Blues Week 2007

Sunday 5th - Friday 10th August 
University of Northampton
United Kingdom

Blues Week 2007 provides an opportunity for blues enthusiasts to come together for a full week of music making.  It is a chance to broaden your skills and knowledge in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere.  The programme will offer morning and afternoon workshops and classes for all levels.  The beginners class is for those who have little or no knowledge of their instrument.  The intermediate and advanced classes are for those who already play to varying degrees of proficiency and are ready to learn new tunes, techniques and styles.  The evening activities throughout the week will consist of a concert by the staff members, a student concert and nightly  jam sessions.  In addition, there will be special presentations for the entire group.

The Classes

Classes will begin on Monday morning and run through Friday afternoon.  There will be 2 sessions in the morning beginning at 9:30 and lasting until 10:45 and the second class will start at 11 o'clock and end at 12:15.  In the afternoon, the first class will start at 2:15 and end at 3:30.  The second afternoon class will commence at 3:45 and end at 5:00.  All classes and workshops during the week will last for one hour and fifteen minutes.

The Staff

STEFAN GROSSMAN, Guitar
Stefan Grossman grew up in Brooklyn, New York.  He started playing guitar around 15 and to date has recorded over 20 solo albums.  He was a student of the great Rev. Gary Davis and his calling was to learn, enjoy and share Davis’ music.  In 1967, he started writing books about country blues and soon began putting out guitar lessons on tape.  He created a tablature system for playing guitar in which he simply used numbers to show which string and frets to play with which fingers.  In 1968, he started Kicking Mule Records, a label that showcased blues guitar styles.  Stefan is a musician, a performer, a recording artist, a visual artist, a writer, a teacher, a producer and a business man.  He is a true pioneer and his Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop and Vestapol Videos have set the standard for all of the teaching that takes place in blues workshops throughout the world. 

For Blues Week, Stefan will conduct a class for intermediate to advanced students on the Ragtime Guitar of Rev. Gary Davis.  He will discuss and teach a variety of ragtime blues and rags that will illustrate many of Rev. Davis' ideas of combining rhythmic licks, single string runs, alternating bass and unique left hand fingerings.

RICK FRANKLIN, Guitar
Rick Franklin from Washington, D.C., has been playing and singing the Blues at local festivals and community events, as well as various clubs and cafes, both in and around the Washington, DC area for the past twenty six years.  Rick's musical style of blues is identified with such legendary players like Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller along with contemporary players like the late John Jackson.  In addition to solo performances, Rick also performs 1920s and 1930s blues and ragtime with the popular acoustic blues trio Franklin, Harpe, and Usilton. This trio performs blues and ragtime in the Memphis and St. Louis guitar-duet style.  Rick will teach beginning to advanced chord progressions, rhythm, and playing alternating bass patterns in country blues guitar techniques.

MICHAEL ROACH, Guitar and Vocals
Michael Roach has had years of experience organising concerts, directing festivals and conducting workshops.  He is a favourite with fingerpickers and he is firmly established within blues music circles.  Michael is the founder of the European Blues Association and Director of Blues Week 2007.  With 4 solo acoustic CDs under his belt, Michael has just released the highly acclaimed album ‘I Betcha!’ and he is now known as a vocalist and leader of his own eight piece soul/rhythm & blues band. 

For beginners and intermediate guitarists, Michael will be available throughout the week to give one to one and small group class instruction.  His class will focus heavily on rhythm and developing the skills necessary for playing country blues.  Michael will also conduct a vocal class demonstrating techniques to help singers find their true voice.  The primary aim of this class will be on breathing and phrasing.

SCOTT AINSLIE, Guitar
Scott Ainslie heard Virginia Bluesman, John Jackson play a couple of songs in the middle of a Mike Seeger concert just outside of Washington DC, at Groveton High School back in 1967.  Scott started playing guitar a month later and has now spent nearly forty years studying and playing traditional music, visiting and documenting senior musicians in America’s old-time banjo and fiddle music, blues and gospel traditions.  With four CD’s, a teaching DVD on the guitar techniques of delta blues legend Robert Johnson, and a book on Johnson’s music ‘Robert Johnson/At The Crossroads’ (Hal Leonard, 1992) to his credit, Scott continues to present programs that are vital and entertaining.

For Blues Week, Scott will conduct two advanced and one beginner slide guitar class.  His advanced class will concentrate on the slide tunes of Robert Johnson: ‘Come On In My Kitchen’, ‘Ramblin' On My Mind’, ‘Crossroads Blues’, and ‘Walkin' Blues’.  He will also demonstrate slide in standard tuning using the accompaniments of David 'Honeyboy' Edwards and Muddy Waters as a guide.  For beginner’s, Scott will teach the basics of allowing the slide notes you want to be heard to sound terrific, clear and emotionally moving.  Right and left hand muting will be covered along with slide in open and standard tuning.

