During the day on Friday 27th May we will be showing a couple of blues films at the Trades Club.

We have yet to decide what to put on so if you have a view, make your suggestions here.

To give locals, visitors and performers alike the opportunity to play a bit of blues together, there will be a four hour open mic session during the day on Bank Holiday Monday, 30th May between 1pm and 5pm.

Check out the promo video for the Curtain Raiser at the Trades Club.

Share it around please!

To get music lovers in the mood for Hebden Bridge's four day Blues Festival at the end of May, the Trades Club in Holme Street are hosting a “curtain-raiser” gig with four great blues bands on Saturday March 5th.

With an early 8pm start to fit everything in, the proceedings are kicked off by the harmonica-driven Blues Jukes, a rocking five piece band from Keighley.

Next up are local favourites Hooson, whose powerfully energetic live performances of soulful blues stand them out from many of their contemporaries.

Following Hooson, Marcus Bonfanti, who the Guardian say “deserves to become the next British blues-guitar hero” will be taking a break from touring to perform his gritty guitar based tunes. With a style rooted somewhere between Louisiana and Lewisham, Marcus gives a nod to the past while kicking down the door of the future of blues music.

The night will be rounded off by the Paddy Maguire Band who, after playing a short set of their own, will be inviting members of the other bands to join them on stage in an almighty blues jam.

As well as the various musicians performing, the night will also see a short film showcasing snippets of the 50 or so bands who will be playing at the main Hebden Bridge Blues Festival in May, Paul Brannigan spinning some classic blues tunes between acts and a raffle where an electric guitar, supplied by locally-based Guitarzone, can be won.


Tickets are now on sale at Muse Music and the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge and Guitarzone in Halifax priced £8.

To find out more about the Hebden Bridge Blues Festival, go to www.hebdenblues.co.uk

A few days ago, Paddy Maguire and I were interviewed by Dave Boardman at Phoenix Radio.

It was a wide ranging conversation about Hebden Bridge Blues Festival and showcased many of the artists who will be performing this year.

A podcast is now available of the whole two hour show on the Phoenix Radio dedicated Blues Festival page. No idea how they've managed it, but they have made the whole thing under 55Mb so download it and put it on your Mp3 player now!

Just click on the bit where it says "Dave Boardman"!

Hebden Bridge Blues Festival is delighted to announce that GuitarZone, one of Britain's premier guitar shops and based just down the road from us in Halifax, will be sponsoring the Acoustic Stage.

The acoustic stage will be in the Hope Baptist Church opposite the Picture House and will run from 11am to 6pm and have free admission. There will also be various stalls with guitars and other instruments to try (and buy if you wish.)

Each day, there will be around 5 or 6 acts for your listening pleasure and we'll announce the line-up nearer the time.

Tickets for the festival warm up gig at the Trades Club are now on sale at Muse Music in Hebden Bridge.

Recently featured as one of the best independent music shops in the UK in this BBC article Muse is well worth a trip to Hebden Bridge for, and well known to locals, so go get your tickets and pick up some new records while you're at it!

Tickets are £8 each (£6 concessions) and are great value with four great bands lined up for a great Saturday night out.

Muse Music
38 Market Street,
Hebden Bridge,
West Yorkshire.
HX7 6AA

Open - Wednesday to Saturday 11 am Till 6.00 PM
01422 843496

A limited number of tickets are now on sale at Hebden Bridge Trades Club for the 4 band warm up gig for the Blues Festival on March 5th priced at £8 or £6 concessions.

More sale points to be advertised tomorrow.

The Marquee Stage line up for the Hebden Bridge Blues Festival

All timings are approximate and ticket details will follow soon


Saturday 28th May


12 noon doors open

1.00pm - Pocket of 3

2.00pm - Pie

3.00pm - The Blues Jukes

4.00pm - Marcus Lazarus and Dogslife

5.00pm - Sam Hare

7.00pm - Larry Miller


Sunday 29th May


12 noon - doors open

1.00pm - The Mentulls

2.00pm - The Revelator Band

3.00pm - Sharon Coglan

4.00pm - After Hours Blues Band

5.00pm - Gerry Jablonski and the Electric Band

7.00pm - 24 Pesos

Marcus Bonfanti will be part of the Hebden Bridge Blues Festival curtain-raiser gig at the Trades Club on Saturday March 5th, along with the Blues Jukes, Hooson and the Paddy Maguire Band (who will also be hosting a jam session.)

We are pleased to say that we have now completed the line up for the nights at the Trades Club over the Hebden Bridge Blues Festival.

Every night closes with a blues jam hosted by Paddy Maguire.

Friday 27th May
8.00pm Poorboy
9.00pm Parrock Blues (from Italy)
10.00pm Jon Amor Blues Group
11.30pm The Midnight Sessions with Paddy Maguire


Saturday 28th May
8.00pm Dan Hudson
9.00pm Cry Baby and The Hoochie Coochie Band
10.00pm Tony Dowler and the Hellhounds
11.30pm The Midnight Sessions with Paddy Maguire


Sunday 29th May
8.00pm Cross Cut Saw
9.00pm Johnnie White Band
10.00pm Paddy Milner & Marcus Bonfanti Band
11.30pm The Midnight Sessions with Paddy Maguire


Monday 30th May
7.00pm The Blues Jukes
8.00pm P-A-U-L (from Chicago USA )
10.00pm The Closing Sessions with Paddy Maguire