BB BlackDog

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...........interminable tv advert campaigns from the supermarkets, the festive lights in town have been on for two months, Messrs' Holder and Lea have tucked away another half a million for "Merry Christmas Everybody", Quo are back in the arenas and in an audacious move by Cadbury the local shop boasts a prominent display of Crème and Mini Eggs!   The good news is however that at least virtual stockings can be filled with the splendid new download of the much anticipated  No.2 album.   Available from Amazon and I Tunes for £7.49 or $8.91, all nine tracks also available singularly for 89 pence or 99 cents.   http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Two-Explicit-BB-BlackDog/dp/B00GOISP2W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386859616&sr=8-1&keywords=bb+blackdog   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GOMF3WI/ref=sr_1_4_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B00GOMF6ZW&qid=1386172596&sr=1-4%3C%2Fa% https://itunes.apple.com/us/a...

               A good round trip through Continental Europe now put to bed, with  BB and Monty now back in the Derbyshire hills.                To set the record straight, the low bass baton was actually passed back to Molly before the show in France last Friday.              Many apologies for the inaccuracy in last weeks blog which concluded that Sven would be playing that one. It was due to fact I have been considering applying to write for the British national press recently and allowed the concept of, making up what you do not actually know, to run free!               Still as they say "never let the truth get in the way of a good story".         ...

                       BB will be concluding their three nation tour of mainland Europe on Friday the 29th with a show at The Salle Bestien , situated at 2 Rue de La Rebublic in Yutz, France.                        Yutz is situated close to Thionville in the Moselle department of Lorraine and easily accessed from many parts of France, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg.                       The show will also feature Lord Monty III and begins at 7pm.                       The event arranged by the local steampunk group, The Collegium Tem...

                      Just a quickie this week to go live before BB take on three gigs in three days in Schleswig-Holstein.        After a marvellous event in Arnhem at the weekend BB headed north east to what must be considered their second homeland in Northern Germany.   Arriving in plenty of time to enjoy or endure last night's England versus Germany football international, depending upon your persuasions.                  One can only feel for Dale, being the solitary English representative, I am guessing even Karin was clinging to her South African routes and Monty questioning, how this can be football at all without helmets, pads and at least 44 team mates being involved.           ...

    Hope you managed to catch Dale's slot on vbnavradio last night, a really good relaxed interview, interspersed with a good helping of classic and new BB tunes.   So Thanks to vbnavradio for that. A good music mix from the station generally, you can pick them up at http://vbnav.hopto.org:90/ .   Indeed immediately after Dale's departure last night we were reminded of more youthful years with "No Sheep Til Buxton" and "Beer and Sex and chips n gravy" a couple of "classics" from the infamous "Macc Lads"   Dale of course had to shoot off to the The Bulls Head at Belper Lane End for his weekly open acoustic night.   Whist we are talking Bulls Head, the special BB Blackdog brew, from the attached Shottle Farm Brewery is approaching readiness, so look out for that soon!   Just a reminder that the weekly slot at The Bulls Head does not resume until Tuesday December 3...

    Apologies to anyone who made the trip to The Pump And Truncheon in Blackpool last Saturday. The gig was, unfortunately cancelled, due to circumstances beyond someone's control.     However no such problems on Friday in Doncaster and the gig prompted a rather nice review from Stu Tovell http://mrstu616.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/bb-blackdog-live-at-cask-corner-251013.html  .     Just the one BB show this week, indeed the last one scheduled for The UK until the first weekend in December.   The Tramway on Chatsworth Road, part of Chesterfield's "Brampton Mile", provides the setting for a Halloween Night special.   Continuing last week's theme of, great ale pubs, The Tramway is the nearby Brampton Brewery's Tap.   Also on offer is a limited edition from The English Whiskey Co., so a little sad that, this is last show of the year that Lord Monty is not with us for.   Activities move ...

          Thanks to Captain Smurf, for his pictures taken at last weekend's Hastrek event.                   What a great event it was at the weekend, let us hope that it transpires not to be, as billed, the last one.                Being the third appearance in front of the "Sonic Rock crowd", BB decided to change the focus this time around, with a punchier, more upbeat set.              Certainly the inclusion of "State Of Today" and the now familiar conga it entails, brought more than one comment of "well I've never seen one of those before at a gig".   LMJIII leading the efforts, I believe for the first time.      Speaking of Lord Monty, it has been great seeing his "Steampunk Funk Bizarre" ro...

    I don't care if you have "man flu" Dale. Play Faster!                         One can only imagine, that this was the point when Jezebel Steele, burlesque performance artist took centre stage during the rendition of "You Know You Would" at The Matlock Bath Pavilion.                                                                                                    ...

           Featured picture is from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party's cabinet re-shuffle, outside The Matlock Bath Pavilion, last Saturday, courtesy of Karen farrow.           You will note that BB's very own Dale Rowles (aka Lieutenant Jagerschnitzel) is prominent within and the latest news from the conference, is that he will be a candidate for the party at the next general election, standing in one of the Derbyshire constituencies.           Moving swiftly on since BB have a busy schedule for this coming week. Not sure if four gigs in as many days constitutes a tour, it is however four opportunities to catch BB with both Molly and Sven, before the latter returns to Germany at the beginning of next week.          Should that not prove sufficient reason to "come on down", then ...

