Originally from Jarrow on Tyne but now living in Colne, Lancashire, Graham has been a blues devotee since he was 14 years of age. Originally inspired to learn the guitar, and drawn to the blues by the brilliant playing of Peter Green in his days with Fleetwood Mac. This initial inspiration led to a voyage of discovery into the magical world of the blues via B.B.King, Freddie King, Otis Rush, T-Bone Walker and then on to the earliest performers like Blind Lemon, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Blake, Lonnie Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller and others.
In 1972 this interest was encouraged and enhanced when he went along to 'The Honeysuckle Blues Club' on Coatsworth Road, Gateshead. This was the only club of it's kind on Tyneside featuring entirely acoustic blues music. It was run by Jim Murray, Ray Stubbs, and Ronnie Johnson with their partners. Jim, Ray and Ronnie used to play most weeks, both as soloists and collectively as 'Pigmeat'. Unfortunately, the club folded less than two years later. However, thanks to brilliant and enthusiastic performances by people like Steve Phillips, Dave Speight, Ray Stubbs and Jim Murray, all of who still play today, that inspiration remained for years to come.
Graham's playing reflects the styles of the early blues masters particularly the east coast, syncopated styles of Blind Boy Fuller and Blind Blake. However, other major influences include Bo Carter, Lonnie Johnson, Rev. Gary Davis, Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Big Bill Broonzy, Fred McDowell, Sleepy John Estes, Mississippi Sheiks, Delmore Brothers, and the Memphis Jug Band to name but a few. A typical performance includes impassioned renditions of a selection of songs from the above artists played with energy and conviction on a very old Stella, and National resonator guitars.
During 2008 Graham played at the Colne, Burnley, Dundee, Maryport and Upton-on-Severn Blues Festivals. He has also played support to blues performers as diverse as Paul Lamb & The King Snakes, The Spike Drivers, Steve James, The Cadillac Kings, Rag Mama Rag, Michael Roach & Johnny Mars, Olli Brown and Nine Below Zero at venues across the north west of England.
Graham playing 'Jivin' Woman Blues' by Blind Boy Fuller
Graham playing 'Early Morning Blues' by Blind Blake
Graham playing 'Jitterbug Rag' by Blind Boy Fuller
Graham playing 'Who Broke The Latch?' by Bo Carter
| Step It Up and Go | |
| Early Morning Blues | |
| Mississippi Blues | |
| That'll Never Happen No More | |
| Dallas Rag | |
| Who Broke the Latch |
| Dates for 2009 | |
| 12th Jan | The Head Of Steam, Huddersfield |
| 1st Feb | Sandinista, Leeds |
| 7th Feb | Pendle Beer Festival, The Muni, Colne |
| 14th Feb | The Queen's Head, Belper |
| 15th Feb | Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge |
| 25th Feb | Bar 1761, Cockermouth |
| 26th Feb | Bar 26, Keswick |
| 27th Feb | Bronte Blues Club, support for Michael Roach & Johnny Mars with bbc5 |
| 2nd March | The Head Of Steam, Huddersfield |
| 19th March | The Robert Gillow, Lancaster |
| Scotland 21st - 28th March | |
| 21st March | St Blain's Hotel, Isle Of Bute |
| 22nd March | Victoria Hotel, Isle Of Bute |
| 25th March | Aikman's Bistro, St Andrews |
| 26th March | Cafe Musa, Aberdeen |
| 27th March | The Noose And Monkey, Aberdeen |
| 28th March | The Market Bar, Inverness |
| Burnley Blues Festival | |
| 12th April | The Press Room, Burnley Mechanics 2.00pm |
| 13th April | The Sparrowhawk Hotel, 2:00pm |
| 18th April | The King's Arms, Hawkshead |
| 19th April | Tweedie's Bar, Grasmere |
| 25th April | The Maltings, South Shields |
