At the Blues at the House event on 14 June 2008, fans can catch top-notched blues artists from Australia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia at the specially created Riverfront Stage along the river promenade next to Timbre @ The Arts House and a dinner concert at the newly furbished The Hall at The Arts House.

Blues at the House brings the blues, soul and funk experience to the Singapore River on two different stages, where audiences can choose their individual blues experience with performances by Blue Shaddy (Australia), Gugun & The Blue Bugs (Indonesia), Heritage (Singapore), Smokey & the Bandits (Singapore), Soi Dogs (Thailand), The Soulfellas (Singapore) and ublues (Singapore).  This event is co-presented by The Arts House.
Plus, a chance to win a Gibson guitar with every purchase of Blues at the House ticket. Visit www.timbre.com.sg for more details.
The above event is brought to you by Timbre Music in partnership with the Singapore Arts Festival.

Source : http://www.audioreload.com/node/6501 

Details at: http://www.timbre.com.sg/music/index.htm

Bo Diddley, a singer and guitarist who invented his own name, his own guitars, his own beat and, with a handful of other musical pioneers, rock ’n’ roll itself, died Monday at his home in Archer, Fla. He was 79. More from the New York Times.

This is the Blues, are you listening?

The Texas Cannonball draws a huge smile on face as he dances right and left while he bends a note on his Gibson ES-345. He fills the room with a sound so mesmerizing, even listening through a headphone had me nodding my head to the beat of the drums.

Clad in his trademark huge collared maroon suit (reaching his shoulders), Freddie King leads his 5-piece band in front of a jam-packed Dallas TV studio on a chilly January 20th 1973 evening. The tenacity of his playing was like no other. He holds a note and lets it ring and resonates through the hall; grasping every bit of attention from the audience.

Opening the show was Big Legged Woman, an upbeat funk/blues number with heavy hi-hat in between the growling sound of the Hammond. The spontaneity in the band’s chemistry was brilliant; it was all too natural as they performed as one unit.

Not allowing any pause in between one song to the next, Ain’t Nobody’s Business, Freddie played the into to the next number with the evergreen, 4-note Blues lick and delivered the following speech,

“Thank you very much. For the next few minutes, we’re gonna try to please you. And if you like the Blues… I said, IF you like the Blues, I think we can.”

While Otis Redding’s remains the best version of the song, at least in my book, Freddie’s poses the same amount of soul and emotions needed in the delivery. A variant of the typical Blues progression, Nobody’s Business was decorated with the beautiful fluctuation of tempo and color by the band. It creates a dramatic effect like no other.

Later on, leading to their rendition of the Bill Withers classic Ain’t No Sunshine, was an introduction to the band. David Maxwell on piano, Diggum Jones on the organ, Charlie Robertson on drums and Spinny on the bass. Pardon my spelling though.

Given the lack of ‘noise’, if you will, in the rhythm section, Ain’t No Sunshine allowed Freddie to showcase his playing with minimal interference from the other instruments. And he started the verse with the customary introduction, “My name is Freddie King.”

Continuing the radiant show was the band’s iconic Blues Shuffle, the Freddie King Blues Shuffle. Just as they did on Big Legged Woman, their shuffle mixed the very essence of a truly groovy musical ensemble. It just gets you on your feet.

Bringing the crowd back down was Have You Ever Loved a Woman. I’ve loved, time and again, Freddie King’s version of this Blues classic.

What really put Freddie in his own class is the richness, smoothness, depth and warmth of his vocal tone. I just can’t describe it any better… no amount of vocabulary could. I’m no vocal expert thus my terming of characteristics may not be accurate. Nevertheless, Freddie King possessed the ultimate Blues voice.

Some other performances in the show include Going Down and his first hit, Hide Away. As always, never a moment of inactivity throughout the video. Live in Dalass, is just, simply classic Freddie.

Asrif Yusoff
http://asrif.org

17th April 2008- Sunday Nite Live 2008 Series proudly brings you one of the most successful rock band of all time in Malaysia, the legendary WINGS in two rocking nights; 18th & 25th May 2008 (10.30pm) to celebrate their 21st Anniversary with their devoted fans out there who has always been supporting them through it these years!

This spectacular showcase will commemorate the 21 glorious years of the band and the eminent Awie (vocal), Joe (guitar), Eddie (bass) and Black (drums) will rock Planet Hollywood’s centrestage with their non-stop classic and timeless hits such as Sejati, Bernafas Dalam Lumpur, Misteri Mimpi Shakila, Taman Rashidah Utama, Di Ambang Wati, Bazooka Penaka and much more can be expected!

Expect a power-packed nostalgic journey of rock tunes by this most distinguished rock group!
Entrance fee for Sunday Nite Live with WINGS is RM50, inclusive of one drink.

For further inquiries, please call 03-2144 6602. Planet Hollywood is located at KL Plaza, Jalan Bukit Bintang.

