Bronte Blues Club Partner Schools in 2009/10 are -

St Anne's Primary School (Keighley), OLV Primary School (Keighley) Haworth Primary School ('Bronteland'), Myrtle Park Primary School (Bingley),  Foxhill Primary School (Queensbury),  Springwood Primary School (Bradford), Shipley C.of.E Primary School (Shipley), Baildon C of E Primary School (Baildon), Shibden Head Primary School (Queensbury), Russell Hall Primary School (Queensbury) Sandy Lane Primary School (Bingley) Bradleys Both Primary School (Bradley)  Laycock Primary School (Keighley) and Long Lee Primary School (Keighley).

e-mail   branwell@bronteblues.com  for Barbara and Ros (Schools' Liaison) or phone 07773637335

The Guy Tortora Band entertained the pupils of the school and adults of the community of Laycock in the Village Hall before their concert on 5th March.

Photo- Jackie Watson

The Hamilton Loomis Band will visit Haworth School on 26th March.

Persuading your school (Bradleys Both Primary) to bring Tommy Allen's Blues Band into school and then talking your Dad into letting you stay up late that night to see them at 'the bbc' ...Nice work, Sam!

Photo -Charles Waller

Oliver Darling (left) and Tim Porter from 'The Dirty Robbers' entertain the pupils of St Anne's School, Keighley on 8th January.

Photo -Jackie Watson

Click on thumbnail for Blues in Britain review mentioning the visit to St Annes.

The 'Honeyboy' Hickling Band visited Springwood Primary School, Bradford on 11th December.

Here, they're providing a workshop for the school's own rock band.

Pic -Ros Owens

Ben Waters drove from Poole, Dorset, overnight to entertain the pupils at Myrtle Park Primary School  on 27th November

Pic -Ros)

CD-winning Ben Waters review – written by Rhys Allen Year 6

 I thought “it” was outstanding because music makes me so happy.  It was so amazing.  Ben got everyone dancing and he could sing any song you asked him to do.  I wish it was on all day because he’s so good at piano and I would give 10/10 for performance it was so good.  I really wish I was in the band because Ben brings so much fun to it.  It was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen.  Ben Water is an inspiration to me and he has made me like it so much more with all the fun that he brings to the performance.  I hope Ben gets so much further in his singing and piano because he is amazing.  I would really want to go and see Ben do a gig. 

Hope you keep on going!                    From Rhys

Rag Mama Rag played at Long Lee Primary School on 16th October.

Toby Walker at Sandy Lane Primary School, Cottingley -2nd October.

Pic -Carol Walker

A Visit from Toby Walker (CD-winning review from a Y6 pupil)

As we came into the hall, a thrilling chatter hung in the air. A man stood in front of us and introduced himself to us as Toby Walker. He lived in USA, somewhere near New York. He introduced us to his band which was actually the fingers on his hand! His thumb was the bass player, while his other fingers dancing across the strings of his guitar.

Everyone enjoyed the afternoon. Toby did some drama with us of the men digging up the railway track while he performed a work song and we all clapped along and had loads of fun. We even got the chance to join in with him singing. One of the songs he performed was about a journey through the USA. We imagined we were really there and stopped off at many places to say hello, raced a battered old car to the signal, chugged alongside galloping horses and talked to a little boy on the train!

In retrospect, it was a marvellous experience and I would do anything to be back in the USA on that train racing the old car. Toby Walker himself put a huge amount of effort into it and we wouldn’t have had this opportunity without him. Thank you Toby!

Harper (Australia) and his band Midwest Kind (USA) visited Russell Hall and Shibden Head Primary Schools on 4th September. 

School pic Barbara

CD winning review -Russell Hall School

On Friday at Russell Hall School a band called Harper came in to play for Key Stage two.  They played six instruments, didgeridoo, harmonica, drums, an African drum, guitar, and bass guitar. The main man in the band was born in England, grew up in Australia and lives in America.  The band played Australian music.  When he played the didgeridoo he put animal noises in to give it a twist he out in these noises: Dingo (dog), Kookaburra (bird), Kangaroo, Emu and he made his own which was a motorbike. A lady brought round the didgeridoo for people to feel the inside and one end was all wet and sticky.  The outside was rock hard when you hit it, it really hurt.

My favourite song was one called “Ordinary Guy”, I don’t know why but I really liked it for some odd reason.  Although the other songs were brilliant as well.  I also really liked the bit when Mark the drummer played the African drum.

