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Blues Matters! Publication's Interests
General
Supporting and giving a positive showcase to Blues music past, present and future!
Music
Here is a selection of artists who feature in our mag (this'll give you a fair jist of what we are about!)Blues Matters!: CHRIS REA, BETH ROWLEY, GEMMA RAY, COCO MONTOYA, KYLA BROX, BUDDY WHITTINGTON, ERIC SARDINAS, PEGGY SUE AND THE PIRATES, JOE BONAMASSA, IAN SIEGAL, THE BLACK KEYS, THE BLACK CROWES, MATT SCHOFIELD, THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS, THE PRETTY THINGS, IAN PARKER, SEASICK STEVE, CANDYE KANE, BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES, JOOLS HOLLAND, PINETOP PERKINS, BEYONCE KNOWLES, ELVIN BISHOP, LITTLE WALTER, WALTER TROUT, DAVE ARCARI, THE HOAX, IAN SIEGAL, MICK HUCKNALL, SOLOMON BURKE, KIM SIMMONDS, BOB HALL, THE PACK A.D., NAUGHTY JACK, ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW, CHICKEN SHACK, CHRIS REA, TOM MANSI & THE ICEBREAKERS, ERIC SARDINAS AND BIG MOTOR, HONEYBOY EDWARDS, THE KILLS, NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS, SMOKIN' JOE KUBEK & BNOIS KING, CATFISH KEITH, C.R. AVERY, FREE, THE BLACK KEYS, RON HACKER, TAB BENOIT, JACK BRUCE, ROBIN TROWER, B.B. KING, NICKY MOORE AND THE BLUES CORPORATION, MIKE BLOOMFIELD, JOHN-ALEX MASON, SON OF DAVE, DANI WILDE, SEAN COSTELLO, DANNY BRYANT’S REDEYEBAND, TAJ MAHAL, LITTLE MILTON, THE YARDBIRDS, THE DIRTBOMBS, JEFF HEALEY, BLACK LIPS, ROBERT CRAY, NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS, THE BLACK CROWES, THE MUSTANGS...
Movies
Er, well, not Blue(s) movies :)...ok, I lie - The Blues Brothers and The Blues Brothers 2000...er, well, maybe not the latter!...of course, now Steven Seagal's a major force in the Blues-world, as well as Hollywood, I can now cite the greatest films of all time - Out For Justice, Nico, Hard To Kill (the beard should have won him an oscar alone!), Marked For Death (I've never actually seen it but the trailors on 5 look awesome)...didn't he do one with DMX and Roseanne's ex? I just wish Dolph Lundgren could find an acoustic and reach into his soul and we'd be there! :p
With our ideal A5 pocket-size, spine and increasing number of pages many of our readers (including industry) see us as a book of sorts so you needn't read anything else!...great marketing spew I'm sure you'll agree! ;) But it is thick - really!
Heroes
Well maybe Heroes a bit "full on" but we we really do love the guys that help makes this thing happen every 2 months! (Issue 43
Editorial Editor-in-Chief Darren Howells darren@bluesmatters.com Founder/Publisher 'D' Contributing Writers Roy Bainton, Andrew Baldwin, Adam Bates, Adrian Blacklee, Carol Borrington, Steve Bouckley, Robin Breeden, Norman Darwen, Roger Deakin, Dave Drury, Matt Frost, Diane Gillard, Jamie Hailstone, Stuart A Hamilton, Beryl Hankin, Gareth Hayes, Sue Hickling, Darren Howells, Billy Hutchinson, Peter Innes, Matt Merritt, Steve Nicholson, Noggin, Merv Osborne, John Quinley, Thomas Rankin, Graeme Scott, Ashwyn Smyth, Andy Snipper, M.D. Spenser, Anthony Stobart, Dave Stone, Davide Styles, Alex Tintinalli, Roger Trobridge, Kevin Wharton, Rhys Williams, Tony Winfield
Advertising/Sponsorship Magazine Advertising James H. Lambert
01656 745628 ads@bluesmatters.com
Production Art Direction/Graphic Design Darren Howells Photography As credited...
