The Mighty Smithereens

The Mighty Smithereens certainly wear their underpants over their trousers metaphorically speaking in a musical sense, and cover a range of blues styles with poise and panache. The line up is Dave Beckett, Surrey's best kept secret, on vocals, six and 12 string guitars; Derek Bond, a living legend, having served for two years in Hamburg of the early 60's and has played with every Beatle at some point or another. Derek is the bands double bassist: Eddie Armer on harmonicas, mandolin, accordion and vocal.

The Poacher

The 'Roots Jazz & Blues' sessions are held at the Poacher each Thursday evening. The music is of the highest level spanning many genres with artists as diverse as Wizz Jones, The Lonnigan Brothers, King Size Slim and the Chris Cocoran Trio. At the end of September we celebrate one year of 'Roots, Jazz & Blues' at this lovely old country pub. Please continue to support live music.

For more details visit the websites:

www.thepoachertudeley.co.uk

www.theostrichcolnbrook.co.uk

C.D. News

The long awaited Lonnigans' new album 'A Tribute to Lead Belly is about to be released. You can get an advance copy now and help the Lonnigans in their bid for world skiffle domination. Go to Lead Belly page for more information about this very interesting project. Guest appearances include Odetta, Pete Seeger and Ralph McTell.

Bagge & Armer have out a new live album 'She Keeps My Tractor Clean'. You can order from the Creative Cartel

Jon London's new album 'Listen' is now available. Jon is a fine singer, songwriter and guitarist, whose biting lyrics about love, relationships and war make for an interesting and deep album.

jonlondon.music@virgin.net

http://www.youtube.com/user/jonlondonmusic

Sue Hudson and Cliff Baylis are the folk duo Foolproof, whose material covers folk and Americana. Cliff is a fine mandolinist and singer and Sue has a reputation for her unique vocal talent. Foolproof's debut CD entitled 'Off The Track' can be ordered by going to the web site.

www.foolproof.co.uk

In the post a few days ago arrived a CD I co-produced with Carlo Little back in 2000, which has been released by Angel Air Record. It is a tribute to Carlo Little who was the 'Stones first drummer and played with the Cyril Davis Allstars and Screaming Lord Sutch's Savages. Carlo invited me to join his band also called the Allstars and we gigged for a couple of years, culminating in this album. The special guest include Art Wood, Long John Baldry, Matthew Fisher and Ronnie Wood. The uncredited guitarist is in fact  ?@**  +@"^ no less....one time guitarist with the Yardbird. The album is called 'Never Stop Rockin'. 

Odetta 1930-2008

It was sad news to hear of the passing of Odetta. Myself and the Lonnigans recorded 'Take This Hammer' with Odetta in New York back in 2001. A very special session, she would only do one take and when I asked her for a second take, she said 'why?'.She was right, it didn't need it. Soon you will be able to hear the recording on our New Album 'The Last Concert'.

Please read Odetta's obitury on the Lonnigans Page

Bagge & Armer

Bagge & Armer appeared on Andy Garland's Drive Time show on BBC Radio Kent,  Wednesday 4th June. They performed two numbers live and discussed the forthcoming evenings gig at the Anchor in Sevenoaks, where Nigel, Eddie and promoter Sue Revel would each be celebrating a birthday. THE BIRTHDAY BASH GIG.

The duo were joined at Brookes Blues Bar, Putney and again at the Lion in Teddington, by harmonica player Peter Hope-Evans. Peter is one of the few harmonica players to have had a hit single in the charts with his old band Medicine Head.

It was also at the Lion, Teddington that the Blues Band bass player Gary Fletcher sat in with the duo earlier in the year. Gary played acoustic guitar and sang a couple of his own songs with Eddie and Nigel.

The unique Peter Hope-Evans

The Lonnigans

YouTube with Ray Campi and Diz Disley

Have a look at this YouTube clip. I had forgotten all about the recording wich we made with Rockabilly legend Ray Campi and our dear friend Diz many years ago. Ray sings 'Sombody Stole My Teeth on Christmas Evening ' in a Gabby Hayes voice. A film montage featuring Gabby Hayes and Roy Rogers has been added to the sound track. Made me chuckle. Paste in this reference on the YouTube site.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ72Z6YdqtY

The Lonnigans

The Lonnigans, New Crawdaddy Club,

Billericay – 23rd August 2007

Thursday saw the Crawdaddy resounding to the sound of washboards, mandolin, trombone, tea-chest bass, fiddle, harmonica and guitars and great close harmonies as we welcomed the UK's top skiffle band, the Lonnigans, to the venue making their first appearance at the Club and an all too rare appearance anywhere! For me, the eveningwas everything I hoped it would be and for the best part of 90 minutes Connie, Donny,

Johnnie, Laurie, Ronnie and Wally entertained a good sized and enthusiastic audience with great songs from the days of yore when we were but lads & lasses! Classics skiffle numbers such as 'Lost John', 'Rock island Line', 'Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out' and even 'Pick A Bale of Cotton'! were intermingled with blues such as 'T-Bone Shuffle' and gorgeous standards such as 'Kisses Sweeter Than Wine'. The evening was enlivened even more with guest

appearances from Keith? (apologies if I got the name wrong) on washboard, yours truly on vocals (as much a surprise to me as it was to the audience!!) and the excellent Dusty Lonnigan, (John Dunsterville), who runs Dusty's Blues Club in High Wycombe, on mandolin & vocals. John is a very fine guitarist and back in the 70's he was guitarist with Rick Wakeman's band.

As anticipated this was an absolutely cracking evening with a group of very talented musicians who love their music and whose enjoyment is very infectious enthusing the audience. Good time music at its very best. Long live skiffle and hurry back the Lonnigans!!

Photos by Chris Patching

The Lonnigans, The Ship Theatre, Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks – 23rd June 2007

On an evening when at Glastonbury, music fans were knee deep in mud and getting soaked, it was a pleasure to be in the dry at this lovely venue enjoying some real quality good time music. Openers were an excellent husband & wife duo, Ty & Ayesha who delighted the audience with a fine set of covers of songs by the likes of Joni Mitchell and Crosby Stills & Nash featuring lovely close harmonies. Their set had a relaxed freshness to it which was most appealing and which was the perfect antidote to so much of the live music that I see which is somewhat in your face. With the rain lashing down outside the theatre, they filled the auditorium with their own brand of glorious sunshine, setting the stage for the evening’s main act, renowned skiffle band, The Lonnigans.

Formed in 1994, the Lonnigans are, today, the foremost purveyors of the unique musical style which shaped the childhood of many a baby boomer and influenced so much what we hear today. With regular front lady and tea-chest bass player Connie Lonnigan stuck in France (there is a song title there!) Donnie Lonnigan (Eddie Armer) was the front man whirling around the stage and handling vocal, harmonica and mandolin duties with great aplomb. Tommy Lonnigan (Steve Simpson) shared vocals as well as playing some very tasty guitar and fiddle, the legendary Ronnie Lonnigan (Derek Mason) on washboard, percussion & vocals, Johnnie Lonnigan (John Armer) on vocals, guitar and trombone, Wally Lonnigan (Mick Pendergast) on double bass and the beautiful & talented Lara Lonnigan (Tara Cresswell) standing in on  vocals.

Eddie’s harmonica playing is, for me, amongst the best around with such a wonderful tone, Steve is blessed with a great baritone voice and a very nice guitar style, John’s trombone added some great ‘dirty’ texture to some of the numbers and Tara’s vocals were delicious, she has a wonderful voice that is as at home belting out a rocking number as it is singing a soft and tender one such as the delicious ‘Kisses Sweeter Than Wine’, apparently the first public performance of the song by the band.

