The Bluesfather
Who Is The Bluesfather?
The Bluesfather is Roger Emmerson, Scots-born, who shares his time between Newcastle upon Tyne and Edinburgh. He's been playing blues-based music since his time as a blues-harp player in the first UK blues revival in the 1960s when he featured in a number of Edinburgh blues bands. Sadly, his disinclination to rehearse had him constantly on the move from one band to another as his fellow-musicians became increasingly fed up with his "turn up, plug in and play" approach. Plus ca change.
A stalwart in the 1970s of the now legendary Guitar Club based in the sadly-missed Stewart's Bar, Drummond Street, Edinburgh (where his fellow musicians included Stuart MacHardy and David McNiven), the Bluesfather retired from live performance at the end of that decade. After a gap of nearly 30 years, a chance encounter with Mark Taylor, the promoter of Rattled by the Rush, had the Bluesfather back live with an opening gig at the Head of Steam, Newcastle in December 2004. Gigs have followed aplenty in Newcastle, Durham, Newton Aycliffe, Sunderland, South Shields, Washington and Morpeth and the Bluesfather is now well-known on the north-east acoustic circuit with his particular brand of self-penned songs.
His recent return to Edinburgh has opened up new opportunities to play and the Bluesfather has re-established himself in his home-town. Gigs throughout Edinburgh have followed along with numerous returns to Newcastle and Sunderland and a foray into Fife at Cupar. The Bluesfather has also branched out into opening for professional touring acts such as Stevey Hay and the RayVons (USA/UK), Nicola Devine (Canada) and Micah Blue Smaldone (USA).
The Bluesfather sings and plays guitar, slide guitar and blues-harp on his own songs, plays guerilla blues-harp regularly with some of the north-east's best acoustic performers such as Simma, Verity Burton, Kelly Brownell and Patrick Snape and the Unstable Tables, and features in the well-known scratch rock'n'roll band, Simma and the Blue Suede Shoes. A recent side project in Edinburgh has seen him team up with ace guitarist, electronics wizard and talented singer/songwriter, Nick Trepka and bass and Warr guitarist, composer/collaborator and electronics wizard Al Clarke, performing a mix of Emmerson and Trepka songs as The Emmerson/Trepka/Clarke Band (e/t/c).
The Bluesfather supports Acoustic Circus, a non-profit-making venture providing performance space and experience for new and established acts in the north-east.
The Bluesfather recommends Takamine and Ibanez guitars, Hohner Blues Harps, Martin strings, the Shure Green Bullet harp mic, Marshall effects pedals and Carlsbro amps. JG Windows, Central Arcade, Newcastle upon Tyne and both Edinburgh and Newcastle branches of Guitar Guitar are his favourite music shops.
The Modern Blues
After three rehearsals The Modern Blues debuted at Henry's Cellar Bar on 28th October 2007 with a line-up comprising Andy Duncan, drums; Al Clarke, electric bass and electric fretless bass; Ahmed Remally, electric guitar, slide guitar and vocals; and Roger Emmerson, acoustic guitar, blues harp and vocals. A variable performance it has to be said, though wildly received by the audience. The Modern BLues are back into rehearsals at Coloursound at the earliest to shake out the glitches and get as tight as they know they can. Look out for upcoming gig notices. This is a goer
Blue Wednesdays
Blue Wednesdays is a monthly gig organised and promoted by the Bluesfather at the Forest Cafe, Bristo Place, Edinburgh which features some of the best contemporary singer/songwriters and poets from Edinburgh, Newcastle upon Tyne, Canada and the USA. The Forest Cafe is a volunteer-staffed co-operative which provides the ideal base for the Bluesfather's laidback approach to gigs. Regular artists include Nick Trepka, Al Clarke, Anna K Jarosz, Verity Burton, Andy Mackin, Al Shield, Kelly Brownell, Ian Briedis and My Kappa Roots. The Bluesfather continues to expand the roster. When time permits there will be a dedicated Blue Wednesday page on this site. Meantime check out the News page for details of forthcoming Blue Wednesday gigs.
2008
Blue Wednesday is now fully booked to the end of 2007 but the Bluesfather is always on the look out for new acts for 2008. Contact him at roger@thebluesfather.com
What they said about the Bluesfather
“Original, reflective and edgy”
NARC
“surely one of the most accomplished performers around”
The Crack
“Sounds a bit like Neil Young and Eric Clapton”
Ben Harrison
“awesome”
The Forest Cafe
“shockingly good”
Offshore Acoustic
“got the night off to a particularly good start”
Acoustic Circus
“people if you want to get high, then let's get low! Blue Wednesdays might just be the spiritual cure”
The Skinny
“me and friend sat slack-jawed and pie-eyed. the whole performance flowed seamlessly. cracking. neil young in a good way”
My Kappa Roots
“I am a huge Neil Young fan and you sound just like him”
the guy leaning on the bar in the Three Tuns
“ The Bluesfather plays wonderful and very popular gigs on Wednesdays”
The Forest Cafe
“ Me and everyone at my table said you sounded just like Neil Young, and I am a big fan of his”
Jimmy at Blues and Beyond, Cupar
Who influenced the Bluesfather?
Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson (II), Elmore James, Incredible String Band, Peter Green, Steve Miller, JJ Cale, Joni Mitchell, Manassas, Michael Hurley, Aretha Franklin, Neil Young, Ry Cooder, Tony Iommi (the Riffmeister), ZZ Top, Edie Brickell, Smog, the Earlies, Calexico, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, the Broken Family Band, tunng, Seasick Steve