Welcome to the July 2008 Bulletin of the Hamilton Blues Society.
Our Jam nights seem to be going from strength to strength, with lots of new budding enthusiasts coming to perform, and soak up some great live blues music. Last month we celebrated the purchase of our new Drum Kit, and by all the drummers’ accounts we have got a great set. It’s wonderful to see the younger amongst us take the stage with confidence, and to watch the support networks being made as the ‘scene’ grows.
Chris Maydon, Zeb Davies and Pauline went over to Rotorua, to put the ‘Ladies Sing the Blues’ show on, as part of their BOP Blues Week Festival. It was another full house, and the best part was we were back home in bed by midnight! Not bad for a blues road trip?
· The next Jam night is July 10th at Biddy’s – 8pm, and we will be featuring a guest spot from the ‘Great Brain Robbers’.
· Our “HAVE A GO” is going ahead this month, and will be incorporated with every second jam night. The first one is coming up in July, and we already have a good line-up of starters. The “Have A Go” hour will be from 7-8pm. Each person will be encouraged and supported to get up on stage while it’s quiet, and test out their talent on stage. HBS can provide a house band of any structure to support what you do. If you would like to be part of this, please email us.
· Check out two NEW pages on the HBS website www.blues.co.nz/hbs . There are new links to BLUES BASICS and BLUES HARMONICA. The BLUES BASICS is a resource for all keen to learn a little more about Keys, Structures and suggestions on how to get started and who to listen to. Nate is developing his new page for BLUES HARMONICA, so if you have any suggestions around that contact Nate directly at thebluesroom@gmail.com
Other upcoming events
· BOP Blues Jam July 2nd at 7pm ~ The Belgian Bar, 1151 Arawa St, Rotorua
A reminder about the regular blues jam held on the first Wednesday of the month over in Rotorua. Door charge is $5 for non-members and no charge for BOP Blues members and participating musicians.
June 29th Diggers Bar 7.30pm, Hood St, Hamilton
July 7th Thirsty Weta, 57 Maniapoto Street, Otorohanga
· SELF-RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS BLUES ENSEMBLE July 18th Katikati Folk Club, The Packhouse, 222 Beach Rd, Katikati.
The Katikati Folk Club is one of the Bay's great hidden treasure, with concerts every month (and more often) at The Packhouse. Kokomo played their Christmas party last year and Derek, Nigel and Grant looking forward to hoeing into some blues and who knows what... Not sure what the ticket price will be yet or what time it starts, but you can contact the Folk Club Boss, the very nice John Logan here.
Other Notices
· HBS Members Achievements:
Bruce Dennis’s song ‘Ain’t Gonna Run’, from his debut album “All Our Days”, has been announced as the WINNER of the Country Music “Song of the Year 2008” competition.
· Membership 2008/2009 renewal. Yes it’s that’s time - with our membership year ending on the 31st May. So if you would like to keep on supporting the Club and receiving benefits on door charges, etc. please post a cheque to the Club at PO Box 805 Hamilton 3240, or make payment at one of the upcoming jam nights.
· Check out the developments and new Live Blues music scene in Auckland. Got to www.liveblues.co.nz Then take a look at a June article on www.blues.co.nz telling us who’s behind it all http://www.blues.co.nz/news
March 25 1966 – March 2nd 2008
A tribute by Pauline Sinel
I was recently told about the untimely passing of Jeff Healey, back in March this year, at the age of only 41. I was lucky enough to meet both Jeff and Joe Rockman (bass player of the Jeff Healey Band) back in 2000 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and I felt it was a good time to reflect on meeting him and to pay tribute to a great bluesman.
I was visiting my brother in Sweden and saw the band in concert at the Stockholm Jazz Festival. My next stop was Denmark and I was excited to see Jeff was playing at a small blues bar called Mojo Blues Bar in Copenhagen a week later. Only this time he was playing jazz trumpet with some local musicians. You may not be aware, but he was a very talented trumpet player. It is this side of his talent that has been in full swing of late, with the release of the album “It’s Tight Like That” by his new band, Jeff Healey’s Jazz Wizards.
When I went along to this jam on that Monday night I recognised Joe Rockman standing at the back of the club, and went up to him to introduce myself (as you do ?.!*@#). From there I was invited for a “quiet drink out of the smoke” and we got talking and singing… The next thing I know I am being invited to their concert the next night and having the concept of “Jeff’s got to hear you sing” thrust upon me. So after changing my plans and flights the next day I decided to take the adventure to heart and go for it. The concert was amazing - even better in that my name was “at the door” and I got to go back to the pub afterwards where they usually jam.