If you are reading this, you’ve probably accessed our MySpace page or website as a Blues fan. You’ve looked around and been pleasantly surprised at how much we are doing for the Blues community. But don’t let that be the last of your efforts…
Our coverage stems from a simple love of a form of musical expression otherwise lost or ignored in mainstream media coverage – even more so in the event of throwaway mediums such as the internet.
For artists, labels, events and more, we offer the chance for Blues fans to have a voice – one that is actually heard!
We are a totally independent music magazine, produced by real music fans, and we are dependent on those who love this music, who appreciate and understand what we are doing in giving this music a much needed positive showcase, to keep us alive.
As an independent, particularly one financing an ambitious worldwide distribution - allowing us to bring coverage of acts who share our ethos to fans internationally - we are totally reliant on subscriptions and advertising not only to realise our vision but, put frankly, to survive!
If both these areas do not improve significantly, the simply fact is we will no longer exist, and it’s the fans and industry who will ultimately lose out.
Whilst we appreciate the many messages of gratitude for our efforts, those who truly understand and appreciate our efforts now need to invest more than words.
If you are a Blues fan, recording artist, publicist, manager, label… – if you are involved in this industry for personal or financial reward – please ensure you subscribe, and look to invest appropriately, and we will continue to support and benefit you!
Darren Howells
Editor-in-Chief
Blues Matters!
To subscribe:
00-44-(0)1656-745628
orders@bluesmatters.com
To advertise:
00-44-(0)1656-745628
ads@bluesmatters.com
THE SUNDAY TIMES GET THE BLUES...AND 'GETS' BLUES MATTERS!
Blues fans may want to check out the recent feature on the genre, which ran in the Sunday Times. "Blues now is in some unexpected places. Like Bridgend, South Wales, home to the genre’s equivalent of Kerrang!, Blues Matters."
You’ve happened upon our MySpace site but, before you start scrolling down, we need to make a few things clear – we don’t want to mislead you or waste your time, do we?
Okay, if you love honest, real music and you want to read about the bands/musicians from the opinion of fellow music lovers, then read on…
If you’re looking for celebrity elevation or the entertaining, off-the-point ramblings of a well-paid journalist who has been commissioned to write an entertaining piece on an act they have little personal interest in, then you’re already well-catered for. We honestly don’t care what groceries anybody buys, even if they can play the guitar!
BLUES LOVER?
So, you’re still here, which tells us you love music and the Blues (hey, it’s in our name!), but there’s something else we must make clear…
We aren’t interested in confining the Blues, we aren’t just paying our respects to a dead or archaic genre and we definitely aren’t about defining how the music must be played, by whom, from which background or where…
The clue is in the name, Blues Matters! We are a magazine looking to show how the Blues has mattered in forming the basis of great music and how it continues to do so today, and the various tangents/off-shoots that entails. So, we are a music magazine, the root of all our coverage being the Blues, the most vital form of music, yet the most overlooked and unappreciated by the media today!
WE’RE INDEPENDENT!
At Blues Matters! we are proud of our independence – it ensures our editorial integrity.
We aren’t dictated to by the requirements of our publishers or the need to satisfying the hefty investment of advertisers. We’ve not even set ourselves up as a charity to draw decent salaries and attain a comfortable lifestyle. In fact, we must be pretty naïve, after all, why keep struggling?
Well, Blues Matterts! started because of a passion for this music, and a frustration with what was being offered elsewhere. We recognise that to ensure our publication is representative, we need to rely solely on the people who feel the same as us to keep us going – if you want us around, we will be, if you don’t, we’ll sink into crippling debt and disappear…
LOVE WHAT WE’RE DOING?
WANT US TO STICK AROUND?
SO, YOU’RE A SUBSCRIBER?
The only way we can keep going is through the support of fellow Blues/music lovers… We can’t keep helping the acts being ignored by the rest of the media, and to keep showcasing the Blues in the positive manner we do, otherwise….
A subscription to Blues Matters! is just £25, yet every subscription is vital lifeblood for us. If you feel we are doing something worthy of supporting, please do subscribe, whether you are simply a music fan who agrees with our ethos, or part of the industry in someway, equally frustrated with how the Blues is not fully appreciated.
