Loving the new band...Miss King's Rhythm & Blues Revue

It's great to be playing around London regularly again.  The support from our friends, families and venue's has been incredible.

From intimate rainy Thursdays playing as a trio or rowdy weekends as our full five piece get up, our hosts and crowds have been nothing short of overwhelming.  Round Midnight (Angel, Islington) & Ain't Nothin' But The Blues Bar (Soho) have been so supportive in letting us play we have been inundated with gigs.  I have posted a couple of videos that were kindly filmed by Michelle (Owner of Round Midnight) and a list of dates for the next few weeks and months.  Enjoy and if you get the chance come down and see us for yourselves xxx

12/07/12 - Round Midnight
19/07/12 - Ain't Nothin' But
28/07/12 - Ain't Nothin' But
04/08/12 - Round Midnight
07/09/12 - Round Midnight
27/09/12 - Ain't Nothin' But
05/10/12 - Round Midnight
11/10/12 - Ain't Nothin' But
26/10/12 - Ain't Nothin But
17/11/12 - Ain't Nothin' But
30/11/12 - Round Midnight
01/12/12 - Ain't Nothin' But

I'd Rather Go Blind

Little By Little

House of the Rising Sun

I Got Me Some Songs Online!

As some of you will be aware, Owen and I have recorded a few songs for your pleasure (and to get some more gigs around London as an acoustic duo)!  We laid down five tracks in mid November and two of them are available to buy on line, imagine that??!!!  See the link at the bottom of the blog...

We've been practising like crazy for the last few months, on Owens boat, under the imposing shadow of Battersea Power station.  The sessions have been really productive and for want of another word, a lot of fun!  The music is quite different to what I am used to performing.  Not so much sweaty, soulful wailing more of a refined jazz and folk feel, with better diction!  I covered a Bessie Smith classic 'Nobody Knows You' and there is also an original on there, which I am really proud of, called 'Solid Ground'.  The songs were recorded live as I think they sound much truer!  No cutting and pasting here, just lots of hard work and patience.  We have more songs to come but I really hope you enjoy these two for the time being.

It was a joy to work with Owen on these songs and from the 17th of January onwards, you can see us performing together regularly at The Kingly Club, just off Carnaby Street, Soho.  The repertoire will be a mixture of classic blues and folk to some more alternative and up to date songs. It's going to be a great start to the new year!!

If you have the time please check out my songs on bridieking.bandcamp.com and if you want to buy them they're only $1 each which is about 43p (still haven't quite worked out how to convert the money on the page but that time will come)!!!  Compared to itunes that's a proper bargain!!

Have a really fantastic Christmas everyone and I will continue to keep whoever is looking, up to date with my new material and gigs!  Cheerio! xxx

Ann Peebles...

This woman's voice is extraordinary.  Known best for her major hits "I Can't Stand The Rain" and "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" she is still going strong.  She ruled Hi Records throughout the 70's and she has not been forgotten!  These sorts of artists including others like Sharon Jones (who I had to pleasure of seeing live last year) give me so much inspiration.  The energy is as strong as it ever was, the songs are still full of soul and charisma and they will always have their adoring fans, some who have been there from the start and others like me that are discovering these wonderful musicians a little bit later on!

When I'm in my mid 60's I want to be tearing up music festivals and being covered and sampled by other artists.  You gotta dream big I reckon, coz you only live once!!!  Some of the big names that have covered/sampled her include Tina Turner, Wu-Tang Clan and Missy Elliot!  What a legend!

I will leave you with one of my absolute favourites, "Breaking Up Somebody's Home".....Awesome...

Two gigs confirmed...

We have been given two new gigs for this month which is excellent!!!  We have The Blues Kitchen on Wednesday the 26th and Ronnie Scott's on the 30th...  Hope you can all make it?!  It does mean that unfortunately me and Owen will have to leave our duo night for another time but I shall keep you posted on that...

We have a couple of videos from Round Midnight that have been posted on the YouTube.  It is near the end of the night so I am a little gruff!  However, it was a fantastic evening and thanks to all that came!!  Enjoy......

"Mama Feelgood", "Heart on a String"....

The Encore of the evening "You Left The Water Running"...

It's been a while...

It's been a busy few months!!  However that doesn't excuse me for being rubbish at updating the blog! The Reasons have had some great gigs around London over the summer months and there are exciting things on the horizon for me too.

Me and the fantastic Owen Houlston (Reasons guitarist) have been sitting on his boat conjuring up material for a recording project... very pleased it is finally coming into fruition.  It'll be stripped down and raw blues - just vocals and guitar (we're going to be using the resonator!!!!!  Sounds lush!)

You can check us out for a little preview at Hero's Bar on the 30th October at 8pm.

I'll leave you with a couple of photos from gigs over the summer... enjoy x



An Evening At Ronnie's....

So a first for my new blog and a first for Bridie King and The Reasons!  Ronnie's bar, Soho, on a busy Thursday night, "we're on at ten!" I sing from the rooftops,  "Come on down!", not mentioning the small charge of a crisp fiver.  But it did not deter the friends, colleagues and family (my mother included) of coming to brave the northerly wind and queue for our one hour set.  Oh and what a set it was!  Not only did we keep the energy up and play exceptionally well (obviously I'm speaking on behalf of my beautiful musicians) but I lasted 11 out of the 12 songs without uttering one single profanity!!  It was only up until the horn section left me to wail for about five painful minutes (seriously I can do ad libbing but this was pushing it!).  The Bristolian in me, that shows up after one too many sherry's, and at the most inappropriate of times began to rise up and............well, I believe the last thing that I uttered on stage that night was "COME ON YA BASTERDS!!!"

Ah, 'twas a joyous night and thank you to all the troops for coming down and supporting us!  We had some professional footage taken but who knows when we'll get our hands on that, so for the meantime check out this clip filmed by the lovely Mr Sainsburys (Jamie), if I can work out how to post thingamys onto this blog spot......

Enjoy

B xxxxxxxxx