Mojo Weekend is a blues music course run to improve students current playing abilities. Concentrating on one to one tuition and performance workshops, the course is suitable for any level of expertise from beginner to advanced. All details can be found at www.mojoweekend.co.uk Mojo Weekend is run by Rightnote Coaching Ltd

We announce a Mojo Weekend events and BM competition for a free place to the October 23rd / 24th event

The value for the event is £285. Terms for entry is; All participants must be 18 years old or over, and must supply full address, contact number and email address with their entry. prize is non redeemable for cash, non transferable, and only valid when used by the prize winner for the date above. All or part of the winning entry may be used in future advertising by Mojo Weekend or Blues Matters.

The competition is quite easy. All you have to do is write in no more than 200 words what does the term ‘mojo’ mean.

Closing weekend is 8th October

Blues duo “Sisters in Grease” are to launch their new album – of the same title, at the Jim’s Acoustic Cafe Colne at 3pm this Bank Holiday Sunday during the Great British R&B Festival. The material was recorded during a busy summer period when they played the Acoustic Festival of Britain and had gigging supports with the likes of Eddy Martin and Larry Miller. The event is part of the Free Fringe but get there early as space can be limited.

www.sistersingrease.com

This weekend 28/29th August will see BLUE TOUCH headlining the saturday of this year’s “Woodstock Live” Festival in Woodstock Oxfordshire.

BLUE TOUCH will be closing the acoustic stage event from 20:00- 21:00 in the Town Square with an unplugged set before moving indoors for a full on electric set from 21:15.

With three well received CDs released BLUE TOUCH, consistently deliver fresh and exciting interpretations of the blues both live and on record.

WOODSTOCK LIVE- ITS FREE!!

“Following in the grand tradition that will forever associate the name of Woodstock with live music, this year’s celebration in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, will see twenty artists / bands appearing on The Town Stage in the Town Square over the Saturday and Sunday of the late August Bank Holiday, August 28th & 29th. A significant feature of ‘Woodstock Live’ is the diverse and eclectic nature of the artists, both local and from afar, who are invited to perform.”

www.woodstocklive.co.uk

Elephant Shelf were delighted to receive this from the team at BLUES AT THE FARM Billericay
‘Hi Vicky & Co

Firstly we want to thank you all for such a superb gig on Saturday. Really blew us away & Elephant Shelf has been the main conversation topic since then. Well done to all & where the hell did Rosie & Lady Di get voices like that from? Far too much talent on stage for our feeble brains to soak up in one afternoon; Brilliant!!! Hope we can get you back at The Farm for next year. Thanks again for a wicked Saturday. Mac and the BATF crew.’

We rang the band’s bassist Rob Charles who said they were “Really encouraged by such words”, “It’s hard to convince some on the circuit unless you played with some names years ago, but BATF gave us the opportunity, and we went for it”. The Shelf’s tiny blonde bombshell Rosie Swan also said that “Blues at the Farm is such a great gig, they’ve got a great team there running it, and a really friendly receptive audience, places like make it all worthwhile and are the reason we all stick at it”. Blues at the Farm has joined the list of BM sponsored venues and you can find out more at www.bluesatthefarm.co.uk there are some great gigs coming up.

- On Saturday 21st August Roadhouse appear at The Saltash Music Festival, where they headline on the Union Stage at around 9.15 pm……some big acts on at this festival, thanks to promoter Tom Anfield for having us…..http://www.visitcornwall.com/site/things-to-do/whats-on/saltfest-2010-saltash-summer-music-festival-p1044953
- We’ll be appearing at The Prestigious Rhythm Festival near Bedford (The 100 Club’s festival. We are on The Alternative stage on SUNDAY 22 August at 14.40, loads of big acts and with over 5,000 people at this festival last year, this is big one, we hope to see you there

http://www.rhythmfestival.com

- On Friday the 27th August, We play South London’s biggest Blues festival, open air at Merton Abbey Mills…. This year we are doing a double header with Papa George. Roadhouse are on first at 19.00 to 20.15, SO COME EARLY TO GET A GOOD PLACE AND SEE OUR HALF OF THE SHOW……..Plenty of parking, between South Wimbledon and Colliers Woods tubes, food stalls and bars all over the site….. a rare and great free festival, bring the kids……http://www.colourhousetheatre.co.uk/abbeyfest/bluesshows.asp

