Editor in Chief’s comment

PHILLIP-MICHAEL SCALES SINNERSONGWRITER

WELCOME to BM 124

OK folks, fans and readers... welcome indeed to 2022 and the post-Christmas issue of Blues Matters!

We trust you stayed safe through the holiday period, if we still called it that. I guess most will have had a quiet time but hopefully a relaxed one to gather our strength and energy to cope with the ongoing Worldwide situation of Covid. Let’s make the most of it and enjoy what we can while staying ‘responsible’!

In your hands you hold the latest volume of Blues Matters which is bursting at the seams with great articles and exploding with colour and talent.

I hope that those of you who got to the award-winning Great Rock & Blues Festival in Skegness had a fantastic time, particularly at our Blues Matters Stage in Hotshots. Sadly, our team was short on manpower due to various effects of Covid on families and all that could not make it were a bit more than frustrated as indeed the rest of you fans will have been. Butlins’ own terrific Entertainment team have been putting all their energy into their weekend events to ensure those who can go to them have a good time as possible.

Due to Covid, the EBA 2020 awards did not take place, although a message went out to recipients. We did not say anything as we received no ‘Certificate’ of the award but Blues Matters was inducted into the EBA Blues Hall of Fame having won Best European Blues Publication through 2017, 18 and 19 we are not able to win that again so we were therefore inducted as a life long recognition. Also in that Joe Bonamassa was included.

We are, needless to say, very proud of these awards and recognitions and thank everyone who voted for us Worldwide.

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUT THERE!

Alan Pearce Founder and Editor-in-Chief