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International blues guitarist Big Dez has been a regular
headliner at blues clubs in Japan, Texas and Chicago including
Buddy Guy's Legends Club, House Of Blues, Rosa's Lounge, and Big
Dez continues to be a big draw at the biggest European Blues
Festivals.
Their songs focus on the dirt that life throws at you and how struggle can be transformed into something better. The prolific songwriting duo draw influences from classic sounds such as Neil Young, Muddy Waters, Fleetwood Mac and modern retro inspired acts like Alabama Shakes, Gary Clark Jr and the Black Keys. From the rock and roll circumstances of their first meeting, in a sand pit in playgroup 30 odd years ago, they have completed countless UK tours, supported bands as diverse as My Baby and Elles Bailey, been jump started by Keith Allen, played by BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 4, played their first European dates, survived 70+ festival shows at prestigious festivals like Green Man, Boom Town, Larmer Tree and Shambala and have been featured on the Spotify’s Nu-Blue and Modern Blues Rock playlists. 2021 sees a year’s hard work behind the scenes coming to fruition. A recent invite to showcase at the prestigious UK AmericanaFest, a debut album and a performance at Black Deer Festival all on the horizon. With or without live shows, True Strays are not giving up on their musical calling.
Adam first picked up a guitar aged seven but until his early teens his interest was barely smouldering as a brief foray into classical guitar failed to provide the spark of inspiration he needed. Things began to change when at thirteen he started private tuition with Adrian John Loveridge, a veteran of the 1980’s Californian music scene who had just moved back to his hometown of Lyme Regis, Dorset. Guitar lessons suddenly got a lot cooler with tales of ‘life on the road’ in a far-off land, told in an American accent and Adrian’s gold record gleaming on the wall. The breakthrough came when Adam’s new mentor took him to see blues rock band The Hamsters at Lyme’s Marine Theatre. Adam left his first ever gig with Jimi Hendrix riffs ringing in his ears and by age fifteen he was gigging regularly on the local circuit recreating the music of his newfound guitar heroes. Since those early days of playing in numerous bands he has honed his craft and found his voice, and with well over 1,500 gigs under his belt is successfully carving out a solo career. His acclaimed debut album ‘Small Town Thinking’, recorded both in Devon and Nashville, was released at the start of 2014. The album steadily gathered praise with Adam’s “timeless” gift earning him rave reviews including a full 5-star rating and ‘Album of the Month’ award in Guitar Techniques Magazine, praising the album for offering a “whole new perspective on the (blues) genre”. Adam’s 2017 follow up ‘Take Your Time’ was a stripped back acoustic offering that perfectly captured the essence of his renowned one-man shows. The 5-track EP was produced and performed solely by Adam and featured a track written with founder member of Level 42 Boon Gould. Tracks from this release featured heavily on BBC Introducing and received several accolades - “Wonderful rock, blues and roots guitar and very classy arrangements” (Album of the Week, Laurel Canyon Music). ‘Sink or Swim’ showcases a fresh take on Adam's sound that has developed from working closely with new band members Ian Jennings on bass (Jeff Beck, Robert Plant, Ronnie Wood, Mick Fleetwood) and Garry Kroll on drums (Mark Ronson, Joss Stone, Sandi Thom). Recorded with producer Josiah J Manning (Kris Barras Band) at Momentum Studios, Plymouth, the album captures the raw energy and excitement of the band whilst always serving the richly detailed songwriting. With brooding ballads and rollicking rootsy rock ‘Sink or Swim’ will see him continue to carve out his own territory between classic rock, blues and Americana. The new album has received extensive radio play spending two months in the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association Top 40 chart and was listed in the Top 3 Breakthrough Albums of 2020 by ‘Get Ready To ROCK’ and included in the Best Americana Albums of 2020 by Dutch music blogger ‘Slim Chance’.
An Alice Armstrong show promises a soulful, genre-busting performance packed with world class musicianship and wry British repartee. Her personal and provocative content is heavily infused with soul, blues, funk, rock and jazz, and is served with an enigmatic performance reminiscent of the likes of B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Janis Joplin and Tina Turner (with a touch of Maria Callas), leaving the awed audience laughing, crying and tapping their feet in equal measure.
