SUTTON BLUES COLLECTIVE  Station Pub, Sutton Coldfield – Clive Sheard
Rag Mama Rag  put on a superlative performance at The Sutton Blues Collective this Wednesday.  They were exactly the right sort of act for the ambience of this club.  A complex combination of traditional country blues. Both halves of the set were a seemingly endless stream of songs accompanied by Ashley’s fast and driving guitar playing backed by Deborah playing at different times on washboard, harmonica, spoons and an African drum, occasionally providing backup vocals.  There was even a couple of numbers played on the ukulele to provide light relief from the more intense sons.  Rag Mama Rag is definitely an act not to be missed.

Bluesnight at The Dorchester Arts Centre – Blues in Britain – Lewis A Harris
It was with great pleasure that Rag Mama Rag were welcomed for their second visit to Bluesnights. The duo  set out to show us what they are about and it is top quality musicianship!  Their sets ranged from slower melodies to fast paced rocking blues, throwing in some superb finger picking for good measure ; talk about jumping in your seats.A wonderful evening, with each set packed full of numbers, amiably  presented by an unassuming yet multi-talented couple who did not leave anybody disappointed. There is absolutely no doubt about their calibre! A must see!.

THE 5TH BEER R&B FESTIVAL – Beer, East Devon – Riley B James
Ashley’s multi-guitared prowess, great vocals and Debbie’s harp, vocals and amazing array of things to hit and scrape and tap produce wonderfully atmospheric renditions of old  songs of various styles.  Outstanding  to me, “Take Me Up To The Church” (I believe) was so raw and intimate, I saw people visibly moved.  There was lots of fun too and I noticed a very particular attention to sound settings for each song. If you get a chance do see them do

The Chicago music Network – Trevor Knightsmith.
One word that was on everyone’s lips after their set was “Brilliant!”  It is a long time since I saw such an entertaining act as RAG MAMA RAG, they really are worth catching. I would urge you to go and see them, you will not be disappointed. Owner of the club, Bowden commented “These really are a cut above the rest, they are welcome back any time”

Blueprint magazine live concert review – The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen – Frank McFranklin & Gerrit McRenker
Debbie’s mournful slow harmonica was particularly appropriate on “In The Pines”, a country-folk blues covered by countless artists including Dolly Parton and Nirvana.  Ashley’s original song “Lazy Good For Nothing Dude” with its New Orleans half time feel featured Debbie with her own clean style of short harmonica breaks.  “Rally Round The Flag” (Root) an inspiring pre-blues Unionist title from the American Civil War was followed by the original gathering-speed Cajun tune “Stealing Away”, both being instrumentals featuring Ashley’s Weissenborn.  Josh White’s excellent “One Meatball” had Debbie joining Ashley with backing vocals.  On the moonshine inspired instrumental “Applejack Rag” Ashley played ukulele (he warns us that a revival is in the offing) and Debbie took up the spoons for this lively title.  This midday session closed with another gathering-speed instrumental “Boogie Woogie Dance” ending sixty-two minutes of fine material choices, an acoustic treat.

15th Banbury Blues Festival – The Mill Arts Centre –Blues in Britain – Tim Porter
We got off to a flying start with Rag Mama Rag.  Out came the solid steel guitar and straight into “Wing and a Prayer”.  The set contained a mixture of their own compositions and songs by the likes of Hank Williams, Mississippi Fred McDowell and Tampa Red.  In fact Tampa Red’s “Boogie Woogie Dance” had the audience in riotous applause.  Ashley also played an acoustic guitar and a lap guitar, where we were treated to some great slide work. Debbie was a blur of flying fingers and thumbs on washboard, drums and assorted percussion, not to mention harmonica playing. It all went to “rags” at the end with Blind Boy Fuller’s “Rag Time” and, for an encore, “Jitterbug Rag” to tumultuous applause.

BBC RADIO 2 Thursday 14th October 2003 8:00  PAUL JONES
The classic blues show,  Feathering Ashley and Deborah Dow -  better known as RAG MAMA RAG - in the studio for a chat and a couple of songs from their new album.