Due to medical reasons, Peter Green has had to pull out of this year’s Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival.
But, we have a fantastic replacement in the form of Irish rockabilly star Imelda May.

This talented young lady is unmistakable both in her music – a fusion of surf guitars, blues and rockabilly – and her style, with a solitary curl and shock of blonde in her jet black hair.In Ireland, her debut album ‘Love Tattoo’, has gone Triple Platinum and she has shared a stage with the likes of U2, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Van Morrison, Scissor Sisters, Lionel Richie and, most recently, the first lady of rockabilly, Wanda Jackson.
Festival organiser, Alison Goode, said: “We are really disappointed that Peter Green has had to cancel at the last minute. “Unfortunately, we have no control over this kind of thing happening and we wish him a speedy recovery. “But we are extremely excited that we have been able to secure the up-and-coming talents of Imelda May. “She has played with some amazing musicians and I’m sure the crowds won’t be disappointed!”
Imelda will replace the Trevor Burton Band on the International Stage at 7.30pm on Monday night and the Trevor Burton band will take the place of Peter Green at 9.15pm on Sunday.

To find out more about Imelda, log onto her website www.imeldamay.co.uk

Thursday 12 August Charlotte Street Blues Club, London, 7pm

Charlotte Street Blues

The Blues Bar in London

74 Charlotte Street,

London, W1T 4QH

http://www.charlottestblues.com/

Tel: 0207 580 0113

Email: info@csblues.com
and
Friday 13 August The Palladium Club, Bideford, Devon , 8pm

Palladium Club,

Lower Gunstone,

Bideford,

Devon, EX39 2DE

http://www.palladiumclub.co.uk/index.php

“TheAlastair Greene Band has achieved an elusive result with “Walking In Circles,”waxing a blues-rock album tha holds appeal fortraditionalists…the rhythm section never fails to swing, providing a nuanced,true-blues launch pad for Greene’s guitar.”BLUES REVUE

(SONORA) – SantaBarbara-based blues/rock guitarist AlastairGreene brings his eclectic musical sounds to the Fire On The Mountain/2010 Sonora Blues Festival, at Sonora’s Mother Lode Fairgrounds, Highways 49 and 108 (at Stockton St.), Sonora, Saturday, August 14. 12 noon-2 p.m. Tickets $40. (before August 6), $50. after; $5 (children 6-12); under 6, free. Info: (209) 533-3473 or log onto www.fireonthemountain.com. Greene will be performing that day with both his own original band, as well as with his acclaimed “SlowHand” Eric Clapton Tribute.

“Alastair Greene lays claim to songs by Allen Toussaint (“Get Out of MyLife, Woman”), Albert Collins (“Don’t Lose Your Cool”), Peter Green (“Merry GoRound”) and Hound Dog Taylor (“Give Me Back My Wig”). He cuts a searing guitarswath through the songs, lending a blues growl to the delivery. AG’s voice isas strong as his playing…a full service artist, equally in charge andat ease throughout
“Walking In Circles.” THE ALTERNATE ROOT

Greene was recently announced as the new full-time guitarist for the AlanParsons Live Project, the famed progressive rock band fronted by multi-instrumentalistAlan Parsons known for such hits as “Eyein the Sky,” “Time,” and “I Robot,” among others. Greene kicked off his guitarduties in the Alan Parsons Live Project with shows in Israel and more this pastMarch.

