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WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENIN' . . .

END JANUARY . . . The Eaton Cottage was absolutely packed out last Saturday for Honeydripper's first gig there of the new season - I reckon there must have been a few gallons of Moonrocket washed over thirsty tonsils during the course of a very good evening of steamy blues-making. The band has introduced not exactly an acoustic set, but a few "sitting-down-playing-gently" numbers after the interval, including a nod to the original swing-beat Jimmy Rogers treatment of 'Walking By Myself' (not the turbo-charged Gary Moore version generally heard these days). John Boy reminisced t'other day how one of his previous bands, 4D Jones, would sometimes do an entire first set of "sitty-downy" songs. It does seem to work quite well, and we may expand on that idea a little . . . on the other hand, we had complaints that we didn't play a single Dr Feelgood number last night. This is the problem when you have 60 or 70 songs in the bandbook, the audience won't always get to hear their favourites, although if you ask before we fire up we'll always try and play what you want if we know it (and if it bears some passing relationship to blues - a happy drinker up on the coast last year asked us what Johnny Cash songs we knew - answer, quite a lot, but we ain't about to play any of them). Big thanks to all at The Eaton for a busy, rockin' night, and compliments to Phil for having us in there once more. The next Eaton date is a few days later than you might expect, on SAT 3 MARCH, instead of late February, and the mighty Phil Selby, tall, handsome and moodily-clad, will be joining us on guitar and vocals - can't wait . . .

LATE JANUARY . . . over two weeks since our last gig, so we're getting all giddy about getting back into The Eaton Cottage this coming Saturday and seeing all our old (and not-so-old) Eaton regulars - we even have a couple of new numbers to try out on the night - looking forward to our first"residency" gig of 2012 big-time - see you there?

MID JANUARY . . . we've just had another booked gig date changed, (this is the fifth venue-requested change in the past fortnight) so the March date at Diss Cock will now happen on Saturday 5th May. If any of the band's active gig followers do read this "News" page, can we just stress again that you can't necessarily rely on info as to where and when bands are appearing as it appears in printed local papers or the Grapevine, the Eastern Gig Guide, &c - venues seem to be having an epidemic at present of changing their minds about gigs, postponing them, bringing them forward and/or scrubbing them completely. The info about gigs that appears in the papers and other local printed media is required weeks, sometimes months, in advance, and we have no way of correcting the dates when a venue comes along and changes them subsequently. This also, obviously, affects many other bands, but so far as Honeydripper is concerned, we know that in the past people have made the effort to come out and see us and found a different outfit performing, or no live music at all. This website is ALWAYS up to date, so do check it before setting out for a gig, or if you can't get internet access at the time give us a ring on 07891 869929 or 07723 581822 and we will tell you what's what . . . . . . two or three additional changes to the gig diary this week - a couple of changes of date for later in the year, and most immediately please note that our planned booking at the Wash & Tope this coming weekend has been CANCELLED by the venue following an apparent change in their management set-up. The band have had only 5 days' notice, so the gig will already be in gig guides and local papers, but unfortunately not too much we can do beyond noting the change on this site and on Facebook . . . . . Honeydripper were back at The Fat Cat Brewery Tap on Lawson Road, Norwich at the weekend for another excellent Sunday afternoon blues fest. As usual, quite a throng turned out to listen to our stuff, and before long the dancers were doing their funky ol' thang - we love it. Many thanks to Mark and Laura for having us back at The Tap - what a great venue it is, and with a superb range of ales and lager beers available you can't fault a good Sunday teatime blues thrash in there. We will be doing another session for them some time in may, exact date to be settled this week . . .

EARLY JANUARY . . . a very blustery night for our first gig of the new year, as we wended our way to the west coast of Norfolk and a return visit to the excellent Queen Victoria in Snettisham. By the time of our drive home at midnight the roads were liberally laden with fallen branches, leaves and the obligatory quota of deceased deer, foxes and other fauna. Inside the Queen Vic, all was calm and welcoming, with many regular West Norfolk band followers getting their first live blues fix of 2012. Big thanks to all who turned out to listen to us on such an off-putting evening, and compliments to all at the Vic for having us over there again. We return to the venue once more in mid-summer, when hopefully the gales will be a distant memory . . .

NEW YEAR . . . many thanks to Melanie and the team at The King's Arms in Swaffham for booking the Honeydripper band for their New Year's Eve party at the weekend, and of course big thanks too to everyone who turned out to welcome in the New Year with us. Good to see Jean, Ruth, Eric, Chris, Jude, Groupie Girl &c once more, and indeed so many more good friends old and new. Dave was away on Blues Tubes duty at another New Year function up on the Norfolk coast, so we were delighted to have the vastly experienced Kevin Jordan of the Ridgeback band on drum duties for us, and he played a faultless gig for us - thanks a lot, Big Kev. The King's Arms also had an acoustic duo doing a wide variety of music in the main bar, but we were so busy with our three hour twenty minutes marathon that we didn't really get the chance to listen in to them. A good night, and a lively start to another Honeydripper year . . . . .

LATE DECEMBER . . . very sad to hear that the Blueberry Music House in Norwich has now stopped presenting live music. Although Honeydripper never played there, the guys in the band all gigged there numerous times over many years with other outfits, including 4D Jones, the Keno Kings, Square One and Blue Fingers. In recent years we hear the venue has been inviting bands to perform there for a small percentage of bar takings instead of an agreed fee, and on a quiet night that may have been somewhat less than rewarding for many outfits. Two other local venues which featured live music in the past have also apparently now come to the end of the road for bands : The Reindeer has reopened after a makeover as a "Kitchen & Bar", and The Regal/City Gates/Speakies is now a Oriental restaurant . . . .

CHRISTMAS . . . the night before Christmas Eve found the band playing its final Eaton Cottage gig of the year to a big turn-out at this favourite Norwich watering hole. We've now played 26 monthly bookings at The Eaton without interruption (World Cups excepted!) and are most grateful both to mine host Phil for this long sequence of regular gigs, and also to the scores of keen Honeydripper followers who turn up to listen, cheer, dance, buy our CD and generally make these classic Eaton evenings go so well. As it was just a few hours before Santa got into sleigh mode, we dusted off one of our two Yuletide songs and gave the assembled multitude a good old blast of Chuck's 'Run, Rudolph, Run' at 95 mph, thanks to Marky-Boy's jet-propelled guitar intro. I hope he realises what that sort of tempo does to a geriatric bassist's fingertips . . . thanks again to all our Eaton regulars - hope you'll be back in late January to pick up with us where we finished . . .

MID DECEMBER . . . Winter finally put in an appearance on Friday night as we played our first-ever gig at The Angel Gardens in Norwich. It snowed as we were loading up the cars at teatime, then our midnight gig finish was marked by iced-up screens front and rear. Big thanks to Ian at The Angel for booking the band, and for having some really choice beers on draught too. The pub was warm and fairly busy on a cold night, and we played under wraps so far as volume was concerned as with the wooden floor it is quite a "loud" room in there. One of the bar staff told us that a while back one of the more, ahem! raucous local blues-rock bands played the venue and the bottles were jumping up and down on the shelves behind the bar. By those standards, we are more like the Palm Court Trio. Thanks to all who turned out to listen to our stuff, and to all those music followers who stayed right through to the witching hour - nice one! Trivia note : Mark "I Love My Strats" Boweevil played a Telecaster ALL NIGHT!!

EARLY DECEMBER . . . you couldn't move in The Walnut Tree Shades on Thursday night when Honeydripper played the band's final Walnut gig of the year. Prior to the boys setting up, Jude and Chris Gudgin were holding court at the venue to launch Jude's book "Last Orders At The Walnut Tree Shades", a handsome chronicle of the quarter-century during which the pair ran the redoubtable old blues bar and restaurant back in the day. Due to the crush, we couldn't kick off until late, but we gave top value by playing through till even later, and also featuring an interval spot from Ron Sayer, who has been touring for the past few months with the Oli Brown Band, and is now back on the local scene with his own act once more. Thanks to Ron, big thanks to Claire for all our bookings at The Walnut this year, with more to come in 2012, and especial thanks to the big crowd of blues fans who hung on in there right through all the encores to the end of our gig. A great night, with the old place heaving just like it did a few years back. Congrats to Claire and her team for the brilliant way they are successfully rebuilding that classic old Walnut vibe . . . . . a packed house at The Fat Cat Brewery Tap in Norwich yesterday for our debut gig there, and much appreciation shown for the band's playing, with several encores demanded by a lively crowd. We didn't trigger the dreaded noise limiter cut-out, maybe more by accident than design, and The Bassdaddy's new teeny weeny ickle amp head (4 lbs in weight) did a sterling job of filling a large busy noisy room full of happy ale-suppers. Big thanks to all the scores of people who turned out to listen to us, and especial thanks to Mark and Laura for the booking. Pleased to say we've been booked back in The Tap again, so just into the New Year we'll do it all over again . . . and thanks to Groupie Girl for video duties.

END NOVEMBER . . . back into that good ol' blues-busting gig schedule last Saturday with a storming night at The Eaton Cottage. Big enthusiastic crowd, lots of energetic dancers, and some very complimentary things said about the band's performance on the night. Thanks as ever to Phil for the booking, and mega-thanks to all our good friends, old and new, who turned up to clap, cheer and sing along. Plaudits too to Dave on drums, who was not really feeling too sharp, but played a blinder all night. Can't wait until Christmas weekend to get back in there and do it all again . . .

LATE NOVEMBER . . . we're now coming to the end of our four-week gig-free zone, during which lots of blood, sweat, feedback and naughty words have been expended as we've practised like men possessed. Catch one of our imminent new batch of gigs to hear the results of all this burning of the midnight oil in the shape of several breathtaking new numbers (yeah, OK, we know, they sound just like all the old stuff, but what do you want? Jazz chords? Twelve-tone rows? Contrapuntal opposing melody lines? It's a BLUES BAND) . . . . .

MID NOVEMBER . . . we've just learned this week that Phil at The Eaton Cottage has extended the band's monthly Saturday night residency at The Eaton through 2012. Also, it's now confirmed that our December gig there this year will be on FRIDAY 23rd December, not the last Saturday of the month (which is New Year's Eve, when we're due to be bluesin' it up at The King's Arms in Swaffham), so we hope to see all our Eaton faithful the night before Christmas Eve, to get the Yuletide festivities off to a proper Eaton Honeydripper R & B start. Many thanks to Phil for all the gigs at The Eaton Cottage, past and future . . . . . . no gigs for a couple of weeks, so we're out and about sampling some of the other bands doing their stuff around the region. Last weekend we dropped into The Blueberry to catch Phil, Mick, Glyn and The Good Doctor doing their Dr Misfit stuff - lively, loud and very good fun - but how do such aged gentlemen stand that relentless pace for 2 hours? Give them all a medal . . . . . Sunday teatime it was down to Tivetshall Railway to enjoy the penultimate gig ever by The Twangrenades (honcho John Stannard is shortly off to Austin, Texas to embark on a new career as a multi-tasking session and gigging guitarist). A great couple of sets of instrumental blues, jazz, rockabilly, country, soul and funk - this unique band will be sorely missed . . . meanwhile the Honeydripper guys are anxiously practising a number of new and revisited songs, and the new batch of gigs starting up at the end of November should have several fresh pieces of bluesy music-making to entertain and amuse our faithful followers . . .

EARLY NOVEMBER . . . the band is taking most of this month out of the gigging scene to get up to speed on some additions to the song book. By comparison with many bands we don't tend to practise very often (this may, indeed, be pretty apparent when you come to our gigs, possibly) but we generally try to avoid that fatal "practising things to death" routine where it's all gone boring and sterile by the time you get on stage in front of an audience. However, we have presently got some thoughts on new songs, plus different treatments to some old favourites, so it's down to the practice studio with our serious faces on . . . catch us at the end of the month and witness the outcome of all the hard work - we'll be as tight as a duck's chuff . . . .

END OCTOBER . . . last Saturday in the month has for ages now been Honeydripper blues night at The Eaton Cottage, and this last weekend saw us complete two solid years of gigging at this fine hostelry, courtesy of Phil the licensee - thanks to Phil for so many gigs, every one a pleasure to play, and none more than this one, with a large and enthusiastic audience applauding every step of Johnny Boy's patented stair walk routine. We had a great time, and sincere thanks to Peter, Sharon, Martin, Mick, Phil de Bucket, Groupie Girl, Jude, Chris, George, Annie, John, Seasick Steve and everyone else who turned out to see the band once more. At the time of writing we're waiting to learn if we will be booked into The Eaton for gigs in 2012, so watch this space . . . it's always been a great place to play to our local followers, so here's hoping there's more Eaton nights to come for Honeydripper . . .

LATE OCTOBER . . . on Wednesday we had a trip to the coast, to do our stuff again at The Crown Inn on the seafront at Sheringham. A good lively night, with plenty of dancers up and adding to the jollity. This little Norfolk coastal town is blessed with a number of excellent live music venues, and The Crown is one of our favourites, with a nice roomy stage area, decent lighting and a knowledgeable and friendly crowd. Big thanks to the management for the repeat booking - we're hoping to be asked back again for next season's live music Crown Inn gigs . . . . . . Saturday last saw us return once more to The Cock Inn in Diss for a memorable outing. There were plenty of enthusiastic weekend ale-tipplers on board, and the dancers were up from about the second song and doin' the messaround (yes, I've been watching the Ray Charles biopic once more - just how good is Jamie Foxx in that?) Lots of shouts for encores at the end, and I have to say a really satisfying punchy, funky sound ambience in the flagstone-floored band area. Big thanks to all at The Cock for this latest booking - hope to be back in there during the new year. And big thanks also to the mega guitar/vocal ace Phil De Bucket (Keno Kings, Acme Blues Company, Dr Misfit &c) who guested with us "for one night only", and played a great couple of sets, including a few of his excellent vocal specialities - The Bassdaddy just luuurves that old Moon Mullican song 'Seven Nights To Rock' that he sings with Johnny Boy joining in on the verses - genius stuff, I can't get enough! A great vibe, we loved it . . .

