Sorry folks, my bad.  The report of Chuck Berry's death is  untrue.

Ian M

British Blues Awards: Kevin Thorpe Award

All the songs from all the DJs for KT Award in the BBA  are at http://britishbluesawards.com/#/kt-award/4563005051

Voting ends 28 April 2012..

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE BRITISH TO VOTE!

British Blues Awards: Kevin Thorpe Songwriter award

Blues In The South, in conjunction with Phonic FM and Kansas City Online Radio (KCOR) is delighted to be a sponsor for the British Blues Award, Male Vocalist of the year and to be an active particpant in the selection of songs to be considered by the public for the award of the Kevin Thorpe Songwriter of the year.

There are 18 independent broadcasters involved in 'heats' .. each has chosen 4 songs - and the BBA people have ensured no overlap..one song from each heat will go to the final vote ie 18 songs...the winner will be announced at the Newark Blues Festival in September.

You will be able to hear all songs nominated by BiTS/WEW/KCOR in any one of three ways. 1) by using the music player above on the top left; 2) By listening to Ian McKenzie’s radio show, Wednesday’s Even Worse on Phonic.FM (www.phonic.fm) at 6pm UK time on 21 March, 4th April and 18th April; 3) By listening to Ian McKenzie’s radio show Blues Before Midnight on KCOR on Friday at 6pm UK time on 30 March, 6, 13, 20, 27 April.

Use the vote button on the BiTS home page (www.bluesinthesouth.com) or got to http://www.britishbluesawards.co.uk/wew.htm

WINNER OF BATTLE OF THE BLUES BANDS TICKETS

We are delighted to announce that Martin Stork is the winner of the BiTS competition for two tickets to the final of the Battle of the Blues Bands to be held at The Garage, in Highbury, London on March 27th.

Congratulations to Martin.

The answer to the question "What is the physical connection between, Bob Geldorf, Otis Rush and Albert King?"

The correct answer is that they were/are all left handed (and played the guitar with the strings upside down ie bass at the bottom).

Thanks for entering if you did...try again...more competitions to come.

Louisiana Red Passes On

BiTS is sad to announce that Iverson Minter better known as Louisiana Red passed away yesterday, Feb 25th in Hanover, Germany, following a stroke. More information is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Red

Adam & The King Bee – Pow Wow

Adam & The King Bee – Pow Wow

We can exclusively reveal the artwork for Pow Wow, the new album from Adam & the King Bee (that's Adam and Derek from The Mustangs to you and me!).

The all original 11-track album will be released by Trapeze Music in March, and will be available from all major online retailers. The track listing reads:

1. Peace Offering 2. Turn Right Go Left 3. Take Your Time 4. Original Sin 5. After All 6. She Could Be Lying 7. You Got Me Right 8. Undone By Love 9. Hold The Bone 10. One More Then Bed 11. Kiss Me Four

All tracks were written by Adam and/or Derek. Adam plays all the instruments on the album, except Blues Harp, by Derek...Adam also undertook production duties. Swing by the Mustangs Website (www.themustangs.co.uk) soon for an interview with Derek on how the album took shape.

In the meantime Adam & Derek will be guests on Martin Clarke's Blues Session radio Show (www.thebluessession.co.uk ) on Friday February 24^th at 9pm, talking about Pow Wow and playing live.

Etta James Passes On

The great singer Etta James has passed away after a protracted battle with the effects of leukemia. Full obituary to follow in the next edition of BiTS (www.bluesinthesouth.com). In the meantime check out the latest edition of BiTS (www.bluesinthesouth.com/download/ for information on her illness and the events surrounding it).

RIP Etta

BATTLE OF THE BLUES BANDS 2012

Another Harvest of the best of British Blues

Following the resounding success of this year’s UK-wide search for Britain’s best emerging Blues talent, the world-renowned Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, is launching, for the second year running, its ‘New Brunswick Battle of the Blues’. The competition is looking for unsigned bands and artists creating original, quality music and the winner will be showcased on a world stage at the Festival in September 2012.

New Brunswick Battle of the Blues will launch on 15 October. Heats for qualifying artists will be held in January in the North West (Newton Le Willows, Merseyside), the North East (Newcastle), the South West (Bristol), and South East (Billericay, Essex).

Hosted by the Province of New Brunswick, the competition is a fantastic opportunity for emerging or established British blues artists to raise their profile, play on a world stage – and experience the wonders of the Canadian maritime province that is New Brunswick!

Says Lisa Gagnon, who’s organising the competition in the UK for New Brunswick, “Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival is looking for new international talent to add to its line-up for 2012. There are exceptional blues musicians in the UK and this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Heat winners, plus one runner-up chosen by the public, will play at the final in London in March. We will then fly the overall winner out to Fredericton, New Brunswick, in September 2012 for their performance at the festival.”

