From: Richard Dobney [bookings_at_bottleneckblues_dot_com]

Sent: 01 May 2018 16:40

Subject: Upcoming Show Tuesday 29th May

 

Dear All

 

Many thanks to all who came to the final show at the Roffen back in March.  Here is a review:

 

"The last gig at the Roffen, after twenty years was sold out, as expected, and the main reason for this was the return of Geoff Achison and the UK Soul Diggers.  Geoff has played here many times over the years, first as a solo act and in later times with his British band.  With these musicians how could it fail? -  the great Sam Kelly on Drums, Paul Jobson on Keyboards/backing vocals and Andy Hodge on Bass/backing vocals.  Four guys in tune all as one and knowing completely where they are going on this musical ride.  This was a night for memories going back and having a good time.  Geoff is a virtuoso guitar player whose style of playing is unique and guitar players from afar come to see this man, trying to work out how he does it!   All this without a mass of gadgets on the floor - pure skill and talent and how lucky for the punters that they can watch from close quarters.  Geoff started off with a couple of quiet solo numbers before bringing on the band to get us in the mood for a fun night - and fun it certainly was!  Digging into his old catalogue from his very first British album, the great ?Voodoo', and then moving on from there.  It is very hard to pick out the best as the band were playing and enjoying themselves so much it felt like a private party (much as it actually was).  Here are a few stand out numbers: 'Another Minute Another Mile, 'One Ticket One Mile', 'Crazy Horse' ?Jungle' (which is where the band go  everywhere and let their skills take on a new dimension -  almost modern jazz!), then the great number ?Souldigger'.  This band could have played all night (and nearly did).   Well done to Geoff and his band for bringing to a close the end of an era and what a way to do it!  The Bottleneck will carry on at a new venue and if it goes another twenty years I will be Ninety Three (hope I am still around).  What a time we have all had, proper live music played by great musicians - FANTASTIC!

Alan Kyle"

 

For this month, on 29th May, we have a change of venue and the perfect act to start the new era, while retaining continuity and the quality presentations that the Bottleneck is famous for.  We have West Weston's Bluesonics and how fitting that an artist that has entertained the club over so many years, indeed being among the most popular at the club, should take us forward.  Led by a world-class harmonica player, a great singer and all round entertainer of tremendous experience, Steve (West) Weston plus the cream of British musicians in the form of guitarist Paul Garner (a great artist in his own right), Orlando Shearer on bass and Mike Thorne on drums.

 

The new venue is the St. George Hotel.  If you drive past with the Roffen on your left, the venue is a couple of hundred yards up New Road, on the left.  There is on-site parking both on the roof, accessed from the front and in the basement at the rear, although you can find plenty of on-street parking within a short walk.  Parking in one of the car parks requires registration in the venue, available on panels both in the lobby and in the performance room itself. The website address is: 

 

www.george-hotel.co.uk

 

Please look out for my mailing later in the month whereby a particular entrance may be specified in order to properly process the incoming audience.

 

Tickets £12.00, pay on the door.  Bookings to me at the return email address.  Doors open 7.30pm, band on stage 8.45pm.  Food available at the venue, if required.  Further information, upcoming shows, location map etc., available at www.bottleneckblues.com.

 

So, that's West Weston's Bluesonics appearing Tuesday 29th May.

 

Please do support.

 

 

Richard Dobney

Bottleneck Blues Club

U