Countdown to Whiteford!!
Tuesday, July 13 2010

Not long to go now to another long-awaited swing night at this year's Whiteford festival.

Bobby is back with a superb 10 Pce. band, boasting many of the players from last year's foot-stomping swing night debut at the festival.

Tickets are again selling well, but contact the organisers and I'm sure we can squeeze you in!...

With a small herd of cows swingin' away in the adjacent field, it's got to be Mooooo-sic right thru an enchanted evening!

Bring only your best galoshes!!

www.whitefordfestival.co.uk

BK: Whiteford '10 - Swing Night 'call back!...'
Thursday, October 8 2009

It's our great pleasure to announce that, after a fantastic reception for Bobby's Swing Night special this July, BK and the same 10 Piece band have just been invited back to headline next years festival.


'It's a great honour as 2010 may be the last year the festival is run annually.


'I can understand, as there's clearly a tremendous amount of effort goes into the organising.


This was all displayed in the numbers for last year, as the BK Swing night sold a record (sell out) 900 tickets!...


* Here's hoping for clear skies, and another wonderful night in July '10!...

Shows in Sweden...
Thursday, October 8 2009

Bobby has made some great links recently with famed Swedish Drummer/Band Leader Stefan Andersson.

Together with Stockholm 'Radio Haninge Direkt' (who regularly play Bobby's tunes), they are planning a series of shows soon to be announced for Spring 2010.

'Swing and Big Band music are really popular in Sweden, and this is really exciting, as my profile is steadily growing over there...'

BK Album Tracks coming thru - finally!...
Thursday, October 8 2009

At last, the new BK album tracks are officially in the pipeline.

* Working title is 'Allez Poulidor' which is a reference to Raymond Poulidor, legendary French cyclist and 'the ultimate Underdog', who finished 2nd in the Tour de France on numerous occasions, while never actually getting to wear the famous Yellow Jersey...

'We had a tremendous first recording day at Steve Plews' recording studio in the Peak District earlier this month, recording new versions of songs by composers ranging from Jimmy Van Heusen to Jagger/Richards...'

Bobby is well underway producing this first batch at his home studio 'The Time Machine' (which is an ironic reference to the huge swathes of BK's life it has thus far 'eaten into').

'It's really exciting, as I've got a new (10 year old!) ProTools system, which used to belong to Elvis Costello and some members of Squeeze...

'The great Paul Weller himself recorded an album on it, so I'm sure I should be able to get some good sounds going!...'


First off the new BK production line will be 'Where or When' and 'Someone to Watch over Me' (this last a tribute to the wonderful Blossom Dearie, who sadly died earlier this year).

* Look out for audio clips on the website very soon!...

Bobby to headline Whiteford festival '09...
Sunday, March 1 2009

Concert: Friday 17th July '09

Preparations are well underway for BK's first festival headline slot in Devon this Summer.

'Besides a stonking (hand-picked) 9 piece band, I'm arranging for lots of the family to make the trip (including my new baby girl 'Hattie'.)

'It's a gorgeous setting down there in the grounds of Whiteford Hall and I'm really looking forward to giving everyone a great show'

(Tickets: £10 early booking or £12 on the day).

www.whitefordfestival.co.uk




Date 15 Oct '09

Recording sessions

Bobby has once again teamed up with Jazz pianist (and friend) Steve Plews, for a series of recordings to commence shortly.


Bobby will record and self-produce the album which it's hoped will be released in early '09.


'We're going for a Jazz Trio formula to begin with, then adding solos 'to taste'.


'I'm aiming for a slightly more alternative flavour too, particularly as we're tackling a real mixed bag of songs, with writers ranging from Gershwin to Morrissey...'



Date: 4 Oct '09

'I Left my Heart in Ystradgynlais...'

Bobby is to play the inaugural night of a new venue in S. Wales.

'It's a very swish permanent Marquee in a lovely village in the valleys called Ystradgynlais. I've done so many shows of late in S. Wales that I feel it's getting time to learn the language! (Not to mention swat up on my Tom Jones numbers...'

Bobby's 7 Pce. Swing outfit are set to play on November 15th and BK has just agreed to perform his One Man show there this New Year's Eve.




Date: 1 Sep '09

BK has just agreed to perform a huge Big Band show at Sheffield's prestigious City Hall.

The concert is a dinner/dance to benefit a large Hospice in the area and Bobby, together with the TG Big Band, will be sharing the building with 'The Mighty Boosh' and their touring show

'Let's hope we don't get dressing rooms mixed up! - would be v. strange for either of us...'



Date: 7 July '08

Bobby is due to team up once again with the TG Big Band for the third in his series of shows to benefit the Hyde Theatre Royal campaign.

