Thomas Colvin
Ben Hewlett from England is one of the most remarkable harmonica teachers in the world. During his upcoming vacation in Bangkok, he will be offering a free harmonica workshop on Saturday, May 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Apoteca Bar, 33/28 Sukhumvit Soi 11. “Life seems to have given me a mission,” Ben says, “to play the [...]
Continue reading UK Harmonica Ace Ben Hewlett Offers Free Workshop in Bangkok on May 18
Zhang Ling, better known as”Big John,” is the owner of Cafe CD Blues in Beijing, China. The venue was first opened in 1995 as a jazz club by a horn player. Somewhere along the line Big John took over the joint and has steadily been introducing more blues into the programming. That should be no [...]
Continue reading Cafe CD Blues Presents The Beijing Blues Festival 2013 In May
Apoteka – Bar, Lounge, Laboratory opened late last year in the trendy Sukhumvit Soi 11 neighborhood of Bangkok. This month it is launching its live music offerings featuring BLUES! Keith Nolan, a Bangkok resident since 2000, brings in his band Keith Noland’s Love Gone Wrong, which is a straight-ahead blues band covering a range of [...]
Continue reading APOTEKA: New Bar in Bangkok Embraces the Blues
Thomas Colvin
Just learned that Danny California’s Blues Allstars are at Apoteka every Monday & Saturday. Check out the FB page for updates.
The Rockin’ Angels Blues Cafe in Phuket will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on February 14 & 15. Called “Ten Jam Years,” the event on the 14th will be held at Hard Rock Cafe [how's that for cooperation among friendly competitors!]. On the 15th, the event will be held in its own small cafe. Rockin’ [...]
Continue reading Phuket’s Rockin’ Angels Blues Cafe Celebrates 10th Anniversary
I had never heard of the Thai island resort of Koh Samui until last December 14, when I received a surprise email from “Li’l Willy” Brown, sent to me via our email facility on this website. He’s a bonafide British bluesman living in this remote paradise. Some events in his life at age 42 encouraged [...]
Continue reading “Li’l Willy” Brown Discovers Beach Paradise – and some blues too – in Koh Samui
What role does blues play in YOUR LIFE? SPEAK UP AND PUT YOURSELF ON THE BLUES MAP! Are you a musician — maybe only playing for your own private enjoyment, or perhaps a semi-professional with an active blues band? Are you a fan — getting your blues entirely from the internet, listening to your CD [...]
Continue reading What is YOUR Blues Life in 2013?
Thomas Colvin
My major personal objective this year is to learn how to play the cigar box guitar. I hope to buy one while in Memphis in late January. And, with luck and hard work, I hope to be performing as a solo act at least once a week. Wish me luck!!!
I also commit myself to attending at least one live performance a week.
Haro Echter
Manila
Haro Echter
My goal this year 2013 to put my 1950 SELMER LAPSTEEL GUITAR on the map in Manila..
I got my Selmer from a childhood friend with whom I learned playing the guitar with at the same time at the age of 12.We learned from other relatives some chords and we Jammed together until we got some songs out of it. My dad was always playing his music from Slim Whitman,Les Paul,Chet Atkins and Django Reinhardt.I got my first acoustic Jazz Guitar when I was 12 years old.Trying to copy my dads music.
When my best friend left Holland for Australia 6 years later I was so devastated,losing my guitarbuddy,I gave him my guitar.I told him to give it back to me when he was turning back to Holland.After more than 10 years he returned,but without my guitar.He said he left it at the jobsite where started his own career as a painter. His boss fired him on the spot and he was not able to rescue my guitar. Feeling guilty, he gave me a LAPSTEEL SELMER 1950.
I was not able to play it so I put it on my wall,just hanging…and 35 years later I found it in my stockroom in Manila,totally forgot about it. About time to do something with it. Disassembling the Lapsteel learned me the electronica was really from before 1950,but I got it working.Grinded the toplayer of black paint off and finished with some layers of clearcoating.Put 10-56 gauge nickelwound Ernie Balls on it and put the tuning in OPEN D. That’s DADF#AD . Fitting for me until now. Practicing for 2,5 month every day,I now got the hang of it. Amazingly,all those melodies from the past are coming out of my Lapsteel. Specially the Hawaian songs and licks were coming out of my memories.
I tried different open tunings,but the Bonnie Raitt,Lowell George and Ry Cooder licks were mostly in the Open D tuning .
Untill now,Lee Grane,Chase,Wally Gonzales,Henry Strzalkowski,Warren Norton and Cocoy Eugenio were all allowing me to join them on stage to let me play my Lapsteel.
