BlueTouch Present a new show for theatres and clubs

Women in Blues

The first blues song recorded by a black female vocalist, was sung by Mamie Smith in 1920. During both World Wars, the ladies of the blues kept it going and the day never ended. Booking the band, sewing costumes, cooking meals, keeping the band out of harm & putting on a show - Sometimes, while raising a baby.

Blues has become the basis of much of our music today and we wanted to pay tribute to some of the great performers, past and present

The Show

Performance is the act of keeping the music alive and there is nothing like the feel of a great show. As a female-fronted blues-rock outfit, BlueTouch is indebted to those lady artistes who helped pioneer the blues as an art form throughout the 20th century

This show is presented as a celebration of their songs and in particular, the essential female spirit that is often required to prevail against impossible odds.

The Idea

Traditionally it seems that people always think of the 'Blues Men' such as Robert Johnson and B B King. After years of singing their songs Andrea Maria wanted to do a show that focussed on the ladies!

We look at the lives, artistry and song writing of such iconic blues women as Memphis Minnie, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Beth Hart and many more, while tracing the evolution of blues music from its gospel roots in the 1920s to the blues rock of the 60s, 70s and beyond.

Our 'Women in the Blues' show includes a more laid back first half and then
gets decidedly livelier for the second set.

We perform a range of songs including some penned by Andrea Maria and the Band.

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Memphis Minnie, blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose recording career lasted for over three decades. She recorded around 200 songs	Billie Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. She was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills
Bonnie Raitt, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000	Etta James performed in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and soul. Starting her career in 1954, she gained fame with hits such as "The Wallflower", "At Last", "Tell Mama", "Something's Got a Hold on Me", and "I'd Rather Go Blind".
Beth Hart is known for her "visceral", "gritty", "soaring" and "dynamic" contralto vocals. She plays piano, guitar, cello, bass guitar and percussion. American pop singer Miley Cyrus lists Hart amongst her favourite singers of all time!	Referred to as the "Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With global sales of over 75 million records, Franklin is one of the world's best-selling music artists.

Women in Blues

The Show

The Idea

Memphis Minnie, blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose recording career lasted for over three decades. She recorded around 200 songs

Billie Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. She was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills

Bonnie Raitt, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000

Etta James performed in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and soul. Starting her career in 1954, she gained fame with hits such as "The Wallflower", "At Last", "Tell Mama", "Something's Got a Hold on Me", and "I'd Rather Go Blind".

Beth Hart is known for her "visceral", "gritty", "soaring" and "dynamic" contralto vocals. She plays piano, guitar, cello, bass guitar and percussion. American pop singer Miley Cyrus lists Hart amongst her favourite singers of all time!

Referred to as the "Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With global sales of over 75 million records, Franklin is one of the world's best-selling music artists.