Cannon on The Ley

Is it Rolling Chris ?

Happy New Year 2008

Just a huge Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our life so far.

Without your support, enthusiasm and friendship our Musical world would have been a sad and emptier place.

Our very best wishes go out to you all for a Healthy, Happy and Rockin 2008, we cant wait to play for you again.

Steve(The Rock) Keith  & Clive (The Groove Dr.)

Blue on Black

"See you in the Next One - Dont be late, Dont be late."

With the Festive Season looming the Boys would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a Healthy, Wealthy and Rockin 2008.

Bass in Yer Face.

Sincere thanks for everyone whos come out to see us this year, weve loved every gig and cant wait to do it all over again     Steve (The Rock)

Guitarathon.

As one big Year for us passes (Alan retiring, Clive joining, More Dates with Walter, Release of our Live CD In Transit & much, much more) Another ones about to begin  (Studio time booked, a brand new Album on the cards for Spring 2008 & Much, Much more). 2008 is going to be a challenging but rewarding year for Blue on Black. Happy Christmas & Thanks for everything.          Keith

Groovin with Mr C.

Thank you all for being such wonderful audiences. Ive had a ball and Im really looking forward to our new C.D. and to meet up with you all again next year.   Keep in the groove.     Clive (The Groove Dr.)

So there you are, thats about it for the moment, thanks again for being such wonderful people, please keep checking out the website and have a great time over the Holidays.

If your able to catch the Boys in Wadebridge, Cornwall on Boxing Day Evening   See you this Year, if not Catch you in the Next One, Dont be late, Dont be late.     Big Blue

Aberdeen Angel on Video

Its a Video of Angel on Hold taken by a Christine (a very dear friend of ours) during our performance at The Lemon Tree Aberdeen.

Just click on the link below and Enjoy.........................….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf_poY-8WMc

As always, see you on the road and Keep on Rockin.

Big Blue

Well its not surprising that lots of pictures are turning up from the Boys October tour (some of which we have been fortunate enough to secure County Court Judgements to prevent them from being published on grounds of Taste) and these have been hastily added to their photobucket site (please check out http://www.photobucket.com user name  keithhowe ) for you to peruse/copy etc. at your leisure.

However, we are also receiving Videos of some of the guys performances, which of course the guys would also like to share.

So check out You tube when you are feeling suitably brave, for Videos of the Bands

Angel on Hold  and Keiths jam with Walter Trout on his number  Good Enough to Eat  both from The Junction, Cambridge UK on Sunday 28^th October 2007 and courtesy of our good friend Kenny Money.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pslt3l6NXDo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID_zMLWXxFU

And a Great Video of the boys playing  Black Cadillac at Blaydon R&B Club on Saturday 20^th October 2007 courtesy of our good friend Lynne Lees.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veTkgL9SJbI

Fabulous stuff and as if that wasnt enough, you can catch tracks from the Guys this Sunday  11^th November 2007 from 8.00pm UK time on the Dutch Radio Station  Radio Seagull when our good friend Roger Davis plays at least 4 tracks from the Bands latest Live CD In Transit on his show.

You can tune in on 1602 AM or on line at http://www.radioseagull.com - the shows are broadcast in English and are very well worth listening to as they also feature a great mixture of Rock, Classic Rock and Blues from the likes of Focus, Deep Purple, Golden Earring etc.

SO please help yourself to these sound bites and picture shows courtesy of the Boys, well it is almost Christmas you know, and let us know if you have enjoyed them via our guestbook.

Thats about it for the moment but we do have some BIG News coming up shortly so please keep checking out the website, you wont be disappointed.

As always, see you on the road and Keep on Rockin.

Big Blue

Back from the Lands End to John O Groats Tour !

Ten gigs and 3,329 miles in 14 days saw the guys Burnin down the House in both new and familiar venues, including opening for the mighty Walter Trout on four occasions and making lots of new friends.

Mind you, the guys were kept in the Rock and Roll luxury lifestyle they are certainly not accustomed too, by travelling in the Mercedes 709, 8 Seater, Splitter Van and Driver supplied by Leads to Music   email leads2music@aol.com  or telephone the mobile No 07850113356 if you need a great Van and Driver for your Band, you wont regret it.