For further information, please contact;
Sharina Ahmad (Marketing Director) at 03- 2144 6602/ 012-376 3446/ salephkl@tm.net.my or
Erlina Zahidi (Marketing Executive) at 03- 2144 6602/ 012-265 2617/ salephkl@streamyx.com

In the words of T-Bone Walker, “Wednesday’s worse yeah… Lord and Thursday’s oh so sad…”

Not anymore as the country’s number one Blues band, Purple Haze will be joining hand with Malaysian Blues icon Ito, former frontman of the Blues Gang every Thursday and Friday night at the Duke, Duta Vista Kuala Lumpur.

Influenced by the likes of BB King, Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Johnny Winter, Albert King, Jeff Beck and many more, Purple Haze features Hazizi on the guitar — easily one of the best Blues guitarists in the country. The licks from his custom-made guitar covers the whole range of the Blues dictionary; everything from the Delta Blues to the electrifying Chicago Blues and from the Texan Blues to the British Blues.

His virtuosic guitar playing, paired together with the impeccable vocal tone of Ito and the groovy bass and drums rhythm section, never fail deliver the best taste of the Blues in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Come one come all… show starts at 1030pm with free entry, food wi-fi as well as good old fresh air.

The coolest music handphone -Motorola Rokr E8 makes its appearance today, 14 May 08
at the Laundry Bar, The Curve.

Rocking with the Motorola Rokr E8 are Karen Nunis Blackstone & The Dudes
(Mohar - flutes, Jack - guitar, Melina - bass, Stephanie - drums) and Kiri.

Performance from 9 pm onwards

Do you have what it takes to become the nation’s next big band? Ever thought of performing on the same stage with the country’s finest?

If you believe that your band has got the edge to make it big in the scene, then this may just be your chance. Pack up your stuff and bring it on!

Nightwish Communications presents Discovery Stage Band Competition. With RM 10, 000 worth of cash and prizes to be won, Discover Stage provides the opportunity for bands from all across the country to take part in a one of a kind battle of the bands.

Bands can participate through two categories: Independent/New Sound (Alternative, Indie, Industrial, Pop Punk, Brit Rock, Electronica etc.) and Blues Fever (Blues, Jazz, Bluegrass, Rock & Roll, Reggae, Country etc.). Expect to be blown away by the eclectic mix of band genres competing in the event.

The event will take place in numerous zones including Northern (Penang), Eastern (K. Terengganu), Southern (Johor Bharu), Central (KL) and the summit, Discovery Stage Music Festival in Damansara on June 26.

Venues:
Norther Zone: Glo Club, Penang : 31st may - 1st june 2008 , 10am-10pm
Eastern Zone: Terengganu Trade Center, Terengganu : 14th June 2008, 10am-7pm
Southern Zone: Juup @ New York Hotel, Johor Bahru : 7th-8th june 2008, 10am-7pm
Central Zone: Citrus Hotel, Kuala Lumpur : 21st-22nd June 2008, 10am-7pm
Finals : Cineleisure, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur : 26th July 2008, 10am-12midnight
Admission Fee: RM25
Description: This competition is open for all local bands in Malaysia. For more information and application, go to www.mynightwish.net or call 017-3218930. Be there!

From: http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=613

The 2008 Blues Music Awards were announced in the Mississippi Delta on Thursday, May 8. The winners selected by the vote of the Blues Foundation’s members are.

1. DVD - Kenny Wayne Shepherd – 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads

2. Traditional Blues Male Artist - Hubert Sumlin

3. Traditional Blues Female Artist - Koko Taylor

4. Acoustic Artist - Bobby Rush

5. Acoustic Album Bobby Rush - Raw

6. Pinetop Perkins Piano Player - Honey Piazza

7. Instrumentalist-Guitar - Bob Margolin

8. Soul Blues Male Artist - Bobby Rush

9. Soul Blues Female Artist - Irma Thomas

10. Soul Blues Album - The Holmes Brothers – State of Grace

11. Historical Album - Epic/Legacy – Breakin’ It UP, Breakin’ it DOWN

12. Contemporary Blues Album - Tommy Castro - Painkiller

13. Contemporary Blues Female Artist - Bettye LaVette

14. Contemporary Blues Male Artist - Tab Benoit

15. Instrumentalist-Harmonica - Kim Wilson

16. Instrumentalist-Bass - Bob Stroger

17. Instrumentalist-Drums - Sam Lay

18. Instrumentalist-Horn - Deanna Bogart

19. Instrumentalist-Pedal Steel- Robert Randolph

20. Best New Artist Debut - Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy – Cotton Field to Coffee House

21. Song - “Gonna Buy Me a Mule” – Koko Taylor

22. Traditional Blues Album - Koko Taylor – Old School

23. Album - Watermelon Slim & the Workers – The Wheel Man

24. Band - Watermelon Slim & the Workers

25. B.B. King Entertainer - Tommy Castro

Looking for a little bit of soul, blues and rock and roll in your life? Look no further than Juke Joint Jupiter. This month, the stage will be shared between Blister, The Travellers, Zip Zieller and Ito and The Purple Haze.

10pm, Thu May 22, 2008

Laundry Bar, Ground Floor, The Curve, 6, Jalan PJU 7/3, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

Tel: 03 7728 1715

Entry Fees: Free

Advance Booking:Yes