-----Original Message-----
From: Bottleneck Blues [mailto:john_at_bottleneckblues_dot_com]
Sent: 30 March 2006 07:40
Subject: Good News ~ Bad News!!

Well firstly let's get the bad news out of the way.....Mem Shannon's USA management have cancelled his entire UK tour due to start in early April. They cite poor fees & poor hospitality in the UK & I can't say that I blame them, these were two reasons I have given up my touring activities. When we used to visit France, Holland, Belgium we were treated with great respect, had clean B&Bs & excellent food.....no venue resented offering us a couple of beers but I'm afraid it's not the same here. Some promoters are excellent but there are too many that just don't try......so our gig in Maidstone on Friday 14th April will not feature Mem Shannon....however I am delighted that one of my favourite acts has valiantly stepped forward to more than fill the gap....the good news is :-----

Personally I can't get enough of Jerry & the boys....they are musician's musicians, without doubt one of the finest 50s Chicago bands in Europe (with a little bit of Toots & The Maytalls thrown in for good measure). Close your eyes & you could be present at one of the legendary Chess sessions in 1958.

Lesley Atchisson was introduced to me by Carl Burgess (he appears on Geoff Achison's Each Long Day album) she has worked with Carl & Mike Thorne (percussion on Each Long Day & with Jerry) & has a beautiful voice. She writes a lot of her own material so look forward to some Celtic tinged songs as well as other Rootsy offerings.

Marilyn Pascoe (one of our regulars) is going to see B.B.King & Gary Moore in London on 4th April & asks if anybody else would like a lift....if you're from the Nth Kent area or Brentwood talk to me & I'll get Marilyn to contact you.

Thanks for your on-going support of The Bottleneck....it doesn't seem to get any easier but somehow we get enough through the door to enable me to pay a fair fee to all our artists. Everybody loves playing the club....you always give a great welcome to our artists & they all appreciate it.

I hope you enjoyed Corrina & her band on Tues as much as I did.....sorry the sound was a little too loud for some during the first set ~ we got it right for the second set & we were treated to some of the best musicianship you are ever likely to see or hear....several people said "It don't get much better than this" ~ I absolutely agree.