Mick McConnell Talks Blue Thunder, 2025 UK Tour And More
Blues-rock guitarist Mick McConnell is pleased to announce that Mick McConnell & Blue Thunder will be embarking on an eleven-date UK Tour starting on 3rd January 2025 at Blues Bar in Harrogate and wrapping up with a headline set at the famous 100 Club in London on Tuesday 11th February 2025. He took time out of his busy schedule to chat to JLTT:
You launched Mick McConnell and Blue Thunder in 2023. Who is in Blue Thunder, what do they play and how did you meet?
Yes, I started rehearsing with the guys in 2023. Lincoln my Bass player responded to an ad, I put on Facebook and then he suggested, we get Bob on drums, Atom on ketboards and eventually we added Donna on backing vocals.
When did you begin songwriting?
I’d always had a go at songwriting years ago. However, In terms of serious songwriting, it would have been the time I joined Smokie back in 1996. It was a challenging time because we were making albums, that needed to be commercial enough to get airplay.
What is your earliest musical memory?
My brother had a great record collection. So I started listening to the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Jeff Beck and guitar bands like Wishbone Ash and Thin Lizzy. I also remember buying a Donny Osmond single once!
Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the last Mick McConnell and Blue Thunder live dates?
When we play a new song, I’m always turning round to the band and asking them, “How does it go again” and it’s a song that I wrote!
In addition, you will be touring the UK in January and February 2025. Do you have any venues/locations on the tour that hold any personal significance to you?
In all honesty, every venue has a personal significance. I have a great deal of pride that we’re doing some really good venues. They have booked Mick McConnell & Blue Thunder, so I am genuinely grateful and I will give 100% effort. I’m looking forward to the 100 Club in London, it’s such an iconic venue.
Do you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for your music?
In recent times, I’ve become a fan of the Fender Telecaster, so that features a lot when we play live. I also like old valve amps, but I like the new technology that works well with the old stuff.
Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?
Maybe “Spell On Me” from Under My Skin album covers all of these?
What two pieces of advice do you have for a novice songwriter?
Write what you feel! You have the artistic licence to write what you like! Just remember, try and allow the listener to understand what the song is about. Don’t be scared come back to the song and change things, if you feel that improvement can be made?
Given your intense schedule with your touring with the band Smokie, songwriting and more how do you find the time to do Mick McConnell and Blue Thunder projects and live dates?
Smokie work is booked two years in advance, so I always know when and where I’ll be touring with them in advance. In the spaces where Smokie take time out ….. Cue Mick McConnell & “Blue Thunder” gigs
What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?
I need to feel I gave 100% effort, no matter how good or bad that the gig was? I also hope that the audience go away knowing, I tried my best to entertain them and made them part of my concert.
Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
I have a couple of Fender “Custom Shop” guitars that I absolutely love playing. A 52’ Telecaster and a 63’ Stratocaster. I also use a black Les Paul, that my dad bought me when I was 18, but it’s very sentimental, so I only tend to take it on local gigs.
Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
I live in a tiny village between Wakefield and Huddersfield, I can describe it in one word … Idyllic!
How do you look after your voice?
I damaged my voicebox many years ago, hence my very gravelly voice. I don’t look after it with any exercises as such, but I have a few rules. I never drink alcohol on tour, I always get plenty of rest whenever I can and I take plenty of vitamins etc, especially in the winter months.
Do you have any future music releases planned for 2025?
Yes, It’s time to bring some new music out, and I also want to deliver a new live album. We play well together and we are well rehearsed. We have fun onstage, so I hope we can catch that in a recording of one of our live shows.
You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
My favourite writer is John Grisham, maybe I could throw some heavy wammy bar guitar stuff at one of his 80’s court room dramas?
Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?
My favourite guitarist is Steve Lukather of Toto, but it’s some of the early Blues guys such as Peter Green and Jeff Beck that captured my imagination all those years ago when I was listening to my Brothers’ record collection.