Amongst other things, it meant I did not have to miss out on my  Cocoa or Songs of Praise whilst we were away, fantastic stuff.

Three of the new venues for the guys were The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen, The Barrels in Berwick and Blaydon R& B club  -  all great nights with lots of CDs sold to new Blue on Black fans, fabulous !

So the guys and me would just like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to see them and bought the new CD.

We all had a blast and as promised, we are now concentrating on the new material the guys will be recording for release early next year.

The New CD, titled Suckin out Venom will feature at least one collaboration with a great guitarist and good friend of the Band, plus the possibility of releasing a re-recorded double A side single, showcasing Angel on Hold and Black Cadillac.

This follows the many requests and great response the boys have been getting to these numbers when played live?

I wont say any more about the new CD and tunes at the moment but promise to get back to you in the next few weeks to let you know how things are going.

In the meantime heres a few photos, courtesy of our good friend Kenny Money and Drummer Clive Edmondson, to keep you amused whilst the tyres cool down and we all catch our breath, please enjoy.

There are many more photos which we couldnt find the room for here but please check them out on the http://www.photobucket.com site under the use name of keithhowe.

As always, see you on the road and Keep on Rockin.

Big Blue

Smoke us a Kipper, we'll be back for Breakfast.....

Ten gigs in the next 14 days spread between Penzance and Aberdeen, including two special openers for the mighty Walter Trout will help spread the good word, so please get along to make sure they behave themselves, I cant be behind them all the time you know, although that is by far the best place!

Anyway, whilst making last minute preparations over Coffee and Toast this morning, they were startled by the post box moving, very slowly at first but then it snapped quickly shut, as the October copy of the Fab Mag, Blues in Britain http://www.bluesinbritain.org dropped into the Blue on Black communal Marmalade pot.

As I normally open all there post, its easier that way as I am the only one who can read, I quickly flicked to page 3, I mean page 24 to check out the New CD reviews and low and behold this is what I found.

I couldn’t scan the original copy Im afraid as it ended up looking too much like a Ransom Demand after Keith got very excited and gummed the magazine quite badly, well it did have Marmalade on it ! so rather than try a restoration project on the article I have reproduce it here courtesy of Blues in Britain:

Blue on Black In Transit.

HIJOe Music

You could describe Blue on Black as a bunch of struggling musicians, still promoting themselves and releasing their own work while holding down day jobs.

The Sound they create appears anything but a struggle. It is an absolutely revivifying, effortless joy.

Following Turning Up, released in 2005, In Transit intersperses three self penned works with an eclectic mix of covers recorded at venues visited by this Cornish three piece in touring around Britain.

One such cover is the prodigious Blue on Black. Initially delicate, the song describes a rich arc of emotions through the exquisitely inventive, oh so evocative plucking of Keith Howe. Another is Confidence Man. Howe’s chopping guitar gets things off to a sharp, invigorating start. After a change down, Alan Ibbotson on drums slowly picks up the pace once more and then, once in high gear, Howe rips into his guitar like a pack of wolves into a carcass. Another exhilarating epic is Magnolia.

Ah hell, there are so many great numbers that I give up.

If you like your Blues to have both soul and guts, youre in for a treat.

And if you have any influence at a record label, damn well get this lot signed up.

Rating 8

Jonathan Blackstaffe

http://www.blueonblack.co.uk

What can I say!   Excellent stuff the boys were suitably humbled, just something else to tell the Dr. about now, but do we love Fran and all her staff or what !

And if having the C.D. reviewed alongside Chris Duartes and Robben Fords wasnt good enough, getting a whopping 8 out of ten was enough to send them crazy, or should I say crazier!

In fact they were all so excited that they immediately went out and bought a copy of the C.D, each ! Well they are not at there sharpest before 9.00pm bless em.

So there we are.

