The British Blues Exhibition is a hub for British Blues history and for the contemporary scene. That includes musicians of all ages in British Blues; overseas acts who tour the UK; wider culture such as theatre, art, and literature; and the people behind the scenes. We have many exhibits and our travelling exhibitions are making appearances at events. We are working towards establishing a permanent exhibition celebrating British Blues. With support from Chris Barber, John Mayall, Mud Morganfield, Huey Morgan, Connie Lush, and Cream lyricist and poet Pete Brown, we’re Breaking Blues Again.
Home May to September 2022: Barbican Music Library
The British Blues Exhibition is proud to be in residence at the Barbican Music Library for the next 4 months in its biggest and best showing to date. More here: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/events/british-blues-exhibition.
At the Musical Museum from 12th March…
We’re exhibiting in the Musical Museum in London soon.
Rock’s Diamond Year 2022 has been set up by the Ealing Club Community Interest Company as a celebration of what has become a global music form. We’re pairing up with them to add more of the wider history of British Blues to an exhibition in London’s Musical Museum from 12th March 2022.
Saturday 12th March – www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rocks-diamond-year-2022-festival-opening-tickets-26028629230712
Sunday 13th March www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rocks-diamond-year-2022-chris-jagger-in-concert-tickets-260453351987
London, Spring 2022 – British Blues Exhibition goes live!
The British Blues Exhibition has been quiet for a long time, like a lot of other things affected by the events of the last couple of years.
However, we will be showing our considerable and historic stuff in a significant London venue in Spring 2022. Details to follow….
RIP: Chris Barber, Champion of the Blues
It is with great regret that we learn of the passing of Chris Barber, chart-topping Jazz bandleader and a key Champion of the Blues, without whose impact music would have taken a different course.
Chris was and in a sense remains one of the headline supporters of the British Blues Exhibition, alongside John Mayall, Huey Morgan, Mud Morganfield, Connie Lush, and Pete Brown. He donated a trombone to the exhibition and it has become one of our uppermost objectives to celebrate his contribution to British and world Blues music and his ongoing legacy.
Darren Weale, Founder of the British Blues Exhibition, said, “Chris in person was a gentleman and a man with a multitude of memories and opinions. Among those memories were a remarkable collection of stories about how he interacted with and directly or indirectly helped many, many people and their music, including Lonnie Donegan, Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and ultimately the biggest hitters of the British Blues scene including The Rolling Stones, John Mayall, The Animals, Van Morrison, and The Blues Band. I was lucky to have known him.”
More to follow.
British DJ’s in focus: Ashwyn Smyth
We were reading up recently on a DJ, his show and his story from 2013. It is worth repeating and refreshing that material here as an insight into a little history and to the DJ, Ashwyn Smyth, whose show continues today. Ashwyn has continued to be very active in British Blues since, not the least in his role in the UK Blues Federation and as a member of the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association.
Here are the words from 2013:
Blues DJ’s: Ashwyn Smyth of Digital Blues.
First, the really important stuff – how to listen to the show and other details (@2013):
Website: www.digitalblues.co.uk
Radio station: Gateway 97.8 in the Basildon, East Thurrock & surrounding areas or online at http://www.gateway978.com and to digital blues on Kansas City Online Radio at 11.00 a.m. Central US time (17.00 UK time) every Sunday at http://www.kconlineradio.com. The show is repeated at various times through the week. Please visit the website to check times.
When: every Wednesday between 21.00 & 23.00 UK time on Gateway 97.8, Community Radio for Basildon and East Thurrock. Repeated at 20.00 UK time every Sunday.
Podcast: Podcasts at http://digitalblues.podomatic.com and on i-tunes at http://itunes.apple.com
Honours: nominated in the British Blues Broadcast category of the British Blues Awards and recognised in the Best Blues Radio Show category in the Blues Matters! magazine Writers’ Poll
Ashwyn shares with us the story of his show, below (remember, this is 2013):
“Digital Blues has been described as the voice of the Blues for Essex, both for the Digital Blues radio shows and for its presence on the Essex and UK blues scene for the last ten plus years.Whilst probably best known for producing and presenting radio programmes, Digital Blues and myself as its creator, were very active on the blues scene, particularly in Essex throughout the first decade of the 21st century.
