Jun 2009 News
Another Blues Night is being arranged for autumn 2009. More news soon.

You are invited to enjoy an evening of first class musical entertainment on Sunday 26th April 2009 in Stony Stratford’s plush Marquee Suite, which is the function room of The Cock Hotel, 72-74 High Street, Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire MK11 1AH. It’s billed as a blues night; that’s because the music is loosely based around blues. It doesn’t mean that every song opens with, ‘I woke up this morning...’

Blues encompasses all sorts of popular music, including jazz, pop (much of The Stones’ early music was blues) folk, Rock ’n Roll, soul, in fact just about every kind of western music has links to the blues. This is a family event; your kids are welcome. It starts early, 7.30 p.m., and will be finished by 10.30p.m. The atmosphere is more like a party, everybody is very relaxed and friendly. Everyone who came to last year’s blues night will remember it for years to come. It’s a great night out in the company of ordinary people who enjoy live music.

This year’s show has ten acts, six of whom appeared last year, four completely new. As word of these events spreads, professional musicians contact me asking if they can appear. Here’s what you can expect:

Veteran professional Tracy Walters, known in the Milton Keynes area as The Legendary Tracy Walters, has been exciting audiences for decades with Rock ’n Roll and Chicago Blues as lead singer with The Pink Cardiacs, the T Bone Boogie Band and The Hoodoos.
Peter Webster is a classically trained musician, whose band ‘4nuffin’ stirred the audience last year with such classics as Honky Tonk Women and Black Magic Woman. Peter is also registered as a teacher with A1 Tutors!
Mark Diston is front man, singer and harmonica player with professional blues band The Bearcats. I saw them bring the house down at a gig last summer, and made sure I had Mark’s details before leaving. Mark will be backed by the house-band, comprising Peter Webster, (guitar) Dave Barber (bass) Tony Howes (drums) and me on electric and slide guitar.
Natasha Silver appeared last year, stunning the audience with a self-penned folk-rock song, and such traditional jazz blues as ‘The Glory Of Love’. She is the only one of the performers, (apart from me) whose 2008 performance can be viewed on Youtube, by logging on to http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=pbspffgpbg
Impressive Harmonica player Ray Smith travels from his home in Woking to be part of this event. He’ll join Natasha Silver in an Elvis classic.
Janice Joplin lookalike Theresa Kelleher got the audience excited last year with passionate performances of songs by Free and Kiki Dee. This year sees an equally passionate performance of a James Brown soul classic.
Dave Barber, our house-band’s bassist has worked with The Troggs and Tim Rice. He’s also an excellent singer, and will add to the atmosphere with a song that anyone who was cool in the sixties will remember!
Andy Powell is another well-known local celebrity. Front-man with Concrete Cowboys and 40Watt, Andy gave an impromptu, unrehearsed performance of classic Rock ’n Roll last year. His slick, polished stage presence told everyone they were seeing a true professional! This year sees more of the same and some classic 60s singalong.
We are promised a performance from 70s rock maestro Eric Lyndsey. Eric has worked with supergroup Gentle Giant, who were previously known as Simon Dupree and The Big Sound, a group who reached number 9 in the charts with ‘Kites.’
Finally, and almost forgotten, is A1 Tutor director, me, Andy Gilbert. As a former guitar teacher, some are curious to see whether I can actually play. Judge for yourself by logging on to the same site I mentioned before, http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=pbspffgpbg. From me you’ll get slide, ragtime and feel-good music.

You’ll go home after the show feeling like you’ve been to a party!

Last year the hall filled to brimming with 130 people. Get there early; all the seats will go before it starts. Come anytime from 6.30. You can buy food and drink there; if you want to eat before it starts the kitchen is open all day till 9.00pm, so you can come as early as you like and eat in the bar or restaurant before coming into the Marquee Suite. If you’re coming by SatNav, set it to MK11 1AH.

If you can’t bare to miss it but can’t get to Stony Stratford, let me know. I’ll try to hook you up with someone who has room in their car. Who knows, you might make a new friend?

Eilish Friedman
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Can I say a big thank you for helping me raise more money for my adoptive charity MACS. I counted £240 from last night and paid it in this morning so they are all ready benefiting from our activities.

You can see the running total at my charity site www.bmycharity.com/andypowell. It truly was a momentous occasion, and one I can’t than people enough for. Would you be so kind as to pass my thanks and gratitude on to the other members of the Band.

Best Regards

Andy Powell
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
To all the performers at my Blues Night!

Just a note to thank you all for your giving your time and tremendous talent last night. I enclose en email below from Andy Powell. Yesterday was one of those events I’ll remember for the rest of my life with a warm feeling. Every performer became part of a close-knit musical family, each supporting the other with harmonies, music, and, on one occasion, dance. I wish I could have been in the audience.

We gave a lot of people a wonderful night’s entertainment, while at the same time raising much needed cash for a very worthy cause.

Not only that, every act gave such a perfect performance that their reputation will have shot up several notches, making it excellent promotion for acts looking for work.

My 2010 Blues Night will be a hard act to follow, but I’ll start working on at after a few day’s rest.

Chris Meachen filmed the whole thing. Contact him for copies: christopher_meachen@hotmail.co.uk
07943 881 697

After everyone had left, I checked the venue for leftovers, and have brought home the following pieces of equipment which don’t belong to me:
A silver coloured music stand
A lighting stand (Chris)
A black Konig and Meyer guitar stand.
A piece of apple pie.
If one is yours please contact me so I can arrange to get it back to you. Don’t take too long if yours is the pie! If you don’t want it, please send custard.

You made my day/year. Thanks

Andy