AMERICA
Oli has just returned from a successful tour of the States, he had a great time. Sherman Robertson, Oli tells me, is fantastic live do NOT miss him !! Here is the website for Sherman's gigs http://www.movinmusic.co.uk/cgi-bin/free-search.cgi?template=srsearch.htm&dbname=gigdata.txt&keywords=Sherman&action=searchdbdisplay

PHOTO SHOOT
Having returned from America 2 Sept he then went to Birmingham 3 Sept to carry out a photo shoot in preparation for his forthcoming European tour in January and February 2009. I will give you all the relevant information, once the final dates are agreed.

“We planned this road-trip movie for two years,” said Stolle. “We avoided big concert stages and rock-star narrators in favor of intimate houseparties and rockin’ Delta juke joints. The results speak for themselves.”

The premiere screening of the 94-minute film will be both preceded and followed by live music from artists featured in the film. Blues guitarist Bill Abel and 81-year-old harmonica player “Cadillac” John Nolden will perform a brief set at the Delta Cinema at 6 p.m., prior to the film’s inaugural showing. After the screening, the action heads down the street to the world-famous Ground Zero Blues Club where the line up will include such renowned bluesmen as T-Model Ford, Robert “Bilbo” Walker and Wesley “Junebug” Jefferson.

The premiere will be held as tens of thousands of blues lovers converge on the Delta for the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival
(www.bluesandheritagefest.com) held in nearby Helena, Ark. “The former ‘King Biscuit’ is one of the region’s biggest festivals,” Konkel said.
“And there are always plenty of related events going on that week which makes it all the more special. It’s a perfect time to visit the Delta.”

M FOR MISSISSIPPI which was filmed early this spring, is a co-production of Broke & Hungry Records, Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art and Mudpuppy Recordings. The motion picture follows Konkel and Stolle as they travel the dusty highways and byways of Mississippi, calling on such seminal blues figures as James “T-Model” Ford, Robert “Wolfman” Belfour, Terry “Harmonica” Bean, Wesley “Junebug” Jefferson, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Pat Thomas, L.C. Ulmer, Robert “Bilbo” Walker and more.

Joining Stolle and Konkel on the journey were filmmaker Damien Blaylock and co-producer Kari Jones of Mudpuppy Recordings. Recording engineer Bill Abel followed in his weathered Volvo station wagon packed with recording equipment. Over the next week, the tiny caravan traversed the state of Mississippi visiting some of the state’s most original blues figures while the camera rolled.

The resulting film shines a long-overdue spotlight on these men, their music and the land from which the blues sprang. More than just a collection of concert performances, M FOR MISSISSIPPI collects the sounds, the images and the feel of both the performers and their native landscape – an environment essential to their livelihoods and inseparable from their art.

“We aimed to capture the essence of the Delta’s blues survivors and show why the blues simply had to come from a place like Mississippi,” explained Konkel.

Camden Town is the focus for the first edition in October and sees the continued rehabilitation of Dingwalls to its former glory as a London venue.

LONDON RHYTHM ‘N ROOTS kicks off with four nights at Dingwalls and one show at Koko with the promise of more shows and more venues when the festival returns in the Spring of 2009.

Mon 27th October FOY VANCE + support, Dingwalls
Genre-bending Irishman, Vance came to prominence in the US. His debut album Hope was released in 2007 since when he has built a big following for his story-telling songs.

Tues 28th October MATT SCHOFIELD and SIMON MCBRIDE, Dingwalls
Electric guitars, blues and rock. Much-lauded guitarist, Matt Schofield, shows why his funk-blues-southern-rock mix is so highly esteemed across the pond (and previews a new band line up for 2009); while Former Young Guitarist of The Year, Simon McBride, showcases his debut album ‘Rich Man Falling.”

Wed 29th October GERAINT WATKINS and THE GOLDTOP GROUP, Dingwalls
Unsung hero of many others’ recordings (Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, Mark Knofler) Geraint takes centre stage to promote his latest album ‘In a Bad Mood’

Thursday 30th October IAN SIEGAL and T-99, Dingwalls,br> London’s favourite bad boy Siegal brings his mix of soul, blues and Americana to Camden following glowing reviews of his live performances, supported by Holland’s eclectic roots-rockers, T-99.

