Paul Jones & Dave Kelly SOLD OUT
Saturday January 9 8pm £17/19otd
The return of Britain’s best blues duo: a show not to be missed. These long standing co-vocalists with The Blues Band get a big buzz out of taking things down a level, simplifying the music a little, and plying their trade as a duo, thus imbuing their very own personal and individual approaches to a dynamic, rootsy and exhilarating set of Country Blues. Venues large and small have been hushed and then enraptured by the sense of ‘old times’ in the Mississippi Delta.
Paul’s career is well charted …. heart-throb singer with Manfred Mann in the '60s, solo hits, songwriting, film and theatre success … a thrillingly varied and successful career. Apart from his live work with The Blues Band and The Manfreds, he is also currently well known and respected for his work as a DJ, presenting BBC Radio 2’s Rhythm and Blues show and his Jazz FM programmes.
Paul’s feeling for his music and masterfully soulful harmonica playing has kept him at the top of his field in session work …. with countless performances recorded for TV/cinema soundtracks and radio publicity campaigns. He’s been voted top male vocalist by The British Blues Connection and in 1994 was presented with a special award for ‘services to the blues’. In 2001 Paul was the guest of honour on This Is Your Life – an opportunity to recall and celebrate his many successful years in the entertainment industry.
Dave followed his very talented sister, Jo Ann Kelly, into the world of professional music in 1966 …. they’d previously been regular winners of every talent contest they could get their names down for - on their annual Warners Summer Holiday Camps, playing Everly Brothers hits and early Rock ‘n’ Roll. London’s frenetically hip, yet cool, culture at that time made it seem natural that Dave’s path would cross with those of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Son House, Buddy Guy …. to name a few. Sometimes the meetings were casual but ultimately Dave has played with all of them and toured with Wolf and Hooker.
Over the years he’s achieved many accolades for his guitar work and vocals. He was voted Acoustic Artist of the Year in 1992, '94, '96, '97 and '98 by the British Blues Connection. Dave’s performances can get you rocking, or dreaming, and can even hit the tear ducts! He performs it – you feel it.
http://www.gtamusic.co.uk/paul_jones_&_dave_kelly.htm
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Tom Russell
Friday January 22 8pm £12/14otd
Tom Russell has recorded 25 records and one DVD. His songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Doug Sahm, Nancy Griffith, Joe Ely, Iris Dement, Ian Tyson, KD Lang, Suzy Bogguss, Ramblin´ Jack Elliott, Jeff Walker, Dave Van Ronk and other great artists.
‘Tom Russell is an original, a brilliant songwriter with a restless curiosity and an almost violent imagination.’ Annie Prouxl (The Shipping News, Brokeback Mountain)
’Tom Russell is the last great American voice. For decades, he has been writing/performing and enriching us with mini works of pure art that make the other so called realists seem TR-lite. With Blood and Candle Smoke he has produced his masterpiece…if Guadalupe doesn't make you want to weep, you're better off with Britney and other nonsense. Every song on this pure gold album is a rare and rarer treasure.’ Ken Bruen (The Dramatist, The Cross etc.)
He has also published three books: a detective novel (in Scandinavia), a compendium of songwriting quotes with Sylvia Tyson (And Then I Wrote - Arsenal Press), and a book of letters with Charles Bukowski: (Tough Company: Mystery Island Press) and is also an established painter.
www. tomrussell .com
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The Wiyos
Saturday February 6 8pm £12/14otd
The Wiyos seem truly unique in what they do, creating original yet vintage-sounding country blues, swing, jugband, hillbilly and ragtime tunes and then adding the visual element of a vaudeville-style stage show. They are a band that, in a lot of ways, seems to set the bar in terms of authenticity and pure chops. In their original songs, The Wiyos have proven their aptitude not only in writing old timey-sounding tunes, but in writing them across various strains of roots music, a blend of all their myriad influences which comes across as decidedly current.”
The Wiyos’ first recording project was an exploration of the new songwriting collaboration between Michael Farkas and Parrish Ellis. They enlisted the help of Joe Dejarnette as recording engineer and producer and soon he was also
busy fulfilling the upright bass duties. The trio experimented in the studio with multi-tracked instrumental layers and manipulating acoustic tonalities, with occasional use of unusual items (a comb, megaphone, ceramic cup) to produce
unique sonic effects. This eclectic debut album, entitled Porcupine, made sense for a group of music geeks (two being music school dropouts) with omnivorous and expansive musical tastes ranging from early jazz to hip-hop, country blues to classic rock, New Orleans brass bands to Appalachian stringbands, The Beatles to Beck and Tom Waits.
