‘John Gregory aka Blue John/The Country Blues Crusader is a busy guy with a foot in many blues doors. He is a very fine acoustic picker.’
– Blues Matters! magazine Feb/March 2024 edition
‘John Gregory is an excellent fingerstyle country blues guitar player, performer, and all-around great guy. I really enjoyed touring with him and having him open for us, it was a joy to listen to his beautiful renditions of Mississippi John Hurt, Big Bill Broonzy, and more each night. His personality shined through and he always captured the audience’s attention with his witty stage banter.’
– Erin Harpe of the Erin Harpe Country Blues Duo, Boston, USA
“John is an outstanding musician of early blues and ragtime styles”
– Mississippi John Hurt’s biographer Dr Phil Ratcliffe, author of Mississippi John Hurt: His Life, His Times, His Blues
“It’s so exhilarating to see someone from the next generation pick up the Blues mantle to keep this music alive, and John Gregory is doing a fine job of doing just that. A devout follower of the Piedmont Country Blues, John plays the style with authentic authority and I’m sure will be an inspiration to many other younger players.” – World-renowned acoustic blues guitarist and teacher Toby Walker
“I have known Blue John (John Gregory) for around ten years and in that time I have watched him develop into a very fine country blues guitarist, singer and performer. John’s relaxed performances draw the audience in and his enjoyable passionate presentation holds their attention. In addition to his performances, John has become a successful tour manager/promoter and has worked with some of the leading names in the acoustic blues world. Whenever I hear the Mississippi John Hurt song, Louis Collins (Angels Laid Him Away), no matter who is singing it, I always think of my friend, Blue John from the Isle of Man.”
Michael Messer – one of the world’s greatest slide guitar players.
“John is a deep lover of music in general and the Blues in particular. He is a very good acoustic blues guitar player. We met at Euroblues week in northern England a few years back. He also has booked gigs for me in the UK, and on the Isle of Man, where his home is found, among the Faeries that populate his Island. He has been firmly in my corner since we met and I am deeply grateful to him. Thank you!”
Grant Dermody – one of the world’s leading harmonica players
“John is one of the ‘good fellas’! Great gig, really nice picking and great stage banter. A set with Big Bill Broonzy and John Hurt tunes. What’s not to like!”
Adam Franklin – international touring blues musician
I recently had the pleasure of doing 3 shows in the Isle of Man with John Gregory aka Blue John. John draws on the piedmont style as exemplified by the likes of Blind Blake, Reverend Gary Davis, Blind Boy Fuller and Blind Willie McTell. As with all great players, John makes it seem effortless. For me a highlight of his playing was his instrumental take on Big Bill Broonzy’s ‘Hey Hey’. His love of this music is evident from the start and his great knowledge of the people who played it clearly enthralled the audience. On a personal note, I felt inspired to check out this music and aim to do one of Big Bill’s tunes in my set.
John effortlessly tackled classics such as Freight Train and John Henry and showed that his voice is the perfect compliment to his playing. He was only too happy to get the audience to sing along wherever possible. John has a big heart and this is clearly evident when he gets his guitar students to join him for a couple of songs.
Go and check him out – you definitely won’t be disappointed!!!
Howlin’ Mat – international touring blues musician
”Blue John is a solid fingerpicking guitarist deeply inspired by Mississippi John Hurt,” – Eric Noden of blues duo Joe Filisko and Eric Noden, from Chicago
”Not surprisingly Blue John gave us excellent versions of country blues guitar classics,” – Dunoon Observer (from a review of Blue John and Dr Phil opening for Ari Eisinger in Dunoon, Scotland)
”I don’t know how he makes his hands and fingers do that, that was brilliant!” – A Manx Radio presenter after John performed on the station
“A talented and entertaining performance,” – Blues Matters magazine
“There’s a man at one with his guitar….” comment from an audience member at a headline performance at the Institute, Laxey, Isle of Man on 26/6/20
“…..Thanks are also due to Blue John Gregory for his organisation of Toby Walker’ s tour and for his laid-back, self deprecating support set – a gentle prelude to the joy that was to follow.” – Lionel Ross, Blues in Britain magazine, November 2019 issue in a review of Toby Walker’s performance at the Goin’ Up The Country Blues Club, Worthenbury, North Wales
“John Gregory swept into Ramsey Grammar School on a self-created wave of positivity which took everyone who met him along with it. He introduced students and staff to his own unique concoction of music therapy and finger picking country blues guitar playing which took its inspiration from the rich musical heritage of the American Deep South. He took us all on a tour of the music of artists whose names in themselves conjure up the rich backstory of American musical and social history – Big Bill Broonzy, Mississippi John Hurt , Muddy Waters and Bob Dylan to name but a few. His way of being had a profound influence on the staff and students he worked with, making everyone feel that they could transcend the challenges of the present and discover a new range of self expression, fulfilment and joy, even a new persona, through the medium of music. It was and continues to be a pleasure and a privilege to work with him. “
Annette Baker – Former Headteacher Ramsey Grammar School, Isle of Man
Very rarely do you step into a community where every soul you interact with immediately feels as though you have known them for an enormous time and become instantaneous friends. I have already posted about the show, today it’s about my workshop organized and hosted in the home of John Gregory. John is the island’s guitar teacher, performer and organiser of countless acoustic guitar get-togethers and open mic nights. John is also the reason why I am on the Isle of Man because of his immediate interest in having me perform here. Thank you John, it’s been the best three days ever.
- Tony Cox – world-renowned fingerstyle guitarist