The show will happen at Hyde Town Hall, another fabulous Hyde building, which was finished around the same time as our beloved theatre...

Bobby goes Burlesque again...
Sunday, June 1 2008

Bob is set to perform again later this month, with Burlesque starlet 'Miss Cherry DeVille'. The event is a catwalk/runway show in aid of Breast Cancer research...


Date: Sun 10th Feb '08

BK's Big Band Special - Lowry Theatre, Manchester

Another big success for Bobby's formatted Big Band special at this prestigious Manchester theatre.

A healthy Sunday crowd of 300+ witnessed BK firmly establish himself as one of the country's top Big Band vocalists in a dazzling show which was again supported by Hyde's TG Big Band.

'It was such an important night for me and I was desperate to pull it off in this bigger arena' says Bobby.

'We upped the ante too musically, with new and unusual arrangements of My Way and Live and Let Die, which both also saw me playing guitar with the band.'



Date: Sat 4th Aug '07


The Bluebell Centre, Gee Cross played host to over 600 people for Bobby's Summer outdoor bash this August.

'I was blown away by the scale of the support from the people of Hyde and District' says Bobby, who fronted Hyde's own TG Big Band at what was to become a hometown gig.

the show had superb guest vocalists in Rachel, John and Jackie and the evening was Emcee'd by Gee Cross legend (and great pal of Bobby's) Johnny Bramwell, from Indie band 'I am Kloot.'

'It was a great success too for our charity (Hyde Theatre Royal) as the night raised over £500 towards their fund - and so it's no surprise that we're already in talks to do the show again, same time next year!!...

A Day at the Races...
Saturday, June 16 2007

Sat 9th June '07

Ladies' Day goes down a Storm...

...Yes, we all prayed for a Summer Wind rather than Pennies from Heaven - and boy were we lucky!

It was a gorgeous day, with 5000 even more gorgeous ladies packing the races at Musselburgh last weekend.

The going was 'good to firm' and Bobby et al had a great day out, with BK delivering 3 sets of swing classics One Man style.



Sat 28th April '07

Hotel Russell, Ctr. London (BAR conference Gala Dinner)

Bobby's Big Band show plays to 300 delegates in a packed ballroom at this most 'Swish' of London venues.

'It was a superb night, with a fantastic effort form the State 51 boys plus a superb guest spot from our own Jackie Collins...'



Sat 13th Jan '07

Cliffs Pavilion Theatre, Southend (Scout's Centenary celebrations).

A great honour to be asked to perform on such an auspicious occasion - So Bobby and the band responded with a bigger and better show than ever.

'We really ramped the show up tonight, with the first ever guest spot from female vocalist Jackie Collins plus the boys from State 51 put together a special arrangement of swingin' songs from Jungle Book - a special treat for the Scouting delegates, as these songs form such a strong part of the cub scouting history'.

Update: Bobby stars in Rat Pack show
Friday, September 15 2006

Following a last minute call from the frantic Musical Director of a touring production of the Rat Pack show, Bobby agreed to take on the lead role (Mr. Sinatra of course) in the opening night at the Castle theatre, Wellingborough.

'It was an amazing experience,' says Bobby, 'Playing the part of Frank, in character, is about the biggest pair of shoes anyone could ever hope to fill.

'It was tremendous fun though, playing alongside a superb Dean and Sammy pair, not to mention the full compliment of dancing girls!'

Despite only 3 day's notice, the show (and Bobby's one-off performance) was a huge success with the 500 capacity audience, so much so that Bobby has now been asked to consider the Sinatra role in an all new production, coming soon from the same theatre company.

Review: Variety show for America
Sunday, August 13 2006

Bobby returned recently, with a huge grin on his face from his first US performances at the Quincy Music Theatre, Florida.

'It was a superb experience for me and nerve racking too. There were two other US jazz and swing vocalists and we all shared the house Big Band.

'One high point was a duet with Avis Berry (Jazz Diva supreme). We did a version of 'Baby, it's Cold Outside' which rocked the house!

Bobby must have held his own in the land of swing, 'cos he's now in negotiations for 5 more shows in LA later this year with similar shows in Louisiana also looking possible.

review: 'Both (Bobby and Ned Fasullo) swing vocalists owned the stage right from the beginning of the show, bringing back an echo of the bobby socks era, when young girls swooned to their brand of crooning...' - Havana (Florida) Herald.

New fine dining venue - Milton Keynes
Thursday, February 2 2006

Bobby has just agreed to perform 2 shows this April at the brand new, purpose built venue - Talk of the Town Live - in Milton Keynes Central. It's a fine dining experience with a tasteful backdrop of swing music, courtesy of Bobby and his swingin' 7 piece band.

Check the events diary page for further details and booking information.