Dont be the last kid on your block to own a copy,

Please get along to one of their forthcoming gigs and buy a copy or, if strangers and loud noises really scare you, log onto http://cdbaby.com/cd/blueonblack and buy or download till you drop, they cant touch you for it.

Of course you wont get the additional stickers, signatures, abuse etc. if you buy on line so its really worth making that extra effort to see the Boys live, I did many years ago and it hasn’t affected me one little bit!

Hoping to see you all at a gig near you in the next few days.

Big Blue

Ps: As we are away for the next 14 days it will take a little longer to reply to emails and messages the Boys get, but please be patient as they will force me to read each one, many times over, and then type out there replies.  Sheesh !

As always, see you on the road and Keep on Rockin.

Big Blue

Jam Today and maybe Jam Tommorrow ?

And with at least two more gigs with Walter to come before the end of the month, who knows what will happen ?

Photos courtesy of CliveEdmondson 

Out of The Phoenix into the Hall

Friday nights crowd were very responsive, thoroughly enjoying both Bands sets plus an extra special treat when Walter invited Keith on stage for an impromptu slow blues jam with both players trading licks and entertaining the crowd with question and answer solos, great stuff. 

And just as people thought that would be hard to beat, along came Saturday evenings Truro Rock & Blues Concert at The Hall for Cornwall with Walter, The Hamsters and of course our very own intrepid heroes. 

BBC Radio Cornwalls David White the compere for the evening, welcomed the boys onto the main stage to rapturous applause and the guys proceeded to belt out a stonking opening set.

The 900 plus audience loved every minute of it and were very well set up for the rest of the evenings entertainment of Hamster power and Walters master class guitar blues. 

If the rest of this months gigs are anywhere close to the last two days I will have to get me some Valium !!! 

Hoping to see you all at a gig near you in the next few weeks.

As always, see you on the road and Keep on Rockin. 

Big Blue

On My Radio.......

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" it's October tour time.....

Four of the dates are openers for Walter Trout which the guys are very much looking forward to and if you are thinking about the Hall for Cornwall date on October 6th you had better move quickly as tickets are scarce.

Here is the gig list so far

 05/10/07               Phoenix Arts Centre, Exeter Bradninch Place Gandy Street Exeter EX4 3LS  Box Office 01392 667080

www.exeterphoenix.org.uk  (Opening up for Walter Trout and the Radicals)

06/10/07               Truro Rock N Blues  Festival, Hall for Cornwall, Back Quay , Truro, Cornwall TR1 2LL Box Office 01872 262466

www.seetickets.com  (Opening up for Walter Trout and the Radicals, plus The Hamsters)

13/10/07               Bridge on Wool, The Platt , Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 7AQ  Tel: 01208-812750

16/10/07            The Fox & Hounds, 22 Station Road, Heacham, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE31 7EX  Tel 01485 570345

17/10/07            Band Travelling.

18/10/07               The Lemon Tree Arts Centre , 5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT Box Office (01224) 642230www.lemontree.org (Opening up for Walter Trout and the Radicals)

19/10/07            The Barrels Alehouse, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1LZ  Tel 01289 308013

20/10/07            Blaydon R&B Club, Blaydon House Sports and Social Club, Garden Street.Whitmore Road in Blaydon,

Tyne and Wear.  Telephone 0191 414 2791                                    

21/10/07            Elme Hall, Elme Hall Hotel, 69 Elm High Road, Wisbech, Cambs. England. PE14 0DQ  Tel: 01945 475566

25/10/07            Walnut Tree Shades, Old Post Office Court, Norwich, NR2 1NG Tel : 01603 620166              

26/10/07            Coach & Horses, 77 Manor Rd, Dersingham, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 6LN  Tel: 01485 540391             

27/10/07            The White Hart, 222, High Street, Aldeburgh, Suffolk IP15 5AJ.

28/10/07            The Junction, Cambridge Leisure Park, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. Tel: 01223 511 511            

(Opening up for Walter Trout and the Radicals)

The past few months have also seen the Live CD selling brilliantly via Gigs, the Bands Website and CD Baby.com with sales nearing 500 and a second pressing on the way.