Human beat boxer Adam Matta will be on tour with them.
www.thewiyos.com
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Burden of Paradise
Sunday February 7 8pm £13/15otd
Legendary sax man Snake Davis (M People, Lisa Stansfield, “Million Love Songs”) is involved in a new project, teaming up with world class singer Helen Watson. Audiences are spellbound with Helen’s amazing unique and distinctive voice.
The two first worked together many years ago. Snake played on Helen’s Blue Slipper album, which also featured Albert Lee and members of Little Feat. They made various TV appearances together and toured Europe opening up for Joe Cocker.
This acoustic project includes Dave Bowie and guitarist Mark Creswell from The Suspicions, Dave playing double bass. Snake Dave and Mark met at Leeds College of Music, many years ago and formed infamous soul band The Alligator Shoes.
The group is touring through 2010, playing an eclectic mix of material from sources as diverse as Bob Dylan, The Loving Spoonful, Paul Simon and Billie Holiday!
Jazz, soul and folk influences, but a completely unique sound. Great songs, poignancy, passion and a lot of fun.
Fans described Burden of Paradise in these terms.. “Beautiful” “excellence” “utter brilliance” “sublime”
www.myspace.com/theburdenofparadise
www.snakedavis.com
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Keith James & Rick Foot
Friday February 12 8pm £12/14otd
For the past 40 years the ingrained body of music and somewhat tempestuous life of John Martyn OBE has been ever present in all of us who have appreciated the work of acoustic singer songwriters.
It is not surprising that a significant amount of Keith & Rick's audience, John Martyn's audience and music venues across the UK gave voice to the possibility of Keith & Rick performing concerts of his most beloved music in its original format: that of voice, guitar and double bass.
The focus of the concert will be on the central integrity of the songs in their pure form on acoustic instruments only. Also included will be music by Davy Graham, Sandy Denny, and Nick Drake.
Rick Foot is one of the best double bass players performing today accompanying Keith James on guitar and vocals.
‘Some of the most atmospheric and emotive music you will ever hear.’ The Independent
‘A performance that is hypnotic and compelling’ Muse magazine
www. keithjamesandrickfoot .com
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Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers
Saturday February 27 8pm £10/12otd
Arizona 's finest bringing heat to the British Winter in February.
The sound of Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers owes as much to the punky, power-pop of the late-seventies as it does to the traditional American rock influences of Tom Petty and Springsteen. Like other South-West cult icons Alejandro Escovedo and Joe Ely, RCPM are unafraid to cross boundaries with their music, and will mix tales of banditos from somewhere-down-Mexico-way with subtle observations of the human condition amongst tequila-slugging good-time anthems. All this set against a backdrop of riff-rich driving guitar, and melodic, memorable choruses, while unmistakable tones of Mariachi and Spanish phrasing drift in and out of the proceedings.
Fronted by Roger Clyne with drummer P.H. Naffah, lead guitarist Jim Dalton and bassist Nick Scropos, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers are the only independent band to debut in the Top 10 on Billboard's Internet Sales chart for six consecutive albums, including two 1 entries. Clyne and Naffah enjoyed an accomplished stint with The Refreshments, the late-90s rock band whose cult-classic album Fizzy Fuzzy, Big & Buzzy produced the hit singles "Banditos" and "Down Together." Clyne wrote and performed with The Refreshments the theme song for the hit cartoon King of the Hill.
If you like Stewboss you will love RCPM
“Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers (RCPM) are proof that the crazy, reckless, restless, swaggering soul of American rock is still burning a hole in the night sky...guitars blaze, quake and quiver, drums slip, thud and thunder with killer melodies and hooks and the occasional reggae or mariachi rhythm laced through the middle to keep it all honest and interesting.” - Tom Jurek, Paste Magazine
www.azpeacemakers.com
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Glenn Tilbrook SOLD OUT
Support - Edwina Hayes
Tuesday March 2 8pm £15/17otd
When Squeeze’s songwriting engine, powered by Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, spluttered to a halt in 1999 after an eventful 25-year journey, there was never any question what the former would do. He jumped on to his solo vehicle with gusto, driving into the distance, relishing his new-found freedom.
Over the past nine years Glenn has toured the world constantly, wowing audiences with his down-to-earth, impassioned style. A night watching Glenn performing alone is not like watching any other British solo artist. You see, no-one else involves his audience in the way that Glenn does. Welcoming his crowd with his customary greeting of “Alright, loves?” Glenn establishes an immediate rapport with every audience he encounters, from Tokyo to Texas.
