1 Topic by Wooders (edited by Wooders 2015-02-04 09:26:43)

  • From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Topic: London Bluesfest 2015

While updating the London Gig Guide I discovered that this year's Bluesfest has moved from the RAH to the 02 in Docklands and will be held in the Indigo room and Brooklyn Bowl and maybe the 02 Arena. I'm really disappointed that, what was becoming an iconic festival and integral part of the autumn music schedule, is moving to what is a rather faceless and cavernous shell. The RAH was just the perfect place to see numerous bands in an intimate setting and there was always an amazing rapport between bands and audience members that was quite magical.

We’ll have to wait and see how this year’s Bluesfest pans out, but my feeling is that we’ve lost something special. Maybe there weren’t enough tickets sold for 2014, which wouldn’t surprise me bearing in mind the mostly non-blues music line-up, and the promoters decided to reduce the number of bands and days.

So far, only The Dave Matthews Band has been announced for this year’s Bluesfest and tickets go on sale on 13th February.

The dates for the three days of the Bluesfest are 6 – 8 November with Dave Matthews on the 7th.

Bluesfest 2015 website

Phil

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56
  • RickB
  • RickB
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: San Diego
  • Registered: 2009-10-30
  • Posts: 12,198

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

Wooders wrote:

While updating the London Gig Guide I discovered that this year's Bluesfest has moved from the RAH to the 02 in Docklands and will be held in the Indigo room and Brooklyn Bowl and maybe the 02 Arena. I'm really disappointed that, what was becoming an iconic festival and integral part of the autumn music schedule, is moving to what is a rather faceless and cavernous shell. The RAH was just the perfect place to see numerous bands in an intimate setting and there was always an amazing rapport between bands and audience members that was quite magical.

We’ll have to wait and see how this year’s Bluesfest pans out, but my feeling is that we’ve lost something special. Maybe there weren’t enough tickets sold for 2014, which wouldn’t surprise me bearing in mind the mostly non-blues music line-up, and the promoters decided to reduce the number of bands and days.

So far, only The Dave Matthews Band has been announced for this year’s Bluesfest and tickets go on sale on 13th February.

The dates for the three days of the Bluesfest are 6 – 8 November with Dave Matthews on the 7th.

Bluesfest 2015 website

Phil

I hope it pans out for you folks. I've noticed a subtle change here too as "Blues" as a tag for festivals has been replaced with "Jazz, Roots, Americana" and such titles. Hoping to draw a more diverse audience?

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
Buy Joe's merchandise here. http://www.jbonamassa.com/affiliates/id … hp?id=1381

RickB's Website

  • Kenny
  • Kenny
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Aberdeen, Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-09-04
  • Posts: 3,713

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

I share your disappointment Phil and it would have to be special artists before I would consider attending. I know the promoter was hoping to book Grace Potter this year. Having said that the Dave Matthews Band are not Blues!!

  • Registered: 2010-10-11
  • Posts: 192

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

http://youtu.be/fOaMQ-R9YGM

Just watched this as usual he is new to me

Not certain how this will work at The O2

very easy to get to but deffo not the r A H

  • From: Sussex UK
  • Registered: 2009-07-12
  • Posts: 1,465

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

thanks for the update Phil. May I offer an alternative view on the venue? I agree the O2 itself is massive and I would imagine the atmosphere will be about as far removed from blues as you could get but the Brooklyn Bowl (which is inside the O2 complex) is very good, I have grown to really rate it after seeing Gov’t Mule and Robert Randolph play there. - The stage is central with a bar to your left and bowling to your right contributing to a relaxed venue. And it is easy to get to (dependant on where you are coming from) as opposed to the RAH, which you have no hope of driving to. O2 you can drive or take the tube, or even a cable car over the Thames.

Agree that the DMB are not blues, but they are a polished act with an enormous following in the USA but never broken through to ams degree here,  - in part because if I remember correctly their first gig in London was on the same night as England were playing in a World Cup match! Think I will try and get see Mr Matthews.

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Ian916's Website

  • From: Inverurie, Scotland
  • Registered: 2011-09-26
  • Posts: 540

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

Tedeschi/Trucks and Jo Harman also added to the bill on the 7th November.

  • Kenny
  • Kenny
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Aberdeen, Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-09-04
  • Posts: 3,713

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

Murray1903 wrote:

Tedeschi/Trucks and Jo Harman also added to the bill on the 7th November.


