Thanks to everyone who came to see us at The Tyne Bar on Easter Monday. We had a great time (despite BBB kicking hell out of his pedal board) and were knocked out by the reception. Lots of great pictures have been shared, and crammyjim’s youtube playlist gives a good insight into some of the songs played. We played 18 in total (including one cover: a song from the wonderful Yayhoos – look them up – which appears on BBB’s first album, Trigger Finger, recorded at Ally’s Mill Studios in Alnwick). The pics included here are from Graeme Ogle (not sure how he got that high for the overhead shots – any clues?) and Bruce Barlow, but there are a good few more knocking around. Great venue, great audience, maybe a touch chilly so roll on summer when we’ll see you in July at the We Are Back festival at The Cluny

A new project on the horizon – moving back to a high energy three piece (guitar/slide, bass, drums with two vocals).  Time to get back into pub rock.  First booking in – The Tannery, Hexham, Saturday May 21st 8.30pm.

After a great night with Mike Zito at The Cluny, I’m back up the coast in Amble this Sunday afternoon – small but perfectly formed micro pub 🙂

My next solo outing is at The Cluny, this Thursday night, supporting the fantastic Mike Zito – hope he has that guitar with him!

There’s a fantastic weekend coming up (July 15, 16 17) at The Cluny in Newcastle – and The Bates Motel are headlining the first night, with Bad Bob Bates solo on the Saturday and Ally and Dave from The Bates Motel also playing with KSVT on the Sunday – plus we get top class acts such as The Ian Siegal Band and Elles Bailey!  What’s not to like?  See you there?  Info and tickets from The Cluny or their website.

Wow the bookings so far this year have been great – Bad Bob Bates solo, Oil City Shakers duo, Ma Kelly’s Boys quo tribute and the new originals band, The Bates Motel.  On top of that the diary is filling up with some great ones to come, including a solo support slot for Mike Zito at The Cluny on Thursday 24th Feb .

Here’s some pics of The Bates Motel at Steelies in Hartlepool on Sunday 23rd January – coming back to The Cluny in July as part of the We Are Back  three day festival on Friday the 15th, with a solo outing from me too on the Saturday (16th).

See you on the road 🙂 , BBB

Check out the dates page for all current dates for 2022.  More coming in too, and another possible new project on the horizon.  Watch this space…..

BBB December gigs have just been added to the Dates page, and 2022 gigs will be added soon enough.  In the meantime, why not indulge in some Xmas blues….  Click on the images

Thanks so much for the turn out at The Cluny for The Bates Motel debut.  The place was packed and the audience response was so positive right from the off.  It was so good we’re going to do it again and keep it going for a while at least – gigs to follow in 2022 from Hartlepool to Newcastle for now, but hopefully more to come – watch the dates page and FaceBook.

Here’s a vid from Tim of the last number before the encore: Bridge Street In The Rain, from the Bridge Street album.

…. and here’s the next Bates Motel gig.