Playing in intimate venues allows Glenn to indulge in one of his favourite musical pastimes – blurring the role of performer and fan. During his shows Glenn will often leap into the crowd and take on the role of modern day Pied Piper. As Glenn becomes part of his own audience, the paying customer joins in the act, taking on the guise of designated backing vocalist. Leading his audience on a tour of the venue Glenn will, on occasion, guide them onto the street outside, much to the bemusement of passing locals.
www.glenntilbrook.com
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Brian Willoughby & Cathryn Craig TOUR CANCELLED
Saturday March 20 8pm £10/12otd
American singer-songwriter Cathryn Craig has sung with The Righteous Brothers, Shel Silverstein, Jorma Kaukonnen, Bobby Bare, Garth Brooks and Chet Atkins and has released two highly regarded solo CDs, Porch Songs and Cathryn Craig while Brian Willoughby began his career with Mary Hopkin and played lead guitar with Strawbs for 25 years.
He recorded with Monty Python and toured with Joe Brown, Roger Whittaker, Jim Diamond and Sweet’s Brian Connolly and his albums Black & White and Fingers Crossed received international critical acclaim.
Both Cathryn and Brian have appeared on Radio 2 recently and worked with Nanci Griffith and their plea for peace Rumours of Rain features the duo with 26 international Folk stars.
Brian's strong British Folk Rock influence mixes well with Cathryn's Roots, blurring boundaries and showcasing her voice, his guitar and their intricately crafted songs in a unique and dynamic way.
Each Craig / Willoughby song tells a story and the couple have earned a reputation for powerful, literate, melodic material. Craig & Willoughby’s new release, Calling All Angels pushes the boundaries even further with understated, beautifully recorded songs about people and events in their lives including Alice’s Song, dedicated to children with special needs.
www.craigandwilloughby.com
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Reg Meuross
Saturday March 20 8pm £10/12otd
Reg began with The Panic Brothers, his excellent duo with Richard Morton. Formed in 1986 they recorded one album called "In The Red" produced by Clive Gregson. Five years of successful touring and TV work followed, with appearances at Edinburgh, Glastonbury, Sidmouth and all the major British Festivals.
Reg then went on to form The Flamingos who featured ex Graham Parker guitarist Martin Belmont, Bob Loveday from The Penguin Cafe Orchestra & Bob Geldof's Band & Alison Jones of The Barely Works. They recorded one album called "Arrested". In recent years Reg has been a crucial member of Hank Wangford's band, The Lost Cowboys.
In 1996 he released the critically acclaimed CD "The Goodbye Hat" and was nominated for several music awards, including best song for 'Ring around the Roses.' This was followed up in 2004 with the album that really established Reg as one of Britain's finest singer songwriters (Time Out), "Short Stories".
Reg's writing, performing and acting credits include work with people as diverse as the famous French Composer Vladimir Cosma - who wrote the cult movie Diva; Gerard Depardieu; Marsha Malamet; Nick Lowe; Not The Nine O'Clock News; Robbie Coltrane; Chris Difford; Charlie Dore; Gary Clark; Antonia Bird; Lenny Henry; Jeremy Hardy; Paul Merton, etc. "Still" is Reg's most accomplished work so far.
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Megson
Friday March 26 8pm £10/12otd
Combining the talents of northerners Stu Hanna and Debbie Hanna-Palmer, the duo Megson are fast becoming hot property on the British folk and roots scene.
Originally from Teeside the husband and wife duo met singing in the local Cleveland Youth Choir although at that time they both had very different music career paths.
Debbie trained to be a classical singer taking a degree in Music at Leeds University followed by post-graduate success at Trinity College, London where she gained a distinction as a classical soprano.
Stu played in a pop-punk band run but shortly afterwards joined Debbie in the duo Megson in 2004. Since then the couple have played up and down the country and they were nominated for Best Duo in the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Megson return to Ropery Hall with their new CD ‘Take yourself a Wife’ recently granted 4* by the Guardian. They specialise in delicate, intimate harmony singing backed by equally understated and classy instrumental work from Debbie's concertina or Stu's mandolin, guitar, bass or fiddle, and their refreshingly contemporary acoustic style is matched here by a fascinating set of songs.
www.megsonmusic.co.uk
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Snake Davis Band
Friday April 9 8pm £13/15otd
Snake Davis is one of the jazz world’s best kept secrets. He is a saxophonist of almost unparalleled gifts who has played with the best in the genre through a career spanning three decades. His connections in the music world are phenomenal, having played on hundreds of tracks for stars including legends such as Sir Paul McCartney, Tina Turner and James Brown, heart throbs Kylie and Robbie Williams to current favourites Amy Winehouse, Will Young, Alesha Dixon and Calvin Harris to name only a few.
