The Incredible Blues Puppies

Friday Evening - Swanage Bay View Holiday Park, Panorama Road, Swanage BH19 2QS (01929 427771) (no smoking)

"A dream line-up and, for my money, one of the best blues bands around"

- PAUL JONES

The Incredible Blues Puppies have a long and celebrated musical pedigree, having run with some of the best blues hounds around. Their performances have the kind of musical passion that leaves an audience howling for more.

ALAN GLEN (vocals, guitar, harmonica)  Alan was a member of The Yardbirds between 1996 and 2003, and features on their new album Birdland with Jeff Beck, Brian May and others. Alan has also recorded four albums with Nine Below Zero, three with Little Axe, and with Dr Feelgood, Alannah Myles, Dub Syndicate, Junior Delgado, Papa George, Daniel Smith and Sonny Black &The Dukes.

Alan has performed with Eric Clapton, BB King, 'Slash', Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, Hubert Sumlin, John Mayall, Peter Green and 'Skunk' Baxter, and has played at The Royal Albert Hall many times, The Hilton Las Vegas, Hollywood House of Blues, and the Montreux and Nice Jazz Festivals, as well as many TV and Radio performances.

JOHN O'REILLY (vocals, guitar)  John has long been recognised as one of the hardest working artists on the British Blues scene, working with his band The Blues Engineers. He has also played with The Big Town Playboys and Sugar Blue. Described as a cross between Rory Gallagher and George Thoroughgood, his guitar style incorporates elements of both Texas and Chicago blues. He also plays fine rocking slide guitar.

JIM MERCER (vocals, upright & electric bass) Jim was a member of Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes between 1994 and 2000, Gordon Smith Band, Shakey Vick Band and Johnny Mars Band.  He has also performed with Pinetop Perkins, Muddy Waters and Jerry Portnoy.

DINO COCCIA (drums)  Dino's career has been one of great variety since turning professional at the age of 17 in 1967. Since first working abroad with The Healers, he has played and recorded worldwide. He has worked with Andy Shepard, Alan Barnes, Patrick Moraz and Grace Jones. On the Blues scene he has backed up James Carr, Byther Smith, John Primer, Katie Webster, Jo-Ann Kelly, Mr. T. 99, Tutu Jones, Homesick James, and Larry Garner. In America he has worked with JD Nicholson, Harmonica Fats, and Lowell Fulson. Dino has released his own new CD "WildSpace", featuring Alan Barnes (sax), Dave Newton (piano) and other British blues artists.

The Barcodes

Saturday Afternoon - guest appearance, time TBA - Kings Bar, 2-4 Kings Road East, Swanage BH19 1ES (01929 424431)

Saturday Evening - Swanage Bay View Holiday Park, Panorama Road, Swanage BH19 2QS (01929 427771) (no smoking)

"The sound of midnight shadows. Sonic light and shade; B3 and electric piano, with wizard harmonica stylings. Tough stuff, tenderly and imaginatively delivered"

- BLUES MATTERS

"Cool Hammond-fuelled blues with ex-Yardbird Alan Glen" - TIME OUT

The Barcodes are a unique and exceptional trio who mix blues and jazz with influences from Mose Allison and Jimmy Smith, producing their very own instantly recognisable sound They are  an exceptional band whose level of musicianship is first class.

BOB HADDRELL (vocals/organ/piano)  Much in demand as a session player in this country, Bob also writes with top Nashville artists, has recorded in the States with Billy Swan, and has toured and recorded with Chicago's Jimmy Dawkins. Truly "in the groove", Bob has created the unique sound of "The Barcodes".

ALAN GLEN (vocals, guitar, harmonica)  Alan was a member of The Yardbirds between 1996 and 2003, and features on their new album "Birdland" with Jeff Beck, Brian May and others. Alan has also recorded four albums with Nine Below Zero and three with Little Axe, Dr Feelgood, Alannah Myles, Dub Syndicate, Junior Delgado, Papa George, Daniel Smith and Sonny Black & The Dukes.

Alan has performed with Eric Clapton, BB King, 'Slash', Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, Hubert Sumlin, John Mayall, Peter Green and 'Skunk' Baxter, and has played at The Royal Albert Hall many times, The Hilton Las Vegas, Hollywood House of Blues, and the Montreux and Nice Jazz Festivals, as well as many TV and Radio performances.

