality topped by the stunning Dr Ika. They don’t come any better. Aaaah bliss!” So wrote Ken Daniels in Blues in Britain and a visit to the band's website (www.grapevineblues.com ) will show you many more examples of high praise. With smoky voiced Mike Chase on vocals and harp, the unique Dr. Ika on guitar, the superb Caz Devine on sax and a top rhythm section comprising the band's brand new drummer, Richard Newman who also plays with Alvin Lee's band making his first appearance with Grapevine today and Dave Troy on bass, this is a band that wows audiences wherever and whenever they play. One of the sensations of the first Digital BluesFest was Dr Ika jamming on stage with Danny Bryant, the very first time they had played together in public. With a set list which combines standards with some superb original material, Grapevine Blues are definitely one not to miss and I am delighted that they are playing this year's BluesFest..

Groove Doctors

As ever, the BluesFest brings a wide variety to suit all tastes. One of east Anglia’s top bands, the Doctors do not gig as frequently as their talent, experience and energy warrant and I am delighted that they have agreed to play the BluesFest. "Sensational - we had rave reports on the Groove doctors last year, which justified on this showing. This is a four piece playing good rocking blues" BluePrint Magazine . with the unique Fergie Fulton on bass blending with John Butters on drums to form a tight but fluid rhythm section, Tim Ainslie on guitar, a man who never seems to be working that hard but who plays in a style that is all his own and leaves the audience wondering how he does it! Up front on vocals and harp is Luke Arnold, a superbly talented vocalist but even more talent harp player who also has his own unique style “a true honours graduate from the University of Little Walter, specialist subject: pure blues tone.” The band do not venture down south into these here parts too often so this is a great opportunity to catch this class act.

More details at www.groovedoctors.co.uk and read Digital Blues Gig & CD Reviews here .

Jerimiah Marques & the Blue Aces

Described as “the UK’s premier Chicago Blues & Roots band”, the reputation of former Booze’n’Blues member Jerimiah and superbly talented band the Blue Aces is steadily spreading and gaining converts along the way. If there were any justice in this World, this band’s name would be near the top of major festival’s bills around the UK & in Europe. We are, therefore, very fortunate to have secured their services for the BluesFest and they, like all the other acts, bring something entirely individual to the bill. With the charismatic Jerimiah up front on vocals, percussion and occasional harp, Pete “Sonny” Nash on keyboards & slide guitar, West Weston on harp, the superb Lewis Fielding on guitar, Mike Thorne on drums and Matt Radford on stand-up bass, they produce a stunning authentic mix of Chicago Blues and roots rhythms. Read Digital Blues gig review here

More at www.blueaces.info

Martin McNeill 

Stand by to be enthralled by the bottleneck guitar wizardry of the self-effacing Martin. A man who is ever popular locally both as a solo act and with his superb band, he has been playing the Blues for many a long year and has shared the stage with the likes of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. His Dave Bronze produced CD, “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” is a gem which should be in everyone’s collection. The BluesFest is an opportunity to hear why and to buy!

Nigel Bagge & Eddie Armer

Nigel Bagge is a  blues-based guitarist and singer currently to be seen around the UK with The Nigel Bagge band or in various duo formats. He also works with the Desperate Dan band, Duck Soup and in Europe with the excellent Angela Brown & the Mighty 45's.  He plays electric, acoustic, and slide, calling on all the usual influences.... too many to mention! His voice is smoky and passionate. Feel and emotion emphasise his playing and singing. His material ranges from classic acoustic and electric Blues through Country and Soul influenced Rock to powerful Rhythm and Blues with a touch of Rock and Roll.

His past credits include being a member of Lamplight, Cold Comfort, Highway 61, Juice on the Loose & Nicky moore's Blues Corporation.                                           

He has also worked with Peter Green, Chris Farlowe, Miller Anderson, Nigel Watson (Splinter Group), Geoff Whitehorn (Bad Company, The Who, Procul Harum), Gordon Russell (Dr Feelgood, Two-Timers), Robin Bibi, Ian Hunt, Steve Whalley, Peter Bennett and recorded or performed with countless others.

His partner for this BluesFest outing is Eddie Armer who was the former frontman of the Lonnigans and harp player with the late Carlo Little. His recording credits include Jeff Beck, Ronnie Wood, the late Long John Baldry, Odetta and Pete Seeger.

Nigel & Eddie have been together in duo format for a number of years and have built an excellent reputation. As far as I am aware this is their first appearance in Essex.

For more visit Nigel's website www.nigelbagge.com

 

No BluesFest would be complete without the wonderful talent of this Essex troubadour. He is the only act to have graced the stage at all of the Digital BluesFests a tribute to his talent and popularity. A man whose guitar playing leaves you gasping, whose voice can turn from a gentle whisper to window rattling bellow, whose songwriting ability seems boundless and whose interpretations of other people’s material always brings an individual twist, Roy is deservedly gaining greater recognition with appearances at Festivals throught the UK and gisg in Europe. With a deal with a specialist independent record label in the offing and an excellent new CD on the stocks, his back catalogue includes “A New Experience” a wonderful collection of instrumental versions of Hendrix classics currently unavailable but which, I understand, may well be reissued soon, together with gems such as “Westcliff Delta Blues”, “A Long Time Coming” & his most recent oeuvre, the excellent “12 Bars & the Blues”.  Read more about Roy at www.roymette.co.uk

Sonny Black

I could not believe my good fortune when Sonny agreed to play the BluesFest. I had heard so much about him and his appearance with George Pearson at the Boogaloo Blues Festival in Bognor several years ago was the highlight of the week-end for  me so to get him for the BluesFest is an ambition achieved. Many times winner and nominee for Blues Guitarist of the year,  Sonny Black is, without doubt one of the finest there is, whether on acoustic or electric guitar. This from the Barking Spider Promotions website: “If you've not seen guitar maestro Bill Boazman, a.k.a. Sonny Black yet, you're in for a real treat, he is really a superb guitarist, always note perfect. He plays an irresistible blend of slow blues and shuffles through to rockin R& B, and vocals. Sonny Black runs through the card with his effortless style, playing everything from Country blues, Big Bill Bronzy, Sonny Boy Williamson, jazz, Cuban, and boogie! Many of the numbers are his own compositions and excellent vehicles for Sonny to stretch out and improvise. Sonny is playing a relatively early slot as he has to rush off for a band gig in Hampshire on Sunday evening, so make sure you don’t turn up late or you will miss him. - www.hants.gov.uk/sonny.black/

Steve Smith

The event will run from noon to 23.00 and with a great value Carvery offering traditional Sunday roasts available from noon until late afternoon, downstairs. The bar will be open from noon until late and there will be a raffle with loads of prizes including some not generally available CD’s.

I am particularly indebted to Chip Shutzman of Miles High Productions who has donated some fabulous two disc sets (CD & DVD) of the Chicago Blues Reunion - "Buried Alive In The Blues". These Limited Collectors Edition CDs are something very special and you can hear a couple of tracks from the audio CD in August's Digital Blues. Find out more about these CDs and the Chicago Blues Reunion here . 

Regular updates will appear here on the Digital Blues website. Advance tickets are on sale now at the New Crawdaddy Blues Club at the Belvedere every Thursday or by contacting Digital Blues on 07770 632130. Tickets will cost £20.00 with children under 15 half price. Subject to availability, tickets will also be available on the door.