What's up at Black & Tan Records... Things have been busy. We've just released a new album by Byther Smith and are preparing the release of The Snake, the third album by Boo Boo Davis out of St Louis, Missouri. A new album that we're very excited about... It's slightly different than our other releases, but rest assured it's a 100% bluesalbum, but with a bit of extra spice added to it... a little bit of this and a little bit of that ... We wondered what would happen if we mixed a bit of contemporary r&b with Boo's rough jukejoint blues? Boo loved the idea ... so we decided to give it a shot... and The Snake is the result... It's an album with that typical raw, wild jukejoint blues that recalls the late great Wolf, but also with some tracks with a slightly different flavor...

For those of you that see a chance to make it to BB's in St Louis, Missouri, there's a cd release party on February 17th. At the end of the month Boo's coming to Europe to promote his new release. People that would like to hear Boo live, can tune in on February 28th on the Dutch national Radio and have to listen to Tros Muziekcafe. Later on his European tour Boo will be introducin' his new album on march 8th in the Banana Peel Blues Club in Ruiselede.

The interest for the Mike Andersen Band is growing rapidly. Next to the upcoming tour at the end of this month, the band is scheduled to open in . Mike and his band are openingen on april 11th for the Spencer Davis Group in Copenhagen. If your near Bremen on may 28th you can see the Mike Andersen Band on the Nordwestradio Abend at the Breminale in Bremen, Germany. A large part of the show will be broadcasted live on Nordwestradio.

Southern In My Soul by Big George Jackson and Throw 'way the book by Byther will be reviewed in the forthcoming issue of Mojo(march 2004). The issue should be in the shop by the end of February.

Doug MacLeod will be teaming up with Delta blues legend Honey Boy Edwards for a couple of shows. They can be seen on february 20th and 21st at Cozy's Bar & Grill in Scherman Oaks California. This should be a treat for those of you that can attend the show.

Byther is traveling back to Canada early March to promote his new album 'Throw away the book'. You can catch him on March 4th at the Rainbow Bistro in Ottawa, ON - on March 5th at the Office in Peterborough, ON and on March 6th at the Silver Dollar Room in Toronto, ON. The last show is a part of the Canadian Music Week Festival in Toronto.

Roel Spanjers & The Sunset Travelers have been booked by the Moulin Blues Festival in Ospel, Netherlands. Their scheduled to appear on may 8th.

Black & Tan started with a release by Roscoe Chenier out of Opeloussas, Louisiana. The gentle giant of Opeloussas is returning to Europe this spring and will perform for the first time in Portugal. On march 19th he'll be playing the Coimbra Blues Festival.

And to finish we'd like to announce two new releases by two new artists that have joined Black & Tan Records. Scheduled for april 12th is the Black & Tan debut by guitarist, vocalist Ernie Payne. May 24th is the date that's been scheduled for the release of the album by Theresa James & The Rhythm Tramps... keep an eye out for these albums that are comin' your way... they're great and bring two new artists with a distinctive personal sound