29 May 2017
article by Rattlebrained
no comments.
This year I missed Friday which I regret since Steff, my good friend and blues harp player with Floyd Beaumont, was performing with his other group The Blues Spirit Band. Not to mention Mark Muleman Massey, who I would have loved to hear.
Saturday, however, it all worked out well. The sun was shining and the weather perfect for an evening of Blues.
3 June 2015
article by Rattlebrained
no comments.
Looking back a few posts reminds me how little I’ve blogged these last years and how limited my subject matter is these days; my last post of any importance being about the 2013 edition of this great festival. However if this blog is to come back to the world of the living the Blues Rules festival seems as good a place as any to start; in fact better than most!
And start it did last Friday with Sarah Savoy’s Hell-Raising Hayride. She had already played in last years festival (and so did we – Swamp Train – you can read about it here: Blues Rules Heatwave) so I knew what this band puts out; and didn’t what to miss them!
14 September 2013
article by Rattlebrained
2 comments.
(Already September, sheesh, where does time go… I’ve been wanting to write about the one night I was able to attend of this years Blues Rules which took place last May, but insomnia and various other things have kept my bloging to a minimum; you may have noticed.
The first three editions of what is IMO one of Switzerland’s best blues festival took place on the grounds of the castle of Crissier, just outside of Lausanne. But it seems that didn’t work out this year so the festival’s two founders, Vincent Delsupexhe & Thomas Lecuyer, had a great idea: they organized 4 tour dates European tour for some of their American bluesmen friends instead!
9 August 2013
article by Rattlebrained
no comments.
A few pictures from last week’s La Roche Bluegrass Festival.
Although I’m not that big a consumer of recorded bluegrass music I truly do enjoy a warm summer evening, or two or three of it. This festival is really nice, as I wrote three years ago when I last went “…it is free, it lasts four days and if the groups on stage aren’t enough for you, many of the bands can be found playing in the streets or while sitting around a table at a local café…” There are masterclasses, square dance lessons, stands selling Americana tourist trap memorability and genepe green beer.
10 June 2013
article by Rattlebrained
4 comments.
I’m still under the magic of having seen CeDell Davis last night at the Lux, an old movie theater transformed into concert venue over in Le Locle.
Although I had heard he might be touring Europe earlier this year there hasn’t been much info on the web. Miracles come in many ways and in this case when finally the weather changed to sun last week after the long dreary and cold spring we’ve been having I couldn’t stay inside and went out for a walk; and a poster caught my eye: CeDell Davis and Brethren + Guitar Fucker / Dimanche 9 Juin 2013 / CHF: 10.-
I had to read it 5 times to actually believe what I was seeing… I mean really… In my view of the music world CeDell is as good as it can get! His music just grabs you at the most primitive level and twists and churns and overpowers you… Up here in the Jura back land… For not even 10 bucks… I had to confirm it on the web before it actually sunk in.. ..and I almost missed it… A miracle!
So it was with some trepidation that I drove over, the man is in his eighties and unfortunately isn’t able to play his guitar any more. I had looked at a few videos on the web of him and Brethren but CeDell’s guitar playing was so special that it was difficult to imagine him singing with a band, however good. Was I ready for the possible disappointment?
10 October 2012
article by Rattlebrained
no comments.
Had a great time last night at the Left Lane Cruiser gig down in Geneva! These guys delivered an amazing amount of energy, all more considering they had driven down from Paris and arrived pretty much at the time they were programed to play. Having just faced the late rush hour Geneva traffic myself I can really sympathize; and be glad that I’m not that tempted by much of what the local music scene has to offer. Driving to Geneva is long enough (about 2 hours) that no one needs the extra half hour it take just to get downtown (it’s really not that big a city).
They immediately set up their gear, did a quick sound check and even had time to come over and chat with us
25 November 2011
article by Rattlebrained
2 comments.
Strictly Jug Nuts at The Chicago Battle of the Jug Bands 2011
Sigh… seems like everything is keeping me away from this blog these days…
Anyway, took advantage of a few spare minutes to browse around looking for some good music (preferably with a washboard or rhythm bone player) and stumble on the Strictly Jug Nuts