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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 😉  .

Hey – don’t forget my Xmas tunes!

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…

Another live vid – from this Tuesday 5th Sept, 17, at Fretmarks music shop in Bedlington.  Mark’s got a great set up going there with some dazzling prices – he’ll beat online retailer prices too, but isn’t allowed to advertise as such.  A great discovery for me.  Get yourselves down – service with a smile.

Bad Bob Bates – The 27

Tine to release three new songs as the “Let It Go” EP.

This 3 track EP was inspired by travelling through California. You get the laid back Americana of “Sausalito”, followed by the California Rock influenced “Let It Go” and then the story focused country melancholia of “Sometimes”. Pretty varied stuff, but just where my head has been lately. I’ll work out a direction one day.

I hope you like it OK.

All songs written and composed by Chris Davison as Bad Bob Bates.
All vocals and stringed instruments – Bad Bob Bates
Keyboards and percussion – Ally Lee
Production and Engineering – Ally Lee

Recorded at Mill Studios, Alnwick, August 2016 and Sept 2017

EP title pic – Janie Davison
Let It Go track pic – Bernie Penman
Sausalito track pic – Chris Davison
Sometimes track pic – Chris Davison

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A nice weekend coming up.  First time at Libby May’s in Sunderland Friday 1st September – cool new basement bar.  I’m plating solo and planning laid back Americana start to full on foot stomping finale.  I rarely get to Sunderland so looking forward to this.  Gonna try to channel some Buddy Miller and Ryan Adams early on, and maybe a bit of Western Plains Rory Gallagher.  Plenty BBB originals too, and there’ll be CDs for sale (just a fiver).

On Saturday I’m back at The Cluny in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley with Oil City Shakers duo, supporting the wonderful blues/rock guitarist Chantelle McGregor.  On stage from 8 pm.  Great venue, great setting, great beers and wines/spirits and I’m sure it’ll be a fantastic evening.  Tickets/door from The Cluny.  We’ll have OCS CDs for sale too.  Well worth the money!

I nipped in to do a quick session for Blank Slate Acoustic session this weekend.  Here’s the first track.  Not very acoustic mind 😉

https://blank-slate-creative.com/2017/07/31/bad-bob-bates-blank-slate-acoustic-session-part-1-video/

Hope you like it – more to come.

No storming the castle for us this year, so Oil City Connection have agreed to support the wonderful Chantelle McGregor at Cluny 2 on Saturday 2nd September.  8 pm on stage.  That’ll be a great night!