“What started off as attempt to promote radio shows became a more than 500 strong mailing list, plus a website which was receiving more than 10,000 hits p.a. and which was perhaps best known for the Gig Guide, described at the time as the biggest blues gig guide on the web, which carried full details of blues gigs in and around Essex.
“But the website also carried blues news, local, national and international, reviews of gigs, CDs and DVDs, adverts for bands seeking musicians and musicians seeking bands as well as a large collection of useful links.
“In 2010, due to hosting problems, the website fell fallow and out of date for some time but late in 2011, thanks to a couple of great guys at Webcrate, the site was resurrected, in a somewhat simpler format, and the gig guide is back along with details of the radio shows and the all important playlists.
“The new site has drawn many very favourable comments, for example.
‘Just a quick word to say how much this particular Blues fan appreciates the time and effort you put into both these newsletters and the website – and how informative they are! We’re very lucky in this neck of the woods to have such a fund of information on local gigs and there’s certainly no excuse to miss any because no one told us!’ – MW, Billericay
“Out on the live music scene, Digital Blues organised a number of very successful charity festivals which raised substantial funds for the Helen Rollason Cancer Care Centre charity as well as promoting gigs at venues such as the famous Essex Arms in Brentwood.
“I also compered at a number of blues weekends at various locations around the UK and was for a number of years, the resident MC at possibly the premier blues venue in Essex, the New Crawdaddy Blues Club in Billericay. I am still closely involved with the Club running their mailing list and producing a weekly newsletter. I also occasionally MCs there when I am in the UK.
“I was also invited to MC the final of the 2011 and 2012 New Brunswick Battle of the Blues at the 100 Club in Central London (2011) and The Garage in Highbury, North London (2012)
“I have also been a contributor to both Blues Matters! and Blues in Britain as well as being invited to write sleeve notes for CDs for acts such as Bad Town Blues, the Shakey Vick Band and Ramon Goose. I also co-produced, with the late Ray Bartrip, two Essex Delta Blues CDs which sought to promote Essex blues acts and which were sent to promoters and radio shows around the UK and Europe and were instrumental in gaining wider recognition, and gigs, for many of the acts involved.
“Digital Blues radio shows commenced in June 2001 and, until June 2006, were produced as internet radio shows with occasional FM outings on periodic RSL transmissions on a South Essex based radio station. The shows featured many new releases, often from artists receiving their first radio airplay anywhere in the World, as well as tracks both ancient & modern.
“In particular, the shows provided exposure and radio play for Essex based bands and artists, often featuring live performances as well as publicising local gigs and venues.
“Digital Blues also presented The Blues Banquet, a live, weekly feast of blues & real r’n’b featuring studio guests playing live on two RSLs for a Basildon based radio station during this period. In March 2006, Digital Blues programmes were broadcast live on FM every week in the Brentwood & Billericay areas and were also available as podcasts. Unfortunately from June 2006 Digital Blues ceased to have an FM presence after a disagreement with the management of the station carting the shows.
“For a number of years Digital Blues also produced podcasts for Blues Matters! featuring their own label artists. These were available via the Blues Matters! website.
“Early in 2009, Digital Blues was approached by IndieTalent.ca, a well respected and burgeoning Toronto based internet radio station, and asked to produce and present periodic shows for them featuring the best of indie blues talent from around the World. The programmes were available until July 2010 when the station was sold and IndieTalent.ca ceased transmission.
“In October 2009, a new programme, Digital Blues on Gateway, started being broadcast each Wednesday evening on Gateway FM (later to become Gateway 97.8), the community radio station providing real local radio for Basildon & East Thurrock. These programmes can be heard on 97.8fm in the Basildon, East Thurrock & surrounding areas and worldwide on the internet at http://www.gateway978.com between 9 & 11 p.m. every Wednesday. Each week’s show is repeated between 8 & 10 p.m. UK time on Sundays. Digital Blues on Gateway 97.8 was honoured to have been nominated in the top five British Blues Broadcast category of the British Blues Awards 2011 and recognised in the top five of the Best Blues Radio Show category in the Blues Matters! Writers’ Poll 2011.
