Guitar and Harmonica duo that deliver good-time blues in a range of styles from Delta to Ragtime, Jug Band, Chicago and points in between. Widely regarded as one of the UK's finest acoustic Blues acts.

19 MP3 Songs in this album (64:03) !
Related styles: Blues: Acoustic Blues, Blues: Harmonica Blues, Mood: Party Music

People who are interested in Nathan James and Ben Hernandez Paul Rishell and Annie Raines Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee should consider this download.


Details:
Nothing But Trouble is the second album from Lee Bates & Bily Newton. It features a wide cross-section of the Blues, covering; Delta Blues, Ragtime, Old-Timey, Chicago boogie, Piedmont and Jug Band tunes. Billy Newton is one of the hottest harp players around, equally at home with the down-home wail of Sonny Terry and Noah Lewis or the big city sounds of Little Walter and Snooky Pryor. Lee is a fine guitarist and singer, playing Delta and ragtime blues as well as being a formidable slide player; hammering out Son House and Bukka White songs on an old National or playing dirty electric-style riffs.

This album was quite rightly voted as one of Blues in Britian magazines top 15 releases of 2009!

From the very first track (Brampton Blues) Lee and BIlly let the listener know what they are in for; great harp playing, dexterous guitar picking and powerful vocals. This album is representative of the duo's live performance and shows what versatile artists the pair are. From the opening number's Delta thump the listener is given a Jug band take on the next song. The Mississippi Shieks 'Blood In My Eye For You' comes complete with Jug (played by Michael Fruit-lips Watson) and kazoo. Next up 'Cut You Loose' is given a rollicking, electric hill-country slant.
Along the rest of the way through the 19 tracks we are treated to the full range of Lee and Billy's skills, sinous slide-guitar, wailing harp and foot-stomping boogie! A number of tracks feature the boys being re-joined by Fruit-lips for several Jug Band tunes; Lee and Billy's own compostion 'Jug Band Man' featuring banjo and uke as well as jug and kazoo as well as 'Aunt Carline Dyer' and 'She Done Sold it Out' from the Memphis Jug band.

Together Lee and Billy deliver a hugely entertaining set of tunes taken from the Delta, Chicago, Ragtime, Jug-Band, Hokum as well as their own compostions and all delivered with the dose of irreverent humour that makes them crowd pleasers whever they perform. Lee Bates and Billy Newton are guaranteed to get you up dancing and having a good time!

Don't just take our word for it, look at what Blues in Britian magazine had to say:

"Blues In Britain- Vol 1 Issue 95

...some excellent acoustic blues with well chosen material...

The duo puts in a fine performance on a varied range of pieces, with Lee on acoustic, Resophonic and, occasionally, electric guitar and Billy proving to be a very articulate harmonica player. Seven of the peices were written by the lads and a couple by the late, sadly missed Brian Cookman. Other offerings include re-workings of originals by the likes of Charley Patton, the Mississippi Sheiks and the Memphis Jug Band. 'Aunt Caroline Dyer' and 'She Done Sold It Out' from the latter band also feature one Michael 'Fruitlips' watson on jug, who is also part of the Last Gasp Spasm band with Lee, Billy, Rob Mason and the Hokum Hotshots.

So, in a nutshell, if country blues is your thing, you have come to the right place...

Rating 9/9

Michael Prince"

Please take a look at www.leeandbilly.webs.com or email: lee.bates61@googlemail.com

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