And what a band this is. From the opening chords of ‘Good Morning Blues’ to the rousing encore chosen by the audience, ‘Rock Island Line’ this was music that makes your soul soar and defies you not to enjoy. The benefit of having  5 singers is that the changes are constantly being rung with some great opportunities for gorgeous harmonies.

An added bonus at this gig was the participation of two young members of the audience, one of whom, a young man called Joe who must have been all of 9 years old, knew all the words of ‘Rock Island Line’ and has it on his i-pod!

The end result was an evening of great toe tapping and uplifting entertainment that was an educational experience as well as the members of the Lonnigans are very knowledgeable and provided background to the songs they were singing, many of which seemed to emanate from Leadbelly! For great musicianship, great entertainment and great fun, catch the Lonnigans, you’ll not regret it!

Ashwyn Smyth–July 2007 www.digitalblues.co.uk

Bagge Armer Band

Another week gone at the New Crawdaddy and another great evening. I know some people think I always say nice things about the gigs but that is because I really enjoy them and because Paul always picks the very best
bands and artists to appear at the Club.
This week was a perfect example as we welcomed back two great favourites. In
support were the Jives, Jeff & Al, who played a great set which got the evening off to a cracking start featuring as it did a great variety of material given the Jives touch.

Headliners were the ever popular Nigel Bagge Band with Eddie Armer, a superb outfit with a very individual style. Nigel's guitar & vocals bear witness to his many years playing at a very high level and whilst never flashy, are always a joy to listen to, especially his smoky vocals! Eddie's harmonica playing is quite superb, and when he picks up that glorious chromatic instrument, the tone is stunning and rich, just like a high quality bar of chocolate (if you like chocolate as much as I do you will know what I mean, if you don't you must get the picture!). Perhaps a perfect example is the glorious 'Golden Girl' which sees Nigel's voice & guitar blend with Eddie's harmonica to produce a positive feast. Whilst that song opened a very brief acoustic segment of the set, we were also treated to the equally superb '110 in the Shade', a fantastic atmospheric version of the John Fogerty song which exudes a miasma of mangrove, alligators and marsh gases! Quite simply brilliant.

As always, Nigel and Eddie were accompanied by top flight musicians with the excellent Eddie Collins on drums, Grant 'Cheeky' Tunbridge on bass and a man that Nigel described as the Crawdaddy's house keyboard player, the prodigiously talented Pau Jobson, a man who does seem to appear at the Club almost as regularly as the Heaters! A big thank you goes to the Jives and to the Nigel Bagge Band for another excellent evening at the Club.

Ashwyn Smyth–June 2007 www.digitalblues.co.uk

Little Toby Walker

Little Toby Walker – The Ship Theatre, Walthamstow Hall Senior School, Sevenoaks, Kent – 12th May 2007

A visit to the wonderful Ship Theatre is becoming a bit of an annual event for me and, as always, this was an immensely pleasurable evening. Opening were Bagge & Armer, a wonderful duo featuring the guitar and smoky vocals of Nigel Bagge and the superb harmonica of Eddie Armer who also played mandolin and shared vocals.

These guys have an almost telepathic link and play together effortlessly producing a set that is a joy to listen to, the more so this gig with the addition of a couple of guests. First up there was Derek Mason, the washboard player from skiffle legends, the fabulous Lonnigans, and the Riverside Washboard Serenaders where he shares the stage with the stunningly rich and passionate vocals of the gorgeous Tara Cresswell, a young lady who also occasionally appears in trio format with Nigel & Eddie as well as being a Lonnigan on occasions. Tara brought a wonderful touch of jazz to their set, as well as being the rose between two thorns!

With a set which included a great version of ‘Statesboro Blues’, the beautiful and haunting ‘Golden Girl’ featuring some ethereal harp from Eddie and the rocking ensemble piece, a cracking version of the incredibly catchy ‘Lincoln Town’, this was a great opener which left the audience eager for the main event.