Indigo and Brooklyn Bowl respectively. Both @ 5.30 pm.

  • From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

Kenny wrote:
Murray1903 wrote:

Tedeschi/Trucks and Jo Harman also added to the bill on the 7th November.

Indigo and Brooklyn Bowl respectively. Both @ 5.30 pm.

Now that's more like it. big_smile

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56
  • From: Inverurie, Scotland
  • Registered: 2011-09-26
  • Posts: 540

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

Kenny wrote:
Murray1903 wrote:

Tedeschi/Trucks and Jo Harman also added to the bill on the 7th November.


Indigo and Brooklyn Bowl respectively. Both @ 5.30 pm.

Blues Fest website says doors for both are at 20.30?

  • Kenny
  • Kenny
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Aberdeen, Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-09-04
  • Posts: 3,713

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

Ents 24 says 5 30pm. Maybe that's the time the venue opens.

11 Reply by Kenny (edited by Kenny 2015-02-11 05:51:56)

  • Kenny
  • Kenny
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Aberdeen, Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-09-04
  • Posts: 3,713

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/189497/9

What is not clear is whether or not the 3 acts are on at the same time or if they are staggered. I know someone who would like to go to both Tedeschi and Jo smile

And will there be afternoon shows like the RAH?

  • From: Inverurie, Scotland
  • Registered: 2011-09-26
  • Posts: 540

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

Main Arena – Dave Matthews Band – 1930-2300
Indigo – Tedeschi Trucks Band - 1900–2100
Brooklyn Bowl - Jo Harman - 2130–2300

13 Reply by Ian916 (edited by Ian916 2015-02-14 08:54:20)

  • From: Sussex UK
  • Registered: 2009-07-12
  • Posts: 1,465

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

- ticket fees and add on charges for these shows are a joke!! I understand that money is not made from record sales but these add on fees are getting ridiculous. Moan over (for now).

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Ian916's Website

14 Reply by Wooders (edited by Wooders 2015-04-15 07:27:54)

  • From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

Kenny wrote:

And will there be afternoon shows like the RAH?

I'm not sure if this answers your question Kenny, but it does look like there will be bands and artists to see during the day at Bluesfest 2015.

"BluesFest is offering talented bands and musicians the chance to showcase to BluesFest Fans. We have a number of free Pop Up stages positioned around The O2, providing artists with an incredible opportunity to win over new fans each day of the festival."

Want to play Bluesfest?

I'm sure we can all think of some young (and not so young) bands that would love to have some major exposure at Bluesfest.

Still no sign of the acts on the Friday and Sunday. roll

Phil

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56
  • From: Inverurie, Scotland
  • Registered: 2011-09-26
  • Posts: 540

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

It looks like they're using a similar set up to the C2C country music festival then. It had a few stages with music throughout the afternoon and evening.

  • From: London, UK
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
  • Posts: 313

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

Not a big fan of the O2 personally. Sound in the arena is absolutely rubbish.
However, when Festival New Orleans came to London I did see John Mooney and Dr John in the Indigo and it was pretty decent.

Will have to see first who the remaining acts are.

Guitars:
Epiphone Les Paul Junior Black + Gold Hardware, PRS SE Santana Yellow, Ovation Double-Neck Semi-Acoustic, Ovation Celebrity CC44 Honeyburst, Gibson 2008 Les Paul Standard Heritage Cherry Sunburst (#10), Gibson Robot Les Paul Studio 2012 Limited, Gibson 1976 Les Paul Custom Heritage Cherry Sunburst
  • From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

Thanks to Mike for picking up on Matt Schofield playing the Brooklyn Bowl on 8th November as part of Bluesfest 2015. The only other artists named for the Sunday so far are Tom Jones and Van Morrison. And the organisers are saying this year is shaping up to be their strongest yet! Bluesfest? Really?

I'm not including Matt Schofield in the above comment as he's certainly worth seeing and is a great addition to the line up.

It seems that, as with most things nowadays, big business is getting in on the act and the Pru is now providing sponsorship for Bluesfest. Just as long as we don't have lots of suits and corporate hospitality being favoured over the true fans.

Phil

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56
  • From: Inverurie, Scotland
  • Registered: 2011-09-26
  • Posts: 540

Re: London Bluesfest 2015

According to the latest issue of Classic Rock The Blues magazine all daytime bands will be free this year. Ian Siegal, Bernie Marsden, Laurence Jones and The Boom Band are amongst those who will be free.