The Fred Bloggs Band are a former dance and original song band formed in Bristol that was active from 1974 to 2020. Their vinyl EP, Seaside, was released with Firebrand Records in 1978.[1]
Bass player Paul Anstey, drummer Alan Edwards, guitarist Martin Norie and keyboardist Steve Bloggs examining their Ford Transit van's engine in Germany, summer 1976.
Original members of the band were Bristol University graduates Steve Brown, who later changed his name by Deed Poll to Steve Bloggs, on guitar, vocals and keyboards, and Barbara (Bobbi) Keith on guitar, percussion and vocals. Barbara, originally from London played open mics at the Bristol Troubadour Club, where she became friendly with popular Bristol folk singer and entertainer Fred Wedlock. Fred got the band a spot on HTV, after which they were contacted by veteran musician Jack Fallon of the Cana Entertainment Agency, organizing several tours of US military bases in Germany and Spain They also visited Norway and played the Working Mens Club circuit in Somerset UK.[2] At this time, the other band members were John Howe on bass, Geraint (Taffy) Jenkins on drums and Pete Dean on saxophone, although their publicity photo for the time shows their friend John Boucher standing in for a flexible fifth member, because he was the only person they knew who owned a suit.[3]
Seaside EP
The "C" side of the Fred Bloggs Band 1978 EP, containing the tracks Mr. Sun and Seaside
In 1978 the band recorded their EP Seaside at Mushroom Studios in Clifton, Bristol, published with owner Dennis Mann's company Firebrand Records. The last track, The Tribe, features Stan Thewliss from Skywhale on flute, and was also recently published by Forager Records in Los Angeles in 2023, on their compilation album Child Of Nature. [4] The EP was originally engineered by Skywhale's drummer, Mick Avory. The vinyl EP was unique because instead of having an A and B side, the songs Mr. Sun and Seaside are on the "C" side, while the songs Moonrock and The Tribe are on the "D" side. The band sold the EPs at their gigs.
Singer Bobbi Keith
In the summer of 1978 Barbara joined forces with Skywhale flautist Stan Thewlis, guitarist Martin Norie, jazz bassist Paul Anstey and drummer Tony Orrell (both of whom joined with pianist Tim Richards and saxophonist Paul Dunmall later that year to form the jazz band Spirit Level, active 1979-1990 [5]) to form her own group named The Gladys Bloggs Band, performing at the Ashton Court Festival. One of Bobbi's songs, "Soldier" from the a reel to reel recording of the rehearsal to that gig is included on Bobbi's third CD Time Flies.[6]
Barbara then teamed up with bass player Ruth King, guitarist John Sweet and drummer Trevor Ceilings, returning to Rota Naval Station in 1979, playing mainly at the Officer's Club, where they were recorded by a team from the USS Tullibee. Bobbi's song Love In A Balance (Live) is included on her fourth CD, Horizon.[7]
Barbara moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s recording five CDs of mostly original songs[8] on her home studio - a Roland Corporation VS1880 while raising a family with her husband and working part time as a substitute teacher. She changed her professional name to Bobbi Keith to avoid confusion with the American singer Barbara Keith. Her song Give Me Time, from her third album, Time Flies, was published by Barely Breaking Even in 2025, on the album, Folk Funk and Trippy Troubadours, Volume 3.[9]
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