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This is the archive of the combined Barking Spider and Andy Broad Portsmouth Blues Site mailing lists.
For the latest information on what's on at The Bullfrog Blues Club click here
Barking Spider Promotions Mailing List |
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On THURSDAY 5th AUGUST The Bullfrog Blues Club at The Dockyard Club, Onslow Rd, Southsea, PO5 2NH. is delighted to welcome back - at last - THE MARK HARRISON BAND!!! The band features (of course!) Mark himself, who plays a 12 string and also a 1934 National Trojan, a wood-body resonator guitar previously owned by Eric Bibb. Mark draws inspiration from Charley Patton, Muddy Waters, Blind Willie McTell and Sonny Boy Williamson, but is a fine songwriter of brilliant blues music of his own. HereâEUR?s MarkâEUR?. 'IâEUR?m fortunate enough to play with the best musicians you could find anywhere. And although the lead instrument is a National or a 12-string guitar, as a band we have every bit as much punch, power and volume, as any electric band. Charles Benfield is a brilliant and much admired double bass player and the lynchpin of the whole thing. He produced, mixed and mastered the first three albums. He's a terrific musician, who knows everything I don't know - a pretty broad field that appears to be getting bigger all the time. He does fine vocals too. I do a lot of duo gigs with Charles, it works incredibly well. Ben WelburnâEUR?s drumming style perfectly matches the material and adds hugely to what IâEUR?m doing. HeâEUR?s a natural for this kind of music and always comes up with something thatâEUR?s both interesting and right. He also plays an array of percussion, including washboard. As a team, Ben and Charles work perfectly together making the whole thing a seamless unit that flies.âEUR MarkâEUR?s song âEURoeHoneyboyâEUR, from his 2nd album âEURoeCrooked SmileâEUR released in 2012, was nominated for Best Original Song in the British Blues Awards, whilst his 2015 release, the live album âEURoeOn The Chicken Sandwich TrainâEUR reached #3 in the UK Independent Broadcasters Association chart. In that year Mark was also nominated in the British Blues Awards in the Acoustic and Songwriter categories. Mark has toured extensively, and has played the Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival, Love Supreme, Ealing Blues, The Great British Folk Festival, the Acoustic Festival of Britain, Celtic Connections in Glasgow (a totally sold out gig) and many, many more. His supports include The Holmes Brothers,Doug MacLeod to name but two, and he's made many radio appearances MarkâEUR?s new double album âEURoeThe Road To LibertyâEUR (his seventh) has 21 original songs covering of topics you don't normally hear songs about, and with a huge variety of sounds, atmospheres and arrangements. The album has been getting a great reception in early reviews, here are a few quotes: âEURoeOverwhelmingly cool , oozes positivity and resilience" âEURoeAn uplifting listen, exactly what we all needâEUR âEURoeErudite lyrics, ear for a catchy melody and captivating deliveryâEUR âEURoeBeautifully packaged, with top notch artworkâEUR âEURoeAn album of songs which together celebrate the best of humanity whilst wryly noting how rarely any of us achieve such an exalted stateâEUR âEURoeThere is a thoughtfulness and maturity in his work that is all too rare in todayâEUR?s music industry, but there is humour and compassion tooâEURoe. âEURoeAnother essential purchase from a musician who is rapidly becoming a British national treasureâEUR âEURoeA magnum opus, casting a jewellerâEUR?s glass over the human condition âEUR?.. from victims to the venal, the desperate to the defiant, the quotidian to the exceptional, from the personal to the politicalâEUR Check these out!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BhqkM3B67Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV9pD6TSsRk Tickets (£8 advance) are available NOW via our website - www.barkingspider.abelgratis.com via Paypal and also from Street Level Music, 139 Albert Rd, Southsea, Hampshire, PO5 2SQ. Or you can take you chances and pay £10 on the door!! Doors open at 8.p.m.