Mike Darling profile picture

Mike Darling

About Me

Mike is a bass player and occasional blues guitarist from the north east of England UK. Mike's insatiable appetite for music especially the blues sees him regularly appearing live with various bands on the local music scene and sometimes elsewhere around the UK. He also features on several albums and occasionally turns up at jam sessions mostly in the north east but he has also appeared at the State Bar in Glasgow at their regular Tuesday night blues session.
From humble beginnings playing with his first band at a local Village Hall in 1982 he has gone on to play with many bands over the years including popular north east band Spank The Plank in the early 1990's. More recent years have seen him appearing with Blues Unlimited and a two year period relentlessly gigging the north east and north west of England with the band Blueshounds. The Blueshounds played at some of the north’s top blues venues including The Studio in Hartlepool and the Appleby Blues Festival.
In early 2008 Mike released a CD of original material called "Los Dos Gringos" recorded with South Shields based singer Fred Badger (formerly with Tightrope , TT Blue). Mike is currently working on a new album of instrumental material with former Blueshounds pianist Paul Carroll and guitarist Dave Brooks to be available in early 2009. The project entitled "Air Cooled" also features top local session drummer Mike Dixon.
In June 2008 Mike played two shows at the Limavady Jazz and Blues Festival in Northern Ireland with the band Black River Blues. Since then has appeared on the north east pub circuit with the Jimi Hendrix tribute band "Sundance" and also with the six piece blues band "Raw Spirit".
If you are a musician or a band and need a bass player for any live work , recording or other music projects then Mike could be your man. He is always looking for new and interesting projects , not necessarily just blues as he is also into rock , punk , latin and many other styles. If you are in the market for a top class experienced bassist then drop him an email at [email protected] . Mike will reply to all emails received.


Discography


My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 24/11/2006
Band Members:
Influences:

Live Videos

&nbspBlack River Blues at Limavady Festival June 2008 Limavady Jazz and Blues Festival Northern Ireland on 13th June 2008.
Check out my bass solo at 2mins 45secs.

Sundance at The Office in South Shields UK October 2008

Sundance at the Douglas Vaults in South Shields UK July 2008

Blueshounds at The Fletcher Christian, Cockermouth UK March 2007 ..
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"The Crush of Love" at The Office, South Shields UK July 2005 ..
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"Pride and Joy"(Acoustic) at The Dolly Peel, South Shields UK October 2006 ..
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Blueshounds at the Appleby Blues Festival UK September 2007 ..

Mike's old band's website , now split up but still online


Sounds Like: 21st Century Blues/p
Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

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