Together we can build a community, and together we can look to keep great music prominent in the celebrity-skewed culture of today. Simply telling us we are doing a great job or that you are pleased we are around, is not enough, unfortunately – it doesn’t help us and ultimately it’s not going to help you.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
Each week (well, when we have time to update) we’ll profile an album that’s really impressed us at BM! HQ. This week we’re going to be enjoying more of Moreland & Arbuckle’s, “1861”.
“…a high paced piece of Blues, the gravel vocal of Arbuckle’s slide guitar allied to Moreland’s rapacious harp to produce a good rendition of the song and cementing the music for the rest of album deep in the Delta…”
(Review extract, Blues Matters! issue 44)
*Blues Matters! is proud to announce that The Blues Foundation in Memphis has awarded us the Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Award for 2007, in the Print Media Category.
This is only the second time a British publication has won the prestigious award. Previous recipients have included major-titles such as Rolling Stone, so a huge achievement given we are a fans-contributed independent!
“The genre's equivelant to Kerrang!”
The Sunday Times
“Simply an awesome magazine”
Sound Nation Music Magazine
“Should be on every Blues lovers’ shelf as required reading”
Larry Cohn (Former A&R, Epic)
“More information than the Great Library of Alexandra and enough photos to open an exhibition”
Record Collector
“By far the best Blues publication in the UK”
Martin Vowles (The Wildcards)
(we have so many more comments of this ilk, but you'd be scrolling for an hour, and I'm sympathetic to your fingers ;))
Ok, my name isn’t actually Blues Matters! Publication, it's Darren; I just edit, design and write for the best fans-magazine around, who are achieving for an often ousted genre, by taking the seemingly bold step of showcasing the music as alive and not archaic and dying!
If you love quality, honest music, and have had enough of the over-diluted/manufactured music scene that finds prominence across mainstream media today, then isn't it time you started to...
WANT TO CONTACT US? I get so many mails at my work e-mail, I rarely get chance to reply to mails sent to me here (at best, just a quick read over and to push comments through). If you want to get in touch please email me on: darren@bluesmatters.com. If you do mail me here you may get a reply in, say, er...6 months! ;) I will, however, ensure your comments go through on a regular basis!
Before I go any further, and explain a little more about the latest issue of Blues Matters! and its history, please remember our website is a great resource for Blues fans. You can read and post latest Blues-related News, as well as chat to like minded individuals and find a host of relevant information. www.bluesmatters.com
ISSUE 44 JULY/AUGUST'08!
Ok, this (above) is the latest issue (you can find out who contributed, and who featured, by running down the left hand column...well, er, if I've updated it on time!) I would think its the best one yet...and it is!
Below is a brief intro (a full issue breakdown will be found in the blog and on our store-site www.bluesmatters.com/catalog).
EDITOR’S WORDS
“Starting out as a fanzine, we quickly reached stores worldwide - an achievement we thought would see us become part of a mutually supportive Blues community. Our success in reaching out benefiting the acts and labels we feature, yet only a small percentage wants us to prosper further...”
SOLOMON BURKE
SOMEBODY TO LOVE
“The Blues tells you, 'Hey, I'm hurt. I'm in pain. I'm suffering. You mistreated me. You misused me.' But sometimes the Blues leaves us hanging. You don't know if the person's ever going to get well. You don't know if the person ever came back: 'Baby, you've gone, you've gone, you've gone.' Well, did she ever come back?! Did she ever call you?! Did you ever see her again?!”
COLD WAR KIDS
FIND ANOTHER USE FOR BLUES MUSIC
“I think that the longer you are a band, the more people will pigeonhole you. At first, we were conscious of avoiding labels and such, but the more that you play, the more it defines you.”
GUY TORTORA
PLAYS THE BLUES FOR LOVE NOR MONEY
“I am just not able to do what I did before. I now have certain outgoings to pay, so now I guess you could say that I am semi-professional. In order to keep the band going, sales of the recordings help - if you don't have regular radio-plays, it is really hard to make ends meet."
MARC FORD
STEPPING FORWARD
“I think the ease of computers is partially responsible for the lack of good live music which, if done right, should have some room for spontaneity. Nowadays, one guy can create a whole record sitting alone in his bedroom. It takes out relationships within music.”
