Big Joe Louis - who has twice won the award for best male vocalist in the British Blues awards is to make his Southend debut on April 20 at the Maritime Rooms, in the depths of the Cliffs Pavilion.

Supported by his band the Blues Kings he will be hosting a fully staged live show with support band, local lad Steve Hooker and his All Stars.

Jamaican born Big Joe formed his band 18 years ago, and has carved a solid reputation for the authenticity of his playing, releasing a series of CDs along the way for respected blues labels Blue Horizon and Ace.

Doors open at 7.30pm, tickets are £10 on the door, and there is a late licence. Meanwhile Steve Hooker will also play Chinnery's on April 21 from 1pm to 4pm when the Southend Shakedown occurs. Expect hoards of rocking bikers to come down from London on the day.

Nutonic have been impressing the rock and nu-metal scene and will prove the point at Chinnery's on Southend seafront on April 16.

Originally formed in 1996 the four piece from the small town of Llanddulas, North Wales, quickly gained a reputation in the surrounding areas as a solid group of musicians meant for bigger things than Colwyn Bay Working Men's Club.

Tickets are £4 in advance and the doors open at 8pm. www.nutonic.com

There is an impressive Riga Music Bar line-up over the next few months. Blues, rock, Tex-Mex, cover bands, tribute bands, punk, metal, funk and soul.

First up is Thursday April 10 when Love Gun DeLuxe play a tribute to Joe Strummer and the Clash. Doors open at 8.30pm and tickets are £5.

The following night, Friday, April 11 is the rocking rhythm and blues from Business with Aftermath as support.

Aftermath has come out of the fantastic Receeders, and is made up of Chris Taylor on guitar, Paul Thomas on vocals and harmonica, Stuart Viney on drums, with Mark Elliot on bass. They launched themselves at the Bar Victoria Court last month to great acclaim and describe themselves as "like the Receeders, but with a much harsher edge". Tickets are £6.

The following night April 12 you can catch the wild Glambusters with Tony Hill's Fiction in support, so dig out the wacky-shiny gear, platform boots and stardust. Tickets £6

Then next Wednesday April 16 a return of Gwyn Ashton and his Australian blues. Rated by the legendary Johnny Winter as "a true bluesman." Tickets £5.

Rockin' Texas-style blues outfit The Rockin' Armadillos have enjoyed a fair bit of national attention recently, with a session on BBC Radio 2's top-rated Paul Jones Rhythm and Blues Show and a picture feature in a national newspaper.

The band make a rare afternoon appearance at Blues on the Farm, down at Barleylands Depot, Barleylands Road, Billericay on Saturday April 12.

The Barleylands session runs from 2pm to 4pm and admission is £4. Call Roy Hands on 01268 570462 for more details, or visit www.bluesatthefortune.co.uk or www.rockinarmadillos.com

Finally, Chris Anderson from Hockley, is forming a rock band and wants musicians - particularly a guitarist, bass guitarist and drummer. All enquiries to Chris on 01268 745824.

Published Tuesday April 8, 2003