The GTFM Blues Show - Listen Live every Monday from 8.00 to 10.00 (UK Time)
- at 107.9 FM in South Wales and simultaneously on-line at www.gtfm.co.uk
Presented by Blues Show Bob and Norm - 'the Ant & Dec of the Saga Set'!
Bob and Norm
The GTFM Blues Show stumbled into life as a bit of a novelty act in January 2003; airing for an hour every second or third week. There was surprise - indeed consternation - among the radio station's management at just how rapidly the show picked up, retained and developed a regular and dedicated listenership. After just 2 months, we were asked if we would consider airing the show every week... and could we make it a 2 hour show...? After a gazillionth of a nano-second of mature reflection, we agreed and then went away thinking ' where the hell do we get the music for this?' as our output was to be amplified and then some... And at that time, we probably possessed a couple of dozen Blues compilations between us!
Ebay's Blues and Blues/Rock department underwent a massive surge in business during the following weeks as we strove to build a suitably sized collection; several of our listeners helped out with loans of CDs and we read avidly about the greats (and the less remembered names) of Blues music so that we could present a programme based on knowledge as well as enthusiasm.
Over the years, there have been many significant milestones... We've hosted festivals at Tring, Abertillery, Cardiff, Tenby and far-flung Maryport (our first experience! They were seemingly so impressed with our efforts, they've never replied to an email from us since!)
We've met with many greats like John Mayall (from which an enduring and genuine friendship has evolved with longest-serving Bluesbreaker Buddy Whittington), Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, James Cotton, Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith, John Hammond, David 'Honeyboy' Edwards, Long John Baldry, Bob Margolin, Gregg Wright, Deborah Coleman, Studebaker John, Johnny Winter, Kim Wilson, Sue Foley, Hamilton Loomis, Coco Montoya, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Andy Fairweather Low, Joe Bonamassa, Mike Zito, Mickey Moody, Samantha Fish, Laurence Jones...we've had phoners with Snowy White, John Amor, Norman Beaker, Tommy Emmanuel, Robert Cray... the list is endless and constantly evolving.
We visited Los Angeles in May 2013 to attend the Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival hosted by Delta Groove Records. There we met and chatted with multi-award winner Janiva Magness, Elvin Bishop, Bob Corritore, Big Pete, Mitch Kashmar, Sugar Ray of the Mannish Boys and the late Randy Chortkoff. During the U.S. trip, we were invited to the home of our old friend, Gregg Wright (former Michael Jackson guitarist), to share an afternoon with his family and to hear some tracks from his upcoming new CD.
Bob has got to perform with such diverse artists as Carvin Jones, Blue Traffic, Buddy Whittington Band, Chris James Trio, Fran & Mike Burke, Robi Zonca, Jay Tamkin. Most recently, he jammed with Danny Bryant. Check the footage at: http://youtu.be/4ftTkZHmEMQ Norm has got to observe a number of these performances!!!
We've also had Live sessions from innumerable artistes who were passing through (Ian Siegal, Sherman Robertson, Steve Arvey, Ian Parker, Erja Lyytenin, Aynsley Lister, Little Miss Higgins and lots more) as well as a host of local notables (Blue Traffic, The DSW Band, Glas, The Rumblestrutters, Jonathan Nicholas and lots more...)
We have done so many things which we could not have envisaged since starting our little Blues broadcast in 2003 with absolutely no expectation of a future...
In addition to our 'traditional' home for the last 12+ years at GTFM, we also now offer extra opportunities to hear the Blues Show over again:-
The Blues Show now broadcasts on Kansas City On-Line Radio every Thursday at 4.00 pm (Central USA Time). That's 10.00 pm in the UK. This is an extended version of the Blues Show with lots more music...! And this version of the Blues Show is then repeated every Saturday morning (for US nightbirds!) from 2.00 till 4.00 a.m. (Central US Time) i.e. 8.00 till 10.00 a.m. in the UK.
We also air an extended version of the Blues Show on The Wall Rock Radio for the East Midlands. Listen from 2.00 till 4.00 pm every Sunday and also Wednesday from 8.00 till 10.00 pm at www.thewallrockradio.co.uk
And from 7.00 till 9.00 pm every Sunday, you can hear us at www.firebrandroxx.com
And when that's all over and done with, we publish the Blues Show every week to Mixcloud so you can listen whenever it suits you. Check the links for this on our Facebook page - It's The Blues Show.