I really enjoyed it and everyone joined in even the teachers.  Everyone joined in most at the end when you had to make the noise you liked best out of the animals, you were also given the option of a snake, but I still chose the dingo because I really like dogs! 

Overall that was probably the best band I have seen in school ever!         By Ashley (10)

CD winning review -Shibden Head School

Harper and the Midwest Blues came to Shibden Head School on Friday 4th of September. Harper was the lead singer, all the rest played the drums, bass guitar, and another guitar. Harper played the didgeridoo, it was very funny, he could do animal noises on the didgerisoo. One of the animal noises he played in his didgeridoo was the dingo dog. They were very, very good. they were super. That was the best band I have ever seen.

Harper asked the audience to clap to the tune and we did animal noises. I felt really happy.          By Lucy Attwell.

Lightnin' Willie, from Texas,  and his harmonica player Giles King, visited Guardhouse Primary School on 10th July.

Anne-Marie – I think the concert was really, really good.                         It was interesting.

 Asad – It was fantastic.   I liked the guitar.

 Dion – This was great.    I’d like to play the guitar.

Picture -Ros Owens

Doug MacLeod, from Los Angeles,  visited Braithwaite Special School on 12th June

The pupils of Haworth Primary School enjoyed the visit of Fruteland Jackson, from Chicago, in May.

Fruteland originated the 'Blues in the Schools' programme in the USA

Photo - Barbara

Winning review by Keziah

Mr Fruitman (Jackson) was hilarious. My favourite part was the rock and role music. Everyone was clapping and having a good time.

Whilst Flora, Jessica and Rose were deciding what to sing, Mrs La Vie came on. Once she’d started the performance got even better and everyone was laughing and cheering. It was brilliant. I really enjoyed it and it’s all thanks to Jackson, Hilary and Bob!

The Hamilton Loomis Band put on a great show for the pupils of Hollingwood Primary School on Friday 24th April.

They visited the school as part of our 'Blues in Schools' initiative.

The winning review was by Deepali Mistry

The Hamilton Loomis Band!!!!!
The Hamilton Loomis Band was absolutely fantastic. I loved their songs, they were amazing, especially the "Bow Wow" song. The saxophone dude was wicked. The drummer was fast playing and cool. It was kind of  Hamilton  to let us join in their super, classic songs.

Photo -Ros Owens

Shibden Head Primary's CD winning review was by Natasha (Y3)

When the Kyla Brox Band came to our school on March 27^th I was amazed – it was unbelievable! I was inspired even more. I already play the clarinet so I don’t have to start to learn to play an instrument.  When they played and sang I loved the songs and they made me feel very joyful.

The music was funky and super-loud!  I enjoyed the band so much I want to be a famous rockstar!

You are a wonderful band to listen to. It was really good and FANTASTIC because you were in our school gym.

"....If every visit has the same response then blues music will be well served in the future with budding artists emerging from these visits. Thanks for everything ..." ( Mr M Curtin -Headteacher -Baildon C of E School)

CD-winning review

 By Amy Vida Simpson   Age 9        

The Blues Concert came to Baildon C of E Primary School on 4.3.2009. they did many songs including ‘frustration’, ‘Guilty’ and ‘1 Step too far for you’. These three songs are just some of the hundreds of songs the lead singer Kyla has made up.

I definitely think Kyla should enter the X factor as she has an outstanding voice, although she isn’t as good as Madonna, but who knows with a little more practice she might be in the charts. She can also play the flute and is multi-talented.

The pianist is Kyla’s dad and, like his daughter, he is also multi-talented as he can play the trumpet-trombone and a piano at the same time. He can also play electric guitar, now is that cool or what?

The last member of the band is Marshall he has been playing for 20 years. He is brilliant at it but to get just as good as him you will need to practice 2-3 hours per day for 20 years just like he did.

In addition I would definitely go and see them again and encourage my friends to see them too.

                                                                                   

They visited OLV school, Keighley, too.

Click below to hear an interview on RadiOLV!

http://www.ourlady.ngfl.ac.uk/

"Blues in school is a great initiative. Keep it up!" (Mr J Devlin -Headteacher -OLV School)

CD Winning Review - Molly Ousey Y1 

It was really brilliant. I liked the flute and loved it when the man’s hat came off. The singing was lovely.

The winning pupil was written by  by Thomas.

The Kyla Brox Band came to Shipley C.E. Primary and gave a spectacular performance. It was on Wednesday 4^th of March. First of all the band introduced themselves, and their names were Kyla, Victor and Marshall. It was different type of music, but an extremely good type though it was blues music. Next they played’ Just one step too far’ for you to see.

