Blues Week 2009

Sunday 2nd - Friday 7th August 
University of Northampton
United Kingdom

Our 10th Anniversary!

Blues Week 2009 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

JOHN MILLER, Guitar
John Miller was inspired to take up the Country Blues guitar after seeing Mississippi John Hurt at the 1963 Philadelphia Folk Festival.  He taught himself to play guitar by listening to records and recorded his first album in 1973.  John has released 6 instructional videos on the music of Furry Lewis, Bo Carter, Robert Wilkins, Elizabeth Cotton and John Hurt (Volumes 1 & 2).  John recently released ‘This Old Hammer’, his first solo country blues recording since the early 1970s.

This year, John will teach 3 classes: Country Blues Repertoire, where he will teach classics by well-known and obscure musicians by ear; Country Blues Musicianship, a class to help students develop the skills to learn by ear, create original arrangements and expand your chord vocabulary and accompaniment skills; and Intro to Country Blues Guitar, which is designed for guitarists new to finger-picking blues.

KENNY SULTAN, Guitar
From Santa Barbara, CA., Kenny Sultan has been teaching guitar for over 25 years. Along with his partner, Tom Ball, he has released 8 CDs, and more recently 2 solo CDs of his own work.  In 2007, The Martin Guitar Company honoured him with his own signature model based on his trusty 1936 sunburst Martin 000-18.

Kenny's class will focus on finger style blues from the monotone bass of Lightnin' Hopkins and other Texas and Mississippi bluesmen, to the alternating thumb of Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and John Hurt.  He will also teach his own arrangements which are a melting pot of all these styles.  Basic theory, ear training, rhythm tricks, and comping will also be covered.
 

STEVE JAMES, Guitar
We welcome the return of Steve James, who has been called "one of the most interesting and innovative guitarists on the folk and country blues scene".  Steve is committed to sharing elements of the blues and roots music that make up the basis of his style.  Also known for his published books, lessons and instructional DVDs, he has taught at music workshop programmes around the world.

Steve will conduct two advanced and one beginner slide guitar class.  His advanced class will include detailed demonstrations of slide guitar arrangements in Open D, Open G and Cross Minor tunings.  Students will learn a new song each day along with classic slide licks and some new tricks.  For beginners, Steve will help players to develop tone, intonation and vibrato control with a slide while learning new songs.

RICK FRANKLIN, Guitar
Rick Franklin from Washington, D.C., has been playing and singing the blues at local and international festivals and community events, as well as various clubs and cafes, both in and around the DC area since 1981.  In addition to solo performances, Rick also performs 1920s and 1930s blues and ragtime in the Memphis and St. Louis guitar-duet style with the popular acoustic blues trio Franklin, Harpe, and Usilton. 

Rick will teach beginning to intermediate 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.  With 5 acoustic albums and one instructional DVD (An introduction to Country Blues Guitar), he is firmly established in traditional blues music circles.   He is the founder of the European Blues Association and Director of Blues Week 2009.  In 2007, Michael 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 teach students the basic skills to play country blues guitar.  He will focus on rhythm, chords and how to pick out melodies using alternating bass patterns.  Michael will also conduct a vocal class demonstrating techniques such as breathing and phrasing to help singers find their true voice.  Danny McCormack will assist him on keyboards.  Be prepared to sing.

MICHAEL MESSER, Slide Guitar
Michael Messer is a slide guitar master.  His obsessive appetite for knowledge of the art is virtually unequalled.  Michael has recently released the internationally acclaimed ‘Introduction to Blues Slide Guitar’ instructional DVD to rave reviews.  His most recent CD release, ‘Lucky Charms’ (2006), is described as contemporary, accessible and wholly unique.  Among his other releases, ‘Second Mind’ (2003) was awarded ‘Blues Guitar Album of the Year’ and ‘King Guitar’ (2001) reached number one in the chart of the US publication ‘Living Blues’.  To further reflect the esteem in which he is held, Newtone Strings is conjunction with National Reso-phonic Guitars have a Michael Messer brand specifically made for National guitars. 

For Blues Week, Michael will conduct an intermediate to advanced ‘master class’ on bottleneck guitar styles covering all aspects of playing. 

HOMESICK MAC, Slide Guitar
Homesick Mac has been playing the guitar since the age of 15.  His love for blues began when he heard the music of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.  From 1983 to 1991, Mac formed 'The Blues Trio', an acoustic group that released 5 recordings.  For four years, Mac taught slide guitar at Blues Week and built up a solid following here in the UK.  His enthusiasm and energy is unrivalled. 

