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Garry's 70th Birthday Bash
I have been referring to this show for weeks on the website as 'Summat very special'. I can, at last, put some meat on the the bones.
Why is it very special? It is special to me. Earlier this year someone in my family said "You're 70 this year aren't you?" After vigorously denying it, a stewards enquiry was called and it turned out to be a fact. Shocked as I was,
(in my head I am still looking forward to my 50th) said person remarked "you can't let that pass without leaving a footprint can you?"
The last time I had a birthday party we were served jelly with mandarin oranges in crinkly paper dishes and the right amount of candles would have fitted on a Jaffa Cake.
I have decided to indulge myself on this occasion and run myself a gig with people involved whom I love, admire and have had a very close working and personal relationship with (and were free on the date:-).
Each one means a lot to me for various and interesting reasons apart from the fact they are all beautiful souls whom I love being around.
Sadly one is missing, arguably the most most important Player ever to grace the boards at Bluefunk - Jim Kirkpatrick. These days Jim is unbelievably busy, working and touring constantly with several top line bands. It was therefore virtually inevitable he would be out of reach on the day (with FM).
So what do we have? Too many of my favourite people. It could be described as my very own vanity project. But that would be unfair, I am not vain, just almost perfect :-) Join me for some fun.
Clive Mellor
Victor Brox
There can't be many Bluefunksters reading this who don't know these guys intimately. Normally fronted by Jim Kirkpatrick, they have made more appearances for Bluefunk than any other musicians both with Jim or others. The UK eqivalent of Double Trouble, Chris Cliff and Neil 'Kegsy' McCallum are the best blues Rhythm section I know. They will laying down the concrete for Jon and Jordan.
Jordan Swann
The living legend Victor Brox was my introduction to live blues when aged 15, I saw him open for Sonny Terry and Brownie Maghee with his Blues Train.
I never recovered. I promoted a gig for his 80th in 2021, if this is half as good it will do for me.
He brings his band which includes our friend Clive Mellor. Clive has had an amazing year touring with Richard Hawley, Liam Gallagher and gigs with Paul Weller. He says he was just in the right place at the right time. It is probably true, he is a rubbish player:-)
Dave is a fascinating character. As a founder member and lead guitarist of the post-punk rock band The Alarm, he was a proper pukka Rock star. The stats bear this out.
Dave Sharp
Throughout the 80s they had a string of high quality hit records internationally and played to hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the Atlantic. Then in '91 they split. Dave disappeared into the heart of America living the life of a troubadour with just his acoustic guitar. He found the new Dave Sharp and most of the USA. He returned as a hell of a songwriter and his new music is superb.
Jon Amor
The wonderful Jon Amor was thrust upon the UK as one fifth of the Hoax, a memorable Blues band who unsurprisingly dominated the UK blues scene throughout the 90s then moved on to solo projects. They played for Bluefunk on their 2010 reunion tour and were superfine.
Jon Amor has visited us many times since, in many incarnations. His recorded output is prolific and of rare quality. If I am a collector of anything, it is Jon Amor. I adore his albums and the man.
This will be the second time we have thrown him together with Heavy Weather. The first time (with Jim) was stupidly good and a rematch has remained on my wish list ever since. I don't know what they will play but like last time, neither do they.
Jordan had just turned 14 when I invited him to Bluefunk for the first time to step up with Jim Kirkpatrick. This was just after he had, at 13, been invited to the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London to compete in the young guitarist of the year against players up to 25 years old. By age he would still qualify but now it would frankly be unfair on the competition.
Jordan is the closest thing to a prodigy I know. He has at last grown into his prodigious talent and has become a wonderfully versatile and mature player.
Heavy Weather
For those as old as I am who may need reminding, this is me
Bluefunks 10th Anniversary promo video. Sept 2016. Featuring Jim Kirkpatrick's Heavy Weather with special guest Jon Amor.
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