There’s good rockin’ on Friday nights!

HAVE you heard the news, there’s good rockin’ tonight… I’m going to love my baby just the best that I can, tonight I’ll prove that I’m a mighty, mighty man…

Slap-bap-a-bop back beat, lurching walking bass, acid-sharp guitar break, urgent vocals delivered as if someone’s life depended on it… hey, how can you resist? How could ANYONE resist? I know I can’t.

Good Rockin’ Tonight. So sang not just the song’s creator, 1950s jump-jive star Wynonie Harris, but also a whole host of other rhythm and blues artists, up to and including a certain chap by the name of Elvis Aaron Presley.

Well, most - if not all - of those trailblazers may sadly no longer be with us, but the musical legacy they left is certainly still alive and kicking.

Oh yes, there’s going to be a lot more good rockin’ - every Friday night - for the foreseeable future. And that’s because a famous blues club is launching a free night of live music at a Black Country indoor market every Friday to help support the local night-time economy.

Henry’s Blueshouse will be running the weekly gigs at West Bromwich Indoor Market starting on Friday, January 16, with Rich Dickinson’s Driving Force lined up for the official launch.

The live music will play from seven until 10pm and stallholders will stay open until 9pm to offer tasty street food, cocktails and other drinks to make sure the audience don’t go hungry or thirsty.

The roots of Henry’s Blueshouse stretch back to 1968 when Jim Simpson of Big Bear Music opened it at The Crown pub, Station Street, Birmingham city centre.

The legendary venue’s most famous early featured band was Earth, whose members the late Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Edwards and Bill Ward went on to form Black Sabbath, initially managed by Mr Simpson.

The club, which also once featured the likes of Jethro Tull, Status Quo, and Thin Lizzy, already runs live gigs every Tuesday at Snobs Bar on Broad Street, Birmingham.

Mr Simpson said: “We’re thrilled to be extending Henry’s to the Black Country and look forward to seeing music fans join us every Friday.

“A big thanks to Sandwell Council for forming this new partnership with us to bring regular live blues to West Bromwich High Street.

“We already have a great line-up of bands for January and February and will soon have bookings stretching into the spring and beyond.”

Councillor Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for Regeneration and Infrastructure, said: “We were really proud to open the new West Bromwich Indoor Market in 2025 and to welcome many thousands of visitors eager to discover the fantastic range of stalls and items on offer.

“Supporting businesses big and small is a key part of this, and we’re excited to have these music events with Henry’s Blueshouse coming soon on Friday evenings, to entertain visitors and create a wonderful, inviting atmosphere for everyone.”

Henry’s Blueshouse will run at West Bromwich Indoor Market from seven to 10pm every Friday, with live blues, street food and drinks available. The bands appearing in January and February are:

January 16: Rich Dickinson's Driving Force; January 23: Jamie Thyer & The Worried Men; January 30: Slide Boy Roy; February 6: The Shufflepack; February 13: Honeyboy Hickling Blues Band; February 20: The Shakedown Brothers; February 27: Chickenbone Blues Band.

The first band on January 16 is led by Rich Dickinson, who has a long pedigree on the blues scene and has toured with many big names including Blackfoot, Frank Marino’s Mahogany Rush and Skinny Molly.

Rich also helped launch the Hendrix Signature series Marshall amp, based on the rock legend’s original that he owned.

So, HAVE you heard the news? There’s good rockin’ on Friday nights!

For full listings of Henry’s Blueshouse gigs, and to sign up to a weekly Henry’s Bluesletter, visit www.bigbearmusic.com/hbhouse/