I feel honoured to have been booked to play at The Tommy Johnson Blues Festival on Sat 18 September. Click this link to see the official poster with all the details http://www.flickr.com/photos/boblong/4937430196/

I've learned some more Tommy Johnson songs and I'm looking forward to performing them at this special event.

Also, I'll be visiting friends in Mississippi, including the Tommy Johnson relatives and Ben Payton and in Memphis,Tenessee and doing some gigs in Jackson, MS. (details on the gigs page of this site).

First stop will be Bill Abel's place in The Delta to get my guitars, catch up with the news and maybe have a little jam...

Rick Franklin was a very welcome visitor to our small exhibition of National and Dave King guitars at the EBA Blues Week, held at The University of Northampton, England. Rick was at Blues Week as a teacher, tutoring young and old alike in the art of blues guitar.

Rick's musical style of blues is known as the "Piedmont" style identified with such legendary players like Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William More along with more recent players like late Virginia residents John Cephas, John Jackson and the late Maryland resident, Archie Edwards.

He was keen to try all three of the Dave King guitars on display; the parlour-size Louise, (see photo), the OOO-style Katrina and the dreadnought-size Matilda. Rick and Bob Long then had a Blind Blake jam in which Rick played a Matilda and Bob played rhythm on a Louise, sharing the vocals on Rope Stretchin' Blues.

Equally welcome was teacher John Miller, who played the obscure but beautiful Tommy Johnson number, Lonesome Home Blues. John is probably the world's greatest authority on pre-WW2 blues guitar music and an exceptional player. It was a huge pleasure to hear him playing the Dave King Katrina which, incidentally, he judged to be "very nice".

To see the photos, follow this link to the News page on Dave King Acoustics website http://daveking-acoustics.com/news.html

 This event, now in its fourth year, combines a blues festival, a real ale festival and a family fun day, raising funds for charities, including The Neurofibromatosis Association (NfA). It is located open-air in The Bury, at the heart of the beautiful old town of Odiham, Hampshire, United Kingdom. The music starts at 12 noon and finishes at 6 pm. Entry is free and there’s plenty of parking.

 As in previous years, the emphasis of this successful event will be on acoustic blues.  This year’s performers are…..

 Ben Payton

 Ben Payton, from Jackson, Mississippi, USA, has been living the blues most of his life. Now in his sixties, he’s a “real deal” bluesman of the old school, singing and playing traditional material and his own songs on acoustic guitar. Ben’s appearance at Odiham will be part of his first tour in the UK. Ben Payton was born in tiny Coila, Mississippi, in the hill country just east of the Delta. His early musical influences included his grandmother Mabel Johnson’s gospel piano playing and his Uncle Joe Birch’s blues guitar.

Ben Payton's voice resonates with a passion for life and his skills as a guitarist evoke the tradition of the original Delta blues greats such as Robert Johnson, Tommy Johnson, Charley Patton, and Son House. Yet Payton has a style all his own. Visit Ben’s website http://benpayton.com/bio.html

Red Jackson

 Featuring the mellow soulful voice of Phil Mills, with his jazzy finger-style or bluesy slide guitars and showcase harmonicas, backed up by the solid 12-year partnership of rhythm section Schultz (on a 2-drum kit) and Teej (acoustic double bass), Red Jackson have developed a laid-back but passionate approach to the blues.

They perform a mix of blues styles: from the slow, haunting blues of the Mississippi delta to the rolling beat of Chicago, picking up street grooves from New Orleans, Texan boogie and a touch of hill-country ragtime along the way. This is the blues of the '40s and '50s, the blues of Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, T-Bone Walker and Big Bill Broonzy to name just a few.

The story doesn't end there though, they allow many other influences in to create their sound: soul, jazz, funk, latin, rockabilly all lend their unique colour to a more contemporary interpretation of the blues. Website http://www.redjackson.com/index.php

Reverend Robert  

 From The USA, Reverend Robert is a master of pre-war blues. He has delved deep into the styles of Charley Patton, Robert Johnson and other Delta blues giants. In 2004 he took first place at The National Slide Guitar Festival in North Carolina, USA. The Reverend is known for his true conviction and powerful delivery. Visit his website http://revrobert.com/index.html 

 Lewis Cohen

Lewis Cohen is a phenomenal British bluesman; a rising star among the younger generation of acoustic blues players. His powerful vocals and exquisite slide guitar technique, combined with a repertoire of (sometimes obscure) numbers from the 1920s and 1930s, make him a lively and soulful performer. Visit his website www.lewiscohenblues.com

Bob Long

 Bob Long is a British blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player specializing in "the old stuff". Most of what he plays is his interpretations of pre-world war II blues, jug band and ragtime material particularly music from the Mississippi Delta where he is a frequent visitor. He has performed at The Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, The Tommy Johnson Blues Festival in Crystal Springs and the legendary Ground Zero Blues Club. When at home, Bob hosts a monthly acoustic blues jam in Southampton.  Visit his website www.bobalong.co.uk

I managed to dodge the volcanic eruptions, or should I say disruptions and the tornadoes that rushed through the Mississippi Delta and now I'm back home.

