Palmers Green plays host to one of North London’s top Blues clubs – St Harmonica’s hosted at the St Monica’s Parish Centre.
Together with The Vintage Blues Music Association, our sponsor Winkworth, and a host of supporting friends, The Friends of Broomfield Park are delighted to bring you another August full of the best in Blues. Broomfield Blues is our annual celebration and showcase of what can be found every Friday evening at St Harmonica’s. Each Sunday afternoon during August come along, eat, drink and listen to three hours of some of the best Blues music London has to offer.
If you like what you hear all we ask is that you acknowledge that by contributing to the collection “hat”, either when it does the rounds, or via the Control site. We’ve picked some excellent local cuisine for your added enjoyment and a very fine ice cream stall and bar.
Unless a hurricane appears we will certainly be there each Sunday; and if it does we will endeavour to relocate the music to St Harmonicas itself, just five minutes walk away on Cannon Hill.
Each afternoon is preceded by a one hour “open mic” session at 1:30 offering a stage to up and coming as well as experienced performers. Do support them.
Open mic registration requests via www.thevintage.org.uk
Week 1 - Sunday 7th August 2016
Two of the most accomplished slide guitar players in the UK will kick-off the 2016 Blues season on the Broomfield Bandstand following the introductory open-mic sessions.
1:30 - 2:30 OPEN MIC SESSIONS
2:30 – 3:30 BJ COLE & JOE PAPA
B.J. Cole is is regarded as one of the world’s pre-eminent pedal steel guitarists and as a live and session musician has played with just about everyone there is
Today he joins forces with his collaborator of many years, Joe Papa, to bring you Country Blues and Rock ‘n Roll as it should be played
3:45- 5:30 THE CUSTOMTONES
Martin Fieber, the ‘Sultan of Slide’ is perhaps the UK’s best kept slide secret. He brings his hugely talented band ‘The Customtones’, one of the finest, and tightest, units around to Broomfield. Martin is not known as the Sultan of Slide for nothing, he makes all his own guitars under his ‘Customtone’ label and the tone and the sound he achieves is staggering; some of his original material is equally wonderful. The rest of the band are all masters of their instruments with Mick Parker on drums, Terry Duggan on bass and Steve Taylor on keyboards.
(All timings approximate)
Week 2 - Sunday 14th August 2016
Two of London’s finest guitar driven bands bring you an afternoon of Funky Blues and Southern Blues Rock.
1:30 - 2:30 OPEN MIC SESSIONS
2:30 - 3:30 THE SAM KELLY BAND
Sam Kelly leads his bands from the drum throne and has earned an enviable reputation in British Blues. One of the best drummers you’ll ever see and one of Blues in Britain’s ‘Gallery of Greats’.
Expect a set of funky blues from this highly accomplished band.
3:45 - 5:30 THE BLUES CHAPTER
The Blues Chapter are probably the finest young Blues band (under 40) in the capital. Sky Wood on Vocals and with Jesse Thomas on guitar and Professor Redhair on keys and piano you’ll see shades of Gary Moore, SRV and Joe Bonamassa in their repertoire; a great festival band. Those who are about to rock…salute you!
(All timings approximate)
Week 3 - Sunday 21st August 2016
A Chilled and eclectic view of the Blues from two very contrasting performers.
1:30 - 2:30 OPEN MIC SESSIONS
2:30 - 3:30 THAT BLUE PATCH
That Blue Patch, multi-instrumentalists Ruth and Dave Buckwell with their unique, eclectic take on Blues and other classics. Entertainment with music, banter and humour from these very popular local musicians. Expect them to be joined on stage with collaborator Tig Trafford
The perfect music for a relaxed, chilled summer’s afternoon in the park.
3:45 - 5:30 HOT CLUB DE BROOMFIELD
Gypsy Jazz played on Macaferri guitars in the style of Django Rheinhart. That’s what ‘The Hot Club’ bring to the park on a summer afternoon to accompany your wine, baguette and Brie; perhaps a game of Boules on the lawn?
Hugely popular last year, this band really know how to capture the authentic Gypsy Jazz sound. Expect accordians and violins as well as great vocals accompanied by those infectious guitar rhythms.
(All timings approximate.)
Week 4 - Sunday 28th August 2016
1:30 - 2:30 OPEN MIC SESSIONS
2:30 - 5:30 THE LOW DOWN DOGS & FRIENDS
The Low Down Dogs provide acoustic and electric blues that meanders from the Mississippi Delta via Memphis and Chicago to the New River Delta! Mad Dog Dave Barnes possesses the best Blues voice in the business and he is also a master of slide guitar and harmonica. With a band to match, comprising Vintage players John Crowther on lead guitar & mandolin and sharing vocal duties, Dave Thomas on bass and vocals, and Pete Abernethy on drums. The Low Down Dogs are fully Blues Police approved and you can expect a hugely entertaining set of familiar, lesser known and some original material from these discerning musicians.
They bring the 2016 Broomfield Blues series to a close with a little help from some of their rather talented friends from St Harmonica’s Blues Club and beyond.
(All timings approximate)
The Broomfield Blues musical spectacular is now a regular part of Enfield’s Festival calendar. Winkworth have been delighted to support the efforts of the local community to develop this event and to ensure free entry is available to all. Winkworth look forward to supporting many more years of Blues music in Bromfield Park, which adds to our long running sponsorship of the Palmers Green Festival.
Nick Charalambous
Director, Winkworth Palmers Green