One of the reasons Snake is able to draw large audiences is his ability to evoke moods and places through his music. We tend to classify artists into set genres but it’s impossible to put Snake in one of those boxes. Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics said “Snake is a joy to work alongside. His musical skills have no limits, in fact he is as free as a bird”. Listening to Snake in concert is an original experience – an evening of musical entertainment that can make you want to sing, dance and drift away. People often say they leave his concerts feeling happy, with a sense that you can go out and conquer your world.
Snake plays saxes, flute, whistle, shakuhachi and is joined by drums, keys and guitar. Expect a mix of songs. They play a combination of self-penned numbers, jazz standards and soul classics.
www.snakedavis.com
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Henry Priestman
Saturday April 10 8pm £10/12otd
Born across the river in Hull, Henry moved to Liverpool in 1975 to study music at the city’s College of Art, where his first band Yachts supported Sex Pistols in 1977 and signed to Stiff Records to record the cult new-wave classic “Suffice to Say”.
He was a founding member of It’s Immaterial who enjoyed chart success with single 'Driving Away From Home' and founding member and main song-writer for The Christians who in the 1980’s/90’s sold 3 million albums on Island Records.
The last 10 years have been spent producing and co-writing music for films, TV, and ads. His first solo album "The Chronicles of Modern Life", originally released in Sept '08 on Stiff Records (returning to his old label after more than 30 years), is now re-released on Universal Records (through Island Records, another former home).
www.myspace.com/henrypriestman
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Empirical
Saturday April 17 8pm £12/14otd
Empirical’s smart post-bop musical style - coupled with their suited and booted sartorial sharpness - has drawn admiring notices on both sides of the Atlantic. Their self-titled debut album, released on Courtney Pine’s Destin-E label in 2007, went on to be voted Jazzwise magazine's album of the year, and Mojo magazine’s jazz album of the year.
Expertly incorporating elements of classical, African and Cuban musical forms into their original, sophisticated, fresh-sounding jazz, Empirical make a point of not being centred around a specific front line or leader; it is very much a complete band, each member - Nathaniel Facey (alto sax); Lewis Wright (vibes); Tom Farmer (double bass); Shaney Forbes (drums/percussion) - contributing equally, adding their own facets to the overall sound.
Produced by Jason Yarde, and featuring special guest Julian Siegel, Out ‘n' In is Empirical’s much anticipated second album, newly released on Naim Jazz. Out ‘n' In pays tribute to Eric Dolphy’s musical legacy through nine Dolpy-inspired original compositions and two new arrangements of his work: Hat and Beard and Gazzelloni.
The coolest of Britain’s young jazz bands
Ivan Hewett, The Telegraph
The award-winning British band continues to rise, phoenix-like, in a new entity with young vibist Lewis Wright providing the chordwork and altoist Nathaniel Facey blowing with more conviction than ever. ...intelligent, spacey music with absorbing solos Jack Massarik, Evening Standard ( Out ‘n' In review, four stars)
When they emerged in 2007, Empirical made bigger waves and more column inches than any UK jazz ensemble since Courtney Pine's early bands. Their debut album swept across contemporary styles, including funk, gospel and R&B, although the motor that ran it was fuelled by classic bebop... is full of sparky variety... John Fordham, The Guardian ( Out ‘n' In review, four stars)
http://www.myspace.com/empiricalmusic
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Chris Sherburn & Denny Bartley
Saturday April 24 8pm £12/14otd
Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley have been bringing their unique sound to audiences across Europe and America since the early 1990s, when a chance meeting at a music session created one of folk music's most enduring partnerships.
Known for their soul stirring songs, exhilarating tunes and a love of the craic, Chris (concertina) and Denny (guitar and vocals) ensure that no two concerts are ever the same.
Chris grew up surrounded by folk music of all kinds - his home was a regular haunt for passing folk singers and musicians. Denny, born in Co. Limerick, is drawn to the inheritance of age-old slides, slow airs, slip jigs and wild reels.
Founder members of the band Last Night's Fun which received international acclaim and a loyal fan base over 11 years together, they have now returned to their roots as a duo.
www.lastnightsfun.com
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Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart
Thursday May 6 8pm £10/12otd
Both ex members of Steve Earle’s band (Stacey’s brother) the Dukes, Stacey and Mark head out on their last duo tour.