That's even more opportunities for listening to the longest established Blues Show broadcasting from Wales.
(In fact, it's probably now one of the longest established Blues Shows in the United Kingdom)!
We're now seeking opportunities for broadcast on Tuesdays and Fridays and we'll be on air every day of the week.
Fill your boots with Bluesic!!!
Ebay's Blues and Blues/Rock department underwent a massive surge in business during the following weeks as we strove to build a suitably sized collection; several of our listeners helped out with loans of CDs and we read avidly about the greats (and the less remembered names) of Blues music so that we could present a programme based on knowledge as well as enthusiasm.
Over the years, there have been many significant milestones... We've hosted festivals at Tring, Abertillery, Cardiff, Tenby and far-flung Maryport (our first experience! They were seemingly so impressed with our efforts, they've never replied to an email from us since!)
We've met with many greats like John Mayall (from which an enduring and genuine friendship has evolved with longest-serving Bluesbreaker Buddy Whittington), Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, James Cotton, Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith, John Hammond, David 'Honeyboy' Edwards, Long John Baldry, Bob Margolin, Gregg Wright, Deborah Coleman, Studebaker John, Johnny Winter, Kim Wilson, Sue Foley, Hamilton Loomis, Coco Montoya, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Andy Fairweather Low, Joe Bonamassa, Mike Zito, Mickey Moody, Samantha Fish, Laurence Jones...we've had phoners with Snowy White, John Amor, Norman Beaker, Tommy Emmanuel, Robert Cray... the list is endless and constantly evolving.
We visited Los Angeles in May 2013 to attend the Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival hosted by Delta Groove Records. There we met and chatted with multi-award winner Janiva Magness, Elvin Bishop, Bob Corritore, Big Pete, Mitch Kashmar, Sugar Ray of the Mannish Boys and the late Randy Chortkoff. During the U.S. trip, we were invited to the home of our old friend, Gregg Wright (former Michael Jackson guitarist), to share an afternoon with his family and to hear some tracks from his upcoming new CD.
Bob has got to perform with such diverse artists as Carvin Jones, Blue Traffic, Buddy Whittington Band, Chris James Trio, Fran & Mike Burke, Robi Zonca, Jay Tamkin. Most recently, he jammed with Danny Bryant. Check the footage at: http://youtu.be/4ftTkZHmEMQ Norm has got to observe a number of these performances!!!
We've also had Live sessions from innumerable artistes who were passing through (Ian Siegal, Sherman Robertson, Steve Arvey, Ian Parker, Erja Lyytenin, Aynsley Lister, Little Miss Higgins and lots more) as well as a host of local notables (Blue Traffic, The DSW Band, Glas, The Rumblestrutters, Jonathan Nicholas and lots more...)
We have done so many things which we could not have envisaged since starting our little Blues broadcast in 2003 with absolutely no expectation of a future...
In addition to our 'traditional' home for the last 12+ years at GTFM, we also now offer extra opportunities to hear the Blues Show over again:-
The Blues Show now broadcasts on Kansas City On-Line Radio every Thursday at 4.00 pm (Central USA Time). That's 10.00 pm in the UK. This is an extended version of the Blues Show with lots more music...! And this version of the Blues Show is then repeated every Saturday morning (for US nightbirds!) from 2.00 till 4.00 a.m. (Central US Time) i.e. 8.00 till 10.00 a.m. in the UK.
We also air an extended version of the Blues Show on The Wall Rock Radio for the East Midlands. Listen from 2.00 till 4.00 pm every Sunday and also Wednesday from 8.00 till 10.00 pm at www.thewallrockradio.co.uk
And from 7.00 till 9.00 pm every Sunday, you can hear us at www.firebrandroxx.com
And when that's all over and done with, we publish the Blues Show every week to Mixcloud so you can listen whenever it suits you. Check the links for this on our Facebook page - It's The Blues Show.
That's even more opportunities for listening to the longest established Blues Show broadcasting from Wales.
(In fact, it's probably now one of the longest established Blues Shows in the United Kingdom)!
We're now seeking opportunities for broadcast on Tuesdays and Fridays and we'll be on air every day of the week.
Fill your boots with Bluesic!!!