Raised in an Essex village, he has trodden a path less travelled. From early years in Connecticut, USA, as a young child to Dubai, UAE, aged ten to fourteen, and Essex either side, with those young eyes soaked up the travels and the changes passing him by. One thing that kept with him was his burgeoning love of American roots music. "I got interested in not just the music itself but the history and everything around it," he says. "I love the directness, the simplicity and earthiness of it," he adds. "I love really how down-to-earth; it is both lyrically and musically. I think with the blues, it's fundamentally about very basic human emotions. Things like sorrow and pride and exploring the way we deal with everyday situations and problems." As a teenager, he devoured the music of Eric Clapton and Ray Charles - "Ray completely reshaped me as a person and the way I thought about music." But he also draws influence from old Delta records to soul artists like Sam Cooke, Bill Withers and the Stax sound to Jazz singers such as Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra as well as singer-songwriters; Van Morrison, Townes van Zandt, Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and contemporary artists like Ray LaMontagne, Norah Jones and Foy Vance.
Albany Down comprises founder member Paul Turley
on lead vocals and guitars, Ben Atkins on bass and backing
vocals and Pete Hancock on drums and backing vocals. Albany Down
have recorded 4 studio albums with multi award-winning producer
Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, INME, Super Furry Animals)
Their formidable second album, “Not Over Yet” released
in 2013, is full of strong songs, lingering melodies and great
musicianship. It was voted “album of the month” by the
independent Broadcasters Association and reached No 2 position
in the Radio Caroline top 40 Albums. Traditionally a band’s
second album is regarded as being problematical but Albany Down
turned that notion on its head.
Following changes in band member circumstances and the onset of
2 years of Covid/Lockdown, Albany Down have emerged as a
stronger, leaner, more efficient Band. Their new 4th Album was
recorded at “ROCKFIELD STUDIOS” during 2020/2022. The album will
be released in Q2 2023 and will be supported by a full UK Tour.
Like previous albums, the new opus builds on the concept of
songs having a “trying and failing theme and overcoming
adversity” reflecting the times we live in. With over 12,000 fans on Facebook, fans of Albany Down agree that their live show never disappoints. The band run on pure adrenalin, unrelenting energy and raw emotion and soon have any audience entranced. The music is based on Paul’s unique sound of thunderous - infectious guitar riffs, Ben and Pete’s pounding bass and drums juxtaposed with soulful, soaring, emotionally-charged ballads.
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| SOLID ENTERTAINMENTS Presents... LOOE BLUES FESTIVAL |
Dom
Martin is a Belfast born multi award winning artist who burst
onto the music scene in 2019
“A
powerful rock band steeped in the primal intimacy of the Blues”
CLASSIC ROCK
After
releasing two studio albums, and a live album in the last couple
of years, Jim Kirkpatrick has quickly become the leading
exponent of Blues and Blues/Rock in England. Superb slide
guitar, superb vocals, and with a band of musicians second to
none. Ballad Of A Prodigal Son, and Dead Man Walking are two
albums you need in your collection. Jim Kirkpatrick is the UK
equivalent of Joe Bonamassa, start looking over your shoulder
Joe.
BIG DEZ
True
Strays are lifelong friends, songwriters and country boys –
Joseph James and James Cameron – from Bristol, England who are
fast carving out a niche of their own in the UK Americana scene.
Their music is a cathartic celebration of alternative roots
americana and blues rock.
Connor is one of the brightest talents on the UK blues scene. He
has been voted "Young Artist of the Year" at the UK Blues Awards
for the last three consecutive years (2020, 2021, 2022). He has
an impressive venue checklist, including Wembley Stadium, where
he opened for The Who in July 2019 and has since gone on to play
Hyde Park, London, on a bill with Pearl Jam, Stereophonics and
Johnny Marr in the summer of 2022.
Bristol-based
Blues that will have you foot stomping and boogie woogie dancing
all night long. The harmonica playing of Eduardo Allen is
something to be treasured. A brilliant set is always on offer.
Bedford-based
Albany Down are a contemporary rock band with influences ranging
from classic acts like Hendrix and Led Zeppelin to more modern
bands such as Thunder. They combine a diapason of original songs
with contemporary high energy rock.
Blues
rock runs in the veins of these guys, five established musicians
who burst onto the national blues scene in 2023, opening the
main stage at Upton Blues Festival. There first recording,
Eclectic Blues caught the attention of Pink Floyd drummer Nick
Mason who commented “In a music landscape packed with bands all
too often working the classics, it’s great to hear a band
delivering strong original material, how good it is to revisit
the original values of playing with freedom, minimal production
and maximum impact. High praise indeed, and as the bands blend
of dynamic guitar led blues and high energy vocals have
developed then so has the chance to gain more national exposure
with Support slots for Brave Rival, Buxton Blues festival and
Colne Blues Festival just a few of the planned gigs for this
year, as well as a slot on the introducing stage at the UK
Blues, Rhythm & Blues Festival in Blackpool in early 2025. A
live EP and second album are planned, so drop by, have a listen
and say hello. “Have Blues will Travel”