MID OCTOBER . . . a wet autumn night on Tuesday for our first ever gig at the noted Fox & Hounds hostelry in Heacham, but it didn't deter any of the West Norfolk blues aficionados from turning out in force to welcome the band - how those guys and lasses from the "other" end of the region love their live blues music, and really rewarding just how knowledgeable and appreciative they are - deep thanks to y'all, keep it going for live music in Norfolk, 'cos these are strange uncertain times we're going through now for the future of many live bands and the venues who book them. The boys played out of their skins, the dancers were up gyrating and grooving their wicked little knees, and it was just a great gig. Big thanks to Mark for the booking, and here's hoping he'll have us back in there in the future to lay some righteous funky blues noises on the patrons again . . . . .

EARLY OCTOBER . . . a good weekend, with all the band guys turning out on Friday night to see Johnny Boy blowing his harps at the long-awaited one-off 4D Jones reunion gig at Bedfords in Norwich. A good night - the Jones haven't gigged for 3 or 4 years anyway, but they were sharp as a tack. Not as good as Honeydripper, obviously, but then, which local band is? Oh, Egypt and Keno Kings, I guess . . . Saturday was our fifth gig of the 2011 season at The Trowel & Hammer - the boys played a fecking blinder, and the place was busy, with many of our good friends and followers, old and new. Thanks to all those lively dancers - where do these people find the stamina? Many thanks also to the management team at The Trowel for all our bookings in there this year, and for the massive fans (the sort that move air about, not huge groupies). We always enjoy ourselves at Trowel gigs, and hope to be featuring in their regular band roster again soon . . .

. . . . . quite a special night at The Eaton Cottage on Saturday last, when the band were joined for a while by the excellent Mick Robbins on vocals and piano, revisiting an old Little Brother Montgomery piano boogie blues to considerable applause from the usual knowledgeable and appreciative Eaton blues crowd. We've just uploaded a video clip of Mick's guest spot to Youtube, so do check it out (search "TheBassdaddy" in the Youtube search box). A great gig - here's hoping we will be able to continue our two years' monthly blues residency at The Eaton into a third term. As ever, big thanks to Phil for the booking, and to all who turned out on this strangely warm, summery October night to hear us do our stuff . . .

. . . keeping this website looking interesting and attractive would be much more difficult without the photographic talents of Eric "The Rock God" Perkins, a keen camera buff (and avid bass guitarist) who resides in the Norfolk Broads area of the UK, and who has gone out of his way over the past couple of years to photograph Honeydripper gigs for us. The striking shot of Johnny Boy in action which presently adorns the home page of this site is an Eric special, and several more of his pictures of band members are scattered throughout other pages of the site, and especially in the "Picture Gallery" section. A grateful "thank you" to The Rock God for his interest in the band, and especial gratitude to him for permitting us unrestricted use of his work. To see more of Eric's music action photography, visit his own website www.blues2rockimages.co.uk which can be speedily accessed via the "Band Members / Links" of this site . . .

END SEPTEMBER . . . apologies from the band to our good friends who turned up at The Eaton Cottage last Saturday to find that our scheduled gig had been postponed. We'd like to stress that the Eaton postponement, and the latest Fat Cat Brewery Tap re-scheduling, and the recent cancellations by The Heartsease, The Waterside Bar and Ye Olde Mayden's Heade, are ALL the decisions of the respective venues; Honeydripper is/was available ready and willing to play all those gigs, but when the management of the pubs/clubs tell us, sometimes at short notice, that our presence is not required on the advertised date, there is little we can do beyond update this website and the online Gig Guides. There's no chance of getting it changed in the local papers' "What's On" listings (which are sometimes unreliable anyway) as they require at least ten day's advance notice, and our venue cancellations have in the past been as short as one hour (yes, really) . . . . . so, sorry, guys, but the only foolproof way of checking if a gig is on is to refer to this website, which we move heaven and earth to update regularly, or you can ring the band on 07891 869929 or 07723 581822. I can sympathise readily, though - I once drove halfway across Norfolk to listen to a friend's rock band to find the pub deserted : "Oh, that gig was cancelled weeks ago", said mine host. Yeah, but it was in that days' Evening News, though . . . anyway, Honeydripper ARE appearing at The Eaton Cottage this coming Saturday, 1st October, 9 pm start . . . unless anything changes in the next three days!

LATE SEPTEMBER . . . the last Sunday in September saw the band play what will be its final gig At Ye Olde Mayden's Heade in King's Lynn, as the venue has decided that blues bands are not bringing in sufficient punters to make it worthwhile. Subsequently we've heard on the band grapevine that various other blues outfits have been cancelled this week by the venue. Many thanks to The Maydens for past gigs, and best wishes to them for success with their rock music policy. Hunstanton's Waterside Bar have recently made a similar policy decision, of course, so it looks as though fans of live blues music in the west of the county will have rather more travelling to do in future to get their blues fix. Seems that this long-continuing recession is now really making inroads into the viability of promoting bands in licensed premises locally.

It's worth commenting here that just the other week the Heathlands Rock & Blues Club presented not only top local rock covers band Beyond Duplication but also on the same bill barnstorming and spectacular touring French rock band The Electric Ducks, and the two outfits between them managed to pull in less than thirty customers . . . . . strange times, indeed, and a glance at the gig diaries of several of the region's leading bands confirms that live music gigs seem to be getting fewer and fewer - support your local live music venues - once band venues stop promoting gigs they don't tend to start again . . .

. . . the latest of several changes to the Honeydripper line-up this year sees Mark Howes added to the band's complement for forthcoming gigs. We thank John Vasco for his commitment, enthusiasm and considerable contributions to Honeydripper gigs over the summer and early autumn period, and wish him very well with his future musical activities. If you are a regular reader of this news page, or a follower of the band's gig schedule, you'll know Mark already from many appearances he made with us in the early summer following Dave Thompson's departure. An outstanding blues guitarist, equally at home in acoustic or amplified environments, Mark is the more hirsute but less curvaceous half of noted blues/soul recording duo Dove & Boweevil. We're pleased that he will be able to add his considerable talents to Honeydripper's upcoming winter gig commitments . . .

MID SEPTEMBER . . . what a great night on Saturday last, when the band played at Toppers Nightspot off Newport Road, Hemsby. Thanks indeed to Matthew for the booking at this first-class venue, and compliments to the audience, most of whom stayed through until the very end of the gig, approaching midnight. Toppers is an excellent room, large, comfortable, with a nice stage area, tip-top stage lighting set-up, good power facilities and a terrific ambient sound quality. They promote music nights throughout the season, usually well-attended, and we hope Honeydripper will be called back to perform there again . . . . .

. . . . . a couple of late changes to the gig calendar just in : we've been told by the Eaton Cottage that our planned gig there on the last Saturday in September has to be postponed one week and so we are now playing there next on SATURDAY 1st OCTOBER. Also, The Waterside Bar in Hunstanton inform us that in future they will be concentrating on live rock music only, and so they have cancelled our booked date there on FRIDAY 30th SEPTEMBER. Pity, that, the band's Waterside gigs always seemed to pull in a very knowledgeable and appreciative blues audience. Still, thanks to the management at The Waterside for past bookings, and good luck to them with their new live music policy . . . . .a lovely balmy late summer evening for the band's latest visit to The White Horse Inn, Cromer, but the venue was the most quiet we have seen - maybe everybody else was down at the beach skinny-dipping? The audience we did play to was well appreciative of the band's music, which for one night only was enhanced by the especial drumming talents of the much-respected Rob Masters, currently kitman for noted soul outfit The Planks, but in a previous existence Johnny Boy's long term bandmate in the much-missed 4D Jones band. Dave our trusty regular drummer had an afternoon gig elsewhere which, like Topsy, just growed so he had to call off. Big thanks to Rob for his first-rate work, and big thanks too to our trio of regular lady dancers from Cawston and all points north - great to have regular followers turning up over and over again to get down to our bluesy grooves. A really nice gig, and even the idiotic Bassdaddy forgetting to bring his main bass amp didn't detract from some fine and mellow sounds. Compliments to our own groupie girl for wielding the video gear throughout the evening. By the way, mention of 4D Jones reminds me that a "one night only" reunion gig is in prospect for next month. The boys are rehearsing like crazy, so watch this space for more info . . . . . . . . the nights are beginning to draw in now, but the blues are still running hot and strong at Norfolk's fabled Walnut Tree Shades music bar. We played another very enjoyable session there on Thursday night, with lots of our good friends along to cheer us on and join in the fun. We had quite a lot of dancers up and shaking their funky thangs, even a combination of Naughty Peter getting down with his patented Rat Tail Dance while at the other end of the bar another of our regulars was into the Pointy Strut big time - I just love it! Thanks a million to all who turned out to listen to us again, and big thanks too to the lovely Claire, who has given us regular bookings at The Walnut ever since it re-opened under her excellent guidance last year - she has just rebooked Honeydripper through for another year, and the boys really value that - nice one, Claire. Back at The Walnut just before Christmas - can't wait for that one . . . . .

EARLY SEPTEMBER . . . a rare weekend off, following our gig cancellation by The Heartsease on Saturday night, so the band took the opportunity to squeeze in a weekend practice night to polish up a few good ol' good ones, plus a couple of new songs. We've added the jazz-flavoured 'Why Don't You Do Right?' to the band's book, so expect to see Johnny Boy dolled up in a slinky gown just like Jessica Rabbit to sing that one. The Bassdaddy also took advantage of the time off to catch a couple of fine local bands in performance, the high-energy Rhythm & Blues of Dr Misfit, comprised of several of our good friends and former band partners, and on Saturday night the excellent rockabilly band The Leopard Trio playing at (where else?) The Leopard in Norwich. A couple of great gigs - both bands are well worth checking out when they're gigging near you . . .

END AUGUST . . . a great night on Wednesday last, when the band paid its latest visit to The Queen Victoria in Snettisham. My word, the good folks of West Norfolk really do appreciate their live blues - we had loads of dancers up and bopping the evening away, and also lots of interest from all and sundry in our songs, our musical gear, our band diary and so on. Just to add to the all-round jollity we had a young lass up and vocalising with the band towards the end - I know the old country blues guys used to play 11 bar blues and thirteen bar blues, but this was a sort of Ornette Coleman free-form version of 'Mustang Sally' - brilliant stuff! Big thanks to all at The Queen Vic, management, staff, punters, and guest singer, for a brilliant night out. Hope to do it all again there before too long . . . . .

LATE AUGUST . . . many thanks to all our regular and occasional followers who turned up at The Eaton Cottage last Saturday for Honeydripper's 22nd gig there, and many thanks as ever to mine host Phil for bringing the band back regularly into his fine establishment for regular monthly blues groove sessions. Nights at The Eaton are always special for us, but last Saturday was especially notable for a brilliant guest spot on blues harps from the justly-celebrated Mick Alden, front man of The Keno Kings and (for anyone with a long memory) the handsome face of Acme Blues Company for years prior to that. Big thanks to Mick for playing some numbers with us, certainly a real privilege to play alongside such a legendary figure of the East Anglian blues scene. Catch The Keno Kings next time they're gigging locally, and check out for yourself just what a great blues player Mick is . . . . . . the latest in what has been quite a sequence of venues cancelling bookings this year is the Heartsease in Norwich, which we discovered when we phoned them today has ceased putting live bands on. Good job we rang, really. We really don't want too many repeats of the farce last winter when all four of us drove halfway across the county to The Glebe Hotel in Stalham on a filthy wet, cold evening to fulfil a long-standing booking there , to be told AFTER we arrived that we were not playing, but the bar staff had no idea why we were cancelled. So, if you were planning to see us next week at The Heartsease, you're out of luck - and, so, of course, are we . . . . . . . . no public gig for the band last weekend, but a great private party wedding celebration outing on Saturday night outside Norwich. The dancers were up and loving our more lively stuff - we almost ran out of songs in the end! Every good wish to the happy couple for the future, and thanks for the booking - hope it doesn't take too long to clear away the empties . . .

MID AUGUST . . . if you were thinking about seeing Honeydripper at King's Lynn this coming Sunday afternoon please don't set out - The Mayden's Heade have CANCELLED US  due, they inform us, to a "non-diaried" double booking on their part, at three day's notice. As it's also exactly three days since they actually booked us to play for them in the first place, I suppose there is at least a pleasing symmetry about the inept state of their diary-keeping. Just a pity that the band spends time, money and energy on producing and despatching gig posters, not to mention putting these gigs on numerous websites and into various gig guides . . .

. . . a lovely summer's evening last Saturday for a rustic drive out through the teeming (and mega-stupid) wildlife (roadkill just waiting to happen) to The Swan Inn, Gooderstone, in the back country beyond Swaffham. The folks at The Swan always make us welcome, and they seem to love that good ol' Honeydripper blues vibe. We had a smallish crowd (apparently we were competing with the combined attractions of Egypt, Beyond Duplication plus Spanish outfit Tea in the region!) but we played some storming stuff and went down well. Big thanks to all at The Swan for the booking - hoping to be back there again before the winter sets in . . .

EARLY AUGUST . . . a busy weekend just past, with three-set gigs on Friday night at The Trowel & Hammer, Norwich, and on Saturday back to Caister-On-Sea, The Green Gate Inn, for the first time since last summer. The band is now working with a settled line-up featuring John V on guitars and back-up vocals plus the excellent Dave S at the drumkit. We're also now introducing some new (to us!) songs into the gigs, so it's been a summer with plenty of changes, but it keeps us all on our toes. Both gigs went down well, with lots of interest in the band, enquiries about private bookings, and also lots of dancers up and shakin' their stuff. The Green Gate (as ever) had a particularly lively bunch of lassies up on the dance floor, and they were well into some of our more raucous offerings towards the end of the night. Thanks to the management and licensees at The Trowel and The Green Gate for the bookings - we will be playing the Trowel again in the autumn, and hope to be getting across to Caister again in the future . . .