Highlights of the trip included playing the blues at The Clarksdale Juke Joint Festival (on the train to Hopson Plantation this year) and on the sidewalk outside Hambone's Gallery with Stan Street. I also enjoyed playing at The Blue Tulip Restaurant in Helena AR during the Wild Hog Fest.....a fun gig organised by my friend Katie Lambert. The Wild Hogs were good guys and Emma, owner of The Blue Tulip and her mother, had their chests painted! (see photos). I think the artist enjoys his work....

In between musical frolics I had a lovely boat trip on The Mississippi from Greenville up to Lake Whittington with Bo' Weevil and Hank, Jackson, who is half Labrador/half Bassett and Cousin Lil. Cousin Henry Earl was busy planting rice and beans and alternated between praying for rain and praying for it to stop raining....but still maintained his usual good humour.

I also visited Guitar Gallery near Nashville, TN http://www.guitargal.com/ which is an amazing business, specialising in selling high quality guitars and is a Dealer for UK luthiers, Dave King Acoustics LLP http://daveking-acoustics.com/enter.html  ( a shameless promotion for the business in which I am a partner).

Step back in time. "Hobo" the Mississippi Delta Railroad on the Juke Joint Festival Express runninig excursions during the festival. No charge. Selective trips with authentic railroad cars running from historic Clarksdale Passenger Station to Hopson Plantation. I'm playing the blues on the train leaving Clarksdale at 11.30 am. At 1.30pm the return train leaves Hopson and arrives Clarksdale 2pm.

For more info see http://www.jukejointfestival.com/fest_events.php

Watch this space for news of musicians booked for this year's festival. Meanwhile, I'm delighted to announce we will have Reverend Robert, http://revrobert.com/ all the way from the USA, appearing as part of his European tour this summer.

And from Jackson, Mississippi, USA, Ben Payton, http://www.benpayton.com/. Ben is the "real deal" bluesman and this will be his first appearance in the UK.

Here's the early press release

For Immediate Release  

Festival “Blues & Booze In The Bury” Sat 26 June 2010

 This event, now in its fourth year, combines a blues festival, a real ale festival and a family fun day, raising funds for charities, including The Neurofibromatosis Association (NfA). It is located open-air in The Bury, at the heart of the beautiful old town of Odiham, Hampshire, United Kingdom. The music starts at 12 noon and finishes at 6 pm. Entry is free and there’s plenty of parking.

 As in previous years, the emphasis of this successful event will be on acoustic blues.  This year’s performers include:

 Ben Payton

Ben Payton, from Jackson, Mississippi, USA, has been living the blues most of his life. Now in his sixties, he’s a “real deal” bluesman of the old school, singing and playing traditional material and his own songs on acoustic guitar. Ben’s appearance at Odiham will be part of his first tour in the UK. Ben Payton was born in tiny Coila, Mississippi, in the hill country just east of the Delta. His early musical influences included his grandmother Mabel Johnson’s gospel piano playing and his Uncle Joe Birch’s blues guitar.

Ben Payton's voice resonates with a passion for life and his skills as a guitarist evoke the tradition of the original Delta blues greats such as Robert Johnson, Tommy Johnson, Charley Patton, and Son House. Yet Payton has a style all his own. Visit Ben’s website http://benpayton.com/bio.html

 Reverend Robert

  Also from The USA, Reverend Robert is a master of pre-war blues. He has delved deep into the styles of Charley Patton, Robert Johnson and other Delta blues giants. In 2004 he took first place at The National Slide Guitar Festival in North Carolina, USA. The Reverend is known for his true conviction and powerful delivery. Visit his website http://revrobert.com/index.html

 Lewis Cohen

 Lewis Cohen is a phenomenal British bluesman; a rising star among the younger generation of acoustic blues players. His powerful vocals and exquisite slide guitar technique, combined with a repertoire of (sometimes obscure) numbers from the 1920s and 1930s, make him a lively and soulful performer. Visit his website www.lewiscohenblues.com

 Bob Long

 Bob Long is a British blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player specializing in "the old stuff". Most of what he plays is his interpretations of pre-world war II blues, jug band and ragtime material particularly music from the Mississippi Delta where he is a frequent visitor. He has performed at The Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, The Tommy Johnson Blues Festival in Crystal Springs and the legendary Ground Zero Blues Club. When at home, Bob hosts a monthly acoustic blues jam in Southampton.  Visit his website www.bobalong.co.uk

 Contact Information

Enquiries (music) Bob Long, email long.boblong@gmail.com

Enquiries (admin) Peter Fountain, email PtrFount@aol.com

I'm delighted to have again been invited to perform in this year's Juke Joint Festival. Here's the advance press release from Roger Stolle of Cat Head........

