Live blues back in Birmingham

Henry’s Blueshouse returns to the Botanical Gardens.

Sunday 23rd May will see the return of live Blues music to this city in the shape of Henry’s Botanical Blueshouse.

The series of seven performances will be presented on the splendid, newly renovated Victorian bandstand in the spacious and idyllic Botanical Gardens.

Henry’s Botanical Blueshouse came into play last summer with a series of blues concerts, every one a sell-out, when Henry’s Blueshouse was forced to close due to Covid back in March 2020. While waiting for clearance to return to it’s home, The Bulls Head on Bishopsgate Street, Henry’s is keeping the blues flame burning on Sunday and Bank Holiday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm in The Botanical Gardens.

May
Sunday 23rd The Nitecrawlers
The Nitecrawlers (above) gritty take on rhythm & blues has made them a top attraction at Henry’s. From Birmingham, featuring some of this city’s top musicians, The Nitecrawlers will perform material from their cracking album Unlock The Blues.

Sunday 30th Tipitina
From Leyland, Lancashire. Tipitina are back at Henry’s with their unique blend of blues, barrelhouse boogie and gospel in the New Orleans tradition of Professor Longhair, Dr. John, James Booker, Fats Domino and Allen Touissaint.

Monday 31st The Shufflepack
A High Wycombe band playing the shuffling, grooving blues in the classic Chicago style of Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson and Little Walter.

June
Sunday 6th The Catfish Kings
Fronted by former Brummie Harry Lang, of Bullets fame, The Catfish Kings present a rocking, rolling, jumping and jiving blues performance which makes them a top attraction. Stablemates of Imelda May on Music King Records, their album is The Fish Are Jumpin’.

Sunday 13th Big Jim & The Alabama Boogie Boys
From deep in the Blues Delta of Lower Gornal, Big Jim, a legend from his time leading The Red Lemons, fronts rock god Pete Wheatley on guitar, Ken Maestro Moore on piano, The Sultan of Slap on double bass and Duke Delite on drums. Infectious blues, swing and rock and roll – with plenty of hokum – are the order of the day.

Sunday 20th The Whiskey Brothers
Big Bear recording stars The Whiskey Brothers are the closest anyone gets to that wonderful, raw and primitive blues which was commonplace in the Juke Joints of 1940s Mississippi Delta. Their Bottle Up and Go album is a killer.

Sunday 27th David Moore Blues Band
Straight-ahead rocking classic blues repertoire featuring master guitarist David Moore, Birmingham–born and a veteran of the New York blues scene, he has now returned to rock the blues in his hometown with his terrific band.

The Botanical Gardens are at: Westbourne Rd, Birmingham B15 3TR. Tel 0121 454 1860 [email protected].