Meantime the Guys are writing more material for the new CD due to be recorded in December and release early next year.

Well that about wraps up this chapter, See you out on the Road  Blue on Black fans,

Big Blue.

Great White? No just a Great Gig !!!

I must say that the new line up just keeps going from strength to strength and the few hundred locals and holiday makers alike didnt know what hit them as the powered through two blistering sets of Blues/Rock. 

By the end of the night and to a standing ovation and a Black Cadillac encore and lots of CD sales, the Band left the building after making many more friends from all over (Switzerland, Australia, Manila for example) and having set the scene for their next performance at the venue in September during the St Ives Fringe Festival.

Phew, it was a warm night to start with but it ended up feeling like we had watched a Regulo 7 performance so must go for a lie down in a cool dark room now and recoup before Wadebridge on Saturday, cant wait.

As always, hope to see you all on the road. 

Big Blue

Captured at last - Youtube - You bet !!

The Doctor will see you now .........

Yes thats right,  The Witch Doctors Groove Doctor.

A view from the Bridge !

Just a line to say thanks for a wonderful gig on the night of our silver wedding.

Along with Cuillin Blue you provided an excellent evening of music. 

The mega jam with both bands was awesome and people here are still taking about it, and all are waiting for your August 4th gig here at The "BRIDGE ON" which could be one of our last music nights, as you know we are leaving for sunny Portugal sometime soon. 

Although we were dissappointed not to have Alan here for the gig (we wish him well) Tony was a brilliant replacement a real "Animal" on the drum kit. 

Thanks again hope you like the attached picture (copies waiting here for you) Cheers  Steve and Carol - Licensee's Bridge on Wool 

At Long Last - The Live Album !!!!!!!

Well at long last the in-famous Live CD from Blue on Black is available for consumption by the general public.

Despite numerous attempts to delay its release ranging from

         Possible links to Bird Flu

         Denied involvement with the poisoning of Russian Agents

         Rumoured Risk Assessment Connotations for Mobile  Lavatory  users

         Promotional scandals involving un named East End Royalty

(the list is virtually endless), it just couldnt be held back any longer.

Featuring just over 51 minutes of premium Blue on Black as you would have heard it had you been there (where were you by the way?) this commemorative and unique CD (featuring the line up with Alan Ibbotson) will knock your socks off.

For only 12 Pounds (GB) plus p&p you can be the very proud owner of this  awful  I mean awesome CD, yes less than the price of two happy meals will bring you Blues Rock Nirvana.

Available from the 28^th of June 2007 via

*  The Merchandise page of this website  http://www.blueonblack.co.uk (using PayPAl the secure ordering system) for 12 (GB) pounds plus p&p or

* Direct out of there sweaty hands after one of there forthcoming gigs at the reduced price of 10 (GB) Pounds and you do your own P&P!  or

Via CD Baby website   http://cdbaby.com/cd/blueonblack

SO there's no excuse not to own one now......

Please dont be shy and give generously to the Blues, they havent eaten in some while now and with a combined body weight of only just under the average Hump Back Whale, well you wouldnt want there well being on your conscious now would you.

Big Blue

Warning  If you listen to this Disc in the Car the music will send shivers down your spine, do not adjust your air conditioning or consider it to be faulty.

The Management, Band anelse whose christian or surnames contain at least one vowel, denies any responsibility for the above advertisement. We werent there and we didnt do anything OK.

Blue on Black Fans - We need you more than ever !!!!

1st gig for the New Line Up........

Despite Elton John playing just 5 miles away (complete with a 22,000 strong audience apparently paying between 60 and 80 pounds each!) the fabulous Union filled up with the usual enthusiastic and discerning audience, all waiting for the Band to start (some fans travelling over 700 miles to see the new line up, thanks John).

And just after 9.00pm the stage erupted into an evening of Weapons Grade Blues/Rock.

From the very first bars of Seventh Son it was obviously going to be a night to remember with the new boy Tony Toms fired up and playing like he had been on the Road with the Boys for years.

It was great to see how into the music he was, obviously enjoying the whole night (just by the smiles on his face) and working closely with Steve and Keith to explore every direction of the music.

He certainly played his socks off (despite being understandably very nervous) and was an instant success with the audience who marvelled as the way he had stepped into the drum seat and delivered such a powerful performance, especially when they knew he had only had just 8 hours rehearsal !

The audience were very responsive and vocal from the first number to the last giving the Band a wonderful reception that continued on past 11.15pm when they were very adamant in urging to Band to play an encore (always a compliment at the Music Shrewd Union ).

After Brian had signalled his approval (bless him) the boys obliged the crowd with a breath taking version of JJ Cales Magnolia,  truly a moving moment and one of the best versions I have heard them do for a long time (and I have heard quite a few).

At the end of this stunning gig, the Band spent a long time being congratulated by everyone on the overall performance and specifically at how well Tony had fitted in with Boys bringing his own style to the Band.

So there you are, if you were there you will know how good the night was and if you were not there,  well sadly you missed another historical milestone in Blue on Blacks history.

Big Blue

Caution Moving Doors .................

For some months now, the Band has been aware of Alans health and its possible fragility and to some extent Steve and Keith tried to compensate (taking the Lion's share of Loading/Unloading/Driving etc.) to help things last for the longest possible time.

However, following the four fantastic nights in east Anglia at the beginning of this month, we returned home for Alan to have more tests followed by a Dr recommendation that unless he changed his lifestyle radically, things could go past a point of no return.

Therefore, with this recommendation to stop playing and undergo rest, more tests and treatment, it was with great sadness that Alan made the decision on 02/05/07 to stop playing with immediate effect after 5 fabulous years with Blue on Black.

Steve and Keith completely understood and backed Alans decision totally (after all we are talking about a very dear friend here not just a great percussionist).

However, as all of us have always regarded the Band as being bigger than the sum of its three parts, the only decision that could be made by all, was for the Band to continue with a different drummer.

We had some fantastic help & support from close friends who suggested candidates and supplied contact details, numbers etc.  (very many thanks to them - they know who they are) and with Alan heading off to France (for some months of peace & rest) Steve and Keith cancelled two imminent gigs (first time in the Bands history !) and many auditions were held.

Sound of One Door Opening   May 2007

We were truly surprised with the number and quality of people who came forward to play and after many late nights and early mornings of auditioning, we are now extremely pleased to announce the name of Blue on Blacks new percussionist.

His name is Tony (Toms) Thomas and he is not only a wonderful drummer but a truly nice guy as well with a fine sense of humour (just as important as technique in the selection criteria).

Tony has played with many Bands over his 40 plus years and has a real feel for his drumming (playing from the heart ) and both Steve and Keith had no hesitation in selecting  Tony as the third member of Blue on Black.

He is very much his own man, with his own style and has already started to make a real and positive contribution to Blue on Blacks future - we wouldn't want it any other way.

The new Band is working hard towards being gig tight for its debut on Saturday 26/05/07 before settling down to business as usual and working on some brand new material to bring into the set very soon.

As always there is a combined determination that Blue on Black will continue to go from strength to strength with Alan remaining a close friend and part of the Band (just in a different way).

We hope you will join Steve and Keith in welcoming Tony to Blue on Black and continue to give the Band the wonderful support you've previously shown us ?

So there we are, despite the Sound of One Door Closing (helping Alan to retire), we are also very excited as a New Door Opens for  Blue on Black 's  with Tony now driving the Percussion seat.

Very best wishes, we all hope to see you on the circuit very soon

Keith, Steve, Tony & Big Blue

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry, This Show is selling out FAST ......

New CD Reviews from "Rorys Friends" in Germany

It's translated from the original German so please make allowances for Babel Fish and its limitations:

Cornwall in England is the homeland of the Blues/Rock Power Trio Blue on Black

Blue on Black are

Keith Howe (Guitar Vocals),

Alan Ibbotson (Drums&Vocals) and

Steve Jones (Bass&Vocals)....

Although they have produced three CDs to date including an earlier Live-album "Good to Go", they have only released two of them so far (the third In Transit another Live CD, is due out sho