END JULY . . . we ended the month with our regular "last Saturday" blues fest at The Eaton Cottage on Unthank Road. Thanks as ever to our excellent host extraordinaire Phil for this home-from-home monthly gig, always a good night and one the band guys look forward to - twenty-one bookings we've played at The Eaton over the past couple of years! Dave at the drums has just returned from a much-needed holiday break, and played like he was rejuvenated - nice one, young sir. The evening was also notable as being the first full gig with our new regular guitarist John V - big Honeydripper welcome to John from all the guys - you played some great rocking stuff for us Saturday, and here's looking forward to many, many more happy, bluesy outings with you in the upcoming months. Keep them black T-shirts coming, too, every one a winner. Big compliments as well to all our Eaton followers who turned out to hear us yet again, with a special mention to Sharon and Martin who trailed back from the bucolic delights of the annual Worstead Festival by train, taxi, dogsled, rollerskates and jetski to reach us in time for the second half . . .

LATE JULY . . . big thanks to all our friends and blues lovers who turned out on a pleasant if cool evening to catch our "Back Porch Downhome Special Sitting-Down" gig at The Leopard in Bull Close Road (what a brilliant address!), Norwich. Good to see Jude, Clive, Margaret, Martin, Sharon, Martin, Dave T and others too numerous to mention (even if I could remember their names after pints of Amstel). Especially good to see Chris The Stix, first time The Bassdaddy has clapped eyes on the lad since he left the band in April - good luck with the new blues three-piece, Chris. Due to a succession of holidays and sudden illness we played this Leopard date without a drummer, but with Mark and John V doubling up in the guitar slot and adroitly swapping lead and rhythm roles. The Bassdaddy got lost a couple of times without a drummer to lean on (poor old boy), but on the whole it was a refreshing change of vibe and a chance to get more of a laid-back feel into some of our numbers. After all, if it was good enough for Art Tatum, Jimmy Giuffre and Oscar Peterson it should be OK for us blues bandits. Many thanks to the new landlady at the Leopard for the booking - well worthwhile keeping an eye on The Leopard's gig board, by the way - I've been to see both The Keno Kings and Dr Misfit playing there in recent weeks on Honeydripper nights off, and they seem to get some decent blues-based outfits in there these days . . .

EARLY JULY . . . two midweek gigs this week, and it was really gratifying to see so many of our good friends (our little Honeybees) at both of them. These blues enthusiasts who turn out to see the Honey boys so regularly often come up and chat to us, and without exception they love their blues music and are very knowledgeable about all periods of the art (well, maybe not the bloke the other week who wanted us to do some Johnny Cash songs, because "old John was a great Rhythm & Blues man"). Seriously, the attention of you fine people who come out of an evening to hear the band is hugely appreciated - without your interest, live blues music like Honeydripper's just wouldn't be happening . . . . . Wednesday night we did our first gig at The Crown Inn, Sheringham, and the place was packed with students, holiday visitors, serious drinkers and blues fans of all age groups,. We had a great time playing to a floor full of energetic dancers shaking their wicked knees and a pub filled to the gunnels with people. What a great venue - you can pop outside and watch the ships out at sea between sets. Thanks indeed to The Crown management for the booking - should be back in there later. Thursday night saw our fifth visit to The Walnut Tree Shades since it reopened late last year. We again took our two-guitar line-up in there (Mark and John V) and played probably our most successful Walnut evening in terms of the audience size. Johnny Boy gave his solo feature, the self-penned 'Lowdown Blues', another airing - the crowd love that one, and so does the Bassdaddy - it's a rare chance to stand out front and truly hear the power and expression of that big, fat, juicy blues harp sound. Thanks to Claire for another Walnut booking - back there in the autumn, with our line-up hopefully finally settled and rarin' to groove . . . . . if you were thinking of coming to see the band in two weeks' time at West Runton Social Club, please don't! We've just learned that the Club currently doesn't enjoy adequate funding to support live band bookings, so we've been cancelled. Come and see us the next night in Norwich instead - that's at The Leopard, Bull Close Road, on Saturday 23rd July. The Leopard is now under new management, and is presently putting on blues and R & B bands fairly regularly. The Keno Kings did a super gig there last month, and last weekend the inimitable Dr Misfit was dishing out his medicine . . . . .

LATE JUNE . . . our last gig in June was last Saturday, our regular end-of-the-month booking at The Eaton Cottage on Unthank Road, Norwich. It was WELL warm in The Eaton, after a very humid day in Norfolk, and pints of Moonrocket were needed to keep The Bassdaddy adequately refreshed . . . very pleasing to see so many of our regular followers and friends at The Eaton once more, with quite a few up on their trotters and shakin' that stuff about, despite the temperature - thanks, boys and girls, keep it coming! As so many times over the past couple of months, big compliments to Phil S (guitar/vocals) and Dave S (drums) for turning out and giving their major talents to us - we had a good one. The gig was also notable for a debut appearance with the band of new "full-time" guitarist John, who rocked out on a number of songs with us in Set 2, and should be playing with us at all gigs from August, and in the meantime we'll be working up our full repertoire with him in the coming weeks so the band is mega-tight for the Autumn and beyond - nice one, John, good to have you on board . . .

MID JUNE . . . we just had a phone call from Freddie, well-liked guv'nor of The Royal Oak in Halstead, telling us that he is leaving the Oak this week, and that the new landlord will be booking a different batch of bands. This means that our last booked gig at the Oak, due in July, won't take place. Big compliments to Freddie for having us on at The Royal Oak several times in recent months - we had some fun evenings down there, with one or two eye-popping moments from some of the demure young ladies who go in there for a glass of lemonade on a Saturday night. Best wishes to Freddie for the future . . . . . many thanks to Steve at The Lodge, Salhouse, for making the band so welcome on Friday last, when we played our debut gig at this lovely country hotel venue deep in the Norfolk countryside. The band featured Phil guesting on vocals and guitar (he'll also be playing at our "residency" gig at The Eaton next week), and we went down pretty well with an appreciative audience. Thanks to all who turned up to hear us, including several of our regular followers plus noted musicians Mick Alden and John Vasco. Lots of band room at The Lodge, so a chance for The Bassdaddy to trot out the Dean Pace upright bass for a few numbers. Steve wants us back at The Lodge a bit later on, so watch the "gigs" page for details . . .

EARLY JUNE . . . on Saturday last the band celebrated its 100th gig - it was in June 2009 that we played for the very first time, at The Buck on Thorpe Road. The band at that stage included Andy Chinn on guitar and drummer Chris Griggs, both now departed from our ranks (hope you're all doing well, guys). Since then there's been lots of water under the bridge, but one thing has been consistent, our regular residency spot at Phil's great tavern on Unthank Road , Norwich, and it was very fitting that we played the centenary gig back once more with Phil and the crew at The Eaton Cottage. As ever, big, big thanks to Phil for another monthly booking (our 19th appearance there) - and what a gig it was! The band, boasting Dave at the drumkit and Mark on guitars, went down a storm with a packed audience, who sang, danced, cheered, shouted and generally contributed to a tremendous atmosphere. Thanks to the boys for consistently playing out of their skins for us these last few weeks, and thanks to Sharon, Martin, Kevin, Eric, Jean, Sue, Jude, Margaret, John, Annie and all our other numerous Eaton friends who turned out to cheer us on. A super gig, and hopefully there'll be lots more like it as we move on towards our double century . . .

END MAY . . . Sunday lunchtime found the band playing a debut gig at The Community Centre in Eye, Suffolk (that's the Eye near Diss, not the Eye near Peterborough). This is a very attractive facility with a good function room, nice sound stage and a decent bar adjoining. The ambient sound was pretty fair, although as it was the Sabbath we were invited to keep the volume under wraps. The small appreciative audience was dwarfed a bit by the generous size of the centre, but we understand that a planned community event intended to run alongside the gig had to be shelved at the eleventh hour, so most people stayed indoors - maybe to watch the Monaco GP on the box? We're promised a much bigger turn-out for our next visit there later in the summer . . . . . Friday last was a very pleasant evening for a drive to the coast, as the latest incarnation of Honeydripper Blues Band made its way to Hunstanton for another return visit to The Waterside Bar, overlooking the sea, and pretty busy with holidaymakers and local music followers alike, some of them busy polishing off their plates of meat and veg as we tried to set up our paraphernalia around them - I think John Boy was tempted to stroll down to the beach for a little paddle while we waited. A very good gig ensued, with lots of interest in the music we were playing - the bars we play in the west of Norfolk are all very noteworthy for knowledgeable, enthusiastic, friendly crowds who love their blues sounds, and actually listen to the band - result!! I must admit, we did good stuff, and had a particularly effective line-up for the weekend, with the first-class Dave Sparrow back at the kit, and young Mark Howes on guitars and Speedos, playing his socks off. We also discovered the secret to a perfect performance - simply play numbers you've not practised and preferably not even played together before . . . thanks to the Waterside management for the return booking at their excellent bar - we're back again at the end of the summer - looking forward to that one already.

LATE MAY . . . we've just booked some studio time for early June to audition a number of experienced blues guitarists for our vacant guitar slot - if anybody else who's interested in the position (and is good enough to do our music justice) wants to get in touch with us (see "Contact Us" page plus the "Home" page for details) please do it now!

MID MAY . . . a busy weekend for the Honeydripper band, with a couple of three-set gigs both finishing after midnight - poor old lads that we are, I really don't know how we stand these late nights. Friday saw us return to The Trowel & Hammer bar in St Stephen's Road, Norwich, where we now play every couple of months. A good lively gig was further enlivened half-way through the evening with the arrival of Naughty Peter and his gang. Peter is always excellent value for money, even though his speciality Rat Tail Dance can be a bit distracting when you're trying to concentrate on chromatic walk-ups and Phrygian modes. Many thanks to our special musical guests for the evening, guitarist Andy Jordan, well-known founder member of the excellent Blind Spirit rock covers band, plus The Keno Kings' outstanding kitman Dave Sparrow. Well done, guys, great job . . . on Saturday we made our debut at The Tyneside Club, which is nowhere near Newcastle or Gateshead, but is opposite the rail station in Sheringham, Norfolk. The good folks of Sheringham are well blessed with first-rate social clubs - earlier in the summer we had played the fine Sheringham Social Club, and the facilities at The Tyneside are very good too - great stage set-up, with good stage lighting and excellent power outlets, also a large dancefloor area which numerous energetic boppers made good use of throughout our gig. Big respect to Helen, who requested songs, tore up the dance area, beating out a rhythm on the furniture and helpfully counting the band in on several numbers. A really nice venue, a friendly bunch of management, bar staff and audience, and we loved it in there - hope to get the call for a return gig. Big thanks again to Dave S on drums, likely to be doing all our gigs for the summer following Chris Griggs' resignation from the line-up, and also Long Tall Phil, who has more guitars than is humanly possible and plays a blinder on all of them, and also treated us to a few of his vocal specialities, including one of The Bassdaddy's all-time favourite rock and roll ditties, Moon Mullican's 'Seven Nights To Rock' - it don't get much better for a geriatric bass player than to accompany an artist of Phil's great gifts on one of your favourite numbers - Result!!

. . . . . the band's regular end-of-the-month gig at The Eaton Cottage has been POSTPONED one week from Saturday 28 May to Saturday 4 June because of the footie being broadcast on the big screen . . . so if you turn up there on the wrong night expecting to luxuriate in two hours of irresistible Rhythm & Blues grooves you'll just see 22 overpaid men in shorts kicking a globe full of high-pressure air around . . . . . . . with many thanks to Freddie for another repeat booking at his notable hostelry, the band did another lively Saturday night gig last weekend at The Royal Oak, Halstead, Essex. Guesting with us on guitar and vocals was the highly regarded Phil, sandwiching our gig in between Keno Kings outings on Friday and Sunday - what a trouper! Also in the band line-up for the gig at Freddie's place, and a particular delight for The Bassdaddy to work alongside, was the vastly experienced Glyn Taylor, now very busy with Dr Misfit, but also fondly remembered for many terrific outings back in the day with rock and roll trio Rollercoaster . . . ah, them woz the days, Sunday nights packed out at Blofield Globe with Billy the Bopper spinning away on the dancefloor, Andy Field knocking out those Jerry Lee Lewis boogie licks and Rod Clark wooing the ladies with his flawless patter, while Glyn rolled out those brilliant Jerry Allison drum lines. Thanks, Phil and Glyn, terrific playing all round, the boys done good. At midnight we were determinedly swerving round the foxes, rabbits and muntjac on the country roads on the way home - East Anglia is turning into one big scary wildlife park after dark . . .

EARLY MAY . . . last Saturday saw the (currently ever-evolving) Honeydripper line-up making a debut visit to Sheringham Social Club on Holway Road, Sheringham (just opposite the rail station, and a terrific venue with great show lighting and a first-rate stage set-up). We played through till the witching hour, had an enthusiastic bunch of hoofers up and shaking their bits right though till twelve, and went down well with a decent-sized audience. Looks like we'll be back there later in the year. Big thanks to the excellent Dave Sparrow, veteran of more Keno Kings gigs than you can shake a stick at, for first-rate drum duties, and also to vocalist/guitarist Phil, ex-Acme Blues Company and currently a mainstay of Dr Misfit, Blues By Two and The Keno Kings. Both guys did their groovy thang to perfection - we're delighted to have the chance to play alongside them . . .

. . . the band's line-up is currently changing, so far as the guitar and drum slots are concerned, so watch this space for details of the band musicians for future gigs. Many thanks to both Dave and Chris for their skilful and talented contributions to our gigs round the region over the past couple of years, and we wish them every success with their future musical ventures . . .

 . . . over to the west of the county for our debut gig at Ye Olde Mayden's Heade on Tuesday Market Place in King's Lynn, a Sunday teatime affair on a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky. And the gig was a happy affair too, with many of our regular blues-loving friends from that enlightened part of the world combining with numerous amiable Sunday afternoon ale-suppers to create a great gig vibe - I must say I can never recall such an enthusiastic reaction to the band for many a long month - thanks to the Mayden's heade for the gig at short notice (hope to get back in there on the strength of that reaction from the punters) and compliments indeed to a very discriminating bunch of patrons who clearly know a top-notch blues band when one puts in an appearance.

Sincere thanks also go to Mark Howes, who guested with us on guitar this afternoon at well under 24 hours' notice and played out of his skin for us, getting more than one ovation from the crowd for his impassioned solo work. And here comes the plug - Mark's duo, Dove & Boweevil, have recently released their CD album "Getting Somewhere", which is available from all good outlets (as they used to say when there were still some record shops around) and more pertinently is readily available on line from the Amazon (UK) and CD Baby (US) websites . . .

