Jim Crawford's gig at Crawley Blues Club last week was excellent......I was crying with laughter, along with everybody else, as he proceeded to tell numerous stories about fishing, drinking whisky, Brenda, glitter-balls & several other obscure subjects adding a song about Lancashire Hot Pot for good measure. He really is an excellent performer, his voice is one of the best in the country & he picks a damn fine guitar.....he's a complete entertainer (& a complete nutter!) not just "an blooz singer". A great night out, well worth the drag over to Crawley & good to see several Bottleneck members there too.

There's an interesting, newish, site worth a visit www.bluesinthenorthwest.com which has been passed to me by my good friend John Welsh who puts on gigs up in Liverpool ~ The Scalley Blues Club ~ only kidding......It highlights several acts we've had & some we'll be having in the future (The Stumble). One subject raised this week in their blog section which is worrying but comes as no surprise, is the demise of the blues scene in The States. Nancy in Atlanta (Delta Moon, Geoff Achison, Jimi Hocking, King Oliver etc.) & I have been discussing this for years actually as she's finding it harder to get venues for her excellent stable of artists....It's not just the USA or blues of course but many "serious" music venues are finding it tough.....the Paris Jazz scene is apparently bombing too. We do need a younger audience, not the first time I've said that but sadly there just aren't enough out there truly interested in the live music experience to keep the scene vibrant. I guess we're lucky that The Bottleneck still gets a good crowd through the door but it doesn't happen by magic & I never take it for granted that you'll come out & part with your filthy lucre to see the superb acts I dredge up for you....thanks all the same, keep it up & do tell your friends....you never know, they may actually enjoy themselves.

The very excellent Ian Siegal Band will soon be gracing our stage ~ Tues 26th Sept _at_ The Roffen ~ I'll try to persuade Ian to open with an acoustic set before his superb band join him. This will be a wonderful night & one which I'm really looking forward to www.iansiegal.com .

And Tues 31st Oct _at_ The Roffen another outstanding double bill Michael Pickett from Canada www.michaelpickett.com plus Smokestack one of our own "up there with the best" bands featuring Phil (guitar, vocals harmonica), Roger (bass) & Ali (percussion). They play a great selection of country blues & their own compositions too & are strongly featured on the Brit festival circuit.