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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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On Thursday March 5th The Bullfrog Blues Club in Southsea welcomes back one of the club's all time favourites - the Delta blues virtuoso Kent Duchaine - the man that "The Times" named as one of the top five performers in the country. Kent's father taught him to play the ukulele at six years old, and when he was 13 years old he got his first electric guitar and formed a band with his friends in his hometown of Wayzata, Minnesota. After reading some liner notes of an Eric Clapton album, Kent started researching blues, and soon discovered the recordings of Robert Johnson. Kent was astounded and fascinated at the sound of the bottle neck as Johnson slid it up and down the neck of his guitar. Determined to recapture the sound, Kent immersed himself in the blues of Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Lightnin' Hopkins, T-Bone Walker and Bukka White and soon learned to play the slide guitar, developing his own ferocious style. The blues were happening all around Kent in the 70's and he ended up playing alongside Kim Wilson (who later formed The Fabulous Thunderbirds) in a band called Aces, Straights & Shuffles. The band backed blues musicians including Boogie Woogie Red, Luther Tucker, Hubert Sumlin and Eddie "Guitar" Burns. Willie Dixon heard the band and complimented Kent on his slide playing, saying he sounded like a young Muddy Waters. Willie arranged a recording contract for the band to help them launch their career by putting them on stage with Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins and Margie Evans. Kent spent time in Austin, Texas in the mid 70's, soaking up the blues at "Antone's", who were starting to promote many of the old blues men. Here he met Stevie Ray Vaughan, and learned that there where others who shared the same passion and respect for the "real" blues. Kent appeared at two of the early Ann Arbor Blues Festivals in the 70's, which featured virtually every important blues artiste in the world. Kent's dedication and talent for the blues earned him the honor of opening two shows for Bukka White, spending time with Mississippi Fred McDowell and befriending his hometown bluesmen, Lazy Bill Lucas and Mojo Buford in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Kent's played with many more of the greats, including Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Koko Taylor, B.B.King, Albert King, Freddie King, Willie Dixon, Johnny Shines, Robert Junior Lockwood, Furry Lewis and Son House. In 1979, Kent acquired Leadbessie, a beat-up 1934 National Steel Guitar (in an equally beat-up case) fitted with extra heavy strings. She's been his constant companion ever since... After some time, Kent could see that the solo blues life was where he wanted to go. Traveling the roads alone allowed him the opportunities he was seeking. Following the blues trails unhindered gave him the freedom to play where and when he wanted, for what ever he could get, even if it was just a meal and a drink. The solo life built his following, reputation and talent for the real blues. By the late 80's he was doing over 300 shows a year all over America. In 1989 Kent met Johnny Shines, and they started performing together. In 1935 Johnny had started touring throughout north America with Robert Johnson - the undisputed King of the Delta Blues - until a year before Johnson's death in 1937. In 1991, when the Smithsonian Institute honoured Robert Johnson, Kent and Johnny were invited to perform and "Roots Of Rhythm & Blues: A Tribute to the Robert Johnson Era" was the result. As well as Johnny Shines it featured more of Robert Johnson's old buddies, Robert Junior Lockwood, Honeyboy Edwards, and Henry Townsend. This was recorded by Sony and also Grammy nominated. Kent and Johnny also recorded the album "Back To the Country" with Snooky Pryor, and were honoured with the coveted Blues Music Awards for best country blues album. In their three years together Kent and Johnny Shines clocked up over 200 shows together before Johnny died in April 1992, at the age of 76. Since hitting the road promoting the Delta blues Kent has clocked-up over three million miles, including over a hundred tours in Europe. During Kent's performances, you will hear about the history of the blues, the men who developed it, and his involvement with some of them, with songs such as "Shake Your Moneymaker", "Jitterbug Swing", "Trouble in Mind" and "St James Infirmary Blues". This is a "must see" gig - the history of the blues is at this man's fingertips, and you won't find a more enthusiastic and talented ambassador for the REAL Delta blues. The Bullfrog Blues Club is at The Dockyard Club, Onslow Rd, Southsea, PO5 2NH. Tickets are just £8 advance, and are available via our website - www.barkingspider.abelgratis.com via Paypal and also from Street Level Music, 139 Albert Rd, Southsea, Hampshire, PO5 2SQ. (cash only please!) Tickets are also obtainable on the door (£10). Doors open at 8 p.m.