Mac will teach beginner/intermediate slide guitar.  He will cover open and standard tunings, help to develop solid soloing skills and improve your vibrato to get a good, clean slide tone.

JOE FILISKO, Harmonica
Joe can be found teaching harmonica every Monday at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music.  His area of expertise is the traditional acoustic prewar and amplified postwar playing styles and all their nuances.  It’s not likely you will find many aspects regarding the current state of the diatonic harmonica that have not been influenced in some way by Joe Filisko.  The SPAH organization named Joe ‘Harmonica Player of the Year’ in 2001. 

For Blues Week, Joe will be teaching two intermediate/advanced and one beginner class.  His objective is to teach students exactly what they need to know and do to sound like a competent and seasoned player. He will focus on: how to breathe correctly; various hand techniques for acoustic & amplified playing; throat tremolo & vibrato; tongue blocking; and note bending.

GRANT DERMODY, Harmonica
Grant Dermody is a harmonica player and singer known for his rich tone, tasteful solos, and solid rhythmic playing.  Grant mostly plays acoustic blues with forays in to old-time, folk, gospel, and other American roots music.  He is in a country blues band with Orville Johnson and John Miller and periodically tours and records with Eric Bibb. 

Grant will conduct two intermediate/advanced and one beginner class.  For the advanced class, he will help each student improve his or her tone, comping and soloing.  He will explore 12 and 8 bar blues forms and how to approach each from a rhythmic, soloing, and fill point of view.  The beginning class will start at square one and move forward together at a pace that will challenge but not overwhelm. The class will learn some simple tunes in straight and cross harp and spend a good amount of time jamming while playing chords, single notes and basic rhythm chops.

EDDIE MARTIN, Harmonica
Born in London, Eddie Martin started playing acoustic guitar and harmonica at the age of 16.  He became a keen student of blues music - including Dr Ross and Joe Hill Louis.  Today, he is now widely recognised as the outstanding one-man blues band in the UK.  With 10 acclaimed cd / dvd releases on Blueblood Records, his 13 year professional career has seen him run numerous workshops for blues guitarists and harmonica players at all levels. 

For Blues Week, Eddie’s class is for beginners to intermediate.  Working through a course book, the emphasis is on playing to get you through basic techniques (e.g. bending and trill) to more advanced techniques (e.g. tongue block) using jams and set pieces and references to such as Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Walter Horton, Sonny Boy Williamson 11, James Cotton, Deford Bailey, Jimmy Reed etc.

 

DANNY McCORMACK, Keyboards
Danny McCormack was born in London and is now based in Birmingham.  He started playing the piano at the age of twelve and at 17 he joined King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys.  He stayed with them for 10 years developing his skills as an arranger and songwriter.  Danny is currently an ‘Associate Lecturer in Harmony and Composition’ at Derby University.  He has worked with Van Morrison, Bobby Parker and Roy Wood.  He is also part of the song writing team and music director for the Michael Roach Band.

For Blues Week 2008, Danny will be available for anyone who is interested in Blues Piano/Keyboards.  He has simplified many of the techniques and skills involved in blues music and improvising to the point where even complete beginners can get a great deal of insight into the feel of the music.  If you have a portable keyboard and would like to develop your skills, please bring it along.  We ask that you let us know in advance so that we can allocate a classroom big enough to accommodate everyone.

MIKE BAYTOP, Bones/Percussion
We are delighted to announce the return of Mike Baytop to conduct a bones workshop.  He was born in Washington DC in 1948 and he learned the bones from Richard ‘Mr Bones’ Thomas (1922-2002), a master craftsman and regular fixture on the DC music scene.  Michael plays the bones as a percussion instrument that provides rhythmic accompaniment. The class will cover basic techniques as well as how to listen to music to provide the best rhythms to accompany a given song.  If you are interested in learning to play the bones, please bring along a set.  If you do not have any, there will be some available for use.

Registration Fees 2009

On Campus: includes all classes, activities, room & board
£580 for European Blues Association Members, £605 Non Members

Off Campus: includes all classes, activities and lunch
£380 for EBA Members, £405 Non Members

Per Day: includes all classes, activities and lunch
£110 for EBA Members, £120 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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