Would be a great archievement to join Henry Strzalkowski,Tom Colvin, Rickie Cui,Eggpie de Castro and Wally Gonzales on one stage together,one day..my 2013 bucket list!
Glenn
My New Year’s “Blues” Resolution:
1. Work more on my blues harp playing.
2. Work even more on my blues guitar playing.
3. Form a blues band here in Gen. Santos City.
4. Update my blogs more frequently (www.bluespinoy.blogspot.com and http://www.bluespinoy.com).
PINOY BLUES POWER!!! 
Elwyn
My blues goal for 2013 is to be able to tour the Philippines with a blues revue. Working on that now, trying to take the Blues And Roll Sessions on the road. We’ll see… 
QUESTION: IS THERE INTEREST AROUND THE REGION AND BEYOND IN PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED RECORDINGS OF ASIAN BLUES BANDS? WHAT DO YOU THINK? VIEW THE VIDEO, READ THE LINKED ARTICLE AND SHARE YOUR COMMENTS. Ciaran Carruthers, owner of Roadhouse Manila Bay, and CD producer Gerry Diwa are sure working hard to promote their first CD on Roadhouse [...]
Continue reading Teaser Video for Pinoy Blues Jam CD
Thomas Colvin
As an indication of interest in the Roadhouse Rekords initiative, we have learned that in the first week of launch of its Facebook page, Roadhouse Rekords has already received over 3000 likes! On the other hand, no comments have come in to Blues Asia Network’s sharing of the launch of this new label. Maybe interest within the region, beyond the Philippines, is non-existent.
Thomas Colvin
Just learned that the PINOY BLUES JAM album is now available for download at iTunes. Bands around the region, and fans too, take note. There is, by the way, a link to the iTunes offering in our article announcing the launch of Roadhouse Rekords.
Thomas Colvin
The Roadhouse Rekords launch party was HUGELY SUCCESSFUL! The place as jammed packed, as seven bands performed from 8:30 p.m. until about 2 a.m. Moreover, there was a big crowd standing outside by the Bayshore Drive parking lot entrance, and even a larger crowd outside by the bay walk. Lots of notable people in the music industry attended too.
mighty odoño
glad to be part of this great project, and also thanks a lot master tom for showcasing this in your website. Mabuhay, Pinoy Blues!!! folks outside the Philippines can also download the songs or the cd itself thru itunes or amazon.
Thomas Colvin
Just learned that the album is already availible internationally on Amazon.com. Roadhouse Rekords really means business!
RECENT VISITORS: Our site experienced some internal coding problems which took our pages and posts off-line for an hour or two. Now repaired. Sorry for the inconvenience. Hope those who visited in last 24 hours will all see the4 important post from yesterday about the new Asian blues label. It may be the most isgnificant [...]
Continue reading RECENT VISITORS: Our site experienced so…
On Saturday night, December 15, Roadhouse Manila Bay launches Roadhouse Rekords, perhaps the first Asia-based, blues-oriented label ever with regional ambitions. Its first CD is entitled Pinoy Blues Jam. Collected here are 18 tracks, 14 of them originals, from seven of the bands which are featured regularly at Roadhouse: Dr. Crowley, Bleu Rascals, 69 Proof, [...]
Continue reading Asian Blues Label Launches December 15
Thomas Colvin
Is a regional strategy really viable? Are there hurdles that must be cleared? I have been myself working toward a regional framework for a couple of years but still do not know the answers to those questions. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Gerry D
Regional strategy needs a bit of infrastructure to really get off the ground, travel logistics is foremost. I know a lot of bands are willing to hop on a plane and play with just the cost covered but there’s still much to be done so that sponsors and promoters get their money back and maybe make a bit of profit. BluesAsiaNetwork makes this dream a bit more plausible each day. Roadhouse Macau and Roadhouse Manila Bay are two venues already ripe and ready, just need a few more dots and regional jaunts maybe a reality – Singapore, Bangkok, Taipei, Jakarta, KL, Manila! 
Interest in the blues is really beginning to pop up around the Philippines. Blues Asia Network has received communication, direct and indrect, about planned and prospective blues events in General Santos City, Iloilo and Bacolod. Even though the venerable Outpost Bar has closed in Cebu, the blues has found a new home every Tuesday at [...]
Continue reading The Blues Is Spreading in the Philippines
nerry
luv it
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“Man With Harp Not Angel”: God | THE JUNGLE 1:19 am on May 6, 2013 Permalink |
[...] seems to have given me a mission,” Ben says, “to play the harmonica, and encourage others to play the harmonica. “I’m offering a [...]