Exile Productions in association with Polydor/Universal have announced the third series of Van Morrison mid-price reissues will be released on 29th September 2008. As with the fifteen albums already released in 2008, the seven titles will be re-mastered and will include bonus material, none of which has been available previously, original artwork and full lyrics to Van Morrison compositions. The titles set for release are: “St. Dominic’s Preview”; “How Long Has This Been Going On”; “A Period Of Transition”; “Poetic Champions Compose”; “Hymns To The Silence”; “Tell Me Something”; and “Beautiful Vision”.,p> Blind Pig Records will release new CDs from Magic Slim and Albert Cummings on 9th September 2008. “Recognized as the foremost practitioners of old-school electric Chicago Blues,” the latest album from Magic Slim and the Teardrops features contributions from the likes of James Cotton, Elvin Bishop, Lonnie Brooks, and Otis Clay. “Feel So Good” is a live album from guitarist Albert Cummings, who responded to an enthusiastic hometown crowd with “searing Stratocaster licks and crowd-pleasing, high-energy roots-rock.” The set is a mix of originals and covers, featuring the songs of Led Zeppelin, Little Feat, and Muddy Waters, with Albert insisting: “The recording is a first-rate capturing of what goes on at one of our shows. It's got the real rawness and heart and soul of just us three guys on stage, as real as it gets."

Duffy became the first artist to sell a million UK albums this year – confirming her debut “Rockferry” as 2008’s most successful album, alongside the highest-selling UK single of the year accolade for ‘Mercy’, which topped the UK charts for five weeks. “Rockferry” has also gone gold in fifteen countries and platinum or multi-platinum in a further eight. ,p> Despite the usual token nomination for folk and jazz artists in this year’s Mercury Music Prize shortlist, the Blues has once again been overlooked, with only Robert Plant and Alison Krauss nomination for their acclaimed 2007 album “Raising Sand”, and Adele’s nod for “19” of interest to Blues Matters! readers. The winner will be decided on the night of the awards show in September. nationwidemercurys.com.

Friday, 8th August 2008 saw the remaining three original members of Bad Company reunited to perform together at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida. The “one-night-only” show was the first time Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke had performed together since a 1999 reunion tour -the group disbanded in 1982. The two hour set, dedicated to founder member and bass player Boz Burrell and attorney Steven Weiss, featured all the favourites, including ‘Ready For Love’, ‘Can’t Get Enough’ and ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’. The show was recorded for a CD/DVD release via Image Entertainment, which is expected before the end of 2008. badcompany.com.

Bluzapalooza, the Blues concert tour, is heading back to Iraq and Kuwait for its second tour on October 26th. The twelve day tour, created by Blues producers Steve Simon and John Hahn, and presented by Armed Forces Entertainment, will feature Shemekia Copeland, Michael Burks, Deanna Bogart, Zac Harmon, Moreland & Arbuckle and Tony Braunagel and The Bluzapalooza All-Star Band. “I am deeply honored to be going over there to entertain our troops, and Lord knows I love to hang out with men in uniforms”, stated Shemekia Copeland, with co-producer John Hahn adding: “Our October tour’s lineup would sell out any Blues festival in the country. It's an honor to be able to bring it to our troops.” Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with the likes of The Blues Foundation, Alligator Records and Ruf Records supporting the venture. myspace.com/bluzapalooza.

The unmistakable sounds, sights, tastes and styles of New Orleans are set to descend on London later this year when, for two days in October, The O2 will become home to Festival New Orleans. Coinciding with the New Orleans Saints’ official NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Wembley, London is preparing for one of the largest ever celebrations of New Orleans music and culture outside of Louisiana and the USA.

A city steeped in history, New Orleans is famed around the world for the wealth and diversity of its cultural heritage. ‘The Big Easy’ has a deserved reputation as a party town, where the residents and visitors know how to have a good time and let their hair down. It is this spirit of energetic exuberance that The O2 will welcome in October, as the capital prepares to fully embrace the character of Louisiana’s greatest city.

As well as performances from over 20 bands and musicians including Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Kermit Ruffins, Marcia Ball, BeauSoleil, The Rebirth Brass Band, John Mooney and Buckwheat Zydeco, the free undercover two day event will feature Louisiana food demonstrations, the Mardis Gras Indians and a host of authentic New Orleans attractions, including a recreation of the French Quarter’s famous Bourbon Street.

Since opening in June 2007 The O2 swiftly confirmed its position as the world’s most popular music venue and is ideally suited to host this extraordinary celebration of New Orleans culture, the first festival ever to be held at the venue. Using all the venues and the full extent of the facilities on offer, The O2 will present music, performance arts, dancing, traditional New Orleans style cuisine and more besides across three stages and one performance area. The venue itself incorporates a 20,000 seat arena, the 2,350 capacity indigO2 venue, the brand new Matter music venue, an eleven screen Vue cinema, twenty bars and restaurants, and much more. The venue attracts up to 50,000 visitors a day, depending on what is on the entertainment schedule.