            The time is almost upon us,when yellow and black rosettes will be mingling with be-goggled top hats, up and down The Matlock Bath Promenade.             With the weather set to be fair for the weekend, the Steampunk Illuminata/Monster Raving Loony Party Conference, should be the ideal way of spending the weekend.            Not to dwell on the details, since most of it was covered in the previous blog and timings are not yet finalised so keep a check on the event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/455535861192240/ .             Let's just say that the ethos of the weekend should be, take one part satirical, existentialist political ideology, one part surrealist retro-futurism, add at least one part of the excellent local ale and mix w...

                                        Picture courtesy of Paintpictures Bilserwelten.               Nothing on the breaking news front this week. So a little preview of what to expect from The Steampunk Illuminata/Monster Raving Loony Party Annual Conference on the last weekend in September, whilst there is still time available to book accommodation if you fancy coming along.              The event is going to run from Friday the 27th through to the Sunday and is set in the Victorian splendour of Matlock Bath, in the heart of The Derbyshire Dales, on the northern gateway to The Derwent Valley World Heritage Site. The status being bestowed, for it's relevan...

                     Absolutely love this photo of Molly and Dale, borrowed from Molly's new facebook page, set up under "Molly Monkey Face" , purely for her music/steampunk activities. It was only set up this week, so if you are browsing, pop in and give her a "like".                     So to this coming Saturday the 7th and a short trip down to The George and Dragon on Bridge Street in Belper.                This is set be an extended show, featuring a full BB performance plus a solo session from Dale along with some musings and crowd participation numbers from that most renowned of colonials, Lord Montague Jaques Fromage III.            ...

      BB should have been at "Out The Box" Festival on Sunday, however the whole event has now been cancelled.       Not sure what the reason for the cancellation is, shame though, looked like a nice event to round the festival season off with.       This week's pictures are courtesy of Michael Meister, taken at last Saturday's Reloaded Festival at Bad Segeberg. Really good turnout and both BB and Skorbut well received.   Dale with his Skorbut hat on.       Was it really that big?       and Axel in pirate mode. Yes there is definitely a blacked out tooth!     More good news from Germany, that the final mixing for the album is complete, just awaiting the artwork now.   One live show for this coming weekend on Saturday night at The Red Lion in Fritchley, a small Derbyshire village situated between, Crich and Amberga...

                  Really brief blog this week, due to circumstances beyond control.           Just a reminder for everyone that BB are playing The Lindenhof Reloaded Festival this Saturday the 24th.           A superb chance to see BB and Skorbut on the same bill, with Dale and Axel doubling up for both sets.          The festival is at Lockschuppen in Bad Segeberg, on Bahnhofstrasse very handily positioned close to both bus and train stations.          The show begins at 2pm, with the bands playing outside, which is not a problem, with sunny weather forecast for Northern Germany. Other bands on the bill include Santicatee, Verity Absurd and Black Mountain Yetis. Action moves indoors at ten, with dj,s taking over.  ...

           Firstly,apologies to anyone who was expecting BB at The Packhorse in Leeds, last Thursday. Sadly BB had to cancel late, due to an ailment befalling Dale. It must have been bad, in the two years I have known the band, there has never been a previous cancellation and both Dale and Axel have been pretty rough upon occasions.           Hopefully a date in Leeds, in the not too distant future.          Dale did recover sufficiently to fulfil the rest of the weekend. Not the biggest crowd they have ever had at The Sitwell on Friday, good show though. A nice new Steampunk event in Stamford on Saturday and a pleasant laid back Sunday Dale solo spot at The Barley Mow.          No performances this weekend so a chance for some recovery time, before travelling to Germany for the Lindenhof R...

               A splendid weekend just gone with great gigs in Belper and LLanfyllin. The party going on late into the night at the latter and already talk of same time, same place, next year.                The potential exists for another great weekend coming up, with a busy and varied four day schedule in place.                The weekend starts early with a trip to The Packhorse in Leeds on Thursday the 8th. The night is billed under "Not Going To Gigs Is Killing Live Music", an applaudable title, though possibly a little difficult to say after a few pints of Yorkshire Ales.               BB are the bills headliners and have been brought together with a couple of punk bands. The fairly melodic punk of...

        Picture of BB courtesy of Chris Maddocks' post to Pentrich Rock and Blues Custom Show.                Molly and Rachel's picture courtesy of Keith Knowles.              Another great BB show at another great Rock and Blues. Two low bass players, three dancers, brilliant sunshine and probably the biggest crowd of the weekend for Platform 15.              All proceeded by an excellent set from Metropolis, sounding a little punchier than usual on the day.              First picture shows Mike heading off for one of his audience strolls for possible the last time. Pentrich was Mike's last scheduled show with BB, as he heads off to pastures new with "Engraved In Blood". So Tha...

             Oh Yes, it's time for that institution known simply as "Rock and Blues". It has been around in a few different guises for over a quarter of a century now. Reaching it's zenith in the early part of this new millennium when numbers were around the 30,000 mark.            This years event will see only about 10% of those crowd figures, which going by last year's event makes for a nice compact site and a great friendly atmosphere. Another plus is that the Derbyshire weather looks set to make it even hotter than last year.            BB's slot is on The Platform 15 outdoor stage at 1.40pm on the Saturday afternoon and will involve dancers. Metropolis are also forming part of this Steampunk slot. Not certain what the exact plans are yet and I guess it will not unfold completely until S...