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This is the archive of the combined Barking Spider and Andy Broad Portsmouth Blues Site mailing lists.
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I've just received an open letter from John Adams, who runs The Bottleneck Blues Club in Rochester, Kent. John Adams is also the guy who has brought Ben Andrews & Little Toby Walker from The U.S.A, and Geoff Aichison from Australia, and orgasnised their tours for them - they've all appeared at The Bullfrog Blues Club. I felt I should share the contents of this letter, as it's all too easy to substitute "Bullfrog" from "Bottleneck" ....My heart goes out to John, and if you really care about the state of live gigs in this area, please read and think on, and SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC IN SOUTHSEA!!!! Thanks for your patience. "As we're now in our 8th year at The Bottleneck I never thought I'd be writing this E -letter. Last night in Rochester we had a truly outstanding gig. Migden & Gibson's support set was magnificent, the guys from the Andy Roberts Group sat through their set cheering, whooping & clapping & of course they had to do an encore. Boy, their 50 mins flew by. And then Andy, his Son Liean & his superb band took the stage. What a performance; apart from excellent musicianship (you've grown to accept that at the club as standard), we were treated to a vocal tour de force, harmony vocals as good as anything you'll hear on a London stage in a mix that straddled Blues, Jazz & Soul......absobloodylutly incredible!! So why was it the worst turnout for at least 5 years? I don't mind the loss (yes luckily I had some cash with me to pay the acts) but I do mind the effort everybody made to put on a wonderful night's entertainment being met with so much disdain. . A heartfelt thank you to those who answered my earlier plea to support the gig & obviously to the 55 who did show but Rochester numbers have been in decline now for about a year (Maidstone continues to pull in well over 100 every gig) & I can't subsidise it forever. There was unmitigated rubbish on the telly, if you want pap like Top of the Pops or Pop Stars or any number of aggressive, down-right unpleasant, MTV hip hop & rap programmes instead, then so be it. Your lack of support for good quality live music will be its death knell......... The Pit at Crondell closed this year, Kirkby Blues Festival is cancelled next year (lack of support) any number of clubs have closed in recent months (I know because I try to get bookings for my guys) & mind numbing Abba tribute bands sell out. What on Earth is going on? Please tell me if I'm doing anything wrong, I will listen".