Few husband-wife musical duos provide audiences with the complete entertainment package that Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart dish out in a live performance. Armed with clever acoustic guitar interplay, autobiographical songwriting, lovely harmonies, and humorous storytelling this couple captivates your attention from the first moment they are onstage. Based out of Tennessee, Earle and Stuart draw from blues, pop, country, rock, and more in their heartfelt music. The years of touring the folk/Americana circuit (playing 170 concerts a year) have given them a knack for reaching out to the audience in an intimate “come in to my living room” fashion.
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Dennis Rollins’ Velocity
Saturday May 8 8pm £12/14otd
Award-winning British trombone star Dennis Rollins presents his new acoustic, straight-ahead jazz outfit, Dennis Rollins’ Velocity Trio. Whilst obviously influenced by jazz and swing, Velocity Trio also incorporates a progressive, contemporary edge to its sound. With a small element of Dennis' trademark electronic stage craft (think Joshua Redman's Elastic project), Dennis Rollins’ Velocity Trio also features Ross Stanley on organ and young Portuguese drummer Pedro Segundo.
Dennis Rollins is well-known on the British and international jazz scene, celebrated for his versatility and unique approach to the underrated trombone. His mighty sound can be heard to full effect in his award winning band Badbone & Co’s repertoire of groove-based, funky dance music with jazz overtones. Born in 1964 in the Midlands to Jamaican parents, and raised in South Yorkshire, Dennis cut his teeth at the age of 14 studying and performing with The Doncaster Youth Jazz Association. After years of study, Dennis moved to London and began playing with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), and the legendary all-black jazz big band The Jazz Warriors. Over the years, Dennis, now based in Doncaster, has established a reputation as an artist of excellence, and has lent his unique and stylish talents to some of this country's, and indeed the world's, top jazz and pop personalities such as Courtney Pine, Baba Maal, Jamiroquai, US3, Brand New Heavies, and Blur. He is also a popular and crowd-pleasing member of Maceo Parker’s band.
Dennis is that rarest of jazz beasts: a genuine star The Independent on Sunday
Dennis Rollins does for the slide trombone what James Brown once did for singing Jack Massarik, Evening Standard
www.dennisrollins.com
www.myspace.com/dennisrollins
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Chris Cook
Friday May 28 8pm £10/12otd
Chris Cook just may be the best kept secret in the music business. The Charlotte, North Carolina native has performed around the world for years but he remains relatively unknown except to those lucky enough to have discovered him at one of those performances. Now with the release of his third album, "Bag of Emotions" that could be about to change in a big way.
A multi-talented singer, guitarist and songwriter he blends elements of numerous influences into his music with amazing ease while remaining uniquely original. Using his distinctive vocal talents along with his considerable skill as a guitarist he has created an album that takes the listener on a journey that showcases those influences well. Whether it's the mournful blues of "10 Times The Blues", the hard rocking drive of "Black Door" and "Party's Over", or the upbeat feel-good expressions of "Life Is Good" he draws you in to a place that you soon realize is something special.
Although recorded in Nashville at Sixteen Ton Studios working with some of the finest players in town you won’t find a thing that’s country here. Not a steel guitar or fiddle in sight, just an extremely solid rhythm section ( Bass- Bob Babbitt Drums- Ed Green (Legendary Motown players from the Funk Brothers) combining with outstanding guitar licks and masterful keyboards (Piano- Steve King Keith Urban) combining to produce a sound not heard often today.
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Neil Innes
Friday June 4 8pm £15/17otd
In a career that has included collaborations with such greats as Monty Python, The Bonzos, The Beatles, Mick Jagger, John Belushi, Paul Simon and Bill Marray to name but a few, Neil Innes has proved an enduring and inspirational success,
His work in TV, film, literature and theatre has taken him around the world and after 2007's Bonzo Reunion, 2008's Rutles Reunion and 2009's Python reunion he has gained yet more accolades from the likes of Stephen Fry and Eddie Izzard.
He is the musical genius behind The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Rutles, Grimms, and Monty Pythons Flying Circus. Innes wrote the songs for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. After Python finished its original run on UK television, Innes joined with Python's Eric Idle on the series Rutland Weekend Television. This show spawned The Rutles (the "prefab four"), an affectionate pastiche of the Beatles, in which Innes played the character of Ron Nasty, who was loosely based on John Lennon. Innes played Nasty in an American-made spin-off TV movie, All You Need Is Cash, with Idle. The project also yielded an album released by Warner Brothers.
After Rutland Weekend Television, Idle relocated to the USA, and Innes went on to make a solo series in 1979 on BBC television, The Innes Book of Records. He has also worked in Children's television and on re-union tours with the Bonzo’s, The Ruttles etc.
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