JIMMY HALL
A CAREER FULFILLED
“I have, thankfully, avoided all the excesses of rock'n'roll, but I am sure there was a cost to my recording career, as far as developing a high profile image as a ground-breaking artist. Nevertheless, I am sitting here with literally three to five albums full of material I have written or co-written that is ready to take to the studio and record.”
LITTLE FEAT
DON’T ALLOW THE STANDARDS TO DROP
“People tell me that almost every night after shows. We either got them through the hard times, or ‘Waiting For Columbus’ got them through college. Little kids come up and say they've been listening to us since they were born and then I sit and scratch my head and go, ‘How come we're not millionaires?’”
ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW
FINALLY, CALLING ALL THE SHOTS
“I was happy doing what I was doing. I've had the greatest gigs in the world. I was floating around between all the people I ever wanted to play with. I was sleeping rather well. I was getting paid well. I didn't have to worry about tickets sales. I didn't have to worry about if I could sing. I didn't have worry about payment of bills. It was a really good life.”
CHERRY LEE MEWIS
NOW PREFERS TO GO AU NATURALE
“I was constantly trying to get myself heard, while still trying to 'find' myself as an artist. I was recording a lot and although I felt I was under commercial constraints, I was able to develop my songwriting and do things with my voice I didn't know I could do! With 'Little Girl Blue', I really feel I have done the music I love - but I still have so much more to give!”
GUITAR SHORTY
STILL UP TO HIS OLD TRICKS
"Well, when I played 'Voodoo Chile', I'd been playing that since Jimi Hendrix was alive, but with my own spin. Then I went into 'Hey Joe' and the crowd just went nuts. They got over the barrier on to the stage, and were grabbing at me! Not nasty, they just wanted to get close."
PLUS!
Interviews with Coco Montoya, Miss Cookie, Dave Arcari and Eric Burdon; and features on The Black Crowes’ peak years, Little Feat’s back catalogue, Solomon’s new album, Eddie Hinton, the Blues at major UK festivals, the Maryport Blues Trail, Andy Fairweather Low’s new album, BluesBeaten Redshaw and more…
CD REVIEWS
Listening for your Blues lovin’ ears
The most COMPREHENSIVE Blues review section you’re likely to find anywhere! In for review this issue: ALABAMA 3, DUFFY, ADELE, JOSH WHITE, FATS DOMINO, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, T-MODEL FORD, PINETOP PERKINS, MORELAND & ARBUCKLE, THE PACK A.D., HENRY BUTLER, KEEF HARTLEY BAND, THE RACONTEURS, WALTER TROUT, THE DRAYTONES, SAVOY BROWN, LED ZEPPELIN, BETH ROWLEY, GEMMA RAY, JOHNNY WINTER, ELVIN BISHOP, LITTLE WALTER, THE GODFATHERS, SAMUEL JAMES, BONNIE BRAMLETT, TAJ MAHAL, RORY GALLAGHER, THE ZUTONS, IAN PARKER, ERIC GALES, NAUGHTY JACK, PETE MOLINARI and many, many more…
HAPPENIN’
Latest news from our Blues world
So what has been going on in the Blues world (both here in the UK and further away) in the last two months – well get a reminder (or find out) here…featured in the news this issue are TOMMY LUDGATE, THE SUGARS, EVERLAST, BLACK STONE CHERRY, DEBORAH BONHAM, AC/DC, SCOTT H BIRAM, GRAVEL ROAD, RAY LAMONTAGNE, THE MICK FLEETWOOD BAND, ROSE HILL DRIVE, BUDDY GUY, BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, VAN MORRISON, TANTRUM and many more…
DELIVERING TO MUSIC FANS THAT MATTER! Blues Matters! was founded 1999 as a fanzine to give enthusiasts a voice. Intended to support and promote the Blues in all forms, and so provide a service to music fans everywhere, of "Blues Without The Blinkers". Blues Matters! represents every aspect of the Blues with all the seriousness, humour, depth, belief, and enthusiasm it deserves. By doing so, we bring together the music, artists, publications, creators, industry, and fans, who enjoy, and therefore help sustain, the Blues for further generations.
