At the moment I'm mainly playing at The Big Easy bar, the Jam House, Poachers Inn and the CD Jazz Cafe here in Beijing. Beijing has a lively, burgeoning music scene, one that I'd like to see developed and supported. I've played music for most of my life and it's been an incredibly rewarding experience. If others are to have the same opportunities in the future, local music has got to be supported. That means getting out and listening to local musicians wherever you might be. Bands are steadily getting "squeezed" out of bars and clubs and being replaced by discos, dj's and karaoke. If you'd like to have a choice of music in the future and not just the pre-programmed, electronic techno pop that the record companies churn out, then get out today and catch a live band!
Lets keep music live!
Cheers,
Mike
Music Bio:
August 1999 - PresentThe Big Easy, Beijing China.
Playing with Jacqui Staton, The Rhythm Dogs, The Big Easy Band.
Also: Ray Blue, Danny California, Louis Ball, Barbara Gogin.
The Cd Jazz Cafe, Poachers Inn, The Jam House, Beijing, China The "B.B.C." [Beijing Blues Collective]
December 2000
Released CD "Blue Mondays" with "The Big Easy Blues Band"
Sept 1997 - August 1999
Nashville Bar & Restaurant
Playing with "BluesDriver"
1996 - 1997
Lusaka, Zambia
Playing with "The Flatdog Blues Band"
My friend, Paul and I played together in the Flatdogs. Coincidentally, Paul moved to Beijing in 2000 and we formed the Beijing Blues Collective (B.B.C.) . Small world...
Also, my good mate, Dave Findlay Brown, played Bass for both the Surfers and the Flatdogs and is now based in Edinburgh, Scotland where he is the frontman for local R 'n B band, The Belgranos.
1991 -1997
Lusaka, Zambia
Playing with "The Kabulonga Surfers"
(Check out my friend, Andy Baker's website! We played together for a long time in Zambia. Andy is now based in Anchorage, Alaska and his website has some great info about the local music scene there).