In other news,Greene’s title track from “Walking In Circles” is included on the just-releasedcompilation, ALL ABOARD THE BLUES (Errorcraft Records).

Greene is receivingstellar reviews for his just-released CD, WALKING IN CIRCLES. “You will be hard-pressed to find anotheryoung guitarist whose work demonstrates a better example of both from where theblues has come as well as to where it may be headed,” raves BLUESROCKERS. “AlastairGreene and his band aim to please as they dish out a swingin’ session of fivefeel-good covers and six originals…Greene sings with spirit and tells it likeit is while his electric guitar adds a stimulating sizzle that punctuateshard,” writes SOUTHLAND BLUES.”Walking In Circlesis anything but a rehashing of the longtime S.B. stalwart’s multifacetedmusical past,” states the SANTABARBARA INDEPENDENT.

Since his 2002debut CD A LITTLE WISER, AlastairGreene (known as ‘AG’ by friends andfans) has released two live CDs and a collaboration with French blues guitarhero Frank ‘Paris Slim’ Goldwasser on Riatsala Music. Greene also played guitaron recent releases by Alan Parsons (2006 Grammy-nominated ‘A ValidPath); Aynsley Dunbar (2008 release’Mutiny’); as well 2 CDs on the Delta Groove Record Label: Frank Goldwasser’s2007 release ‘Bluju’ and Mitch Kashmar’s 2006 release ‘Wake Up and Worry’. TheAlastair Greene Bandhas beenperforming live for over 10 years in various incarnations. Greene stillperforms regularly with Mitch Kashmar, Frank Goldwasser, and other blues androots acts.

WALKING IN CIRCLES features 6original songs and 5 covers ranging from the Elmore James-influenced titletrack and the deep Muddy Waters vibe on ‘Pocket Full of Change’ to the Gov’tMule-style reading of ‘Get Out Of My Life Woman’ and the hard-boogie ZZTop-inspired interpretation of ‘Cut You Loose’. In addition to stellar reviews,the disc is receiving regular airplay overseas in France, Belgium, Croatia, aswell as Canada. Mitch Kashmar (currently playing with 70s Latin-funk band WAR)lends his legendary harmonica playing to 5 tracks as well as piano on a pair ofsongs. The Albert Collins classic instrumental ‘Don’t Lose Your Cool’ is givenan original treatment in which Greene and Kashmar play the melody in unisonbefore throwing down a couple of terrifying solos. The groove and title of’Back Alley Strut’ (an AG original) reflects the influence of funky New Orleansband The Meters, while the comical ‘Drunk Again’ is a shuffle reminiscent ofthe updated Jimmy Reed style that the Vaughan Brothers popularized in the early80s. Greene also utilizes his firstinstrument (the tenor saxophone) on the fast swing ‘Look Out Baby’, which mayfeature the most blazing guitar solo on the record.

WALKINGIN CIRCLESis Greene’s tributeto his Blues heroes and influences as well as his bid to re-establish himselfas one of the era’s best up and coming Blues-Rockguitarists. “I love this music and wantto be respectful of the form and history yet still be true to myself and mymusical goals,” says Greene. “If Thatmeans things start to rock out, get experimental, loud and crazy, or I chooseto cover more traditional territory, it’s all part of what I love about theBlues and its musical off shoots.” None other than Alligator Records founder Bruce Iglauer recently toldGreene, “You definitely have talent. I’mhearing you as being a strong player with a good blues-rock feel and some realchops.” Legendary British studio wizard and solo artist Alan Parsons wasquoted as saying, “Alastair should be outplaying with the biggest bands in the world. I believe it’s just a matter oftime.” Regardless of quotes,resumes’, and high profile names, WALKING IN CIRCLES is sure to perkup some ears, put some smiles on some faces, and get some feet tappin’. It mayeven inspire some booty shakin’, head bangin’, and spontaneous partyin’. The Blues is for everyone, from “those aboutto rock” to those in their rocking chairs. Alastair will show you how and why.