 
BBC RADIO 2   Thursday 11 January 2001 8:00  PAUL JONES
The classic blues show, featuring Ashley & Deborah Dow-better known as Rag Mama Rag-in the  studio for a chat & a couple of songs from  their new album STRUTTIN` & STROLLIN’

Our Festivals from the past :

Festival de la guitare, Issoudun, France 2009
Festival Rootsway Roots n` Blues, Italy 2009
Festival Sighisoara Blues, Romania 2009
Festival Settembrinu di Tavagna, Corsica 2009
Festival Blues d`Avoine, Avoine, France 2009
Festival Gard au Jazz, Redessan, France 2009
Festival Blues Kwadendamme, Kwadendamme, Holland
Festival Blues Alive, Cuijk, Holland 2009
Festival Blues en V.O. St Gratien 2008
Festival Blues Belle Isle en Terre 2008
Festival Guinguette The Blues, Preuilly en Berry 2008
Jazz a Ussel, Ussel 2008
Festival Crazy Country,Villeneuve de la Raho 2008
Festival Western Road, Casteljaloux 2008
Banbury Blues Festival – Banbury, UK 2007
Festival Blues, Lax in Blues – Lax  2007
Fete du vin de Cahors – Albas 2007
Bay Car Blues Festival – Dunkerque 2006/2007
Festival Country – Villeneuve de la Raho 2006
La Pamparina Festival de Musiques de Rue – Thiers 2006
Cahors Blues Festival – Cahors 2006
Festival Country – Gramat 2006
Festival Sud Country Rock – Junas 2006
Festival Blues and Roots – Varenwinkel, Belgique 2006
Music Box Festival Paris – Poissy 2006                                     
Banbury Blues Festival – Banbury, Angleterre 2005
Fete du Vin de Cahors – Albas 2005
Tradifolk Festival – Lunery 2005 
Festival Blues – Jarnious 2005 
Village Sessions – Charente 2005 
Cahors Blues Festival – Cahors 2005 
Guitar est dans le Pre – Rieus Volvestre 2005 
Festival Love Blues – Sem 2005 
Sud Country Rock Festival – Junas 2005 
Festival Les Gaeilles de Bondes – Macau en Medoc 2005 
Les Nocturnes de Vendredi – Thonon les Bains 2005
Sancy Snow Jazz-Le Mont Dore 2004
La Tournuit des Grands Duc-Belgique 2004 
Festival Country-Brettes 2004 
Les Nocturnes du Vendredi-Thonon les Baines 2004 
Blues en Loire-La Charite/L 2004 
Ete a Bourges-Bourges 2004 
Festival International Blues Vallee-Saint Amans Soult 2004 
Franch Country Festival-Trevillers 2004 
1éré partie – Sharrie Williams – Douzy 2004
1éré partie – Benoit Blue Boy – St Gratien 2004 (Blues en V.O.)
1éré partie – Bernard Allison – Soisy sous Montmorecy 2004 (Blues en V.O.)
Le Bon Air Est Dans Les Caves – Albas 2003
Festival Re`al Croche-Realmont 2003
Coupe des Confederations-St Etienne 2003
Festival Country Roque-La Roque D`Antheron 2003
Festival Presqu`ile in Blues-Le Pouliguen 2003
Festival Jazz a Toute Heure-St Rémy lés Chevreuse 2002
Les Années Joué,5e festival des arts dans la rue, Joué les Tours 2002
Festival de Blues-Le Creusot 2002                                                                   
Villages Sessions- Charente 2002
Les Jeux Dits de l`ete-Meribel 2002
Festival de Théatre de rue, Les fondus du macadam-Thonon les Bains 2002
Les Rencontres du Blues-Les Sables d�Olonne 2002
Les Nuits du Blues-Fresseline 2002
Festival Blues-Pornic 2002
Festival Jazz et Blues d’Ozoir- Ozoir la Ferriere 2002
Les Nuits Tartares-Thonon 2001
Festival de Vivonne 2001
Cahor Blues festival 2001
Souillac Festival du Jazz 2001
Festival Blues Sur Seine-Mantes la Jolie 2001
Festival Blues-Salaise 2000
Festival Jazz en Villeneuvois-Villeneuve sur Lot 2000
Festival National de Blues-Le Creusot 2000
Festival Jazz en Artois-Arras 1999
Festival Blues Passions-Cognac 1999
Festival Le Blues Autour du Zinc-Beauvais 1999
Festival de la B.D. et Disc 1999
Festival Acoustic Blues-Tours 1999
Festival Apéro` Zique- Bécherel 1999
Festival Franch Country-Trevillers 1998,1999
Festival Herbiester-Jalhay 1998
Festival Veyracomusies-Veyrac 1998
Cahor Blues festival 1998
Les Nuits du Blues-Fresselines-Creuse 1998
Festival National de Blues-Le Creusot 1998
Convention Nationale de la Guitare-Issoudun 1996
Festival Jazz Action-Mayenne 1997
Festival-Viols en Laval 1997
Festival de Country -Craponne Sur Arzon 1995