Ealing Blues Festival

28/08/2024

Following on from a great set at the Blues Fest. here's the album. It rocks!

Listen to Living the Blues by Terry Marshall.

21/08/2024

Statement from Ealing Blues Festival Founder Bob Salmons (aka musician Robert Hokum) as he bids farewell to the event he started in 1987 and where he remained Artistic Director, until 2024.

"Well it's not so much ‘Elvis has left the building’ as ‘Bob is leaving the park’ as I have joined the likes of Stephen Hawking and Rob Burrow in having Motor Neurone Disease and thus have to say ‘goodbye’ to the event that I have brought to Ealing’s Walpole Park since 1987.

The Ealing Jazz Festival started in 1985, I tried to get involved, but was turned down. So, I thought ‘Sod that, I'll run my own gig then….’ and in 1987 following some shenanigans with Ealing Council,, my band at the time ‘The Amazing Rhythm Burglars’ played Walpole Park.

For some of the early events, I had to find funding and sponsorship, but the shows, which only featured local bands, were successful and after a few years Ealing Council suggested more event coordination and the Ealing Summer Festival was born. By this time The Amazing Rhythm Burglars had split and I was playing with the Guv’nors who would be the Blues Festival house band until 2011.

With the added resource, the event grew and in 2011 I helped found the Ealing Club Community Interest Company to start promoting Ealing’s heritage as the ‘Cradle of British Rock Music’. Thus providing impetus to the er****on of a Blue Plaque at the former premises of The Ealing Blues Club where British Blues/Rock kicked off in 1962 and the film ‘Suburban Steps to Rockland - The Story of The Ealing Club’.

With the er****on of the Blue Plaque in 2012 by The Ealing Club C.I.C. the Ealing Blues Festival became a 2 day event in 2013 and is now London's longest running Blues Festival.

There are downsides of being the person behind a successful Festival.
* A lot of people think you're making money from it - that couldn't be further from the truth.
* It's a lot of hard work.
* You're surrounded by people who think that they know more about running festivals than you do.
* And then there’s the other needy lot who think you’re the answer to it all.
* One has to deal with agents and musicians whose egos are bigger than their talent. I've even been hustled for a gig while shopping in Sainsburys.
“ Then there's all the Social Media nonsense…

But, on the upside….
Music has defined my life. It's given me community, friendships and some amazing experiences. I've gigged in everything from cathedrals to prisons to famous Museums and worked with some amazing musicians from across the world.
The Ealing Blues Festival gave me the chance to play to an audience of thousands every year for almost 4 decades, and for that I'm very grateful.

Importantly though, music is also about legacy. I have lost many musician friends over the years. But they are still here on records and channels like YouTube. My music can be found on Spotify, YouTube and SoundCloud. Check them out, keep music live and please support whoever takes over The Ealing Blues Festival.

Thanks for your support and applause over the years"
www.youtube.com/roberthokum
www.soundcloud.com/robert-hokum

13/08/2024

12/08/2024

And some pics from Dubbel Xposure Photography of Sunday on the main stage.

01/08/2024

30/07/2024

Some pics for you to relive the moment!

28/07/2024

28/07/2024

28/07/2024

And it's another day of quality Blues today at Ealing Blues Fest. Come on down, gonna be hot!

Selwyn Birchwood thrilling the crowd at Ealing Blues Festival last night. Cannot believe this is Selwyn's first gig on these shores. Better not be his last :)

24/07/2024

Sad to hear of the passing of John Mayall, a key figure on the Blues scene. in the film Suburban Steps To Rockland he talks about the Ealing Blues Club and its importance. On Sunday 28th at Ealing Blues Festival, 'Supernatural' will be paying tribute to the music he made with iconic guitarist Peter Green.
Tickets at Ealing Summer Festivals

23/07/2024

Special 2 for 1 ticket offer for the Blues Fest. Act now!
Check the weather forecast - NO RAIN and temperatures in the comfortable mid '20s. Come on down.

🔊 Get 2 for 1 on Ealing Blues Festival Tickets!

For a limited time, music lovers can get 2 tickets for the price of 1 to the Ealing Blues Festival at Walpole Park on 27 and 28 July. Just enter the promo code TWO4BLUES at checkout to receive the discount. This offer is valid until 11:59pm tomorrow, Weds 24 July.

Enjoy blues, rock, folk, and country music on two stages featuring Sons of Cream, Selwyn Birchwood, When Rivers Meet and Terry Marshall & Friends. 🎵 🎵

Don’t miss out on a fantastic event for all the family with great food, drinks and a dedicated kids area.

🎫 Get your tickets now: click the link in the comments.

23/07/2024

Bluez'd are the youngest band (3 brothers all still in their teens) appearing at The Ealing Blues Festival on Sunday 28 July. Make sure that you check out the future of British Blues, and they live in Ealing!