END APRIL . . . a "standing room only" crowd for the last day of the month, and our regular monthly feast of blues groovin' at The Eaton Cottage, Unthank Road, Norwich. It was great to play again to such a packed and receptive audience, people who really love their Rhythm & Blues noises . . . thanks as ever to Phil at The Eaton for booking number eighteen - back in four weeks' time to find that funky groove once more . . .

LATE APRIL . . . the planned gig at The Rose & Crown in Beck Row scheduled for early May is now definitely off, sad to say . . . . . . thanks to all at The Park Hotel in Diss for booking us in for the St George's Day evening on Saturday last. Good to see some of our old friends from (just) south of the border at this gig - thanks to all who turned up, and special thanks to the late flurry of boppers who hit the dancefloor just in time for the final bit of the final set - it took some time to get them up on their hind legs, but we did it at the last gasp! We were asked to keep the volume well down for this gig before we'd even set up (think we may have heard that before) but I reckon we did a pretty good show, working under wraps somewhat . . .

. . . due to some uncertainty our scheduled gig at Beck Row in two weeks' time is presently looking a bit doubtful - watch this space.

MID APRIL . . . many thanks to the management at The White Horse, West Street, Cromer, for hosting our latest visit to the seaside last Saturday night. We played to an appreciative blues-savvy audience which was, in Johnny Boy's words, "small but beautifully formed". We debuted one or two new songs and didn't ruin them, so a good night all round. Thanks to all who turned up to listen - we're back at The White Horse in September . . . . . thanks to all the fine West Norfolk music people who came along to The Queen Victoria, Snettisham on Wednesday evening to hear the band run through its paces. We really like the vibe in the Queen Vic - the Guv'nor and his people are very welcoming, and it's always a listening crowd there, who are really knowledgeable about their blues stuff. We hope to be back in Snettisham later in the year to do it all over . . . . . the band now understands that, following the recent change of licensee, The London Porterhouse in King's Lynn will no longer be presenting live music. The booked Honeydripper gig there on Sunday 17th April will therefore NOT be taking place . . .

EARLY APRIL . . . Last Friday and Saturday saw the band playing a couple of rural venues, with a return to Darby's Freehouse in Swanton Morley first. It was a cosy evening, with lots of diners right through till late, and a bunch of Friday night drinkers. Not much in the way of dancers, but then there wasn't too much spare space for that. Thanks to Lou for the repeat booking. On Saturday we braved the tiny country backroads beyond Swaffham, full of muntjac deer, partridge, rabbits and incredibly thick pheasants standing in the middle of the carriageway staring stupidly at the approaching vehicles - DUH! The venue was The Swan in Gooderstone. We hadn't played there since the World Cup was on last summer, and they've done a tremendous amount of work over there to modernise and improve what was once very much an old-fashioned rural pub, but is now looking very smart and welcoming. Thanks to a very enthusiastic crowd of appreciative music followers, plus a bunch of dancers, for a good satisfying gig. We're back at The Swan in high summer . . . we've just been told by Gavin at The London Porterhouse (King's Lynn) that he is moving on next week, and that a new licensee will be in there from 12th April. Whether the same "live bands" policy willl apply isn't known, and therefore the Honeydripper gig there on Sunday 17th April is now a "TO BE CONFIRMED" diary entry. Many thanks to Gavin for bookings over recent months, best wishes to him for his move, and thanks for giving us the heads up on the situation - believe me, that's an unusual courtesy, and we appreciate his thoughtfulness . . . the mad weekend Norfolk tour continued with Honeydripper's debut visit to the recently-established Rock & Blues Club at The Heathlands Centre, Woodbastwick Road, Blofield Heath (about four miles east of Norwich, and a very good venue with fine facilities, not least because excellent quality ale is on tap there for £2 a pint). The club opened last month, and previously has presented Egypt and then Steve Ayers' Fourplay outfit, so some decent stuff going down already. The crowd for Honeydripper wasn't huge, but we were up against a sell-out gig at Norwich Maddermarket by Oli Brown. The Honey boys went down well; we played until late, and by Set Two lots of gyrating bodies were cavorting on the dancefloor, which is always a good sign - many thanks to Rob Holmes Senior for the booking at Heathlands . . . the weekend finished with a Saturday night booking at the newly reopened Heartsease venue on Plumstead Road, next to Norwich ring road. A really good night, with a pretty appreciative listening crowd, many of whom were very keen and knowledgeable about their blues music. This is a pretty good place to play - the new licensee was most friendly and welcoming, there's plenty of room for band and patrons alike, and the sound in the room was pleasing. Thanks indeed to the new management for having us in, and especially for booking us back in again in early September . . .

END MARCH . . . start of a busy-bee weekend for the band, with a much-enjoyed return visit to The Walnut Tree Shades, Old Post Office Court, Norwich on the last Thursday of March. Claire has been busy booking in some very fine blues, R & B and rockabilly bands each Thursday and Friday night, and the old place is re-establishing itself as Norfolk's premier venue for regularly hearing some excellent live music. Thanks to Claire for our series of bookings - we're back on again in early July - looking forward to that one already . . .

LATE MARCH . . . Last Saturday found the band back at The Eaton Cottage, Unthank Road, Norwich, for another super end-of-the-month Eaton session with all the faithful in attendance : thanks to The Rock God, The Rottweiller, Seasick Steve and Co, Groupie Girl, Daughter Most Fair, Naughty Peter, and so many others who regularly pitch up and get down with the band on these excellent Eaton nights. The evening had a quiet start (it had been pissing with rain and cold too all afternoon), but just before kick-off time loads of R & B fans came in, and by the end most of them were up on their dainty little trotters, shaking their booties big-time - even the Rock God was seen to discard his admiring groupies for a while and wobble that famous butt - way to go, big man! Every thanks to Phil for another monthly booking - we've played in The Eaton now 17 times in the last 16 months - guess we're getting something right . . . . . . . after a fairly quiet couple of months for Honeydripper, Friday night saw us back at The Wild Man, Bedford Street, Norwich, for the start of a pretty busy schedule as we (hopefully!) move towards the better weather. There are about ten gigs scheduled over the next month, so it's all systems go now with renewed vigour and several new items in the band's book. Many thanks to Ian at The Wild Man for the repeat booking - it was a typical lively high-spirited Friday night drinking crowd in there, and a few well-refreshed dancers cavorting in what may fairly be described as an exotic fashion. Li'l Dave dusted off the tonsils for several extra numbers, and for a change we finished the last midnight set as a power trio, ringing down the curtains with a blistering instrumental outing on Freddie King's 'The Stumble' - a great note to finish the evening off . . .

MID MARCH . . . Friday last saw the band back in The Trowel & Hammer, St Stephen's Road, Norwich for a very well-attended night of hot rhythm & blues, with numerous dancers up and shaking their thangs throughout three sets. Especial thanks to that first-rate drummer with the mega-professional approach, Phil Davison, who stepped in for us again. Phil is currently busily committed to his recently-launched and outstanding function band Energy, so many plaudits to him for giving us his time, and for playing a blinder as always. Regular kit man Chris The Stix was away building up big-time to his imminent birthday . . . yes, it's the big Three Oh looming, there's no hope for him now. Thanks to all our faithful supporters for turning out for the band once more, and thanks to the management team at The Trowel for our series of bookings there throughout 2011. We're back at this friendly Norwich venue again in May, and looking forward to getting the groove going on once more . . .

EARLY MARCH . . . no gigs for the band this week, so Johnny Boy and The Bassdaddy dropped into The Walnut Tree Shades on Thursday evening to catch a fine couple of sets from The Keno Kings, Norfolk's favourite Rhythm & Blues band (well, that's what Kenos front man Mick Alden told us). The Kenos did good stuff as ever but we didn't see anyone up on their hoofs having a boogie . . . Saturday night The Bassdaddy is out cranking up the volume in Fakenham with his Band Number Two, rock covers outfit Blind Spirit - unseemly amounts of noise, to be sure, but the punters seem to love it . . . check out www.blindspirit.co.uk for the full picture . . .

LATE FEBRUARY . . . the last gig of the month saw us back on home territory on Saturday night, with a super night of rocking blues grooves at The Eaton Cottage, Unthank Road, Norwich. It's always good vibes at The Eaton, but this one was a special buzz - the place was packed with many old friends and regulars, we had a big bunch of new songs in the set (some of which we didn't cock up), Li'l Dave gave his tonsils a rare outing, and the dancers shook their wicked fundaments like you wouldn't believe. After a brilliant gig was done and dusted, we all sat down, relaxed and had a foaming pint, enjoyed good company and fine conversation and listened to B B King on the pub sound system - The Bassdaddy reckons it don't get better than that (and he ain't hardly never wrong, as Chip Taylor once sang). Heartfelt thanks to Phil and his bar lads and lasses for another mega Eaton gig . . . back again in four weeks to rock the joint again . . .

MID FEBRUARY . . . something of a minor triumph, as the number of hits on this band website passes 15,000 which works out at something over 200 visits each week since we launched. Keep hittin' on us, y'all, we really appreciate everybody's interest . . . last Friday the band had one of its pretty rare practice nights (too many gigs for us to manage a regular slot, and also way too much pressure on the decent local rehearsal studios from what sound like dozens of enthusiastic but largely never-gigging punk and heavy metal outfits). We nailed quite a number of "new" tunes (well, we hope we did!) so check us out at the next few gigs to witness a radically-updated and more varied set list . . . . . many thanks to Freddie for another successful booking, Friday last, at The Royal Oak, High Street, Halstead, Essex. We've played there several times now, and always enjoy our evening there - a good punchy ambient sound, friendly bar guys, and also there seems to be a different sort of vibe goin' on to most of the Norfolk and Suffolk venues that we visit. It also qualifies at present as our longest trek - a 140 mile round trip, which ain't far for young lads, but for poor old devils like us it seems far enough at half past midnight when we're crawling home through the endless and unfathomable speed restriction zones that Suffolk Highways Department are so very keen on - did they acquire all those hundreds of "30" signs at a knockdown price or what?. . . mind you, when The Bassdaddy paused on the return trip in the middle of nowhere to dispose of the evening's Kronenbourg intake, the starscape in the crisp black midnight sky was spectacular and then some - you certainly don't get to see stuff like that in the big city . . . two weeks off now for the Honey lads before the next gig, so we'll be putting the hours in at the rehearsal studios to get some new songs into the bandbook - how keen are we?

EARLY FEBRUARY . . . just heard with some amazement of the death of Gary Moore at the age of 58. Gary's brand of supercharged rocked-up blues was not quite Honeydripper's bag, any more than was the style of the much-lamented SRV, but all respect to the pair of them for their huge and beneficial influence in getting blues music and its derivatives back in the public eye with a bang during that period when the blues could scarcely cop for a parking ticket. GM will be much missed, for his dynamic playing, his tunesmithing, and an endless stock of screaming no-nonsense guitar licks which started hundreds of young guitarists on the road to playing, forming blues-rock outfits, and gigging throughout the country and beyond . . . from info in Alan Fish's current Eastern Gig Guide it seems that a change of management at The Heartsease venue in Norwich may mean a change in the live music policy previously active there. If that's so, the Honeydripper booking at The Heartsease planned for ealy April could be in doubt - so regard that entry in the "Gigs" page of this site as a "To Be Confirmed" . . . thanks to Sue & Co at The Leopard for last night's return booking at The Leopard, Bull Close Road, Norwich. We had a good night, played some pretty good stuff and went down well with the audience. No dancers this weekend, but space is a little confined in front of the band area so that's not too surprising. It was nice that the weather had finally taken a turn for the better, so it was even practicable to get a taste of cool night air during the interval without freezing the family jewels. Could spring be just around the corner? Naaah!! Plenty of shite weather to come yet, methinks . . . next gig is down to Freddie's lively venue at The Royal Oak in Essex - that's always a buzz, so The Bassdaddy is going to practice all week . . . yeah, right!

END JANUARY . . . a crystal-clear freezing night last Friday for our trip to The Waterside Bar in Hunstanton. The display of stars in the jet-black sky was breathtaking out in this corner of Norfolk on such a cold clear night, but oddly the temperature was noticeably warmer up on the coast - has the Gulf Stream gone into reverse and nobody's noticed? Any road up, we had a great night out at The Waterside, and our thanks go to the management there for the repeat booking - we had a blast, and judging by the enthusiastic dancers and the many kind comments afterwards from a knowledgeable crowd, everybody else was happy with us too. We're back at The Waterside at the end of May, by which time these frosty nights will be but a memory . . . the following evening saw us back at our traditional end-of-the-month venue, The Eaton Cottage on Unthank Road, Norwich for what was our fifteenth gig there for Phil and his friendly and blues-savvy customers. What a lovely local, and what a super night we enjoyed - we introduced three new songs, and there was only one wreck, so we came out ahead. Thanks to Phil for continuing to book the band each month, and thanks to the music fans and dancers who always pitch up at The Eaton to rock the blues away with Honeydripper on the last wekend of each month - see y'all again in February?

LATE JANUARY . . . two gigs last week, with a welcome return on Thursday night to The Walnut Tree Shades, Old Post Office Court, Norwich. It was a pretty wet, cold evening, and there were less blues-loving listeners in there than at our last two visits (I reckon everybody has maybe just got their post-Christmas credit card bills and yelled "I owe HOW MUCH?!?!") Any road up, we had a good outing, debuted a couple of new songs without too many trainwrecks, and seemed to find favour with the cognoscenti. The Walnut seems to be getting some of its traditional vibe up and running again, and is booking mainly blues, R & B and rockabilly bands, so it's all on the right track . . . Saturday night saw our first visit to Mattishall Sports & Social Club, an excellent modern village facility at Mattishall Memorial Hall, South Green, Mattishall, which is on the back roads between Norwich and Dereham. A really nice friendly bunch of folks in there, many of them up and dancing by the second set, and we got some pretty complimentary remarks. The management liked us, and hopefully we'll be back later in the year to do some more groovin' blues licks for Mattishall Social Club . . . by the way, when you use a sat-nav to drive to a village four miles off a main road, why does it always choose to direct you down a single-track back lane with the odd muddy passing place, when there's a straightforward thirty foot wide road which is much more direct anyway? Doh!! . . .