“In March 2010, Digital Blues was delighted to be invited to start producing a weekly edition of Digital Blues for Kansas City Online Radio and this is now streamed at 11.00 a.m. Central US Time (17.00 UK time) every Sunday at http://www.kconlineradio.com and each week’s show is repeated through the week at various times. Please check the schedule page at http://www.kconlineradio.com for times. All editions of both shows are available as podcasts on i-tunes and on PodOmatic.
“After almost 40 years working in the City of London, I have now retired and I am based in a small rural hamlet in the Limousin region of France where I record the shows in a small studio in my home set amidst rolling fields in the peace and tranquillity of a mainly agricultural region. I am still actively involved with the UK and Essex blues scene, albeit at a distance, and I am constantly scouring the world trying to find new artists. I am gradually becoming involved in a very small way in the, admittedly limited, local blues scene.
“Digital Blues produces and presents two completely different Digital Blues radio programmes totalling three hours weekly and the shows seek to offer maximum variety in every respect. The shows have a regular band of listeners around the world and this has been enhanced by the recent introduction of podcasts of all weekly shows.
“Playlists for all Digital Blues radio shows are posted on the Playlists page of the Digital Blues website and are also reported to the Roots Music Report for inclusion in their blues airplay charts.”
What they say about Digital Blues:
‘Some great sets… the world needs more shows like yours’ – Randy Chortkoff, CEO, Delta Groove Records
‘Love listening to your show, you do a great job of mixing in great blues and not just mainstream but Indie artists too.’ – Michael Poppe, Poppyseed Promotions, Nashville
‘When I catch your show you always play such great music Ash! Indeed :)’ – KCOR listener via Facebook
‘Mr. Smyth, you are just way too cool… Lovin’ this music you are playing !!!’ – KCOR listener via Facebook
‘Thanks for the fine programming! It really reminds me of radio in the ’60s & ’70s here in the USA. Kudos.’ – Richard Black, Musician, New York
A bientot!
ASHWYN
Sample playlist:14 August 2013 (Artist, Track, Source, Label):
Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa, See Saw, Seesaw, Provogue Records
The Slide Brothers, Praise You, Robert Randolph Presents the Slide Brothers, Concord Records
Southern Hospitality, Kind Lies & Whiskey, Easy Livin’, Blind Pig Records
Watermelon Slim & the Workers, Tomorrow Night, Bull Goose Rooster, NorthernBlues Music
Moreland & Arbuckle, The Devil & Me, 7 Cities, Telarc International
Eric Bibb, Music, Deeper in the Well, DixieFrog Records
Heritage Blues Orchestra, Don’t Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down, And Still I Rise, Raisin’ Music
J P Soars, Old Man Joe, Make Room at the Table, http://www.jpblues.com
Buddy Guy featuring Beth Hart, What You Gonna Do About Me, Rhythm & Blues, Silvertone Records
Buddy Guy featuring Gary Clark Jr, Blues Don’t Care, Rhythm & Blues, Silvertone Records
The Swamp Cats, Cadillac Walk, The Swamp Cats Live!, Swamptone Records
Thomas Ford, Bottle Up & Go, Breaking Everything But Even, OUF Records
Seasick Steve, Keep On Keepin’ On, Hubcap Music, Polydor
Gary Clark Jr, Ain’t Messin’ Round, Blak and Blu, Warner Brothers
Ben Smith Band, Let’s Go To Bed For A Week, Live at the High Barn, http://www.bensmithguitar.com
Pete G & the Magnitones, The Freeze, Custom Built, http://www.magnitones.com
Andre Bisson & the J-Tones, Ode to Mr Jangles, Till The Real Thing Comes Along, http://www.andrebisson.ca
Kyle & Moore, Natural Law, The Whale & the Wa’ah, http://www.kyleandmoore.com
Danny Kyle, In Another Life, Rag ‘n’ Bone Blues, http://www.dannykyle.com
Paul Lamb & Chad Strentz, The Underdog, Goin Down This Road, BluRoots
Cherry Lee Mewis & Max Milligan, Meet Me At The Station, Cherry Pickin’, Cherry Jam
Lewis Hamilton, Whiskey Boogie, Ghost Train, Lewis Hamilton Music
The Mustangs, Retail Shuffle, Speed of Love, Trapeze Music & Entertainment
Roadhouse, Gods & Highways & Old Guitars, Gods & Highways & Old Guitars, Kross Border Rekords
The Road-Kings, Fat Boy Blues, Dust & Gasoline, http://www.theroadkings.co.uk
Candye Kane, Au Revoir Y’All, Coming Out Swingin’, DixieFrog Records
British Blues on film – and crowdfundraiser for Ealing
John Mayall, the late Jack Bruce, Paul Jones, Pete Townshend, Ginger Baker, Eric Burdon and Dick Taylor feature in Suburban Steps To Rockland, a feature film documentary about the Ealing Club, Britain’s first Rhythm & Blues venue. The film is heading for Sky release, but could use some income via its current crowdfunding campaign that runs to the end of August – see https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/suburban-steps-to-rockland#/. There are some tasty rewards for contributing to this commemoration of musical heritage.