24 Pesos were the overall winners of the 2011 New Brunswick Battle of the Blues and they have recently returned from their trip. Says Julian Burdock from the band; ‘We got the chance to play on 4 different occasions, once with Matt Anderson. We also did a live radio show for the CBC! The audience were so receptive and really loved what we did. We also did some fantastic things like whale watching and cycling in kilts, going out to clubs and drinking beer. Everyone was so welcoming, we can’t wait to go back. And since we’ve been home it’s been non-stop. The winners of 2012 have a wonderful – and career enhancing – experience ahead of them.”

‘New Brunswick Battle of the Blues’ invites bands or solo singer/songwriters to enter the first stage of the competition by visiting www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk. Here they will find all the information they need to enter. Artists will need to demonstrate the ability to produce new and original work, though some covers are permitted. To qualify, they will need to be unsigned at the time of the competition (including the final). Entries will be accepted from 15 October up until 15 December. The selection of acts for the heats will require the submission of details of an online video. Check the above web site.

New Brunswick is one of Canada’s 3 maritime provinces and is known as the ‘Jewel of Atlantic Canada’. The province is rich in history, culture and natural beauty and music is an integral part of its psyche. Visit www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.ukfor more information

The Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival is an annual music festival held in Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick. It has an international following and features blues, jazz and world music, taking over the city for 5 days in September.

Details of heats:

· 13th January, True Blues Club, Newton Le Willows

· 18^th January, The Thunderbolt, Bristol

· 19th January, New Crawdaddy Blues Club, Billericay

· 27th January, Byker & St Peters Social Club, Newcastle

GIGS at the Star Inn, Bentworth

Hi, folks,

Check this one out...It's a bit unusual, but sounds like mucho funo.

Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith passes on

We are sad to report the passing of a true Blues legend, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith this morning in Chicago. Blues Blast Magazine had an interview with MrSmith in its May 26th issue. That issue can be read at:

http://thebluesblast.com/Archive/BluesBlasts/2011/BluesBlast5_26_11.htm

This sad news comes from our good friend Bob Corritore and Bob Kieser of Blues Blast, Bob Corritore has provided the following information:

With great sadness we report the unexpected passing of one the true greats of the blues. Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Willie passed away this morning of a stroke. He was 75 and was musically active until the very end.

A brilliant drummer, harmonica player and vocalist, he represented the true essence of Chicago Blues, and was highly regarded by all as an undisputed master. He was an alumni of the Muddy Waters band and wore those stripes with honor. Willie "Big Eyes" Smith was born in Helena, Arkansas in 1936, and started playing harmonica at age 17, shortly after moving to Chicago. His harmonica first appeared on record in the 1950s gracing recordings by Arthur "Big Boy" Spires, and Bo Diddley (Willie played the harmonica on the Diddley classic "Diddy Wah Diddy").

At some point in the mid to late 1950s he started playing drums and in 1959 began his long association with Muddy Waters. Smith's drumming first appeared on record on Muddy Waters' 1960 album release of Sings Big Bill Broonzy. Smith had a real gift for drumming and his playing would help to define the later Muddy Waters Band sound.

Many of us remember the classic Muddy Waters lineup of Muddy, Willie, Pinetop Perkins, Bob Margolin, Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, and Calvin "Fuzz" Jones. In June of 1980 members of Muddy's band struck out on there own, and formed the Legendary Blues Band which eventually found Willie as the lead vocalist, showcasing his stellar, down-home vocals. Willie released his first solo album, Bag Full of Blues in 1995, which firmly established him as an artist in his own right. Willie would revive his first instrument in later years, and in 1996 he would release Way Back, which debuted his new direction, and showed him to be a solid harmonicist. His final recording, Joined At The Hip was a collaboration with the now deceased Pinetop Perkins, and it it earned the two a Grammy in the Traditional Blues category.

We have just touched upon a few of the many recordings of Willie "Big Eyes" Smith who's discography as both a frontman, and a sideman represents the highest of heights in the blues. Willie had a strong work ethic and was a consummate professional, and as a result he worked relentlessly. He won numerous BMAs (Blues Music Awards) as "Best Blues Drummer", and he always carried great bands with him. Of note is the wonderful management of Patricia Morgan, who helped guide the later part of Willie's amazing career, and the impressive booking of Blue Mountain Artists. Also thanks to Willie for bringing out the wonderful talent in his band with Jimmy Mayes, Bob Stroger, "Little" Frank Krakowski, and for his wonderful collaborations with other Muddy alums. Willie leaves his greatest legacy with his son Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith, who has become one of the world's greatest blues drummers and carries on his father's sound and tradition.

Prayers for all of Willie's family, friends, fellow musicians, and fans as we say goodbye to one of the greatest blessings of the blues. We love you "Big Eyes". To visit Willie "Big Eyes" Smith's website click http://www.williebigeyessmith.com/ ."