MID JANUARY . . . back in the groove big-time last weekend with two stonking gigs out on the Norfolk county borders : Saturday night saw the band returning to The Cock Inn, Denmark Street, Diss for a lively evening and some "different" requests from some of the punters, one of whom asked if we would play some Gram Parsons numbers for him. We told him no, as we weren't a country band, but he in turn informed us that dear old Gram was a noted blues artist. Don't know what he was drinking, but it was clearly pretty good stuff . . . then, on Sunday afternoon, way out west to The London Porterhouse, London Road, King's Lynn for a supercharged Sunday teatime bluesfest. Always good to play in the cosy confines of the Porterhouse - lots of musicians and blues fans in there who really know their stuff and love the old-time blues numbers. One winsome lass told us she definitely preferred our rocked up blues grooves to the out-and-out rock bands she usually heard around the town, which is fair enough, as we're five light-years better than your average local rock outfit (we certainly swing more!). Many thanks to Diss Cock and London Porterhouse for the repeat gigs and to all the listeners and dancers for turning out on dull winter days to see us - we're back on at both venues later in the year, and it will be shorts and beach shirts by then . . .

. . . anybody who enjoys the photographs on this site should check out the new website recently launched by that excellent lensman, Eric Perkins, and featuring striking gig pictures of various Norfolk bands (including Honeydripper) taken over the past three or four years. Eric has been responsible for many of the photographs on the Honeydripper website in recent months, and the Honey boys are grateful to Paparazzi Perkins for his permission to use them . . . Eric's site is at : www.blues2rockimages.co.uk, or reach it direct from the "Links" page of this present website . . .

EARLY JANUARY . . .

The band learns from Alan Fish, publisher of The Eastern Gig Guide and of course stalwart bass man of such notable bands as Egypt, Beyond Duplication and previously The Groundhogs, that he is involved with ambitious plans to launch a fortnightly blues/R & B music club in central Norfolk. The nearest endeavour of this nature up to now has been Ipswich Rhythm & Blues Club, which doesn't look far to travel for live blues, but usually takes about one hour 20 minutes driving time from mid-Norfolk due to the draconian speed limits throughout the Suffolk part of the trip. The new Norfolk blues club is planned for Friday nights at Heathlands Social Club in Blofield Heath, 3 or 4 miles outside Norwich. It will be financed by a modest entry charge, but we understand drinks prices are well below typical pub tariff. Honeydripper are booked to play at the club on Friday 1st April (a very suitable date, I hear you cry!) and here's hoping that the new venture meets with the success it deserves . . .

A disappointing start to the new gigging year, with a non-event on the very first weekend! Apologies from Honeydripper to any of our followers who turned up at The Grebe Hotel, Stalham last Friday for the advertised booking and found no live music. The band duly arrived there at 8 pm to fulfil the booking to find that the venue had cancelled the gig - just a pity that none of us had been informed of this previously. The booking had been on the calendar for at least three months, and three weeks ago we went to the trouble and expense of printing and posting a batch of gig posters to The Grebe, together with a band contact card with all our phone numbers and website details. When we asked the reason for the late cancellation, the bar staff on duty had absolutely no idea! Bizarre, or what?

Exactly what everyone needs on a wet, cold, pitch-black, muddy and miserable January evening is a pointless drive halfway across Norfolk and back again. We'll leave you to guess whether they offered to reimburse our wasted petrol outlay or compensate us for the time, effort and expense of four musicians giving up an evening for a non-existent gig. We rang as many of our gig regulars as we could reach, but it was way too late to do much. I don't expect The Grebe will prove at all attractive to live music acts in the future, and certainly not Honeydripper. . .

NEW YEAR'S EVE . . . a brilliant extended gig at our "residency" venue, The Eaton Cottage on Unthank Road in Norwich to mark the arrival of 2011. We played three sets, from just after 9 pm until 12.20 am, and got a rousing Eaton welcome from all our regulars, plus lots of notable one-off visitors, including The Bassdaddy's hirsute lad all the way from Yorkshire, and much-welcomed musicians including Baz "The Hit Man" Wray, ex-The Proof and ex-Blue Fingers, and also local guitar hot-shot Mark "Boweevil" Howes, together with their various and lovely ladies. Chris The Stix was suffering with the onset of a flu bug, but played an absolute blinder for the band as ever - great playing, young sir, get better soon. The place was pretty rammed all evening, and we played up a storm, though I say it myself, with numerous party-clad dancers up and shimmying their wobbly bits. We even had The Gudge along for the ride, shaking his booty in an abandoned manner and singing along to the band - now that's not something you see too often! Chuck's "Rudolph" got his final gig outing of the festive season as the year ticked away to the witching hour. All in all, a fitting and rockin' finale to a great Honeydripper 2010. Thanks to Phil for the booking, thanks to all the happy well-lubricated punters who pitched up to hear Honeydripper in full flight on the last night of the year, and here's hoping we continue to rock out those grungy ol' blues grooves through till 2012 . . .

CHRISTMAS 2010 . . . No gigs now until New Year's Eve at The Eaton, so a brief moment to reflect on a very busy and enjoyable year for Honeydripper. The band has played sixty gigs in 2010, including that totally mental period in late May/early June where we did 7 gigs in a nine day period. That won't be happening again! We've taken our brand of feel-good Rockin' Rhythm & Blues all over Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex (we would have done Cambridgeshire too, if the money being offered wasn't so derisory - with petrol at £6 a gallon you have to draw the line somewhere!).

The Bassdaddy would like to extend his heartfelt thanks to Johnny Boy, Li'l Dave and Chris The Stix for so much good fun - it's been a real blast. Also thanks from the band to all our sturdy dep musicians, Phil Davison and Robert Masters on drums, and Paul Tinkler, Mark Howes and Andy Jordan for guitar contributions when we've needed them. And main thanks go to all the landlords, landladies and pub and club managers who book the band, plus everybody who turns out, summer and winter, to support us including The Rock God, The Groupie Girls, Naughty Peter & His Gang, Dave The Bass, Daughters Unlimited, Pan's People, and all the other familiar faces (especially round the Norwich venues) whose names haven't quite registered in the excitement of laying down red-hot blues grooves weekend after weekend. Warmest of compliments to all of you, and here's hoping we'll get down and groovy together many more times in 2011 . . .

MID DECEMBER . . . Jeez! How cold was it on Saturday for the final pre-Christmas gig of 2010? Minus four before we even set out, and back roads like skating rinks according to our country cousins . . . any road up, all was toasty and full of festive cheer at The Eaton Cottage, Norwich and by about ten o'clock the place was rammed as usual on a Honeydripper gig night. Both Chris (drums) and Dave (guitar) were out of action for this one, and it's many thanks to Robert Masters (drummer for among others 4 D Jones, The Planks and The Red Shadow jazz outfit) and Andy Jordan (ex-Midnight Groove and White Heat, and now a mainstay of the Blind Spirit rock band) for stepping in and performing lively dep duties for us. It's time to thank also Phil at The Eaton for having Honeydripper as one of his regular house bands throughout 2010. We've now done over a dozen Eaton gigs, always to a good reception, and we're looking forward to celebrating New Year's Eve there in a couple of weeks . . .

. . . the snow returned to Norfolk just in time to greet the band's return to The Walnut Tree Shades, Old Post Office Court, Norwich, but despite the freezing temperature the local Rhythm & Blues lovers turned out en masse to boogie the evening away with us. A super gig on The Walnut's newly-extended stage area (their restaurant has now re-opened as well) and another successful evening for Honeydripper. Many thanks to all who came along to cheer and clap, and thanks to all the dancers who do so much to create a grooving good-time vibe on gig nights. Lots of gyrating bodies this night, some of them more co-ordinated than others, but, hey! it's brilliant to see y'all getting down. Can't wait for next month (next year!) when we get back to rock The Walnut again. Thanks to Claire for rebooking what one experienced blues follower told us last night is the best outfit on The Walnut's roster of bands . . .

EARLY DECEMBER . . . Another lively night back on home turf last Friday, as the band played its first gig at The Trowel & Hammer, St Stephen's Road, Norwich. Really good sound in there, and helpful welcoming management who clearly recognise a brilliant band when they see one, as they immediately booked us up for a further slew of gigs running through until next Autumn. We generated quite a lot of interest, with many punters asking about the band, and lots of dancers, some most fragrant and elegant, and others doing a bizarre and frantic cross between David Brent and Peter Crouch in their terpsichoreal antics. The Bassdaddy loved it, but it is sometimes difficult to maintain your concentration when you're weeping with laughter at such weird self-expression being played out en masse right in front of you!! Thanks to The Trowel for a great gig, and appreciation for the return bookings. Thanks again to all the band's followers for turning up on a crap evening to yell encouragement - at least the snow had finally cleared after three interminable weeks . . . and the weather stayed just above freezing for our trip to the Suffolk coast the next night, when we played at The British Legion, Black Mill Road, Southwold. This is a really nice venue, great little stage and a comfy lounge area, but it's tucked away from view in the residential backroads and three-quarters of the band made a right pig's ear of locating it. The Bassdaddy's satnav seemed determined to lead him to Southwold Harbour, but of course he's a bright old beggar and in the end did it the old-fashioned way and relied on his low animal cunning. The gig was a good session, with a handful of dancers, and a really good natural sound in there with lots of bass bottom and a real growl from Li'l Dave's Marshall stack; it would actually be a good place to do a live recording, as long as you got lots of bodies in to create a lively atmosphere. Many thanks to Graham for booking the band, and thanks also to Peter for suggesting Honeydripper . . .

What a great gig for the band's debut at The Wild Man, Bedford Street, Norwich on Friday night. The new Guv'nor there, Ian, is a right decent sort, he bought the band guys drinks and before we even finished playing asked us back to do it all over again in 2011. By 11 pm the place was pretty rammed with Friday night drinkers out to kick the weekend off right, and most of them were up on their hind legs shaking their naughty bits until after midnight. We got a tremendous ovation for our bottleneck guitar take on Muddy's slow grind blues 'She's Nineteen Years Old', and this December's first outing for Chuck's Yuletide special 'Run, Run, Rudolph' had all the lasses shimmying big-time. Beautiful gig, thanks to all who turned out on a sub-zero night to support us, we want some more like that one . . .

LATE NOVEMBER . . . Well, winter definitely just arrived in the Deep Wensum Delta country, with lots of snow followed by slippy slidy icy roads as we wended our collective and cautious ways to The Eaton Cottage, Norwich, for our regular end-of-the-month blues bash there. Given the weather conditions, quite a decent-sized crowd to hear that good ol' Honey magic, and plenty of lasses up on their hoofs boogieing the night away - nice one, girls. Another good Eaton night, and two more to come there before the end of the year, including a special three-set New Year's Eve outing which should be jolly japes and no mistake . . . time to stock up on screen de-icer, though, methinks.

MID NOVEMBER . . . Last Friday saw the band make the journey to the seaside, but it was anything but holiday weather as we encountered persistent fog both ways, and brass monkeys were looking around in a worried manner and clutching the family jewels. Inside The Waterside Bar at Hunstanton it was a different ambience though. The management and the diners and ale-suppers were all very welcoming to the band, and with Christmas decorations already in place it was a great atmosphere. What a beautiful place to play a gig - warm, spacious, with an ocean view (well, not on a foggy November night, but it's the thought that counts) and not least with a great natural balanced sound. We loved it, and hopefully we'll be able to revisit The Waterside when the journey conditions are a bit less murky . . . the previous Sunday afternoon saw the band paying a return visit to Darby's Freehouse in Swanton Morley. What a super country inn, on the edge of a lovely old East Anglian village, and a pleasure to play there once more - a very nice pint of Woodfordes Wherry to be had there, too. It was fairly quiet on this occasion, but the people in there really seemed to like the band; one young music fan in there who has been studying bass guitar for two years told The Bassdaddy that he liked the old boy's playing a lot - now we don't hear that too often. We're back for another Sunday afternoon visit to Darby's just before Christmas, and hopefully the festive spirit will entice a full house along for that one . . .

EARLY NOVEMBER . . . Friday night was Guy Fawkes Night, 5th November, but it persisted down with rain all evening and dampened things down more than somewhat. The band played a gig at The King Edward VII, Aylsham Road, Norwich, but the unpleasant weather kept the crowd down to a cosy size - there was even room in there for some hardy punters to rattle balls round the pool table only six feet from the stage while we were playing- we recalled that in the old days the Eddy management used to get the table covered and stored well out of the way on gig nights. The Eddy is a nice venue to play in, with decent sound in the room, an impressive lighting set-up, plenty of electric outlets and air-conditioning; it clearly doesn't come with much in the way of blues aficionados these days, but you can't have everything I guess . . . . . . . Johnny Boy has been pursuing bookings like a mad gig-hound on gig pills, and we've just added a bunch of new bookings for 2011 to the calendar. We're back at Gooderstone Swan and Diss Cock, plus a new venue for us, The Rose & Crown, Beck Row near the US bases at Lakenheath/Mildenhall, as well as The Sheringham Social Club up on the North Norfolk Coast - I think I'll take my bucket and spade for that one. Already starting to look like another busy year for the blues bees - still, it keeps us out of mischief . . . plus we have been asked about playing at several private parties recently. D'yew keep a'troshing, blues boys . . .

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND . . . Last gig of a busy-bee month found the band on Saturday back at our "home base", The Eaton Cottage, Unthank Road, Norwich. Thanks to the generosity with our bookings of the Eaton's landlord, Phil, (and of course thanks to the numerous followers who turn out to hear us there month after month) we've now played there a dozen times since the autumn of last year. To keep some variety this time we dusted off one or two of our least-gigged songs last night (didn't cock them up either!!), and as usual at The Eaton had a reet gud time. Thanks to all who came out among the ghouls and ghosties to get a shot of groovin' R & B - we appreciate your interest, and hope to see you again at the next gig or three . . . . . . . scary stuff out at The Grebe Hotel, High Street, Stalham on Friday night. The entire place was swarming with ghastly bloodstained zombies, and not just on the bandstand. We were asked to keep the volume well under wraps, out of consideration for the venue's neighbours, as on our last visit, and we ended up cherry-picking our repertoire for mellow little ditties among the raucous R & B numbers . . . it was almost like a little acoustic jazz gig - the Bassdaddy even found himself sitting down to play at one point . . .

