This month our interviewee is Otis Mack, who runs the fabulous Tubby’s Blues Club in Cheltenham, one of the essential stops on the circuit for blues bands in the UK.

Q: Hi Otis, Tubby's is well-established stop on the west country blues route now, how and when did it begin?

Tubby Blues Club was originally created to raise money for the Renal Unit of the Gloucester Royal Hospital, by Michael O' Connell, better known as Tubby.He was a patient there, and as an act of gratitude after his discharge in 2003, he decided to set up the Tubby Blues Club with the aim of buying new equipment for the Renal Unit. Subsequently following his stays in the Cheltenham General Hospital, we now raise fees for them and others. Sadly Tubby died on 23rd. February 2007, but his memory lives on in this his club.

Q: How hard has it been keeping it going through all the economic crises over those years?

We have had our ups and downs but have managed to gather a very loyal group of patrons who really appreciate and enjoy live band music. I would have to lie if I said that it wasn't a struggle at times.

Q: What/who have been some of the highlights in that time?

Tubby ran a 2 day Blues festival in 2006 with many bands and artists. Unfortunately it cost him a lot of money, so although it was a commercial failure, it proved to be a real highlight with Acts like Conny Lush and The Blues Shouters and Mike Sanchez and The Portions headlining.

Q: What traits do you think you need to run a good blues club?

A difficult question, when you find out the answer can you please let me know. We really would be better called an R&B Club because our patrons prefer foot-tapping danceable music rather than too many of 'I Woke Up this Morning and my dog died, my girlfriend left me, I jumped in the river...etc...'

The First thing to recognise is that the Show is there to entertain the patrons. Some bands fall in to the trap of trying to be too pretentious about their music and can play for themselves. It is often only other musos who are able to appreciate the technical excellence of their mastery of their instruments. It is important to pick bands who can entertain as well as be good musicians.

Most of our clientele are nearer to 60 than 20. They have disposable income and want to be able to sit down. So we offer seating reservations which has proven to be most successful. They are also a very nice 'class' of people who really appreciate music and always give the bands a warm welcome.
We try to put on 2 good bands at every Show. The support slots have provided good starters for quite a few bands who have subsequently moved up the ladder. For example Joanne Shaw Taylor and Jay Tamkin to mention just a couple.

If they can leave the Show and say 'we really enjoyed ourselves and weren't the bands good' then they will come again.

Q: Do you enjoy meeting and with the bands?

I love meeting the bands and listening to their music. As a musician myself I can appreciate the effort that can go into putting on a good Show.I love jamming with them too on the odd number, although I would never force this on the bands.

Q: Let's back track a bit. What are your roots in the blues? Where did it begin for you?

My 'roots' in the blues began in the late 60's and early 70's. We had a great local Club run by 2 London based promoters. They would bring down the bands from London such as The Graham Bond Organisation with Ginger Baker on drums and Jack Bruce on bass. Chris Farlow & The Thunderbirds, Spencer Davis Group, The Small Faces, Steam Packet with Rod Stewart and Long John Baldry etc.. etc. They were my early influences. Later I graduated to Soul music and my heroes were people like James Brown, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett to name but a few.

Q: You play mean harp, who are your heroes?

My early influences were people like Sonny Boy Williamson and Little Walter. Over the years, because I have had to use a harp through a vocal mike, [being mainly a vocalist], I have had to develop a style appropriate to that and use my tongue, breath and mouth to obtain the distortion. Most harp players will set up their mike through a valve amplifier with special tuning to get that 'old blues sound' which I love. Unfortunately the human voice sounds awful through such a set up.

Q: How did you come to book The Mustangs?

Some our patrons saw The Mustangs at The Swanage Blues Festival and came back with raving reports to me. I followed that up.

Q: What were your impressions of them?

I must say that The Mustangs are [not were] without question one of the most entertaining bands on the circuit.We are only a small operation at Tubby's with only 12 Shows a year, but I will always reserve one of those slots for The Mustangs. Adam Norsworthy is one of the most talented singer / guitar playing / songwriters in the UK. He has a great stage presence and is an excellent front man but has no attitude and is a thoroughly nice young guy. The band deserve even greater success and I am sure that will come when they spread their wings into Europe.

Q: So what are your future plans for Tubby's?

I will probably plod on keeping Tubby's going unless or until people stop coming. I think its once/month formula works and would probably be diluted if we tried to run it more often.

Q: Any bands you have yet to book that you're keen to get in?

I am always open to new bands. We have been inundated with bands who would like to play for us. I only offer the really good bands return gigs which leaves quite a few slots open to try out new outfits.I am looking forward to seeing The Night Trippers in July. They have put together a fully costumed New Orleans Mardi Gras Show. Also Tipitina who have the brilliant Justin Randall on keyboards.If the band is not that well known, we have found it helpful to give them a support slot to start with and if they are really successful we can bring them back as top of the bill.

Q: Our regular final question, what is your favourite Mustangs song?!

The live rendition of 'Nothing Stays The Same' at the Club was awesome. I would have to put that one top.

Many thanks Otis!