From: Bottleneck Blues [john_at_bottleneckblues_dot_com]
Sent:
14 February 2007 17:20
Subject: FW: Hot
News
Importance: High
A
bit of news you may be interested in.........Geoff Achison
is now definitely moving to The States in April. It's
something he's been thinking about (& Nancy his USA manager has been nagging
him about!!) for a couple of years & he has now taken the plunge & will
move his family to Atlanta in two or three months time. This
doesn't affect his UK visit....it may indeed make it a little
easier for him to come over more frequently as airfares from the USA are much
cheaper than OZ fares....but he must secure his USA career
first.
He's taken off over there actually, having performed
regularly with many big names (he toured with & opened for HOT TUNA), he's
also a regular instructor at Jorma Kaukonen's FUR PEACE RANCH, one of the more
famous guitar camps. It's a big move for Geoff, Mich
& Jacob & I'm sure you all wish them well....he can tell
us all about it when he comes across in June.
Watermelon Slim has sadly
cancelled his September UK tour. His USA career is another success story
& he's been nominated for an unprecedented 6 BMA awards in 2007....you
probably know he had two nominations in the 2006 W.C. Handy Awards (the blues
world's Grammys) & this has sent his profile & fees rocketing
skywards. His Stateside festival/theatre bookings have already soaked up
all available September dates at fees two to three times more than he can get
here.....& all power to his elbow too, he deserves it......I wish I could
pay all our artists two or three times what I do give them, then we'd know live
roots music was truly alive & well!
Toby Walker has recorded a
new album which should be available during his May UK tour. I've heard a
couple of tracks & it sounds excellent.....he treated a packed New York
theatre audience to the CD set list during an album pre-launch concert & the
pics he sent me show him getting a rapturous standing
ovation.
Delta Moon are still going
strong mainly as a duo but also with other fine local musos & continue to
pack 'em in around the Atlanta area.....Mark (founder member with Tom Grey) said
he's missing Brit beer & could I organise another tour for them. I
wish I could, I've not ruled it out completely but I'm not in a position to
commit to another tour just yet.
I
feel a little twinge of pride that each of these musician's early careers passed
through The Bottleneck Blues Club........I can't help them as much as I would
wish now as the live music scene in the UK just doesn't seem as healthy as the
scene across the pond (mind you we're shipping our secret weapon over there
too......junk TV....who wants to go out to a gig when such classics as
Big Brother, Jade's PA, I'm a Celebrity GMOOH & Does my Bum
look Big in This are on the box!!?) but their talents are now
being recognised at last by a much wider audience...............congratulations
guys........make the cheques out to--------!!!
OK that's it....The Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges
gig on the 27th Feb looks to be another sell-out....Thanks to you all for your
support & hope to see you there.
John.