MICHAEL MESSER, Slide Guitar
Michael Messer is a slide guitar master.  His obsessive appetite for knowledge of the art is virtually unequalled.  Michael has just released his eighth album, ‘Lucky Charms’.  Among his other releases, ‘King Guitar'  (2001) reached number one in the chart of US publication ‘Living Blues’ and ‘Second Mind’ (2003) was awarded ‘Blues Guitar Album of the Year’.  To further reflect the esteem in which he is held, Newtone Strings in conjunction with National Reso-phonic Guitars have a Michael Messer brand specifically made for National guitars.  For Blues Week, Michael will conduct a 'master class' on bottleneck styles for intermediate to advanced students.

ASHLEY DOW, Guitar
Ashley Dow was born in the UK and bought his first guitar at the age of 13. Initially he was inspired by the pop and rock music until a friend played him some tracks by Mississippi John Hurt.  With the help of albums and tablature from the Kicking Mule record label, Ashley laboured away at mastering finger style guitar.  Initially, he studied ragtime guitar and was influenced to play slide upon hearing the late Sam Mitchell playing a National guitar.  In 1991, Ashley formed the country blues-roots duo Rag Mama Rag with his wife Deborah who plays washboard and harmonica. Now based in France, they have recorded 5 albums and have toured extensively throughout Europe and the UK.  

For Blues Week, Ashley will conduct the beginner to intermediate slide class.  He will cover the basic tunings of open D & G, the use of the slide, damping, chords, turnarounds and repertoire.

GRANT DERMODY, Harmonica
Grant Dermody is a harmonica player and singer known for his rich tone, tasteful solos, and solid rhythmic playing.  Wayne Horvitz writes, "Grant has it all. Time, phrasing, great ideas, and above all a stunning tone. Totally in the tradition but with a real voice of his own."  Grant started out as a Chicago style blues harmonica player. He later concentrated more on Delta and Piedmont blues, and branched out to other forms of acoustic music including old-time, folk, and alt-country.  Grant was very popular with his students at Blues Week last year and we welcome his return. 

For this year, Grant will conduct two advanced and one beginner class.  His advanced class will focus on 12 and 8 bar blues form from both a comping and a soloing perspective.  Another focus will be advanced tongue blocking, tone and bending techniques.  Students will practice learning tunes by ear as well as by tab.  His beginner’s class will start at square one and move forward joyfully at a pace that will challenge but not overwhelm. Proper hand position, how to make single notes, the basics of bending and rhythmic playing will be demonstrated and practiced all week.

DENNIS GRUENLING, Harmonica
Dennis Gruenling has been laying down some of the best blues & roots harmonica in the East Coast region for over a dozen years now.  Ever since his self-titled debut with his band ‘Jump Time’ hit the streets in 1999, Dennis has been pulling in countless fans and numerous accolades from critics & musicians across the country for his swinging, highly original harmonica sound, and top-notch band.  Dennis has also been teaching blues harmonica for over 14 years now, and is in demand as a private instructor, or as part of numerous harmonica workshops and conventions that appear across the country.

For Blues Week, Dennis will conduct two beginners and one advanced class.  Lessons will start with an explanation of the approaches used on harmonica, including the advantages of the tongue-blocking method. Twelve bar blues formats will be used, explained and discussed, as well as ear-training, note-bending, trills, tongue trills, tongue vamps & rhythms, tongue-split octaves, and the basics of understanding the scale in blues.

RUSS GREEN, Harmonica
Russ Green was born in Chicago in 1967.  He is a great singer and powerful harp player.  His first ambition was to play guitar like Jimi Hendrix; unable to afford this he picked up the harmonica.  The sounds he heard in his head came to a realization when he first heard the harp player Sugar Blue in 1992.  After a 3-year stay as a film student in Seattle, Russ returned to Chicago and again found himself searching out Sugar Blue. This time they became fast friends and Russ began to learn the technique of his style.  Russ took this education and developed his own creative individual style.

For Blues Week, Russ will conduct two advanced and one beginner’s class.  The advanced classes will concentrate on control of the harmonica, tone improvement, breathing, blues scales and playing different positions.  The beginner class will concentrate on basic understanding of the instrument including; familiarization with the harmonica, how to control the instrument, playing clear notes, and introduction of scales.

Registration Fees 2007

On Campus: includes all classes, activities, room & board
£570 for European Blues Association Members, £595 Non Members

Off Campus: includes all classes, activities and lunch
£370 for EBA Members, £395 Non Members

Per Day: includes all classes, activities and lunch
£100 for EBA Members, £110 Non Members

Space is limited and it is advisable to book early to avoid disappointment. A £200 deposit will secure your place. 

Please Make Payment To: Euroblues Promotions Limited

Our John Jackson Youth Scholarship Fund will provide a limited number of subsidised places for young people between the ages of 14 to 21.  Students between the ages of 14 and 17 are eligible for a £200 subsidy. Students between the ages of 18 and 21 who are not in full time employment are eligible for a £150 subsidy. 

A parent or responsible adult must accompany all students 16 and under.  If you know of someone who qualifies or have a family member that you would like to bring along, please contact us for immediate consideration.  This scholarship is only available to first-time participants.  

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