Each issue offers a refreshing blend of information, fact, honesty, and humour. Blues Matters! brings a wide-range of topics to our readers with exciting and diverse content. Our readers are delighted with pages brimming with interviews, previews and reviews of a whole range of Blues and related music; recording artists, albums, singles, EPs, demos, DVDs; festivals, live gigs and events; associated products; books; and other music information.
We are a totally independent music magazine! (no money bags, unfortunately!...plenty of bags, though, spending as much time as we do on these PCs!).
ACHIEVING FOR THE MUSIC SCENE THAT MATTERS! Blues Matters! has become the UK's leading Blues magazine. This success is attributed to our many loyal readers that have supported the magazine through rapid growth, and our dedicated team of professionals, staff, writers, contributors, and supporters - all committed to promoting the Blues in the UK and beyond.
Readers appreciate the fact that Blues Matters! is entirely contributed to by independent music fans and not paid/professional journalists influenced by anything more than a genuine desire to find great Blues music (whether traditional or contemporary). We make no apologies for retaining a fanzine value (including many spellos and mistakes, ha ha! well, spotting them adds extra value surely? ;)) whilst producing a magazine worthy of any high street store (and we pride ourselves on the fact we are focused on, and about, the music and NOT celebrity!...yes, really, there are still a few of us out there!)
Our un-blinkered view and representation of the genre ensures we give a fair representation of Blues music past, present and future. The exciting and honest way we showcase the genre has made us an influential and authoritative music publication.
We are currently distributed throughtout the UK in independant Record Stores, Borders, Virgin and HMV
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE MUSIC MAG THAT MATTERS?!
JOIN THE MISSION!
If you want to support Blues Matters! continued efforts in promoting the Blues, in all it's forms, then simply subscribe today! Without the support of Blues fans, musicians, promoters, labels etc. we can't continue producing this "awesome magazine" (Sound Nation) and can't keep helping to give everyone associated this "much needed" positive showcase!
Don't forget, if you subscribe, we aren't just going to give you this awesome magazine every 2 months but well give you a host of member benefits, including: delivery direct to your door, reduced prices on all our BM!-related products (including record label releases), entry to exclusive competitions, discount on the cover price (currently over 12%) and much more.
Rates/information for subscribing outside the UK is also available on our website.
Remember, everyone who subscribes to the magazine gets entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a host of prizes. See the latest issue breakdown for details of the current Sub To Win prizes.
SPREAD THE WORD!
We are currently working on pushing our magazine into more and more record stores throughout the UK (so, if you don't want to subscribe you can buy instore). If your local store doesn't stock our magazine make sure their customers aren't missing out for much longer!
If you would like to buy our magazine in your local store, but you can’t find it, please visit here. Just print out the page and hand it into them. Alternatively, if you would like to stock our magazine in your store please click here for more details.
HELP YOURSELF!
Obviously, if you're in a band, or represent an artist, and you've got a new release there's no better way to help yourself, and us at the same time, than to advertise with us (our rates are set super low to cover costs and no yachts!) because, with the help of the website, we offer the opportunity to showcase your products/services to a large customer base - like no other Blues magazine can! Our prices are low, our readership is high and our readers are loyal! For more details on advertising with the UK's leading Blues magazine, please check out our detailed media and sponsorship packs available here.
Alternatively you can email: ads@bluesmatters.com or tel: +44 (0) 1656 745628 for more information and to discuss options/availability.
CONTRIBUTING!
Of course, if you are interested in contributing to our magazine, either through written material or taking some lovely pictures to show off to our readers, you are welcome to get in touch! We can't pay you big bucks (well anything!) but as long as you're a genuine Blues fan, and can express that clearly, we can give you that opportunity (and maybe you'll get some nice perks - free CDs, gig/fest passes etc). You don't have to be a superb writer or well trained hack to contribute to our little mag! (although, if you are, you're equally welcome!).
KEEP US POSTED!
If you play Blues/Blues-influenced music, or represent someone who does, then you want to feature in our magazine and on our website! Please add info@bluesmatters.com to any mailing lists and keep feeding news and gig information to this address for us to use in the magazine and/or the website.
Remember to send your CDs in for review (F.A.O. Alan Pearce): Blues Matters!Reviews, PO Box 18, Bridgend, CF33 6YW, UK. Please send two copies where possible!
