Johnny's Blues Club started life as 'Blues at the Liverpool Marina' in November 2005 with the prime objective of presenting live performances by top class blues and R’n’B artistes from the UK and abroad. The programme of shows covers the broad spectrum of the genre from Delta and Piedmont acoustic styles, through Chicago and West Coast influences to rocking Texas blues. Quality entertainment and variety are guaranteed.

John & Lorraine Welsh

2012 Gig List

3

FEB

  • £12 Advance
  • £13 Door
  • Door: 8pm
  • Starts: 8:45pm

Big Pete Blues Band

Venue: Garston Royal British Legion map

Singer/harmonica player Pieter ‘Big Pete’ van der Pluijm’s rise to prominence started when, at the age of 23, he was hand-picked to fill the giant shoes of the late Lester Butler, the legendary leader of The Red Devils, for a European memorial tour with Lester's original band members. Their appearances proved so popular and successful that several more tours with The Lester Butler Tribute Band (also featuring UK guitar phenomenon Matt Schofield) established Pete as one of the premier new generation blues performers in the Benelux region. Pete has since fronted The Strikes and has already graced Liverpool Marina with two of his subsequent bands - The Backbones and MOCT. His return to Liverpool, supported by his excellent long-standing guitarist Sander Kooiman and a new rhythm section, is eagerly awaited for what is guaranteed to be a magnificent start to the blues club’s 2012 programme of gigs.

1

MAR

  • £10 Advance
  • £11 Door
  • Door: 8pm
  • Starts: 8:45pm

The Dale Storr Duo

Venue: Liverpool Marina map

Over the past couple of years, keyboard player Dale Storr has been attracting considerable notice as one of the hottest properties on the British blues scene. He is particularly highly regarded for his interpretation of New Orleans-style blues through the influences of Dr John, Professor Longhair and Allen Toussaint. Having played alongside several high profile UK bluesmen including Frank White, Alan Nimmo and Kevin Thorpe, Dale has forged a path both as a solo artiste and as the leader of a full blown band. He has also developed a brilliant collaboration with sax player Kim Mayhew and it is this exciting combination that will grace The Marina’s stage. Kim is a vital member of the Dale Storr Band and her superb sax playing was a notable feature of the band’s tremendous performance at the Carlisle Blues Festival in November last year. This gig has the unmistakeable promise of a night to remember.

30

MAR

  • £12 Advance
  • £13 Door
  • Door: 8pm
  • Starts: 8:45pm

Watermelon Slim

Venue: Garston Royal British Legion map

Watermelon Slim makes his first visit to Liverpool, after his tremendous success in America & Europe with his band, The Workers. He will be playing a solo acoustic set this time around. Born in Boston, raised in South Carolina and now resident in Oklahoma, Bill ‘Watermelon Slim’ Homans is a genuine treasure among the current array of USA bluesmen. He has been enthralling UK audiences for a several years and is always warmly welcomed back by an ever-increasing coterie of enthusiastic fans. Although often backed by his band, The Workers, Slim is currently engaged in a solo tour, enriching his highly distinctive gruff vocals with terrific bottleneck guitar and spiky harp and embellishing each performance with intriguing, light-hearted banter between numbers. The Vietnam War veteran is a supreme showman and was recently declared by no less than Bonnie Raitt as a living blues legend. This is another gig not to be missed and one that will long remain in the memory. Link to website is under 'Blues Links' on this page.

20

APR

  • £12 Advance
  • £13 Door
  • Door: 8pm
  • Starts: 8:45pm

The Revolutionaires

Venue: Garston Royal British Legion map

From their base in the North east of England, the Revolutionaires have taken the whole of the UK by storm with their breathtaking delivery of r ‘n’ b and rock and roll. In addition to their programme of gigs, they also have graced a range of blues festivals where they never fail to impress. Fronted by high-powered singer and multi-instrumentalist Ed Stephenson, their vibrant performances cover the music of Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Louis Jordan and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Ed is richly complemented by a superb rhythm section, comprising his brother, Rich, on double bass and drummer Mark Matthews, and the highly talented Gary Hoole on saxophone. Entertainment is guaranteed – and bring your dancing shoes because you’ll find it almost impossible to remain seated. Link to The Revolutionaires website is under 'Blues Links' on this page.

11

MAY

  • £10 Advance
  • £11 Door
  • Door: 8pm
  • Starts: 8:45pm

Al Hughes

Venue: Fogherty’s Function Roommap

Singer/songwriter Al Hughes is among the very best of the UK’s talented array of acoustic bluesmen. His excellent compositions combine social comment and humour, which are further enriched by highly skilled accompaniment on a range of acoustic guitars. His increasingly in-demand performances are also embellished by wry comment between numbers, which he delivers in his beguiling Scottish brogue. In addition to his programme of individual gigs, Al is equally in demand at blues festivals and this promises to be another delightful concert in keeping with the exceptional standard of acoustic blues exponents that have graced our Liverpool venues over recent years. Link to Al’s website is under 'Blues Links' on this page.

26

MAY

  • £12 Advance
  • £13 Door
  • Door: 8pm
  • Starts: 8:45pm

John O’Leary’s Sugarkane

Venue: Fogherty’s Function Roommap

John O’Leary boasts a tremendous pedigree in British blues music. In the sixties, he was a founder member, with guitarist Kim Simmonds, of the highly acclaimed Savoy Brown Blues Band. Other bands enhanced by John’s involvement featured many stalwarts of the British blues scene including pianist Bob Hall, guitarist Tony McPhee, saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith and the multi-talented Victor Brox. He also recorded an album with the legendary New Orleans pianist and singer Champion Jack Dupree. In recent years John has fronted his own band, Sugarkane, supplementing his excellent harp playing and vocals with an array of superb musicians. The brilliant band comprises two superb guitarists, Jules Fothergill and local hero Steve Wright, the highly talented keyboard player Jools Grudgings and a splendid rhythm section that combines the considerable skills of bass guitarist Roger Inniss and drummer Joachim Greve. Together they present a wonderfully authentic programme of Chicago-style blues that always hits the spot. It is guaranteed to be another night to savour. Link to John's website is under 'Blues Links' on this page.

22

JUN

  • £11 Advance
  • £12 Door
  • Door: 8pm
  • Starts: 8:45pm

Doug MacLeod

Venue: Fogherty’s Function Roommap

Doug MacLeod is rightly acknowledged as a torchbearer of the acoustic blues. The man from St Louis, Missouri, is one of the last remaining bluesmen who learned from the old masters. He is highly respected for his superb songwriting, and several of his songs have been covered by many artistes including Albert King, Albert Collins and Coco Montoya. Doug is also a great storyteller, who enthrals his audience with the tales that have inspired his songs. As a performer, he is renowned for his finger-picking and bottleneck guitar wizardry, his warm soulful vocals and his wit, which combine to produce unforgettable live performances. In the words of the late Delta Blues legend, Honeyboy Edwards, “Doug MacLeod, now there’s a man that can really play the blues.” Link to Doug’s website is under 'Blues Links' on this page.