rothrugby

Hi, We have just got ourselves a drummer but still looking for keyboard or guitar/bass player. Tony

Hi, The Music & Blues Band are looking for a Gal or Guy to join as a keyboard player/ Guitar or Possibly Bass player We play a mix of contemporary electric blues, blues rock & pop & presently have a guitarist, bass player (who is leaving in July) & female lead vocalist. We are not rock gods, just a trio of enthusiastic amatuers playing for fun. We practice about three to four times a month (usually Thursday afternoons) & like to do open mike nights & a couple of low key gigs, often in association with other musicians. It doesn't matter if you have never played in a group before as this is one of the best ways to develop musically. We are based in the Champagne Mouton (16) area, about 20mins from Ruffec & Confolens, so why not get in touch & join in the fun. All our sessions are light hearted with lots of laughs. Please post to this website or drop me a private email. Tony (Bassist)

Hi Stan, Thanks for getting in touch, please let me know which notaire you used. I live about 20mins from Ruffec so this sounds perfect. All I have to do now is find a buyer, Ha Ha!!! Tony

Hi, Thanks guys, looks do-able. Tony

Hi, I am trying to sell my house & go back to the U/K. If I get an English buyer is it possible to complete the transaction in £ rather than euro's & thus avoid exchange rate losses for both parties. Any advice would be appreciated Thanks Tony

Hi, I have recently read that after two years any lost licence points for minor offences can be re-claimed. Will this be an automatic return of points or will I have to claim them back. Does anyone know anything more on thsi sublect. Thanks

Hi, I have just found out that one of the top American Blues guys, Big Daddy Wilson, is playing at Chef Boutonne on the 1st October. It seems he is touring the major cities of Europe & the local group, Surfin Boutonne have managed to get him to stop off at Chef. The concert will be held at the Salle des Fete, Chataeu Javarzay, Chef Boutonne. It starts at 9.00pm with local blues/rock band Anksor providing the support. The admission price is 10euro's, pay on the door. Tony

Thanks for the comments so far but does anyone know anything more about this proposal please.

We recently received an email from a newsaper saying the following, does anyone know anything about this? If its true then it could be a substantial problem for everyone, including the French & it will cause a lot of concern. OVER-50s living in France could be required to take out compulsory insurance to help pay for their future care needs, a parliamentary report has recommended. The National Assembly's social affairs committee says the state cannot afford to spend more than the current €22bn a year on elderly people who have lost their autonomy. The report recommends a compulsory private insurance package, called assurance dépendance, which would go to cover the cost of home help or moving into a care home. According to Le Monde, some insurers are already offering a similar package, priced between €20 and €30 a month, which pays up to €1,000 a month towards care bills. UMP member of parliament Valérie Rosso-Debord said: "As of now, public funding is not enough to cover the billions of euros that will need to be spent on elderly people's dependency in the near future." Other measures suggested in the report include an increase in the CSG - the contribution sociale généralisée, which make up part of employees' social charges bill. The proposals will be submitted to the government shortly and discussed after the summer break. Tony

Oh, Er, Sorry about any confusion, its on the 30th July. Tony  

Hi Rock Fans, There will be a season of FREE ROCK CONCERTS in the town square, Place Cail, Chef Boutonne (79). Its organised by a local association called Surfin Boutonne every year & features some great music. The square is closed to traffic, an open air stage set up & taken over by the bars & restaurants so plenty of space & seats for a drink or a meal whilst listening to the music. The first concert is on Friday 30th July, at 9.00pm & features a support group called Charly & Shake, a groove & funk band. The mainline act will be Piledriver, a really good rock band. The second concert will be on 6th August at 9.00pm with Bliss, progessive rock & Bootleg, rock pop I have been going to these free concerts last year & its a really great atmosphere. Tony

Hi All You Rock Fans, The association, Surfin Boutonne, are holding a Free music fest on Friday 18th June in the main square at Chef Boutonne (79) The event starts after 5.00pm with a selection of local amateur groups. The main event starts at 9.00pm with these four headline pro. bands , Spectrum, The Red Cabs, Mistaken Element & Les Tontons Flingues. All the various bars & restaurents will be open with plenty of outside seating to enjoy a meal or just a drink or two whilst enjoying the music.