LATE OCTOBER . . . Saturday night, and a long schlep down to Freddie's brilliant music house at The Royal Oak, Halstead, Essex. Li'l Dave finally succumbed big-time to the dreaded lurgi, and had to pull out of the gig on the Saturday morning. Johnny Boy and The Bassdaddy went into mega dep-hunting mode, and we were well lucky to find our good buddy Mark "Boweevil" Howes had a free evening from his numerous band and duo gig activities. So Li'l Dave was depped by Li'l Mark, and I must say he played a fecking blinder for us - nice one, Boweevil. Dave boy - keep taking the tablets, y'all, we need you back in the saddle for next weekend! By the way, stories about our singer getting lost on a dead straight road between Sudbury and Halstead are just wicked lies (probably). Anyway, what a great gig, and what a lively scene those Essex girls and blokes create in the Oak. I've never before seen PA stands and speakers actually jumping up and down as the floorboards flexed, but that gives some idea of the number and commitment of the dancers. Nice one, you divine Essex lads and lasses. Big compliments to Freddie, as ever, for the booking - hope to be back in 2011 to lay some more funky blues grooves on The Oak again . . .
 
MID OCTOBER . . . Thursday night, and our first visit to the newly-reopened Walnut Tree Shades, Norwich. Great to be in the old place again knocking out them sleazy ol' boogies. Thanks muchly to Claire for the booking, best of luck for a long and successful tenure at The Walnut. Ta also to all the good ol' boys and gals who turned out to welcome the band at this keynote gig. Li'l Dave was not feeling too great, but he was a brave little soldier, successfully avoided all the yawning chasms where they are reconstructing the stage, and he did us proud. We went down pretty good, y'all, and have been rewarded with a pile of repeat bookings in there for the whole of next year - way to go!! See the "GIGS" page for dates . . . . . . . things are getting serious now - Johnny Boy has just arranged not one, but two, studio practice sessions. Where will it all end? Next thing you know, we'll be doing sound checks . . . last Saturday was a band trip to the seaside, with our first gig at The King William IV, Quay Road, Gorleston. This was the first time we've been brave enough to mike up the enthusiastic backing vocals of Chris the Stix. Did it work? Well, they didn't ask us to leave early (in fact, they wanted us to play right through until the witching hour) . . . other news this week is that the newly-reopened Walnut Tree Shades will be hosting our patented brand of infectious R & B on Thursday night - we're all hoping that the 7 month closure at The Walnut hasn't seen any of that legendary blues vibe seep away. Then on Saturday we're down to Essex to rock the saucy patrons at Freddie's famous music venue, The Royal Oak in Halstead. Should be a blast . . . and finally for the moment, Phil has just asked us to play The Eaton Cottage on New Year's Eve - now that should really be a gig and a half . . .

EARLY OCTOBER . . . start of a busy month for the band, and a terrific gig to begin with. Our first booking at The Rumsey Wells, St Andrew's Street, Norwich, and what a reception from a packed house of enthusiastic and knowledgeable little blueshounds. We loved it, and also it's a great atmospheric venue to play, with a super natural sound even at very modest sound levels. No need to crank up the volume when the ambient quality of the room is this good. Thanks Danny for the booking, hope we can return to The Rumsey some time to soak up that great atmosphere all over again . . .

END SEPTEMBER . . . a real milestone for the Honeydripper band as this website chalks up HIT No. TEN THOUSAND !! in just one year. It's also one year (plus one week) since the current line-up of the band played its first gig (which was at The Cock in Dereham) and The Bassdaddy for one hopes there's many more years to come - he hasn't had so much fun since . . . well, ever, really. Well done Chris, Dave and Johnny Boy, keep yew all a'troshing. Thanks too to our various deps over that year, including Phil Davison, Paul Tinkler, Andy Jordan and Mark Howes - fine gentlemen all, and some serious talent there too; and thanks of course to everyone who visits this website and all the blues fans who turn out to hear the band on gig nights . . . . . the other great news is that after many months of being shut up and sad-looking, The Walnut Tree Shades in Norwich re-opened last Friday with live music well to the fore. Honeydripper have been booked to play in there next month (see Gig Page for details) and here's hoping that the old Walnut blues magic vibes are still seeping out of the brickwork like before - it was a long haul, and at one point it looked as though the old place was going to be sold as flats, but hopefully the city centre's most venerable blues bar is back to stay - YIPPEE!!

LATE SEPTEMBER . . . "it's late September and I really should be back at school . . ." . . . but in fact we were headin' back to another temple of knowledge, that brilliant neighbourhood inn The Eaton Cottage on Unthank Road, Norwich, where mine host Phil runs such a super establishment, with excellent real ales, prompt efficient bar staff, and on the last Saturday of every month the most excellent R & B band in these here parts. Final weekend of September saw a particularly groovin' evening at The Eaton, with the Honey Boys digging DEEEEP into their blues grooves, and the assembled multitude of R & B followers shakin' their heads, tappin' their toes, suppin' their pints, shimmyin' their naughty butts and generally relishing a great rocking blues outing . . . it's gigs like this one that make all the humping about of drumkits, PA systems and heavyweight bass cabs in the pissing rain worthwhile, in a weird and outlandish way. We love playing the Eaton, and Phil has just extended our end-of-the-month residency through till the end of next year, so we're four happy little blues bunnies . . . nice one, y'all!

MID SEPTEMBER . . . a very pleasant cool end-of-summer feel to the evening for our first visit last Saturday to The King's Arms, Martham, out in the Norfolk Broads. A friendly welcome from the venue landlady, beers for the boys, and also a good reception from an enthusiastic, all-dancing crowd. Johnny Boy had been to the dentist the previous day for extractions, but I swear his blues harp blowing was better than ever - an unusual way to enhance your technique, but it obviously works - I wonder if Kim Wilson knows about that trick . . . we enjoyed the gig, and it was certainly surreal to glance out of the window while playing Set 2 and watch a bunch of ducks swimming on the village pond in the moonlight. We should be back at The King's Arms at some future date, I gather - watch the gig calendar . . .

EARLY SEPTEMBER . . . back to The White Horse in West Street, Cromer, last weekend for a well-received couple of sets delivered to a knowledgeable blues audience, most of whom got up on their hind legs and shook their naughty particles at some stage during the evening. They all looked in a good mood, so we tried out a few new numbers (well, new to us, most of them are about 60 years old) including our very first Country & Western song, although I doubt dear ol' Hank W would have recognised the boogie bottleneck treatment we give to his 'Move It On Over'. Not too many cock-ups with the new stuff, so that counts as a win . . . thanks to the White Horse for the return gig, and many thanks to Captain Extraordinary, Eric, Jean, Pan's People, Groupie Girl and the rest of the lovely audience for turning out for us - keep on doin' that nasty boogie, y'all . . . . . by the way, rumours that half the band turned up at The White Horse, Cromer and the other half arrived at The White Horse, Overstrand are obviously completely without foundation . . . yeah, right!

into the dark evenings now, and our first September gig was very much on our home patch, with our debut gig at The Leopard, Bull Close Road, Norwich. Great sound in there, and the band went down really well with a knowledgeable and appreciative crowd. A warm , pleasant evening, a good gig, and many thanks to Sue at The Leopard for the booking. We should be back on stage there again early next year . . .

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY . . . a brilliant start to a busy gigging Bank Holiday weekend with a rare Friday night visit to our regular end-of-month home from home at The Eaton Cottage on Unthank Road. Super crowd, good vibes, only one teeny train wreck in two hours of sweaty, funky, groovin' Rhythm & Blues - we loved it. Thanks as ever to Phil for the continued residency at The Eaton.

Johnny Boy was out and about Saturday night doing his cool blues duo thang, then the band hit the road for HONEYDRIPPER GIG NUMBER 50! This was intended to be played in the garden at Darby's Freehouse, Swanton Morley, but sadly the day dawned chilly, very windy and pissing down with rain, so we were tucked cosily into the inglenook area of the main bar along with numerous drinkers seeking refuge from the English summer. At 6 pm quickly back to The Bassdaddy's hovel for turkey rolls and choccy cake before hitting the road again for Suffolk. We closed the evening's entertainment at The Star Inn, Wenhaston, who were hosting their windswept summer Beer Festival. Incidentally, some great acoustic players featuring fiddle, Celtic harp and bodhran just before us - beautiful magical stuff. It was weird playing under canvas wearing hats, waterproofs and hoodies on what was supposed to be a balmy summer night, but we just avoided electrocution and certainly were appreciated by those hardy Beer Festival patrons who crowded the beer tent to see us. Free beer, free food, we could not have been treated better by a very friendly host and hostess - thanks indeed to Virginia and Carl; incidentally, they had some seriously drinkable ales in the beer tent, including a honey beer (how appropriate was that?) that caused Johnny Boy absolutely no pain at all as he got his beak into it - pity he had a forty mile drive home to think about, and also a pity about the appalling weather . . .

LATE AUGUST . . . A quick glance at the band diary reveals that the August Bank Holiday weekend will see the band play its 50th gig since forming last summer. That will be the afternoon outing (hopefully in the garden) at Darby's Freehouse in Swanton Morley, near Dereham. Later that day we're dropping down into Suffolk to play at the Beer Festival organised by The Star Inn at Wenhaston, near Southwold - something of a double whammy to mark the Honeydripper Half-Century. First, though, a return to the Eaton Cottage, Norwich, next Friday to link up with our regular Norwich followers. Should be a busy but excellent holiday weekend . .

MID AUGUST . . . On Saturday the Honeydripper boys made the trek to The Wash & Tope, Hunstanton. A heavy thunderstorm arrived over the West Norfolk coast just before we did, and the country lanes were awash, so things were quiet at first, but by the second set quite a decent-sized crowd of appreciative music fans had assembled. Hunstanton is one of the few places in East Anglia where the sun sets over the sea, and there really was a spectacular late evening cloudscape as the rain blew away over the water - nice one!T he W & T is a good venue to play in, lots of electrical outlets, plenty of room, and a good sound in the elongated bar. Hopefully we will get to do some repeat gigs there, as the guys all enjoyed that one a lot . . .

Friday last saw the band making a return to a great local venue, The King's Head Hotel, Beccles. The Manager there, Ian, is an object lesson to music venue bosses in the way he treats visiting bands - he provides drinks for the musicians, has laid on his own modern low temperature lighting rig, and is such a friendly, attentive and courteous guy that when you realise you're being treated like human beings, it can be a bit of a shock. We had a good gig, but sadly for bands anyway, the hotel is now being sold to become part of the Wetherspoons' chain so I guess this was the last time Honeydripper will grace the premises. Our warm thanks to Ian for the band's gigs at The King's Head, and here's hoping that we are able to play for him at another venue at some future date . . .

EARLY AUGUST . . . last weekend kicked off for the band with a return visit to The Grebe Hotel, Stalham, out in the Norfolk Broads. A late start because of the Norwich match on Sky, but once fired up we rocked the house and went down well. The new sound-proofing boards look like they're preparing for the Luftwaffe to put in an appearance any minute now, but the dancers and the Guv'nor there liked us, and so we're back again in October, and also just after Christmas . . . Saturday night and it was a 70 mile drive (or more if you lose your way like The Bassdaddy - doh!) down to The Royal Oak, Halstead in Essex. Our first visit to this well-known live music venue, and a great debut gig for us. A big crowd, many of them up and shaking their interesting parts, plus Freddie the boss made us very welcome, and also did his well-known vocal turn on 'Blue Suede Shoes' with the band at the end of the night. Halstead on a warm summer Saturday night is a really busy, friendly little town with a great vibe, well-happy people absolutely everywhere at midnight, and we loved the gig. Some of the winsome lassies in the Royal Oak were merry and well lively, and a good time was had. Hope to be back there to rock the joint again soon . . . . . the previous weekend was pretty hectic for Honeydripper, with three gigs in two and a half days. We kicked off on Friday night with a return visit to The Cottage on Silver Road in Norwich, an excellent venue with its own grizzly bear patrolling the bar. Fortunately any carnivorous tendencies Murphy may have were forgotten in favour of a vegetarian lifestyle once The Bassdaddy opened his packet of salted peanuts. We played our latest two-set selection for the small but perfectly marked crowd, but I must be honest and admit that the highlight for most was probably the landlady's infant son Harry showing Chris how to play drums, and then sitting in with the band on miniature acoustic guitar. The lowlight was the torrential rainstorm just as it was time to load the gear into the cars after the gig . . . the next night the weather had cleared, and we did our end-of-the-month gig at The Eaton Cottage on Unthank Road, but Li'l Dave was away so Andy Jordan from the White Heat and Blind Spirit classic rock bands once again got his blues face on and did us proud with his depping skills, including his patented crowd walkabout while soloing. Nice one, Andy, and compliments too to Phil the landlord at The Eaton who has just extended our monthly booking through until the New Year - nice one, Phil, you run a great pub with an excellent clientele, and you know a red-hot band when you hear one . . . last gig of the weekend saw us visiting King's Lynn for the first time, with a teatime slot at a real R & B lover's venue, The London Porterhouse on the main road into town. A number of familiar faces from the west of the county pitched up to hear us again, and we rocked this very compact but attractive little pub big-time. The Porterhouse have booked us in again for some dates in the winter, and we look forward to going back and groovin' once more for the very knowledgeable and appreciative King's Lynn blues fans . . . . .

LATE JULY . . . the band just had a great weekend at the seaside - Sunday afternoon saw us playing in the garden behind The Dock Tavern, Gorleston, as part of a charity fund-raiser, along with noted local classic rock band Stealer. The folks turned out in droves, the barby got red hot, and the sun shone. Saturday night we played a blinding three-set gig at The Green Gate Inn, Caister-On-Sea - we really enjoyed that one; the lassies and lads were up on their hooves bopping away, and even at midnight they were still yelling for more. Some of the best vibes we've had with an audience for months, and with that kind of reception we would expect to be asked back instantly to repeat the dose, but it's never something one can count on, strangely. We'll wait and see in a patient and philosophical manner, as always . . .