Little Toby Walker is quite simply one of the finest finger picking guitarists to come out the US in recent years and he has deservedly won over audiences both here in the UK, and back home, with his wonderfully entertaining mix of anecdotes from his travels mixed with a great variety of music featuring his own highly original material and highly original covers of artists who he has encountered during his career and travels.

Amidst all the laughter, there is a very serious side as Toby subtly and without preaching exposes the hardship of early African Americans recounting uncomfortable tales of experiences told to him by those involved.

Tonight, Toby was on top form treating us to a first set with many songs taken from his new and acclaimed CD, ‘Just Rolled In’ including the excellent ‘I’m Going to Try Some of That’, Oreo cookie anyone, and the glorious ’Sundance Rag’, an instrumental that shows off his dazzling guitar wizardry.

The second set saw him taking photos of the audience and abandoning his set list to accommodate requests from audience members which included a fine Rev Gary Davis instrumental, the song with which so many of us of a certain age can identify, ‘Things I Used to Do All Night’ and his wonderfully evocative railroad trip featuring Toby and a harmonica and his wonderful ability to paint a picture with sounds and actions.

Once again, a truly memorable evening with this wonderful entertainer and musician who just gets better every time I see him. Hurry back Toby!

Ashwyn Smyth - 13th May 2007

Bagge & Armer

Acoustic duo who perform a soulful mix of blues and roots music. Nigel Bagge on vocals and guitar with Eddie Armer on harmonicas and mandolin. www.nigelbagge.com

Tutors and Services:

Ashwyn Smyth www.digital blues.co.uk

Ashwyn Smyth www.phoenixfm.com

Eddie Armer, harmonica 07773 206 546

John Armer, piano tuner 01737 352 408

Lizzie McNulty, Harpist 01892 545046

Rimshot Studios www.rimshotstudios.co.uk

Steve Simpson www.stevesimpsonmusic.com

Grant Tonbridge, bass guitar 07961 931 581

Venues:

Amberley Folk Club, run by fiddle player Johnny Wigg. www.amberleyfolkclub

Beer Blues Festival Beautiful coastal setting, wonderful music....great fish and chip shop in the High Street! www.steppinout.info

Bird Hill Golf Centre, Hawthorn Hill, near Maidenhead. SL6 3ST. 01628 771030

Blues At The Farm, Barleylands Depot, Barleylands Road, Billericay, Essex, CM11 2UF

Cardinal Wolsey, East Moseley,

Surrey, KT8 9BW. 0208 8487 3651

Crawley Blues Festival Tony Molloy and the Crawley Blues Club have organised a top blues festival at the Hawth. www.crawleyblues.co.uk

Dovecote, Five Oak Green, Capel,

Nr Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 6SU. 01892 835966

Grey Horse, Kingston, KT2 5EE. 0208 541 4328

Lion, Teddington, Tw11 9DN. 0208 977 3199

National Theatre Foyer, London SE1 9PX.

020 7452 340

The Neptune, Hove, East Sussex. 01273 736390

New Crawdaddy Club Esssex’s best kept secret. A long established blues venue. Many international artists. The Belvedere, Harding Elms Rd, Grays Hill, Billericay, Essex, CN11 2UH.
www.newcrawdaddyclub.co.uk 01702 347007

Poetry Cafe, 22 Bretterton St., Covent garden, WC2H 9BX. www.fourthfriday.co.uk or  www.hylda.co  020 7420 9887

Queens Head, Icklesham, East Sussex.

01424 814552

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2YZ.

020 7589 8212

The Ship Theatre, Walthamstow Hall, Holly Bush Lane, Sevenoaks, TN13 3UL

The Station, South Nutfield, Surrey RH1 5RY.

01737 823223

Unicorn, Marden, Kent, TN12 9DR. 01622 831426

Wheatsheaf, Jarvis Brooke, Crowborough, East Sussex. 01892 663756