Hi, Just check out my new thread, let me know if you want any more info. Tony

Hi Yeh, just noticed that wrong date, concert is on the 9th April. I have corrected my posting Tony

Hi fellow blues fans, The association, Surfin Boutonne, are holding a blues concert starting at 9.00pm on Friday 9th April. The featured professional is Jeff Zima, a well respected New Orleans, Chicago bluesman. He plays traditional blues plus boogie, stomp, jump well mostly everthing really. He will be supported by a local amatuer band from Niort called The Bonzers who play fast instrumental surfing music, not the Beach Boys stuff though. The concert is held in the Ferm du Chateau at Chateau Javarzay, about 5 mins outside Chef Boutonne on the D740, Niort Rd. Admission is 10euros which includes a free drink (pay on the night).

Hi Frenchie, I just help to publicise the concerts. They are run by our group called Surfin Boutonne based in Chef Boutonne so we don't tour!!! Surely there must be a music scene in Niort, we have booked several good amatuer bands from there in the past. Anyway, our next gig is on the 9th April & will feature Jeff Zima, a very good blues man, supported by Bonzer from Niort. Will post up full details on this site later.

Hi, This season we are holding two concerts, the one you missed & the next one on 9th April. I will post details as soon as we have confirmed the line up. During the summer we will be holding a series of FREE open air concerts. Again I will post details later. Hope you can make it along.

Hi fellow rockers, The association, Surfin Boutonne, are holding a rock concert starting at 9.00pm on Friday 29th January. The featured professional group are called Classic & Troubles a powerful trio with over 600 concerts to their name. They play music ranging from Hendrix to Nirvana with Cream, ZZ Top & Police mixed in for good measure. They will be supported by a local amatuer band from Niort called The Bad Mondays who play brit/rock The concert is held in the Ferm du Chateau at Chateau Javarzay, about 5 mins outside Chef Boutonne on the D740, Niort Rd. Admission is 10euros which includes a free drink (pay on the night).

What a great night on Friday. Awek were fantastic- one of the best Blues Bands we've seen for a long time, Cognac included. It was absolutely wonderful that they took the time to stop off in Chef Boutonne as they have a very busy schedule. Well worth every penny, and very deserving of the standing ovation. Hope everyone else enjoyed it. If you didn't go- bad luck! The next concert wil be in January- watch this forum for information Tony

Hi Frenchie, Tried to send you a private email but it failed. Are you looking to join a group? Where do you live?. I play bass in a newly formed trio, Vocals, Guitar & Bass. Tony

If anyone wants to check AWEK out they have a website at www.awekblues.com Tony

Hi, Sorry, this is the last concert for this year. The next one will be on 29th January 2010.  

Hi, 23rd October at 21.00hrs One of France's best blues band will be playing at the Salle next to the Chateau du Javarzay in Chef Boutonne (79). They really are one the top bands, having recently supported BB King on the big stage at the Cognac Blues Festival so this is one not to miss. A local group called Johnk will be supporting Awek. Admission is 10euros including a free drink from the bar See ya there Tony

Hi, I am Tony, bass player & my friend Simone, lead vocalist from the disbanded group Mixed Feelings. We both live near to Champagne Mouton (16). We are looking for a guitarist to form a new group to play blues/rock style. If anyone fancies a go, even if you hav'nt played in a group before then please post to this thread or contact me using the private email link. We are not looking for a blues/rock god, just anyone with a good sense of fun & enthusiasm to develop within a group. We were both beginners when we started out last year & have found that playing with others can really bring you on musically. We are not pro's, I am an adequate but improving bass player, we just want to meet other musicians & play for fun, do a few open mike nights & a gig or two in local bars once we are up to it. So, why not give us a go. Tony & Simone

Hi, I have just heard that there will be a concert by "BURNING DUST" one of the best Rockabilly groups  in France on Friday 18th September at 9.00pm. There will be a support called "BLACKEN" a local rock band on first. Its being held at a salle des fete next to the Chateau de Javarzay on the D740 Niort Rd going out of Chef Boutonne (79), its being run by the same association that held the open air concerts. I understand that admission will be 10euros with one drink of your choice included in the price. Tony