| 26th April | The Causeway, Hartlepool |
| 10th May | The Central Hotel, Egremont |
| 12th May | The Cricketer's Arms, Coney Lane, Keighley ****GIG CANCELLED**** |
| 13th May | The Musician, Leicester, support for Hans Theessink |
| 16th May | The Queen's Head, Wolverley |
| 19th May | The Boat, Monmouth |
| 20th May | Cafe Rene, Gloucester |
| 21st May | The Fleece, Stroud |
| 23rd May | 9pm The Black Horse, Darwen |
| 25th May | 2:20pm The Acoustic Stage, Darwen Library Theatre, Darwen Live Festival, |
| 25th May | 9:00pm Bacup Folk Club,The Football Ground, Bacup, |
| 1st June | The Head Of Steam, Huddersfield |
| 13th June | Ripley Blues Club, supporting Ian Siegal |
| 14th June | The Puzzle Hall Inn, Sowerby Bridge |
| 26th June | Aikman's Bistro, St Andrews ****CANCELLED**** |
| Dundee Blues Bonanza | |
| 26th June | The Wellgate Centre 2pm |
| 27th June | The Arctic Bar 5pm |
| 28th June | Kokomo's 5:30pm |
| 5th July 5pm | St Blane's Hotel, Isle Of Bute |
| 9th July | The Robert Gillow, Lancaster |
| 11th July | The Sportsman's Arms,Todmorden |
| 17th July | The Sherwood Inn, Mansfield |
| 18th July | The Library Bar, Eastwood, Notts. |
| 19th July | Rudi's Blues Cafe, Rotherham |
| 22nd July | Bar 1761, Cockermouth |
| 24th July | Bar 26, Keswick |
| Maryport Blues Festival | |
| Saturday 25th July | The Captain Nelson 2pm |
| Sunday 26th July | The Wave Centre 2pm |
| Sunday 26th July | Tweedie's Bar, Grasmere 9:30pm |
| Gloucester Blues Festival | |
| Dates to be confirmed | |
| 10th August | The Head Of Steam, Huddersfield |
| 12th August | The Traveller's Rest, Draycott, Derbyshire |
| 16th August | The Causeway, Hartlepool |
| Bell Rock Blues Festival | |
| 22nd August | The Station Bar, Arbroath 8:30pm |
| 23rd August | Becket's, Arbroath 8:00pm |
| Colne R'n B Festival | |
| 28th August 9:15 | The Acoustic Stage, Lesser Municipal Hall |
| 30th August 1:30 | The Admiral Lord Rodney |
| Scotland September '09 | |
| 5th September | St Blain's Hotel, Isle Of Bute |
| 6th September | The Victoria Hotel, Rothesay, Isle Of Bute |
| 9th September | Dunfermline Folk & Blues Club, |
| 10th September | Cafe Musa, Aberdeen |
| 11th September | The Loft, Kinloss, Moray |
| 12th September | Nevisport Bar, Fort William |
| 13th September | Hootananny's, Inverness |
| 20th September 8pm | Puzzle Hall Inn, Sowerby Bridge |
| 3rd October | Ace Centre, Nelson |
"...the only person I know who plays (Blind Boy) Fuller as good as that!!"
East coast, Piedmont Blues Artist Michael Roach
"... nice to see Graham Robinson getting some recognition too - all you Brit posters and lurkers should check him out - nobody in GB does better Blind Boy Fuller. A mean Blind Blake too, and Lonnie Johnson."
Allan Jones, (aka Professor Scratchy), Blind Man's Blues Forum 2008
"...The show also included a very enjoyable bonus in the shape of Colne-based duo Graham Robinson and Dr Ross ('the Washboard Boss'), who provided a great start to the evening on finger picked steel guitar and washboard respectively. Their closing version of "Rag Mama Rag" was particularly impressive."
Lionel Ross, Blues In Britain 2007
"...Graham played an excellent half hour set on a lovely old Stella guitar. Graham is a tremendous finger-picker and this set allowed him to demonstrate his skill. He delivered material from Blind Blake, Big Bill Broonzy, The Delmore Brothers and even gave us a rendition of a Lonnie Johnson tune which required great digital dexterity. Almost every number was a 'finger-buster' played with great style............ he really is one of the best acoustic players around".
All enquiries,or to go on the mailing list, contact Graham via email at : frams369@uk2.net