'Mean Mean Man' is the debut single from BlueZd, a blues-rock youth band between the ages of 11 and 15, available now on Powerjam Recordings.Adonias - Vocals...

22/07/2024

Terry and several of the musicians on the album will be performing songs from it on Sunday 28. He was there at the birth of British Rock at the Ealing Blues Club and of course Marshall Amps, probably the most famous brand to emerge from Hanwell in Ealing's Borough.

20/07/2024

18/07/2024

Win tickets for the Ealing Blues Festival on 27 and 28 July at Walpole Park! 🎫

5 tickets are up for grabs for London's longest running Blues Festival. Sign up to the Ealing arts and culture network before midnight on Sun 21 July, for a chance to win.

This year’s line-up features Sons of Cream, Selwyn Birchwood, When Rivers Meet, Terry Marshall and friends, and many more! 🎵

Don’t miss out on 2 days of great music and entertainment. 🎷

For more details on how to enter, click the link in the comments.

17/07/2024

The latest Ealing Club Newsletter is now online. Sign up at www.ealingclub.com. Feat: this month Ealing Blues Festival at Ealing Summer Festivals & news on Bill Wyman Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery : https://mailchi.mp/ealingclub/the-ealing-blues-festival-2024-bill-wyman-pitzhangar

17/07/2024

🎸 Spotlight on Rising Stars at Ealing Blues Festival! 🎸

We've asked Robert Hokum, Godfather of the British Blues Scene and founder of Ealing Blues Festival to highlight this year's Ones to Watch.

Meet Emma Wilson Music UK: "Most British Blues musicians dream of recording with legends in the USA. Emma has achieved this. Her 2023 album 'Memphis Calling' features players who worked with Al Green and Ann Peebles. She's one of Britain's best Blues singers," says Robert Hokum.

Emma is nominated in three categories at this year's
Contemporary Blues Artist of the Year
Blues Vocalist of the Year
Album of the Year (for 'Memphis Calling')

Don't miss Emma Wilson at Ealing Blues Festival!

15/07/2024

Cream were a highly influential band with songs like 'Sunshine Of Your Love', 'I Feel Free', and their iconic version of Robert Johnson's 'Crossroads'. Celebrating the music of their parents, Kofi Baker (son of drummer Ginger Baker) and Malcolm Bruce (son of bassist Jack Bruce) joined by guitarist Rob Johnson are sonsofcream. Ealing Blues Festival Sunday 28 July. https://www.sonsofcream.com/. Tickets at Ealing Summer Festivals

KOFI BAKER and MALCOLM BRUCE both have deep roots going back to the birth of the 60’s British Blues R&B Rock Explosion. 

13/07/2024

Is this our favourite gig ever? YES!

Come join us at the amazing Ealing Blues Festival (Ealing Summer Festivals Ealing Blues Festival), it's going to be another triumph thanks the eternal efforts of Mr Robert Hokum and The Ealing Club.

Saturday 27 July, Walpole Park, Ealing Summer Festivals
We'll be closing the evening on the South Stage, 8.15 - 9.45pm

INFO & TICKETS: https://ealingsummerfestivals.com/blues/

NEW VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88vM4n5TLAs
WEB: www.jump66blues.com
TUNES: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3vl0CKObCj0f32jmzfMmcq

12/07/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amJTIlVPpxA When Rivers Meet leading the 'new wave' of British Blues. Slide resonator mandolin! we love it. Ealing Blues Festival Sunday 28 July. Tickets at Ealing Summer Festivals.

Check out the music video for our latest single "Walking On The Wire"! The video was filmed in beautiful Brightlingsea, North Essex. Bertie did make a cameo...

12/07/2024

Read this Around Ealing feature for a chance to WIN A PAIR OF VIP TICKETS for Ealing Blues and Jazz Festivals!! Our new Garden of Ealing VIP experience offers fast track entry and access to a private on-site festival garden with an exclusive bar and posh loos! Comp closes this Thursday 18 July at 11.59pm.

Article 👉 https://rb.gy/6qtm4r
Good Luck everyone 🤞

https://rb.gy/6qtm4r

06/07/2024

A rare chance to see one of the hottest Blues acts from the 'other side of the pond. SELWYN BIRCHWOOD Sat 27 July Ealing Blues Festival.

02/07/2024

Kicking off the West Stage on Saturday 27. Some class roots music.

Mandolin Jack presents The West London Roots R***e at the Ealing Blues Festival on the 27th July - featuring Doctor Slideshow, The Eel Pie Two, Don't Tell Smith & of course The Mandolin Jack Experience

28/06/2024

Sad to hear of the passing of Swanage Blues Festival supremo Steve Darrington. He was a good friend of the Ealing Blues Festival and there were times when Swanage Blues could almost have been 'Ealing On Sea'. We'll play the Blues for you old friend. R.I.P.