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Americana Festival then back at Mr Ants!

I’ll be at The Americana Festival at Sage Gateshead this weekend coming up, after a quick catch up with Del Amitri on the Friday night in Newcastle 😉 .  Then it’s back out solo – Friday 27th at the perfectly formed Mr Ants bar.

Mr Ants

BBB demo’s Ghost Pickups

Wilf from Ghost Pickups UK made me some pickups to try on my Bridge Street Guitars Bridgecaster.  Here’s a vid from the weekend – see what you think.  It’s worth getting in touch with Wilf to talk about your needs – he turns things into the sounds you’re after.  I was after a powerful bridge sound, with reduced trebel, and a more open and airy neck pickup sound.  I think he nailed it 😉  First proper try through, jusy recorded on my IPhone 8 without any special mics or set up.

Lovin’ the look of these too, so might get mine redone as relics:

 

Variety is the spice of life…

So, 2018 sees me out as solo (Bad Bob Bates), duo (Oil City Shakers), and bands (The Bandits – hard hitting 3 piece; Ma Kelly’s Boys – vintage Quo 70-76; The Velvets – celebration of The Velvet Underground and Nico).  See you at a pub, club, theatre, festival, bike rally or special event across the north east and nationally.  Variety is the spice of life, but there’ll be a bit of BBB in all of it 😉  .

2017….2018

Well we’ve lost some more icons (including Mr Petty, and electronics wizard Dik Mik), but we keep on playing and performing and buying and enjoying.

My year has been good.  The Velvets was a great alternative project, and looks to have legs for 2018 too.  Great people to work with and the national tour was a really positive experience.  Solo and duo work has been great too (Let It Go EP has gone down a bomb!), and good to see Ma Kelly’s Boys becoming a go to act for many looking to enjoy vintage rock and boogie – going national next year.

The back end of 2017 also sees the return of The Bandits – great to be back with this real pub rock trio, with dates coming in for 2018 too.  The Bandits will also be playing some of my original full band material from the last couple of releases.

So thanks to all who have come to see me play from London to Glasgow, and to those who have bought, streamed or listened to my music.  Have a peaceful festive period and remember what’s important in life – be happy, be kind and do as little harm as you can.  Here’s to 2018 when it comes…

Let It Go EP Cover Shot