That's another superb gig under our belts.......we had over 120 through the door last night & for lovers of Ronnie Earl style Jazz/Blues The Matt Schofield Trio delivered the goods......along with a lovely set from Rag Mama Rag. Thanks for your support & good to see a lot of fresh faces.......hope you enjoyed the night as much as I did.

And so, on to the end of the month in Rochester. Now then....loads of you asked how you get a front table at the gigs....well you book as early as you can is how. I have a bunch of regulars who've been coming to the club for over 10yrs....Thanks guys. They show, without fail at every gig, if they can't make it they let me know in plenty of time & they book up a year ahead. That's some commitment. I realise not everybody can do this but that still leaves plenty of good tables going begging each month & ideally if you book three weeks before a gig you stand a good chance of blagging one. I allocate tables as best I can on a first come, first served basis but you know, being right in front of the stage isn't necessarily the best place to be. You'll often just get one amp straight in your face....I try hard not to have the sound up too loud, we really are one of the quietest clubs in the UK (if not Europe!) & believe me I've been blasted out of my seat at some of the others. But sound mixing is a bit of a compromise, to get the right sound from a valve amp you have to push it & I then have to raise the vocals above that level.....what sounds great throughout the rear of the room may not be quite so well integrated up front.......so move........you don't have to stay glued to your seat all night & you'll often find the sound perfect at the back of the room. It would be easier if our venues were bigger but they're not & the intimate atmosphere is often what helps make a good night....hope you understand.

So back to Tues 31st Oct at The Roffen, Rochester.........I have several good tables left for this one featuring :----

Michael Pickett (Canada)

Doors 8:00pm ~ 11:30pm

This will be a more traditional evening than last night (not that Rag Mama Rag weren't traditional). I know a lot of you aren't too keen on the jazzy end of the spectrum which for me, having discovered Charlie Mingus at the age of 15, I find difficult to understand. However I try to appeal to as many tastes as I can....other than offering straight out Rock/Blues....sorry Pete!

A few dates for your diaries........

Thurs 19th Oct _at_ The Brook Theatre, Chatham ~ 8:00pm Guy Davis with Nerak Roth Patterson. Guy, from New York, has played The Bottleneck on a couple of occasions & is a fine story-teller as well as an excellent musician.

Friday 10th Nov _at_ The Bottleneck Blues Club, Mu Mu (ex Zaffa), Maidstone ~ 8:00pm Big Joe Louis & His Blues Kings + Migden & Gibson............more on this gig after our Rochester date.

Sat 18th Nov _at_ The Hawth Theatre, Crawley ~ 1:30pm to late The First Crawley Blues Festival.....a day of fine acoustic blues & workshops brought to you by Crawley Blues Club.

Give me a call or email me if you'd like more information about these gigs.

OK that's it for now.

Wine & Dine to World Class music every month _at_

The Bottleneck Blues Club