What makes Mick McConnell happy and what makes you unhappy?
I’ve had a good card dealt in life and my health is good, at the moment (touch wood) I have the most amazing job and a lifestyle that I could have only dreamed about as a youngster. So I like to think that I am always happy. I do have unhappy moments, usually at 10 minutes to five on a Saturday afternoon, when my beloved Leeds United get beat!
Feature Image Credit: Supplied By Artist
Mick McConnell & Blue Thunder will tour the UK in January/February 2025.
Tickets are onsale and available now direct from the venues.
The 2025 UK Tour will visit the following locations:
Friday 3rd January 2025 – Blues Bar, 4 Montpellier Parade, Harrogate, HG1 2TJ
Time: 9PM Start
Free Entry Venue Website: https://www.bluesbar.co.uk/
Friday 10th January 2025 – Darlington Blues Club, The Forum, Borough Road, Darlington, DL1 1SG
Time: Doors from 7.30pm
Ticket Price: £14.00 ADV Ticket Link: https://theforumonline.co.uk/events/rnb-club-mick-mcconnell-blue-thunder/
Venue Website: https://theforumonline.co.uk/
Sunday 19th January 2025 – Duck & Drake, 43 Kirkgate, Leeds, LS2 7DR
Time: 6.00pm Start
Free Entry Venue Website: http://duckndrake.co.uk/
Thursday 23rd January 2025 – The Robin Presents House Of Blues, The Robin 2, 20, 28 Mount Pleasant, Wolverhampton, Bilston WV14 7LJ
Time: 7.30pm Ticket Link: https://therobin.co.uk/js_events/blue-thunder-blues-showcase/
Venue Website: https://therobin.co.uk/
Friday 24th January 2025 – Blues At The Bay, 718 Yarm Road, Stockton On Tees, TS16 0JE
Time: Doors from 7.30pm
Ticket Price: £10.00 on the door
Event Link: https://www.bluesatthebay.co.uk/events/mick-mcconnell-blue-thunder
Venue Website: https://www.bluesatthebay.co.uk/
Sunday 26th January 2025 – Blues and Booze Fest, Venue 23, Wakefield, WF1 1ED
Time: Doors 1.30pm
Ticket Price: £10.00
Ticket Link: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/wakefield/venue23/booze-and-blues/e-ylrelv
Venue Website: https://www.venue23.co.uk/
Thursday 30th January 2025 – Bootleggers, 13 Marketplace, Kendal, (Cumbria), LA9 4TP
Venue Website: https://www.bootleggerskendal.co.uk/
Friday 31st January 2025 – Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre, 18-22 Rainhall Rd, Barnoldswick, BB18 5AF
Ticket Price: £25.00 Each plus booking fee
Ticket Link: https://www.barnoldswickmusicandartscentre.com/mick-mcconnell-and-paul-rose
Venue Website: https://www.barnoldswickmusicandartscentre.com/
Thursday 6th February 2025 – Tapestry Arts, 9 Factory Street, Bradford, BD4 9NW
Time: Doors at 7.30pm
Ticket Price: £10.00 each plus fees
Ticket Link: https://tapestryarts.co.uk/event/mick-mcconnell-and-blue-thunder-guitarist-with-the-legendary-bradford-band-smokie-2/
Venue Website: https://tapestryarts.co.uk/
Friday 7th February 2025 – Borders Blues Club, 2 Leithen Cres, Innerleithen, Edinburgh, EH44 6JL
Venue Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BordersBluesClub/?locale=en_GB
Tuesday 11th February 2025 – Solid Entertainments Presents, 100 Club, 100 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1LL
Time: Doors at 7.00pm Ticket Link: https://www.solidentertainments.com/presents.htm#MICK-LONDON
For more information visit Mick McConnell’s official website here: https://www.mickmcconnell.com/news-blog