Film is an important medium for celebrating the history of Blues music, with The Blues film series in the US being produced by no less a figure than Martin Scorsese.
Other British productions include Out of Time on singer Chris Farlowe and another on Alexis Korner, himself pivotal in the story of the Ealing Club.
Required reading
Want to know about the early days of British Blues and the British Blues Explosion? Check out our Literature page, which has been updated to include essential reading in the shape of books by Billy Bragg and Chris Barber, both of which will appear in our exhibition.
British Blues Exhibition news….
Geno Washington signing an exhibition banner
News…
As the image above shows, one of our banners – others have signatures from people such as Georgie Fame, Paul Jones, members of The Rolling Stones, Chris Farlowe, and more – was recently signed by Geno Washington, who is a significant figure in both Blues and Soul music.
The exhibition is planning further appearances including its longest run yet in a location in 2020.
More exhibits are coming in to be curated, including artefacts from Radio Caroline, historically noteworthy music releases on vinyl, and additions to the harmonica collection.
Two of our supporters are on tour presently. Bandleader Chris Barber has dates including 7th April at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley in London, and John Mayall appears at Ronnie Scott’s 16th-18th April (sold out).
Another date for the diary is 13th July 2019 – Rock Island Line 65th anniversary, Cadogan Hall, London, with Billy Bragg and Van Morrison
Samples of our exhibits being shared online
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- Cream 8-track cartridge
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- John O’Leary custom Hohner harmonica
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- Otis Grand lyrics amended by Curtis Salgado
Using our various social media channels, we’ve been sharing a proportion of the images of the British Blues Exhibition collection. Over time, we will probably share one out of five of our exhibits online. Here are a few of the exhibit images shared recently. The images above show (from left to right, starting with the top row) an original 45rpm single by The Rolling Stones, Get Off My Cloud; a copy flyer for The Bromel Club with acts such as The Who and Chris Farlowe appearing in the 1960’s; a 2014 edition of Blues In Britain magazine with King King; an 8-track cartridge of Cream Live; a copy of Sounds magazine with Paul Kossoff and Back Street Crawler; a John O’Leary (Savoy Brown, Sugarkane, The Downliner Sect) Hohner Marine Band harmonica; a lyric sheet by Otis Grand amended by Curtis Salgado; and (some of) Chris Barber’s trombone donated to the exhibition. A lot more will follow in due course. That social media we mentioned?
Blog – http://blogoftheblues.blogspot.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/BritishBluesEx
Instagram – www.instagram.com/britishbluesexhibition
Tumblr – http://britishbluesexhibition.tumblr.com
Twitter – https://twitter.com/BritishBluesEx
You Tube – www.youtube.com/channel/UCUqnhOMpz-aC-HBlwyA7jfw/featured
Women In Jazz Exhibition at the Barbican Library
Between 16th October and 31st December 2018, there is an exhibition on Women In Jazz at the Barbican Library in London.
One of the British Blues Exhibitions supporters is Jazz bandleader and, to us, Godfather of British Blues, Chris Barber. Not only did he bring to the UK Blues greats such as Muddy Waters, he also worked extensively with Ottilie Patterson, who had a fabulous Blues voice. Check out the exhibition and be reminded of the relationship between Jazz and British Blues music.
Website here.
British Blues Exhibition 