DINO COCCIA (drums)  Dino's career has been one of great variety since turning professional at the age of 17 in 1967. Since first working abroad with The Healers, he has played and recorded worldwide. He has worked with Andy Shepard, Alan Barnes, Patrick Moraz and Grace Jones. On the Blues scene he has backed up James Carr, Byther Smith, John Primer, Katie Webster, Jo-Ann Kelly, Mr. T. 99, Tutu Jones, Homesick James, and Larry Garner. In America he has worked with JD Nicholson, Harmonica Fats, and Lowell Fulson. Dino has released his own new CD "WildSpace", featuring Alan Barnes (sax), Dave Newton (piano) and other British blues artists. 

Robin Bibi Band

Saturday 7.00 - 9.00 pm - Kings Bar, 2-4 Kings Road East, Swanage BH19 1ES (01929 424431)

"Blues, funk, soul, rock, reggae and jazz"

Robin Bibi is a charismatic and versatile performer who never fails to engage his audience. He has worked with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Ben E. King and many more.

Due to  the band's growing reputation and a highly entertaining stage presentation, The Robin Bibi Band have become one of Britain’s busiest bands. Blues, funk, soul, rock, reggae and jazz are all rolled together in their unique sound which can be heard on the album 'Blue Thrash Therapy'.  This is a mixture of the bands most requested songs from the live set and their own original songs.  This album received excellent reviews and extensive airplay.

Robin Bibi is exuberant, passionate, dynamic, exciting and fun.  His music is played straight from the heart and will move your head, your heart and of course your feet!

The Mustangs

Saturday Evening - White Horse, 11 High Street, Swanage BH19 2LP (01929 422469)

"High energy, foot stomping blues-based mix of original songs and covers"

With their high energy, foot stomping live sets, The Mustangs have quickly grown a reputation as one of the best live bands on the South Coast of England.

A Mustangs stage show is like no other, with the tireless energy and huge voice of lead singer Adam Norsworthy the focal point around which they build their shows, climaxing in a sonic and visual crescendo that is constantly delighting their legions of followers and winning new admirers.

The four-piece Hampshire based band formed in 2001. Guitarist and singer Adam Norsworthy, already a young 'veteran' of live performing joined forces with harp player Derek Kingaby. Augmented by the dynamic drumming of Jon Bartley and the rock solid bass of Ben McKeown, the band cut its teeth in the many music pubs and clubs on England's south coast.

They have played The Hackney Empire, Boogaloo Blues Festival, Blues at the Fort, Eel Pie's Bluesquest, Southsea's Blues at the Pier, the International Festival of the Sea, The South Coast HOG and many others.

Saiichi Sugiyama Band

Friday Evening - White Horse, 11 High Street, Swanage BH19 2LP (01929 422469)

"The Japanese Bluesmaster" - TIME OUT

Primarily known as a blues guitarist, Surrey-based Saiichi Sugiyama is a rock singer/songwriter with his own positive and vibrant twist on late 60's/early 70's Brit Rock.

Born in Tokyo but having spent most of his life in England, Saiichi Sugiyama may seem like an odd candidate to champion the sound of classic British rock, but he clearly has a firm handle on the style. He co-writes with the beat poet/lyricist Pete Brown, best known for his work with Cream.

His music covers a lot of ground, from guitar-heavy electric blues and poignant acoustic ballads to anthemic rockers.  The common bond is breathtaking guitar work topped with intelligent narrative lyrics that take the listener on a journey that builds continuously with the chord progressions.

Showcasing his passionate guitar work without relying on solo-heavy wailers and backed by the cream of the next generation of British rock players, Saiichi’s appearance at the festival is a must for any fan of the classic rock blues genre.

Harris, Budden & Osborne

Friday Evening - Black Swan, 159 High Street, Swanage BH19 2NE (01929 422761)

"To find a better blues guitarist than Pete Harris you would probably have to go to Chicago" - SOUTHAMPTON BLUES SOCIETY

PETE HARRIS (vocals, guitar) has performed on stage with many American blues artistes, notably Phil Guy, (brother of Buddy Guy), Lowell Fulson, Tabby Thomas, Gene 'Mighty Flea' Connors, Mojo Buford (ex Muddy Waters Band), Byther Smith, Carrie and Lurrie Bell and Jerry McCain. He has appeared on BBC Television and many times on local and national radio.