If you think you deserve something more (an interview/feature) then get in touch with me on darren@bluesmatters.com. Mind, if we like what you've sent in for review, we'll be in touch soon enough, don't worry!
SPECIAL FEATURES IN THE BLUES MAG THAT MATTERS!
HELPING UNSIGNED/NEW BANDS!
We understand it's difficult for new/unsigned artists to gain exposure (no matter how good they are), and it seems even harder if this artist has chosen to play the Blues or Blues-based music...so, with this in mind, we have decided to give an opportunity to new artists to increase their profile in the UK's leading Blues magazine, Blues Matters!
GETTIN’ THE BLUES Blues Matters! has recently introduced a new section/series into the magazine, which allows Blues & non-Blues recording artists to express their appreciation of the Blues genre and the music it has produced…
If you, or an artist you work with (have to be a signed act/artist!), have a genuine love/appreciation of Blues-music you can submit, by e-mail, a top 10 favourite Blues tracks (with a few lines for each chosen track to explain why you/they love that song). So far we’ve had an alternative/mix of artist submitting including influential dance-act Underworld, much touted indie/pop band Mohair and critically lauded contemporary Blues/rockers, the Soledad Brothers.
If you think this feature would be of interest to you/any artists you work with/represent please let us know by emailing: darren@bluesmatters.com for more information.
EASE THOSE BLUES Blues Matters! wants to know which Blues album you most-regularly pick-up in a bid to ease your Blues!
It might be a compilation – after all many of the genre’s originators never had the opportunity to cut an LP. Maybe you have an affinity with a record produced by one of the British bands who showed their appreciation of American Blues artists during the ‘60s? The ‘70s saw us Brits adding extra weight to the genre, whilst American jam-bands began to fuse the Blues with jazz & rock – is there a particular release from this influential decade? The ‘80s, through the ‘90s, saw the Strat, and showmanship, taking more of the spotlight – it also saw many of Blues’ most significant releases. The millennium was ushered in by a number of commercially-successful albums from artists, again, wishing to show their gratitude of the genre’s founding fathers, both here and in the States – have any gained prominence on your CD player?
This new feature/series is open to anybody/everybody to submit. For more details head over to the website’s forum.
DON’T FORGET BLUES MATTERS ON RECORD!
As well as showcasing the Blues in the only mag that Matters!, Blues Matters! also releases great Blues music through it’s record label division.
ABOUT THE LABEL
For more information on Blues Matters! records and it’s artists/releases, please head over to the website.
The label also now has a myspace account. Please head over and make friends with them!
If you’d like to listen to music from the Blues label that Matters! you can on our Radio Player .
PURCHASE ONLINE
Blues Matters! artists are available to download online through the likes of tunetribe and iTunes (we've already reached number 2 on the UK Blues album chart and number 14 on the US singles Blues chart, amongst other notable entries)
Who I'd like to meet: Anyone with a shared love and appreciation of the Blues genre... and even those who don't (because we'll convert you ;) ha ha!)
Thank you very much for letting me join your circle of friends. I hope to see you out on the road real soon. Keep the blues alive and keep on keeping the faith! Peace and Love! Shirley King, Daughter of The Blues
Hello! We played at the Dundee Blues Bonanza on Saturday afternoon - were you there covering it? We're doing a free show in Glasgow at Pivo Pivo on the 20th of July! It's exactly what Glasgow needs - more BLUES!! For more details, check our MySpace!!
Check out track 2. Just uploaded last week's tulsa cuts with Mike Day (bass), Natham (drums) and Steve Pryor (lead gtr) and Jared Tyler on acoustic and slide. It's not mixed yet but it's good enough to enjoy!! Tracks 1 and 2.
Thanks for accepting my friendship. Great Page You Got Here!!! If you get the chance, cruise on over to my page and have a listen to my tunes. Thanks for checking them out and have a great weekend my new friend!!!
“He is enigmatic, his guitar playing is at any given time as tasteful and restrained as it is raw and searing. He is a monumental talent, as sophisticated and acrobatic as any British guitar-hero and yet as pure and fun as a Mel Bay student sweating out his first three chords. Truly, Stanley plays as good as he wants to, and I have never seen anyone better at that, anywhere.”