Then they told us about blues music and how it evolved and made different types of music. After that they played two more songs and they were perfection the pulse was awesome the pitch was perfect the lyrics made sense.   Next they played ‘Guilty’ and all of us clapped to the beat and at the end clapped so hard most of our hands hurt. At the end we screamed and clapped for more and they gave us one more great song and we asked questions.

Kyla was a great singer and a fantastic flutist and was very cheery.Victor was fantastically great and can play two instruments at a time and was loud and funny and was very talented. Marshall was awesome he could play an electric guitar brilliantly and didn’t speak much. But I would recommend them to anyone they were supreme and I want them again.

Photo -Ros Owens

The Backbones visited Russell Hall Primary School on 13th March -Red Nose Day!

Michael Roach & Johnny Mars visited St. Anne's School, Keighley on 27th February

    Click here for 'Catholic Post 'pictures of the visit     http://www.catholicpost.org.uk/february09/blues/index.html

Here is what the winning review writer thought -

Khalif 'Wailin'' Walter visited Foxhill Primary in February.... 

 Click here for Halifax courier story        http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Smile-we39ve-got-the-blues.4962399.jp

Winner of signed CD -Brooke  (Year 4)

My review of Friday the 6th February!
My afternoon started when he introduced him self the man said were he lived, what he does for a a life and his hobby. He lives in Chicago. he also plays his guitar a lot and sings a lot. But he told us what it was like to live in Africa and what Americans do there. I especially liked the part when he told us why the Africans went to America.

The reason why he came, was to show us the real spirit in music and that music is not only instruments and voice, it is telling a story and what you feel inside. I enjoyed simply everything in every part.

We wrote a song down and it was funny it went like this (While clapping our hands) "Its a sunny day and I got the blues (repeat) I got the blues cause I have to go to school!"

One day I wish I could be great just like him

 

  Memo Gonzales and the boys at Springwood Primary......

picture - Chris Owens

Story -T&A

.....and Russell Hall Primary.

Pic -Rachel Delahaye

William's  (Russell Hall Primary) CD-winning review

On 26th of January 2009 Memo Gonzales and the Bluescasters came into school. The Bearfootin' Band was the support group. They were phenomenal but I was anxiously waiting for Memo Gonzales and the Bluescasters. The unusual thing was, Memo Gonzales, the harmonica/vocalist, Kai, the lead guitarist, Erkan, the bass guitarist and Henk, the drummer, were all from different countries!

Finally, my long wait was over and the best blues band ever came on the stage! They were out-of-this-world, amazing, brilliant. They sang my favourite song; 'You Got Me Rolling'! I loved it. The children were ecstatic, their faces glowing with excitement whilst the teachers danced the day away.

It was an outstanding event. It was great, it was exciting, it was amazing! I especially liked the part where Kai easily played the guitar behind his back, although the 'Rolling Song' wasn't far behind. It was brilliant, and Memo Gonzales was great fun!

At the end, Memo Gonzales gave away his own personal harmonica to the best dancer, it was Asdhley Baxter. The Bluescasters were from all sorts of countries such as : Turkey, Germany, Holland and the USA. They are all based in Germany now. I think it is incredible that they all work together! I would highly recommend the show to anyone who loves to dance!

The Ramon Goose Band played at Myrtle Park Primary School on 9th January  (Photo - Ros Owens)

Hannah-  ( who surprised everyone by playing the drums brilliantly after Paul picked her out from the 

eager children wanting to have a go! )  "‘I really, really loved it!’"

 After the concert –   Elliott – ‘It was good- I haven’t ever seen a bass guitar with five strings’.

 Charlotte -  ‘’I thought the drums and the guitar were really super’.

 Dominic -  ‘It was fun and very cheerful. Ramon Goose brought the music to life’.

 Holly-  ‘ It was really cool –I’ve never heard music like that before’.

Top UK Blues Band Paul Lamb and the Kingsnakes visited St Anthony's Primary School, Bradford on 12th December.

Pic -Barbara

 Paul Lamb and the Kings Snakes

Music review  By Lauren A and Charlotte 'Blues in Schools Review' WINNERS

Paul lamb and the Kings Snakes are one of the most amusing bands I have ever seen before, as they have been award winners for 5 years, (pretty good!) They have some very good songs that they played for us, whilst using instruments such as, the harmonica which sounded very soothing when Paul played it, the electric base and the guitar and the singer was very good because he played the guitar and sang at the same time! The songs were great they got the whole school dancing, clapping, waving our hands and signing the responses! Everybody looked like they were having the time of their life’s! They were such a great band and we all loved them if they are listening “thank you so much!”

