…. for The Velvets, to be announced soon.  Islington to Glasgow and many points in between, Sept + .  Details soon.

Liverpool on May 27th too – well, you just have to when Mr Cale is in town…

The Velvets begin our 2017 campaign to celebrate the work of The Velvet Underground, staring in Blaydon, Tyne and Wear, then up to Kinross in Scotland.

Friday 27th Jan, The Velvets, The Black Bull, Bridge street, Blaydon (cc)

Sat 28th Jan, The Velvets, Backstage, Kinross, Scotland (cc)

Details of more national dates (London to Glasgow) and festivals to follow.

Pleased be involved in a couple of these – just coming up.

Sun 22nd January, BBB solo as part of songwriter Sunday at Cluny 2, Ouseburn, Newcastle, timings tbc.  Chuffed to be part of this.  With Steve Daggett and Ema Lea.

Wed 25th January, BBB solo as part of originals night, 7-9.30pm, Creative Base, Bill Quay, Gateshead, NE10 0HW.  With some really talented young ‘uns

A nice end to the year at Newcastle’s O2 Academy as part of Rock Legends event (pics below).  See you in 17 in a range of formats – BBB solo, Oil City Shakers (duo), The Velvets (a few choice bookings with the 4/5 piece covering the classic Velvet Underground years), Ma Kelly’s Boys (Quo’s frantic four early days), Oil City Connection (4 piece covering the Canvey r+b sound – maybe 2 or 3 special gigs this year) and The Bandits (classic bar room/pub rock 3 piece if we can get ourselves back on the road again).

Keep supporting live music – and thanks to anyone that watches me play, downloads my music or buys a cd – much appreciated).

Hey it’s Christmas.  Don’t forget to get your BBB Christmas songs – Please Come Home (for Christmas) is the original, and Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer is a cover – bit a bit different.  Hope you like them. https://badbobbates.bandcamp.com/

Pleased to have a couple of “different” solo bookings coming in for January 17.  Mostly my solo performances are full nights at various venues, or supporting touring bands, but this time I get to share the stage with other songwriters – very Nashville, ha ha!

I’ll be at Cluny2, Ouseburn, Newcastle, with the talented Steve Daggett and Ema Lea: Songwriter Sunday – 22nd January from 3 ish.  We’ll be playing our own compositions in turn, and helping each other out as we do so – another new thing for me and my solo work.

The following Wednesday evening (25th Jan, 7 – 9.30) I’ll be at Creative Base, Bill Quay, Gateshead as part of a night of original performances – 30 minute set each.

My albums will be on sale at both events and I’ll also be showcasing some new material amongst the already established as I work towards my next release – working title 16/17 though it might be 54/55 – then again, some words might jump out at me instead.  Let’s see.

Anyway, expect acoustic, archtop, CBGs and maybe a tele…

So pleased Cluny2 Velvets launch went to so.  Fantastic vocal and appreciative audience – we got to show what the band can do.

“…Top draw, in terms of the musicianship and your interpretation of such a cult band, really authentic.”

“The sound was nailed – great interpretations of wonderful songs.  Fantastic musicianship all round.”

Pics by Mark Illingworth.  Check out his great work on Instagram – @mark.illingworth

Rationalising a few things and decision making as the year comes closer to ending.  Not taking any additional bookings this year, but…

Bad Bob Bates solo work – need some more in next year to add to what’s already come in.  Happy to cover support slots as well as full two/three set sessions.  The archtop guitar and Laney 15 watt amp have really helped the range of material I can do comfortably now, so gentle Americana to full on foot stomping blues and boogie with the foot percussion!  Looking forward to my next solo run out at The Blue Bell in Belford from 3pm Sunday 13th November.

Oil City Shakers – similarly, need more of this duo in for next year.  It’s a great format for a pretty varied set of material, and Ronnie’s blues harp and gentle wailing makes all the difference.

The Bandits – on hold for now until we can get our transport and approach sorted, though a couple in already for next year.  It’s a great band, and like OCS is the biggest duo you’ll ever see, The Bandits are the biggest trio you’ll ever see…

Ma Kelly’s Boys (old Quo, 70 to 76) goes from strength to strength and is now cooking on gas.  Well worth all the work put in to date.  See you at the O2 Academy in Newcastle on 27th December with our friends from The Dirty South, and next up we’re at The Skinner’s Arms, Belford Club, Belford, Northumberland on Saturday night, 12th November.  That’ll be a belter.

The Velvets venture is ticking along nicely now too, in preparation for the 50 year anniversary of The Velvet Underground and Nico release next year.  We’re at Cluny 2 in Newcastle on Sunday 20th November, 3.00-6.30pm, delivering classic Velvet Underground in the spirit and style of the originals, with weird drum kit, spiky guitars and the material that has influenced so many artists and bands ever since.  Up to Kinross with it in the New Year, then we plan to gate crash John Cale’s VU Liverpool bash weekend with a gig hot on his heels.

Oil City Connection.  This has been one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done – let’s see if we can do some more in 2017…

Recording.  I’ve already got the majority of three new tracks recorded (Ally Lee’s Mill Studios) and new songs are coming through.  It’s all about finding the time to put another album together for release in 2017, all being well.

Custom CoolEtch etched metal guitar parts is also chugging along nice thanks to the artistry, skill and talent of Janie D.  I’ll keep doing my best to support marketing, promo and sales, though not much time left over for it.  See links.

Bridge Street Guitars.  Let’s see how much time I left for this next year.  See links.

Oh, did I mention I also have a “real” job too, and additional freelance work.  Need to rationalise some of that too!

Stormin the castle, rothbury rocks, Darlo r+b, plus the secret thing. Thanks to everyone who came and saw me play

Bikers and weirdness this weekend as it’s Stormin The Castle (North East MAG mega-event) and secret stuff.  So, I’m out with Ma Kelly’s Boys on the Stormin main stage on Saturday, then being weird with a secret gig, at a secret venue – and it’s already sold out!

Off to that London on Monday ’til Wednesday sorting some interesting stuff out.  Mums the word.

Saturday 3rd September, Ma Kelly’s Boys, Mains Stage, Stormin The Castle Custom Bike Show, Witton Castle, Witton Le Wear, Weardale, Co Durham

Sunday September 4th, a secret band at a secret gig, somewhere secret tbc. – it’s a secret (dunno how that works), 7 pm ish, and it’s SOLD OUT