Clarksdale, Mississippi -- A decade into the 21st Century, Mississippi's juke joints are still the stars of Clarksdale's annual Juke Joint Festival & Related Events this April 16-18. Pre-sale wristbands are now on sale for the world-famous event at www.jukejointfestival.com.

"We're the only festival in the world where some raggedy old blues clubs are as important as the festival's big headliners," explained Roger Stolle, music coordinator for the festival and owner of the Cat Head blues store. "We offer the music, culture and history that no other blues event outside of the Delta can match. Honestly, you could say it's one of the world's most authentic blues fests."

Now in its seventh year, Juke Joint Festival regularly draws attendees from over 15 foreign countries and nearly all 50 US states. Still, the homegrown event holds a special place in the hearts of locals festival-goers as well.

"Juke Joint Festival truly lives up to its tag line," said Nan Hughes, president of the Clarksdale Downtown Development Association that puts on the popular festival. "It's half blues festival, half small-town fair and all about the Delta. From a student art show and racing pigs to a mini film fest and plenty of blues music, it's got it all -- something for everyone."

The Juke Joint Festival itself is Saturday, April 17th, with related events on that Friday and Sunday. Kicking off on Saturday with a 5K/8K run at 8am, the vendor booths and live music fire up at 10am. With the exception of music and education events on the Delta Blues Museum's outdoor main stage, most of the daytime entertainment will wrap up around 5pm. The main stage runs till 7pm.

At 9pm, the juke joints themselves become part of the action.

"This year, we anticipate having as many as 17 nighttime juke joint stages," according to Stolle. "From big clubs that hold 200 people to tiny jukes that hold 30, we've got it all."

At press time, official festival nighttime venues include Ground Zero Blues Club, Red's Lounge, Sarah's Kitchen, Delta Amusement Cafe, Tricia's, Bluesberry Cafe, Stone Pony, Hambone Gallery, Club 2000, Messenger's, Pete's Grill, Delta Blues Room, Anniebelle's, Hopson Commissary (front stage and back porch), Juke Joint Chapel at Shackup Inn and Hick's Tamales.

Musical acts performing in Clarksdale during festival weekend include Honeyboy Edwards, Big George Brock, Super Chikan, Big Jack Johnson, Watermelon Slim, Jimbo Mathus, Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm, Johnny Rawls, Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band, Blind "Mississippi" Morris, Stacy Mitchhart, James "T-Model" Ford, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, Terry "Big T" Williams, Foster "Mr. Tater" Wiley, Robert "Wolfman" Belfour, Josh "Razorblade" Stewart, Guitar Mikey, Robert "Bilbo" Walker, Cedell Davis, Bob Long and dozens more. In total, over 50 blues acts will play in town as a result of festival events.

As always, the price is right for Juke Joint Festival.

"We want everyone to come out and enjoy the festivities," said festival co-organizer Goldie Hirshberg. "The official daytime events are free once again, and the nighttime wristband is still only $10 -- the same price it was seven years ago when the festival started."

Have a look at our website www.daveking-acoustics.com

 
Our former operation at Denmark St. in London, known as Luthiers Corner, is no longer part of Dave King Acoustics LLP but is now owned and managed by Celine Camerlynck and will also continue with business as usual. Contact details are below. We wish Celine every success in her new, independent role.
 
Contact details 
 
 
Dave    dave@daveking-acoustics.com
Celine   celine@luthierscorner.co.uk
Bob     long.boblong@gmail.com
 
Dave King Acoustics LLP
Unit C3, Knowl Hill Farm
Knowl Hill
Kingsclere
RG20 4NY
tel 01635 299137
 
 
Luthiers Corner
Third Floor, 21 Denmark St
London WC2H 8NA
Tel 0207 836 0816

On Friday 27 November, I had a wild night in Basingstoke! I was playing the blues, solo, for the Beer Festival at The Moose Centre. Serious beer tasting by CAMRA beer afficionados and lots of raunchy, lively blues to keep them in the mood... Robert Johnson's "They're Red Hot" went down really well.

Playing this gig reminded me of how it must have been for my heroes, guys like Charlie Patton and Tommy Johnson, working in juke joints, barrel houses etc., with everybody having a good time, talking, laughing, maybe screaming and shouting, having a good time and making a lot of noise. One big difference; they didn't have a PA system to help them! We present-day blues singers have it easy by comparison....