Archive for the ‘Art And Entertainment’ Category
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Hamilton Canada Blues Blog Cool Fool: Blues Rockin’ the Hammer! (thanks Brother)
December 08, 2006
Gettin’ The Blues In 1963
Gettin’ The Blues In 1963: Something’s Gotta’ Hold On Me! I’d been thinking about it for awhile the early days of blues rock and early electric bands in general in Hamilton starting with my own experience growing up in Hamilton in love with black rock ‘n roll & rockabilly & electric blues & then playing with Son Richard (Richard Newell aka King Biscuit Boy) & the Chessmen from 1963 to 1965…and then I went to the Canal Bank Shuffle blues festival in Thorold, Ontario back in October and ended up seeing Harrison Kennedy backed by an old friend, Keith Lindsay on various keyboards who put me in touch with Russ Carter, the guitar player for The Bishops with which Harry had been front man at one time…and Russ has pictures & stories…& I was in band back then to & one thing leads to another so here I go… If anyone reads this & has access to or know where there are photos, documents & especially music, tapes, 8mm or super* film or better etc. (at the moment I’m looking for material from the late ’50s to the mid-60′s, pre-psychedelia but that will be another chapter & then the next era & so forth…) I’d love to get in touch and talk about adding the material to a “history of Hamilton bands” aspect of this blog…some bands contemporary with The Bishops and the Chessmen I remember: Freddy & the Goldtones, Doug Holland, The Prophets, The Bucks (I have vinyl by the Bucks! they practiced in a basement on East 26th Street a couple of blocks over from my house ), Frank Rondell, Nicky Moore & The Sceptres…but there were lots more… To give you an idea where I’m comin’ from here are some early band photos I somehow still have…and a couple of the tunes from a tape Richard made in 1963 at the Sportsmen’s Bowling Alley & lounge on the side of the escarpment in central Hamilton off Wentworth Street south…Richard, vocals & harp, Ron Copple, steel guitar, Rick Golka, lead guitar, Russell Carter guitar (understudying Rick on lead to take over at the next gig as Rick was leaving to play full time on the Ontario bar circuit with Frank Rondell with whom he eventually cut a few 45′s), Richie Hodgson, drums, Paul Cronkwright piano and myself on bass…playin’ the blues for me starts in 1963. We played all over the city, there were dances everywhere…we rehearsed in a Fish ‘n Chip Shop run by Ron Copple’s parents at Brucedale & East 13th right to next to a fav teen hangout, The Rocket, a combo variety store soda shop with a great juke box…let the joint jump, let the good times roll! 
From the
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR THE GREAT SOUTHERN BLUES & ROCKABILLY FESTIVAL Australia- The Great Southern Blues & Rockabilly Festival is one of New South Wales' favourite music festivals, and its growth over its first 14 years has been significant. Today, Festival Director Neil Mumme from Instep Management Group announced an exciting new chapter in the event's history. Leading Australian promoter Michael Chugg and the team at Chugg Entertainment will come on board as partners in 2010, working with Neil Mumme to ensure the continued growth of this great event including movement to a new site, which will bring great potential for the expansion of the festival. For the past 12 months, Neil and his team have been reviewing every aspect of the festival and exploring the best way forward for the event. Chugg Entertainment became a clear choice as a business partner due to their many years of touring international artists, and experience in producing some of Australia's greatest music festivals and special events. Chugg Entertainment will work closely with Neil Mumme and the team of people who have worked tirelessly to build the festival, to ensure its ongoing viability and most of all, to ensure that this festival continues to meet, and exceed the expectations of it's many loyal fans. The event will continue to be held on the October Labour Day weekend but will have a new home in Bateman's Bay from 2010. Neil Mumme commented, "It has been a very tough decision to move to a new site. Whilst we have always valued the ongoing support of the Narooma community, after 14 years we had to make a commercial decision to secure the future of the event. We are thrilled to have Chuggi and his team onboard and their commitment to throw their weight behind the festival to take it to the next level. "We have outgrown Narooma due to lack of accommodation and with the ever increasing number of patrons looking to attend the festival the decision to move to an area with more facilities is necessary. We want to keep it in the Eurobodalla, and therefore Batemans Bay was the natural solution," said Mumme. Executive Chairman of Chugg Entertainment, Michael Chugg, said, "Neil has created a fantastic festival and we are thrilled to be working with him and his team to continue to build on the foundations of the event, and continue to give the audience a great experience, that will always be our first priority. I am also excited to be working with the local Batemans Bay community to ensure great outcomes for the region." Mr Mumme added, "I'd like to thank everyone in Narooma who has supported the event for so many years, and whilst I am sad to see it leave it's current home, I'm truly excited about the future of the festival. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements next year!" Further announcements regarding the 2010 Great Southern Blues and Rockabilly Festival will be made in early 2010.