 Oliver Darling  played at St Joseph's Primary School on 5th December picture - Barbara

by Bradley Bremner  (St Joseph's  Primary School  'Blues in Schools Review' WINNER)

On Friday 5th December, Oliver Darling, from the Blues band came to are school to play the guitar. He also let us sing with him to 'Jimmy Crack Corn and I don't care'. He sang 'Run run Rudolph' and Mrs Hamer asked him to sing 'Hey Jude' by the Beatles. He was really good at the singing and playing guitar and he played a classic old guitar and he was awesome at it,. He didn't know 'Hey Jude' that much, but he tried his best. When we all sang 'Jimmy Crack Corn and I don't care' we had to sing the name for the chorus.

He is my best guitar player and singer ever! The songs he sung was American. Like the Wild West or Texas. Wherever he goes he is famous. I know my sister is good, but your better. I hope he comes because I want him to come again. He's better at the guitar than singing. I like his singing as well. If I see him in town I will recognize him .....

'He had his hair like Elvis Presleys'     Mavish Zain

The pupils at Long Lee Primary School had a great time with International Blues Star Sherman Robertson and his band on 21st November.

(Pic.- Barbara)

by Nathan Rouse Long Lee

'Blues in Schools Review' WINNER

Long Lee was rocking to the beat of the Blues when Sherman Robertson came to town with his band on the 21^st November.   It was great because they told you about the instruments they played.   They told us about the Piano, Drums, Bass Guitar and Electric Guitar.   My favourite instruments were the Electric Guitar and the Drums because they made a great rocking sound.   Throughout the concert the rhythm was catching and Long Lee was clapping to the beat.   For the final song our help was needed and our singing nearly raised the roof.

This was definitely a fantastic way to spend a Friday afternoon

Picture below shows Kent Duchaine visiting Keelham Primary School (Denholme) on 7th November 2008. (by Barbara)

Prize-winning reviews

KENT DUCHAINE

by Mollie  (Keelham Primary School  'Blues in Schools Review' WINNER)

On 7th November 2008, Kent Duchaine a talented person) came to Keelham Primary and played Delta Blues to the whole school. The children and teachers enjoyed his spectacular music, by clapping along, also some of the teachers were singing along to a few of the songs.Kent was playing his very own electric guitar which was made out of steal, although it was old, it still played good music and had good rhythm. His singing was superb and very clear. He even made a song up about his brother. Kent told us you can make up songs wherever you are about whatever you want. Some songs were about summertime, his brother, a little red rooster and many more.

We all loved his amazing music and we all say a great big 'Thank you' for coming and singing the Delta Blues. Nobody will ever forget his super music

Click below to see THE GUARDIAN'S feature on our 'Blues in School's work

The Groanbox Boys entertained pupils from Russell Hall Primary, Shibden Head Primary and Thornton Grammar Schools on 10th October.

Prize-winning reviews

GROANBOX BOYS

by Dawson (Russell Hall Primary School 'Blues in Schools Review' WINNER)

Today at Russell Hall there was no groaning because the GROANBOX BOYS came to school from America. One was called Michael, one Cory and the other Paul. There were three weird people and even weirder instruments. One was a tree, another a cup and a pumpkin thing which was used as a cool drum. They had a strange boot with a stick in it like a wooden leg with beer lids on the side and sheep's claws and key rings around the top. The children liked them because they made extraordinary things. The children also got to see their friends from Shibden Head, who came to watch.

GROANBOX BOYS

by Hannah ( Shibden Head Primary School 'Blues in Schools Review' WINNER)

The GROANBOX BOYS are a wonderful band they play lots of different music. They play American Blues, gypsy and folk.

One of the band is from Canada, his name is Paul. There is one called Cory, he plays some fabulous instruments  . They got me clapping and nearly made me want to dance, if you come and see the Groanbox Boys you'll tell everyone you know - I did. They've made a boot out of bottle tops it is just a fabulous band I give it 5 stars *****

Pic. Chris Owens

Kyla Brox Band with Victor Brox at Hollinwood Primary School -May 2008

Boo Boo Davis Band at Foxhill School -March 2008

Paul Lamb and the Kingsnakes at St. Joseph's School -November 2007

Memo Gonzales and the Bluescasters at Haworth Primary School -September 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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