It was all very whirlwind and exciting, as much as an adventure like that can be for a 30 year old woman on her own in Europe. Personally, the best part for me was the opportunity to get up on stage in a crowded European blues bar packed with avid Jeff Healey fans and sing! An experience I will not forget. Jeff has left this world far too early in life but has certainly left us a body of blues music that will be enjoyed by many for years to come.
Other Reviews
1st National Blues Festival a Success ~ press release from Sally Garner
BOP Blues Club announces the successful conclusion of its first “National Blues Festival”. Following on from last year’s ‘Blues Week’, this year’s festival again linked with the Targa Rally and featured more events, venues and acts, over 8 days from 31 May to Saturday 7 June.
Saturday night’s after show party at The Belgian Bar was a packed out event with a who’s-who of NZ Blues jamming together, with combinations like 80’s star Hammond Gamble backed by Rotorua’s Brian Beauchamp and Rob Patterson , Taranga’s Grant Bullot (Kokomo) and Richard Hall from Auckland’s Riverhead Slide on keys. The party went on until 2am, with most of the festival musicians taking the stage at some point!
The venues were humming on Saturday afternoon and most of the festival goers enjoyed walking around to catch all the acts; Lil’ Ian Goodsman (Whangarei), Riverhead Slide (Auckland), Hammond Gamble (Auckland) and Mike Garner (Rotorua).
On Friday an appreciative crowd dug the cool, jazzy sounds and Wellington wit of Hot Club Sandwich; while the Self Righteous Brothers Blues Ensemble and the Anton Elkington Band covered the bases from folk-blues to blues-rock.
But Saturday was the day people came from out of town, from Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. Dave from Hamilton brought guitarist daughter, 17 year old Mikaela, who both enjoyed all of the venues and were thrilled to find that Rotorua was setting itself up as NZ’s ‘home of the blues’. Later in the Soundshell, Kokomo brought their blend of folk-blues-jazz-country to town, showcasing songs from their latest album of Bob Dylan covers as well as bluesy older material. After interval, rising star of NZ blues-rock, Billy TK Junior, played tracks from his new CD, interspersed with covers of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix, showing he is one of NZ’s finest exponents of this powerhouse style. The blues truly is a ‘broad church’.
Planning for next year’s “National Blues Festival” will commence soon. BOP Blues Club acknowledges the assistance of sponsors who made the festival possible: Rotorua Trust, Events & Venues Rotorua, The Daily Post, The Radio Network and of course, the participating venues – Seismic Gastrobar, Hennessy’s Irish Bar, Café Triple One Five, Scotty’s Bar and the Belgian Bar.
Hamilton Community Arts Council (HCAC) Live Music Forum Monday 23rd June - notes taken from minutes email from HCAC.
Scott Ratuki (HCAC Arts Councilor and Associate for Tompkins Wake Lawyers) made a presentation to the group based on research we had done after the first forum. The presentation put forth the suggestion of forming a Charitable Trust with membership called the Hamilton Live Music Trust. This suggestion was accepted by the group. It will be the Trust’s responsibility and delight I’m sure goto seek solutions to challenges that have been raised by the local forward and music community. You’ll find a break down of this in the minutes (available from Pauline).
These are pretty exciting times and HCAC is glad to be a part of this project with you. As said on the night, we can create a trust and have all the members in the world but without your vocal support and encouragement then all that is empty.
1. TRUSTEES
Nominations for the Trustees of the Live Music Trust are due by This Friday 4.30pm. You can self nominate or nominate someone else, and we will check with them to make sure they are keen.
2. GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
From the last forum we have our first official members!! If you’d like to join the trust please send Kat Cox (HCAC) at kat@hcac.org.nz with your full name, email and mobile phone number. There is no cost at this initial stage to join – so get in quick.
The Trust will have membership which is your show of support and your opportunity to have your say on the direction of the Trust, bring issues to the Trust’s attention, have the ability to nominate Trustees to the board and attend regular Music Forums and to work with the Trust on sub committees that work on specific projects (not mandatory ).
Keeping the Blues alive...Pauline Sinel, Secretary/Treasurer
Hamilton Blues Society
Ph 021 109 5630
Proudly supported by: Community Radio Hamilton, Shearers MusicWorks, Ambassador Motor Inn, Capital Tyres & Phat Sounds
.JPG)