MID-JULY . . . anyone who was thinking about catching the band at The King Edward VII on 20th August may want to note that the gig in question won't happen, due to what might be termed a calendar malfunction (on the part of the venue, obviously, we're way too efficient for that kind of mallarkey). The Eddy have confirmed that we're still booked to play there on November 5, mysterious diary disasters permitting, presumably . . .

MID-JULY . . . what a hot, steamy night last Friday at The King's Head Hotel in Beccles, but what a terrific buzz. The temperature outside was nearly 90, so inside with the amps and PA and lights bubbling away it was mega sweaty, but it's a great place to play, the band were made really welcome, and we had a reet gud time as they say where The Bassdaddy's lad lives. There were a few undulating bodies up and having a boogie, and we did a couple of hot sets. Many thanks to Ian for that booking and for the beer - he expressed himself well pleased with the band (well, we are getting pretty hot now) and he's booked us back in there for a month's time - can't wait to do it all again! Well done, Beccles, nice vibe . . .

EARLY JULY . . . with the "enforced" lay-off because of the football World Cup (by the way, belated congratulations to the England team on a wonderful showing) it seemed like ages since we last gigged, so it was great to visit The King's Head Hotel, Bungay, Suffolk on Saturday night and play a couple of sets for a modestly sized but really appreciative audience. We shoe-horned several new (new to us) songs into the set, and there were no noticeable train wrecks, so that's cool. The boys are keen to nail even more extra numbers, so in the end we'll be just like a real band, probably . . . many thanks to Geoff at Bungay for the booking; as Johnny Boy remarked, the music room there is a terrific place with a real ambience, and if some miracle-worker could persuade local blues lovers to turn out on a regular basis it would make a superb venue for a monthly blues club . . . . .

END OF JUNE . . . the band are having one of their rare practice sessions this week - you may have spotted the bunting in the streets and the general air of great excitement at this rare phenomenon. Should hopefully be some new (well, really old but different) songs added to the sets for the next batch of gigs. We're looking forward to our postponed gig at The King's Head in Bungay on Saturday; also, several new bookings for the summer just added - see the "GIGS" page of the website. We're doing a fund-raiser for Gorleston Lifeboat at The Dock Tavern, Gorleston along with respected rock band Stealer who are based out on the coast. If it's a nice day that will be outside, it's a family-friendly Sunday afternoon event, maybe a third act playing too, and all for an excellent cause, so we're looking forward to that one. Full details, as ever, of the current gig calendar on the "GIGS" page . . . . .

LATE JUNE . . . no Honeydripper gigs this coming weekend (did you know there's a football match on somewhere?) but The Bassdaddy hopes to be popping along to a rare local appearance by notable young singer/songwriter Alex Loughrey and his band. Axel is performing at The Bull in Dereham on Friday 25th June . . . . . while the boys are "off the road" because of this interminable World Cup football, you could get your ration of live blues by dropping into The Leopard, Bull Close, Norwich, on Saturday 19th June, where our front man Johnny Boy Watcham will be doing his laidback groovy duo thang with the redoubtable Phil Selby (of The Keno Kings, Dr Misfit, Acme Blues Company, Cleaving Heavages and any seventeen other fine bands) . . . . . as more or less expected, the scheduled gig at The Eaton Cottage  on Saturday next 26th June has also been cancelled as the pub is firmly in the grip of World Cup fever. Hope to get gigging again once the football fest is all played out . . . . .

MID JUNE . . . Great excitement tonight (Monday 14th) as Honeydripper front man Johnny Boy appeared on Wayland Radio's FM Blues Show as one half of the renowned Blues By Two combo. Nice swinging live set, some excellent recorded blues tracks chosen by the guys, plus the expected modest and self-effacing commentary. Nice one, Phil and John - pity they couldn't get the Honeydripper name right, but what's new . . . . . the band should have been paying a return visit to The Grebe Hotel, Stalham, this coming Friday, June 18th, but the venue has called off the gig as it clashes with another England World Cup match. We reckon that's probably a sensible move - either there will be nobody in the place because they're all indoors watching the England goalie covering himself in glory, or they will be crowding into the Grebe in droves so we can't get our gear set up till about ten . . . we're waiting to see whether England will be involved in the second round match on Saturday 26th, because if they are we may find a similar situation with the Eaton Cottage gig scheduled for that evening . . . . . the band's first visit to Gooderstone Swan, in the outback beyond Swaffham, clashed with ITV showing the first England World Cup match live, so the gig didn't fire up until well after 10 pm (The Bassdaddy is usually getting out the Horlicks and comfy slippers by then) and we played in the big glass conservatory at the rear of the venue, where the sound was "unusual". Still, the band went down well, and were particularly appreciated by a bunch of USAF airmen from RAF Lakenheath. Don't know whether the guys picked up the connection between our well-intentioned slovenly noise-making and proper American Rhythm & Blues music, but as ever we live in hope . . . the drive home at half past midnight showed all manner of wildlife poncing about in the headlights - hares, bunnies, deer, you name it - you certainly don't want to be belting along on those narrow country lanes at any rate of knots . . .

EARLY JUNE . . . on Saturday we finished off our intensive Norfolk/Suffolk early summer tour (seven gigs in nine exhausting days!!) with a visit to Club Oasis at Caister-On-Sea, which is a lovely big venue with a terrific stage set-up, masses of electric power outlets, good stage lighting and good punchy sound. Many thanks to Sandra at the club for that booking, and thanks to our followers who pitched up for that one. In all honesty, I don't guess they have Rhythm & Blues bands playing to the family holiday-makers there too often, but we went down OK in between the kiddies' entertainment and the Madonna DJ fare. One big disappointment for front man Johnny Boy was that he didn't win a pair of flashing fluffy pink bunny's ears during the children's competions, but we told him you can't have everything. Time to put our feet up for a bit now . . . . . Friday last saw the boys running down to the Suffolk coast for our first gig at The Lord Nelson, Lowestoft, a venue normally presenting hard rock and heavy metal bands, but our punchy brand of lively R & B went down really well and they want us back again. Great stage set-up, loads of electric outlets (which makes a change) and excellent sound. One unexpected benefit of playing a pub which is used to heavy metal outfits is that for once nobody asked us to TURN IT DOWN! Thanks to The Lord Nelson for the free shots, thanks for the booking - nice one! Not so nice was the close encounter afterwards with a muntjac that The Bassdaddy collected on the A12 near Gorleston - not content with the very near miss on the first pass, the stupid little fecker decided to do a U-turn and headbutt the offside rear door after I'd almost cleared it - the motor is looking a bit more second-hand after that one . . . a summer evening drive through the North Norfolk back roads took the band to The Queen Victoria, Snettisham on Wednesday last for our first gig there. It was really good to play for a bunch of friendly, knowledgeable and appreciative blues followers. The Bassdaddy discovered during the interval that there were at least three bass players in the audience. He had played the whole of Set 1 using the good old Dean Pace upright electric (resembling a railway sleeper with four bits of wire) with his usual approximate sloppy technique, so it was a relief he didn't discover the crowd's specialist knowledge until afterwards! A good experience - it's brilliant when a pub crowd actually LISTENS TO THE MUSIC!

LATE MAY BANK HOLIDAY . . . we started off a busy Bank Holiday weekend with our first visit to The Heart in Wymondham. Many thanks for the booking to the lovely Jan, who really likes her live blues, and knows a hot blues band when she hears one. We had a good gig - there was a lively Friday night crowd of young drinkers, but also a pretty fair representation of more mature knowledgeable blues fans, several of whom said very complimentary things about our stuff, always good to hear. We hope to be back at The Heart once diaries have been compared . . . Saturday night saw us back in our now-regular slot at The Eaton Cottage, Norwich. A brilliant night, lots of happy grooving punters and band fans, and even a bunch of youngsters dressed up as beer cans (beer cans?!? No chance they were students, I suppose?) Thanks, as ever, to Phil for the booking . . . Sunday afternoon we moved across the city to The Spread Eagle, Sussex Street, where Adam the landlord was putting on a barbecue, which was sadly rain-affected. Again, largely due to the rain, one suspects, only a few hardy blues fans turned out to listen to us, but at least the pub's chickens popped in to hear what we had to offer . . . final stop on this mad Bank Holiday tour of Norfolk was a Monday afternoon session at The Red Lion, Needham, where the sun finally put in an appearance and people really seemed to like the band. We played out on the decking at the rear of the inn, and the sound was a bit bizarre as usual with outside gigs, but it was good fun and a well-received end to a busy, busy gigging weekend. Memo to our bandleader - don't book four gigs in four days again . . . ZZZZZZ!

LATE MAY : Friday 21st May saw the band play its first gig at The Crown, Pulham Market. There were several keen music enthusiasts there, including a couple of very young blues/rock band musicians who really seemed to love their blues. It's a nice room at The Crown, with plenty of space to set up, and for once The Bassdaddy had enough elbow room to set up a second amp and blow the dust of his electric fretless stand-up bass - great fun to play, and it brings a different sound to some of the band's songs too. The room, though, is pretty big, and really needs a bustling crowd to get that real rocking gig atmosphere. Many thanks to Steve the Guv'nor for the booking - chatting to him as we cleared away the gear it's clear that many country inns are still finding it a real struggle to entice enough customers in for band nights, despite all the posters, advert boards and gig guide and local paper entries, even on a beautiful balmy early summer night. The drive back was good, mist wreathing the back roads, and at one point a sudden stamp on the brakes as a fox sped across the road with a fat bunny clamped in its jaws. Oooh-er, nature red in tooth and claw . . . scarey stuff!

 . . . . the gig planned for Saturday 22nd May at The King's Head Hotel, Bungay has been cancelled  by the venue, not by the band. We are informed, at two day's notice, that another Bungay pub is having a "closing down" bash that night, and The King's Head management apparently consider that will be too much of a competing draw . . . . .

MID MAY . . . Li'l Dave back on parade and smokin' them Marshall valves for the start of a busy bee Honeydripper weekend at The Cottage, Silver Road in Norwich on Friday. Though I say it myself, we played some pretty good stuff, and it was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd in attendance right through to the end. Nice to see some of the faithful lapping up them good-time Honey grooves : thanks to Ken, Clive, Margaret, Eric, Jean, Robert The Hitman and so many more - keep on keepin' on, you funky fools! Thanks to Sally and Clive for the booking - and for repeat bookings for later this summer. By the way, The Bassdaddy didn't really believe for one minute that Murphy is a German Shepherd - looks way more like a big ol' Grizzly bear strolling round the place . . . the next night down to The Cock Inn, Diss, for a lively couple of hot steamy sets for the happy border folks - think the summer's coming in, we had to wring our shirts out. Lots of swaying bodies, clearly getting into that downhome Honeydripper groove bliss. Chris The Stix had reskinned his snare drum, and was digging deeeep into the pocket - magic stuff - Idris Muhammad would have been proud of the lad. Thanks to our Southern friends for turning out, notably including that fine drummer Ash Seaman, noted stick man for Strange Brew and currently with John Stannard's Twangrenades - Ash thought we sounded hot, and that's good enough for us . . . and, to complete the long weekend, on Sunday 16th some tired li'l Honey bunnies paid a first visit to The York Tavern in Norwich, to lay down some modestly quietened blues grooves for the newly-formed York Tavern Bicycle Club and other ale aficionados. Although Chris The Stix is a well-known addition to the furniture at The York (he played many gigs there with an earlier band) it was the first Honeydripper outing there - our music seemed to find favour with the punters and The Guv'nor, and we may be back later . . .

EARLY MAY . . . on Friday 7th we played our first gig in the lively Grebe Hotel, Stalham. Our guitarist Dave found himself unavailable for this gig, so we were pleased that Mark Howes could step in at short notice and lay down some lovely jazzy blues licks that were as tasty and appetising as the unusual and original Broadland cocktails advertised in the main bar. Mark is currently very busy in the studios putting the final touches to the new album by his much-respected "Dove & Boweevil" acoustic blues outfit, so we are lucky to be able to call on his talents. The Bassdaddy recalled after the gig that Stalham is in the neck of the Norfolk outback where he first picked up a bass many years back, accompanying talented blues singer/guitarist Roger Billings, and so he took the "long way home" in the pouring rain to retrace the route of many a rehearsal session from those days, across the country roads and over the flat lonely marshlands stretching in from the east coast. If you're out there reading this, RB, the old boy is still blowing the blues, hope you are too . . . we should be back at The Grebe later in the summer - hope the rain has stopped by then . . . . . by the way, thanks to our buddy Will Flittner, Clapton fan extraordinaire, who described Honeydripper on Facebook recently as "an awesome band". A man of great perception and faultless taste, he will go far . . .

SPRING BANK HOLIDAY . . . we played on the opening night of the East Harling Blues & Beer Festival, but it was a much-shortened gig (the previous outfit were pretty relaxed about clearing their gear off the stage) and the boys were just hitting the groove big-time when the witching hour arrived and we all turned back into pumpkins. Still, the late-night punters who were still about seemed to like what we offered, and it was good to play on the same bill as Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes plus several American artists currently on tour in the UK. Thanks to Dave Thomas for bringing the boys in on this event . . . then on the Bank Holiday Sunday we did a last-minute gig for the monthly blues night at The Ribs Of Beef, Norwich, after the booked band called off late. Li'l Dave was away all weekend in strange foreign parts, so much-respected blues axe-man Mark Howes brought his red 335 to fill our guitar slot. It was dark and cosy in The Ribs, but everybody breathed in, and we squeezed in a tiny drumkit, itsy-bitsy Roland Bass Cube and half a PA and bluesed up a storm. Mark played an absolute blinder for us with his patented Buddy Guy-meets-B B King lines, and we had a great time and got some very complimentary remarks (one lady even admired The Bassdaddy's shirt - no accounting for taste). Big thanks to Mark for faultless guitar licks, and to Tom at The Ribs for the booking.