HUGH BUDDEN (vocals, harmonica). The versatility and sheer brilliance of his harp playing has given Hugh a reputation as one of the UK’s best harmonica players. He has developed a highly individual style which lends itself to Blues, Funk, Rock or Indie.  In 1991, he joined the newly-formed blues band, The Producers, which a decade later won the “Blues Band of the Year”. Hugh has gigged throughout the UK, Europe and New Zealand and has performed with or supported members of Queen, Manfred Mann, Ray Charles, The Animals, Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac and many others.

TEEJ OSBORNE (double bass) made the switch from electric to acoustic bass inspired by Big Bill Broonzy and Washboard Sam. As a founder member of blues and rockabilly band Swamp Things with Slim Lightfoot, he has busked and gigged all over Europe, enjoyed a residency at Soho’s blues venue Ain’t Nothin’ But and performed on Mervyn Stutter’s BBC Radio 4 shows Getting Nowhere Fast.

Slim Lightfoot & The Backbones

Friday Evening - White Swan, 7 The Square, High Street, Swanage BH19 2LJ (01929 423804)

Saturday Afternoon - guest appearance, time TBA - Kings Bar, 2-4 Kings Road East, Swanage BH19 1ES (01929 424431)

Saturday Evening - White Swan, 7 The Square, High Street, Swanage BH19 2LJ (01929 423804)

"We're so lucky to have this fantastic bluesman this weekend" - STEVE DARRINGTON, organiser

From 1995 to 2003, Slim fronted The Swamp Things to flesh out his vision and reworking of blues standards and obscurities. During a busy few years and many personnel changes, The Swamps released impressive albums including ‘Catfish Row’ and ‘In The Doghouse’.

The Swamp Things played with a host of blues luminaries including The Blues Band, American harmonica wizard Johnny Mars (whom they backed on a TV show) and Andre Williams, writer of ‘Dark End Of The Street’. They also played the European circuit from the Czech Republic to Germany, France, Holland and Belgium as well as doing many blues weekenders on these shores. Slim is a well-travelled man and his music has also traversed the radio waves in US as well as on Paul Jones' Radio 2 show.

The bulk of his material harks to that Delta/New Orleans style to which he pertains. In 2004 he released two albums ‘Standing On The Banks Of The Mighty Blues’ and ‘Dust Bowl Soup’. The new album `The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea’, with his new band The Backbones, was released in December 2005 and showcases his love of Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Captain Beefheart.

Recent converts to his latest material are Paul Rodgers (ex Free), Rick Parfitt (Status Quo) and comedian Jack Dee, who have all bought his CDs.

Jon Walsh Blues Band

Sunday afternoon - Kings Bar, 2-4 Kings Road East, Swanage BH19 1ES (01929 424431)

What a great pleasure to have this wonderful band for the final main gig of the weekend!

The Jon Walsh Blues Band conjures up all the different colours and moods of The Blues – it rocks, boogies, stomps, howls, cries and weeps with a wide variety of blues from the slide guitar of the Mississippi Delta to the boogies of Texas and the jazz blues of Chicago. 

The JWBB hails from the Hants/Wilts border and has been playing the local circuit for about three or four years, occasionally jaunting off to Cornwall, Norfolk, Birmingham, London and Blackpool for mini tours and larger gigs.

In 2005 they recorded and released a new live album – “Can You Feel It?” and are looking to record their next one. They supported Mojo Buford (Chicago) on his UK tour and have appeared at The St Ives Festival, The Annual Tregenna Castle Charity Concert , and The Summer Blues Festival in for Boogaloo Promotions.

If you like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Tampa Red, Freddie King, Albert King, BB King, Robert Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bobby Bland, John Lee Hooker, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Willie McTell, Son House, Willie Dixon, Elmore James, Blind Willie Johnson, Rory Gallagher, Albert Collins, and Otis Rush... you'll love the Jon Walsh Blues Band!

MORE ARTISTS!!! click here for PAGE 2

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for Storm Warning, Hightown Crows, John Crampton, Sonny Black, Hollow Bone, Nigel Bagge & Eddie Armer, Pete Smith with Chris Williams, Pete Harris and Jim Tigwell, and Steve Darrington

Acknowledgements: Small Planet Music, blue-LEVEL, PuMP, Swanage Tourist Information Centre,

Mark Bauer Photography, Harmonix Harmonicas, and The Swanage and Purbeck Holiday Accommodation Association

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Saturday 28th July - 4th August 2007