Lee Bates - Guitar, slide Guitar and Vocals
Billy Newton- Harmonica and Vocals
Influences
Muddy Waters, Snooky Prior, Son House, Blind Boy Fuller, Sonny Terry etc, etc, and also The Hokum Hotshots, Brian Cookman, Doug MacLeod, Paul Rishell and Annie Rains... the list could go on and on!
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Sounds Like
Imagine Sonny and Brownie if they were white, from North East England and on speaking terms.
Lee Bates (vocal, guitar, slide guitar) and Billy Newton (harp and dancing) are a blues duo based in the North East but playing all over the UK.
Billy is one of the Uk's finest harp players, whether it's playing in the style of Sonny Terry, both Sonny Boy Williamsons or Little Walter, Snooky Prior or George 'Harmonica' Smith Billy gets the tone and the feel just right. His style though is all his own, honed over countless years gigging with the likes of Acme Blues and the Scandalous Bachelors.
Lee is one of the north easts finest slide guitar players belting out tunes by Robert Johnson, Fred McDowell, Son House, Bukka White etc on his old National. He is equally happy with lighter ragtime styles and at ease laying down fat old-school shuffles.
Over the years we have shared stages (and beer) with most of the blues greats... Dr. Ross, William Clarke, Bob Brozman, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, John Hammond, Catfish Keith, Joanne Kelly, Woody Mann, Steve Phillips, Jimmy Rodgers...
Together they lay down goodtime blues and boogie where ever they go!
These clips come from our recent show with Honeyboy Edwards.
This video clip shows Lee performing a Son House song at the 2007 Dundee Blues Bonanza
"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians
Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)
"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff
thank for your friendship, be invited to listen to my new song "woodstock" in celebration of the event's 40th anniversary! I'll be delighted to receive a message / your comment.
Great tunes gents - and like the pic on yer profile - hope to catch you next time in Aberdeen - love and best wishes to you both fae Spider on a wet Sunday Aberdeen - keep on blowin and sookin Billy !
From heaven above arrives a fascination, It..s a personal, glory innovation To be honest, thankfull and true - Holy night, I trust in you, cause you give freedom to everyone, You spend much love and also fun. I treasure Christmas through the years, It..s a magic time, which disappears. But it comes back again and again, I..m indeed a Christmas - fan.
I wish you and your family a merry christmas Love & Peace
