History of British Blues

Introduction

This section provides the reader with a history of British Blues as an educational resource in terms of articles and essays, interviews with legendary British blues artists, memories and memorabilia from readers lucky enough to have witnessed the early British blues scene, recommended British blues history books and references to other websites containing the history of British blues. We hope this is useful. Please feel free to email [email protected] with any comments / additional material / etc.

Artist Directories and Galleries

Here you will find directories and photographic galleries of legendary British blues artists and bands including rare previously unpublished material. Being developed in conjunction with Earlyblues.com - to be published in 2018.

Click here - for a directory of early British blues artists, their backgrounds, home towns and musical associations.

Click here - for a directory of early British blues bands, their formation, composition and years active.

Biographies

Biographies of early British blues artists

Here you will find a series of biographies of early British blues artists and bands.

Interviews

Interviews with legendary British blues artists

Here you will find a list of interviews with legendary British blues artists including reminisces of the early scene.

Articles and Essays

Articles and Essays on British Blues

Here you will find articles and essays on the birth of British Blues, sources and influences, evolution of British blues and where we are today.

Events

Reviews of British Blues Events

Here you will find reviews of gigs and festivals on the British blues scene.

Memories

Memories of the Early British Blues Scene - Readers own memories of the early British Blues scene

Memorabilia - memorabilia of the early British Blues scene

Early British Blues Clubs and Venues

Early British Blues Clubs - more details coming soon.

Here you will find details of clubs and venues in the early British blues scene including artists and bands that performed at the clubs.

Early British Blues Festivals

Early British Blues Festivals - more details coming soon.

Here you will find details of festivals with predominantly blues content in the early British blues scene including artists and bands that performed at the festivals.

Early British Blues Organisations

Here you will find details of early organisations dedicated to the promotion of British blues. Coming soon.

Vintage British Blues Magazines

Synopsis of British Blues magazines - coming soon.

Here you will find a synopsis of British blues magazines, plus those published in several European countries.

Reproductions of vintage British blues magazines

Here you will find reproductions of complete volumes of early vintage British blues magazines.

Classic British Blues Albums

Reviews of classic British blues albums

Here you will find reviews of classic British blues albums from the 60s and 70s.

Charting The Blues

Here you will find articles on blues artists who were successful in the UK record charts.

American Folk Blues Festival and The British Tours (1963-1966)

The American Folk Blues Festival toured Europe as an annual event for several years beginning in 1962. It introduced audiences in Europe, including the UK, to leading blues performers of the day such as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson, most of whom had never previously performed outside the US. The tours attracted substantial media coverage, including TV shows, and contributed to the growth of the audience for blues music in Europe.

Blues and Gospel Train

On 7 May 1964, Granada Television broadcast Blues and Gospel Train, a programme directed by John Hamp featuring Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Rev. Gary Davis, Cousin Joe and Otis Spann. For filming, the company transformed the disused Wilbraham Road railway station into "Chorltonville", giving it the supposed appearance of a southern U.S.-style station. About 200 fans were brought by train to the platform opposite the performers. The performance was interrupted by a rainstorm, after which Tharpe performed the gospel song "Didn't It Rain".