LATE APRIL . . . on Friday last Honeydripper played The Park Hotel, Diss, for their St George's Day Beer Festival. We tried out a few new numbers, and with three sets over three hours we were cream-crackered, especially Johnny Boy, who was red in the chops after all that funky leg action . . . BUT! it was a great gig, the good folk from the mystical border lands were up on their dainty little hooves shaking all manner of shapely appendages, and our CD was selling like hot cakes. It's a pity it doesn't sell like CDs, but you can't have everything . . . many thanks to Tracy at The Park for the booking; I think it's fair to say we impressed the punters there, so we hope to be back at The Park later, it's a great room to play . . . . . and if the Park gig was a blast, what about The Eaton Cottage, Norwich, the following night? A mega-blinder, methinks. The Bassdaddy dusted the fretless Jazz Bass off for once, for that DEEEEEEP throb, and it immediately gobbled up a dodgy cable. LAWDY!! Once that red-faced false start was out of the way, the Honeydripper team rocked the mutha big-time. We always love playing at The Eaton Cottage, but this was a special night - they cheered, they booked us for private gigs, and one guy reckoned we made all the bands in his local music venue sound like ordure. And the boppers were out in force -there was so much hot vibrating bodywork it was like a Top Fuel Drag Race. A brilliant night - thanks, as ever to the excellent Phil for the booking - back there again end of May to do it all again (well, apart from the equipment SNAFU, hopefully . . . )

MID-APRIL . . . last weekend was busy for the Honeydripper boys, with a Friday night gig on home turf at The Black Horse, Norwich, followed by a three-hour stint Sunday teatime at The Chequers Inn, Bungay, just over the Suffolk border. The crowds were not vast, it's true, but we got some pretty enthusiastic punters at both gigs, shaking their wobbly bits, supping their ale and saying complimentary things to the band. The longer stint at The Chequers gave the band a chance to try out a few new numbers. We've added an interesting version of the seventy-year-old swing era instrumental 'After Hours' to the band repertoire, but with the addition of recent lyrics by Boz Scaggs. Mrs Bassdaddy thinks it's terrific, "close enough for jazz", and as Chip Taylor once sang, "she ain't hardly never wrong".

The fine folks at The Chequers asked us to keep the volume well under wraps - apparently a recent band there turned it up to eleven and brassed off some of the neighbours; we turned it up to two, as requested, Johnny Boy did his acoustic harp thang, and Chris The Stix used brushes all evening. Well, it's good for the soul to be all cool and mellow, I guess. . . . .

. . . . . the band are great believers in the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", so we don't rehearse too much; however, we did have a little studio session this week to work up a few "new" songs (well, they were new 50 years ago). Among other things, we learned that harmonica reeds don't last forever, that we dare not perform stuff at 2 mph like Muddy did, and that Chris really, really does lust after some new Ludwig drum gear; however, we never did discover just how many beats there are to the bar in Howlin' Wolf's 'I Ain't Superstitious' - it sure as hell ain't four, though . . . still, we reckon we got it nailed, and this weekend we'll find out, when we gig it for the first time . . .

EARLY APRIL . . . last weekend saw the boys visit The Sandboy in Bawsey, a really attractive tavern on the back road to King's Lynn. We played in a well-appointed function room they have over there, and we did a good couple of sets. However, the excellent Oakham Ales cask beers in the main bar easily proved more attractive for the punters than two hours of grooving R & B in the big room, so the Friday night drinkers all stayed glued resolutely to their bar stools. Thanks to an enthusiastic group of Salsa dancers (small but beautifully formed) we had an audience to work to, but it's difficult to work out why the pub would have a large "Events" blackboard facing the main road and then not put on there that there's a live band on . . . or indeed not put up the posters that the band sent (unless, of course, the latter were intercepted in transit by aliens - yes, that would be it). So, a bit like a paid practice session in the end. Still, the starry night sky looked brilliant out there miles from any light pollution, and the rustic drive back through the boondocks at midnight was the usual duck-and-dive slalom round the foxes, bunnies and muntjacs . . . . .

END OF MARCH . . . a particularly enjoyable weekend's gigging, especially with Li'l Dave back in the fold after his 10,000 mile service - on Friday night we played, for the first time, The Spread Eagle in Norwich. The band went down really well - what a nice bunch of people in there, friendly, polite, even helping us load the gear afterwards. The landlord bought drinks for the band, and wants us back for the Whitsun weekend (blimey, how out of date am I? The "Late Spring Bank Holiday") Nice one, folks, really enjoyed that, and got a couple of nice video clips from the gig too . . . . . the following evening saw us back at The Eaton Cottage, again in Norwich. I think this is about the sixth time we've played there since last autumn - what can I say? Big enthusiastic crowd who really love what we do, a great selection of ales, and a super ambience - Phil really knows how to run a neighbourhood pub, and he also knows a good band when he hears one. I love that bit when you've finished the gig, you're sitting there chilling out and downing a cheeky pint, and they put your CD album on the sound system - genius!!

LATE MARCH . . . Li'l Dave's back!! The diamond geezer is back in harness and rocking the blues once more. Mega-thanks to Paul Tinkler and Andy Jordan for filling in so brilliantly at recent gigs while Dave was so patiently(!?!) wearing his plaster cast, but the lad is now freed from his shackles and we can't wait to get them old blues grooves going with him at the weekend's gigs. Go get 'em, Dave; as the man himself would say, "Quality!" . . .

MID MARCH . . . What a super night at The Jubilee Hall in Loddon on 20th March. Li'l Dave was still recovering from his fractured wrist, but the boys were very lucky to secure the lively axeman services of Andy Jordan, ex-White Heat and now part of the front line of outstanding classic rock band Blind Spirit (they have a brilliant bass player too). The sound was similar to Dave's (Marshall amp and what someone recently called a "Gibson Les Dawson"). Not sure that anyone from 1950s Chicago South Side would have recognised the barnet though (our Super-Dep has more hair than the rest of the band has between them), but Andy played us a blinder, rockin' them R & B boogie grooves and adding a little crowd walking into the mix. By the last set the dancefloor was heaving with strutting bodies of every age and ability, having as good a time as the band. Our compliments to Andy for doing his rowdy thang for us, and many thanks indeed to Simon for the booking - a great venue, and hope to get back in there later this year . . .

EARLY MARCH . . . Bandleader Johnny Boy has been chasing up bookings like some kind of rabid gig-hunting hound after an injection of gig-hunting juice. Check out the "GIGS" page for an up-to-date listing, as ever. We've just been booked back into The Eaton Cottage every month through Spring and Summer in our now-regular last-Saturday-of-the-month slot . . . big compliments to Phil of The Eaton for that one, we just luurrve it in there. Another notable upcoming appearance - opening night of the early spring Bank Holiday Blues & Beer Festival at East Harling - we'll just rock their funky little socks off. Plus we're on home turf at The Black Horse, Norwich and The Spread Eagle, Norwich and . . . oh! too many great venues to mention, just look at the "GIGS" page and be totally amazed at our ubiquity.

END OF FEBRUARY . . . We rounded out a busy month with a super gig back at The Eaton Cottage in Norwich (and thanks, indeed, to the Guv'nor, Phil, at The Eaton for booking the band in there every month over this nasty winter) Avid followers of this page will know that Li'l Dave Thompson has been in dock with a damaged hand, but the Honey gang were delighted, for the second gig in a row, to secure a Super Sub, this time the highly-talented Paul Tinkler, bossman of The Part Time Blues band.

The Eaton was heaving, with an all-cheering, all-dancing,
butt-wobbling crowd of joyous little blues bunnies (or maybe they were really keen beer fans, it's hard to tell sometimes). Any road up (as they say where my lad lives in t'frozen North) they loved us and we had a great time. Our guest guitarist played like a dream, and the boys in the band would like to record how grateful we've been to have Paul Tinkler (guitar/vocals) and Phil Davison (drums, scarf) stepping in for the last couple of bookings - way to go, gents, you played up a storm! Li'l Dave came along to support the band, this time from the other side of the mic stand, and seemed to think we were doing OK in his enforced absence. Don't get any ideas, buddy, we need you back in harness and mega-soon . . .

LATE FEBRUARY . . . Shock! Gasp! Horror! Guitarist Dave Thompson is hors de combat at present, having gotten well and truly plastered (at the hospital, that is) after damaging his hand. How do you replace the irreplaceable? Quelle probleme - however, for the next gig at Eaton Cottage we've been very fortunate to secure the mighty assistance of Part Time Blues Band honcho Paul Tinkler. Here's hoping Lil Dave is soon back riffing like a demon once more . . .

 . . . what a crying shame it is to walk past The Walnut Tree Shades bar/restaurant in central Norwich these days and see it locked up and forlorn, with all the shades down. For decades this great venue has been open all week for a meal, a decent pint, and for more years than The Bassdaddy cares to remember it has been THE Norwich bar to visit on a Thursday night to hear some of the best blues bands in the region. Last time I played a gig there it was so busy you had to go out of one door, down the alley and in the other just to reach the gents, it was quicker than forcing your way through the throng. The management of the Walnut has changed several times in recent years, and I guess the recession has not helped, but let's hope that this cornerstone of the East Anglian live music landscape will soon be open for trade once more, and promoting blues bands like Honeydripper to a discerning and enthusiastic clientele as in times past . . .

LATE FEBRUARY . . . we had a great outing at The White Horse in Cromer last weekend. This was a new venue for us, and we did a well-received couple of sets to an appreciative audience. Thanks to all hardy souls who pitched up on this below-zero night by the North Sea coast, including Jean, Eric, Andy, Jane, Margaret, the Phantom Harpman, Pan's People and the rest of the knee-shaking boppers. The band was missing Chris The Stix on the traps, but we were lucky to have mega-dep Phil Davison manning the percussion equipment for one night only and laying down his mean, wicked backbeats. Phil, you are a star and played a blinder for us. The Bassdaddy brought his new/old/customised Yamaha BB bass for its first outing since its recent trip to the guitar tech, and it sounded like a dream.

Hope to get back into The White Horse later this year, it was a really good place to do one's stuff.

FEBRUARY . . . we played The Jolly Farmers at Swanton Abbott last week to a very receptive and knowledgeable crowd with a number of musicians present. Nobody yelled "Get off!" so we reckon that was a result. Seriously, we got a good punchy sound on the Jolly's nice little stage, and received some very complimentary comments from the Guv'nor and the customers after the gig. We even got some dancers up and shaking their wicked booties . . .

Once again, when we packed up the cars after midnight it was time to scrape ice off windscreens - it's a good job we're all of a sunny disposition, otherwise this endless winter would really be getting us down. Still, we are a blues band, so it's probably helpful artistically to be a bit hacked off now and then . . .

We're back at The Jolly Farmers in early July, when it will be Bermuda shorts instead of overcoats. Looking forward to that one, it's a great place to gig. Thanks to all concerned for that booking and the good response . . .

LATE JANUARY . . . we paid a return visit to that great Norwich bar, The Eaton Cottage, Unthank Road, last Saturday, and had a super gig (although The Bassdaddy still can't quite remember what key 'Down At The Doctor's' is in - it's an age thing). The place was packed, the punters really liked the band, and halfway through Set One we were visited by a large flock of leggy, busty sheep pursued by various mangy sheepdogs and well-dodgy Middle Eastern shepherds (you would never guess that Norwich is full of students). Watch out for our return to The Cottage in a month's time . . .

EARLY JANUARY . . . we made the trek to the frozen north (well, North Norfolk, anyway) to revisit The Coach & Horses at Dersingham. Thanks to Sheila and her bar staff for making us welcome and thanks to the customers for getting down and digging the band and buying our CD. It was a late night drive back to Norwich, and it took time as The Bassdaddy didn't want to demolish the fine assortment of muntjac deer, foxes and fluffy little bunnies mincing about on the roads up in them thar wild parts . . .

. . . then on the following Saturday down to Suffolk (oh yes, we do get to see the world) to lay our R & B grooves on the fine folk at The Duke Of York in Ditchingham. Another lively night, and I must say a great sound in that hostelry; thanks to Simon and the gang for a good evening - the Dr Feelgood stuff went down particularly well.

One of the lads in the pub was particularly complimentary about Chris's drumming - steady on, guys, he's only just got his new hat, if his head swells with all this praise he'll need a larger size. Pity about the 18 hours of continuous rain, but at least it eased up a little when we needed to load the gear back into the van at midnight.

NEW YEAR'S EVE . . . The band's first ever New Year's Eve gig was at The Buck on Yarmouth Road. There was a good turnout, and the new management made the band welcome, keeping us supplied with free ale, which can't be bad.

It was a foul night, snowy and freezing cold, but driving through Norwich on the way there The Bassdaddy spotted scores of lads in T-shirts and lasses in nothing much at all battling their way through the sleet and wind on their way to clubland . . . nowt so queer as folk with a raging thirst.

John Boy started the evening all droopy and flu-ridden, but a couple of magic pills from one of the groupies (I think they were blue) soon perked him up and he completed our 3 hour stint like a trouper. The band's debut gig was at The Buck, many months ago, and it was good to return to the scene of the crime and rock the old year out in suitable fashion . . .

DECEMBER '09 . . . late December saw our return to The Eaton Cottage, and a hot rockin' evening it was too. The temperature outside was well below freezing, the snow was falling, and the streets were like glass, but the Honeydripper boys were on fire.

Pints of Tipples Moonrocket were consumed (in moderation, of course), the groupies cheered and whistled, the patrons got up and shook various body parts, and the band even got the end of 'Help Me' right - does it get better than this? We're back at The Cottage again the last Saturday of each month through till spring - it's a great venue, lovely ambience and a smashing pint - come and give us a look.

We also had a great night at The Stracey Hotel  in Norwich the same week. The snow belted down all evening, but our faithful followers turned out (thanks, boys and girls) and the fine folk who own/run this beautiful hotel (and it really is a super place) were most welcoming - they fed and watered us, and really seemed to like having their peaceful oasis disturbed by two hours of rackety R & B.

When you play in bands for a few years you get to see some pretty, ahem, ropey dives, so it is an absolute delight to play a beautiful venue like The Stracey.