Capital Blues Radio – September 2019

This month’s Capital Blues Radio Show featured album is Peter Frampton’s new album, All Blues, plus a whole lot more in the way of bluesical goodness as well as news and views on the Wellington blues scene.

Your host is Del Thomas.  Del is on the committee of Capital Blues Inc., Wellington’s own blues club. Capital Blues Radio Show is live on Wellington Access Radio 106.1 FM on Wednesdays, once a month, from 9-10 pm.

Play the podcast here:

Capital Blues Radio – August 2019

This month’s Capital Blues Radio Show featured album is The Big Bad Blues by Billy F Gibbons plus a whole lot more in the way of bluesical goodness as well as news and views on the Wellington blues scene.

Your host is Del Thomas.  Del is on the committee of Capital Blues Inc., Wellington’s own blues club. Capital Blues Radio Show is live on Wellington Access Radio 106.1 FM on Wednesdays, once a month, from 9-10 pm.

Play the podcast here:

Capital Blues Radio – July 2019


This month’s Capital Blues Radio Show featured album is the latest from J.J. Cale plus lots of other goodies including tracks from the 3 Kings – Albert, Freddie and BB as well as news and views on the Wellington blues scene.

Your host is Del Thomas.  Del is on the committee of Capital Blues Inc., Wellington’s own blues club. Capital Blues Radio Show is live on Wellington Access Radio 106.1 FM on Wednesdays, once a month, from 9-10 pm.

Play the podcast here:

Capital Blues Radio – May 2019

This month’s Capital Blues Radio Show features music from JJ Cale, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Wayne Mason, Chris Cain, Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens, BB King, Mangaweka Viaduct Blues Band, The Bar Keys, Darren Watson, T-Model Ford, Bill Lake and The Right Mistake, Wellington Heads and Jake Stokes as well as news and views on the Wellington blues scene.

Your host is Del Thomas.  Del is on the committee of Capital Blues Inc., Wellington’s own blues club. Capital Blues Radio Show is live on Wellington Access Radio 106.1 FM on Wednesdays, once a month, from 9-10 pm.

Play the podcast here:

Capital Blues Radio Show May 2019

Capital Blues Radio – January 2019

This month’s Capital Blues Radio Show features music from Mick Taylor and the Bluesbreakers, BB King, John Shane, Mavis Staples, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Likho Duo, Wellington Heads, Jake Stokes, The Strait Shooters, Bill Lake, Chris Cain, Vintage Trouble and The Band as well as news and views on the Wellington blues scene.

Your host is Del Thomas.  Del is on the committee of Capital Blues Inc., Wellington’s own blues club. Capital Blues Radio Show is live on Wellington Access Radio 106.1 FM on Wednesdays, once a month, from 9-10 pm.

Play the podcast here:

NEW HOME FOR THE BLUES AT THE CROSSROADS

The Capital Blues Club has a new home at Jack Hackett’s.  Formally ‘Bill Direen’s’ bar in the nineties, the stage at Jack Hackett’s hosted the very early gigs for the Blue’s Club back in 1996. After a long stint at The Bristol, the Club is fortuitously returning to its roots at the Crossroads of Dixon and Taranaki Streets.

Blues artist Pip Payne was the driving force behind the Blues Club in the early years. He is returning to the very same stage 22 years later for the (re)opening night party with his band ‘The Gospel Project’ featuring Wayne Mason on keys.

The idea to host the club really struck a chord with Jack Hackett’s manager – Matt McLaughlin.  “I’m a huge fan and supporter of local live music. I know beer and blues on a Friday  is going to be  really appealing, especially as we head into summer. I want Jack Hackett’s to be recognised as the go-to destination for Blues in the Capital. So we are committed to continuing this great tradition.”

Club member,  treasurer of 8 years and musician Julie Lamb is really excited about the move. “It’s a great new venue for us – it’s a  bigger space and the acoustics are great for the Blues sound. Every good club needs a good base, and we are thrilled with our new home.

I’m proud of our history. We are the longest running Blues club in the southern hemisphere. Every week for 22 years we’ve brought Wellington live Blues music. We provide a regular dose of monthly Roots culture on Del Thomas’s radio show on Access radio, and the Blues stage within the CupaDupa festival is our baby.

The Blues Club plays a vital role in keeping the Blues alive. The NZ School of music does 3 big band nights a year at the Blues Club – The students come through and show their chops. The evening is studded with talent proving that the genre continues to inspire young musicians. We are immensely proud to support that.”

Founding member of the Blues Club, Dougal Speir says “The Blues has always has been relevant. It has that ‘special thing’ that never goes away. The structure of the Blues makes it incredibly accessible. Me? I’m a 3 chord wonder. But that’s basically all you need to express the full spectrum of life’s emotion. Jack White of the White Stripes said that he was profoundly influenced hearing the power of the blues expressed just with acapella and handclaps. It will influence people til eternity.

Julie adds “For over two decades, we’ve supported our local Blues artists with opportunities for their music and to develop our national Blues sound.  New Zealanders really connect to the rich blues history, culture and sound. It is a vehicle for telling ballsy stories. Its roots are in struggle and slavery, and the dark emotional storylines of racism and poverty are still relevant today. And since the very beginning, it’s always been great music to appreciate with mates and a beer in hand”.

Capital Blues Radio – September 2018

This month’s Capital Blues Radio Show features music from Robert Plant, Robert Johnson, The Rolling Stones, BB King, Elmo James, Al Whitham, Clifton Chenier, Mavis Staples, Sonny Terry and Professor Longhair as well as news and views on the Wellington blues scene.

The featured album is Gregg Allman’s final LP ‘Southern Blood’.

Your host is Del Thomas.  Del is on the committee of Capital Blues Inc., Wellington’s own blues club. Capital Blues Radio Show is live on Wellington Access Radio 106.1 FM on Wednesdays, once a month, from 9-10pm.

Play the podcast here:

Blue September – Blues musicians in support of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Dougal Speir and Del Thomas are putting together a band – Del n Doog’s Deepest Blues Band – to perform at a fundraising gig for Blue September – prostate cancer awareness month. This will be at the Mana Cruising Club, Pascoe Ave, Mana on Saturday 22 September. Put that event in your diary!

Capital Blues Radio – August 2018

This month’s Capital Blues Radio Show features music from Buddy Guy, The Strait Shooters, Del Thomas, Charley Patton,  Kniki & Mike Beale, Darren Watson, Hound Dog Taylor, Bill Lake, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chris Cain with the Rodger Fox Big Band as well as news and views on the Wellington blues scene.

The featured album is “Gettin’ Handy With The Blues” from Jon Shain.

Your host is Del Thomas.  Del is on the committee of Capital Blues Inc., Wellington’s own blues club. Capital Blues Radio Show is live on Wellington Access Radio 106.1 FM on Wednesdays, once a month, from 9-10pm.

Play the podcast here: