Music Preview: The Blues Band perform at The Sage and Stockton Arc

THE BLUES BAND

Gary Fletcher       ~   Rob Townsend      ~      Paul Jones    ~   Tom McGuinness     ~    Dave Kelly  

         

The Blues Band was formed in 1979, by ex Manfred Mann group members, Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness, originally to play a few pub gigs. Slide guitar ace and vocalist Dave Kelly was recruited, Gary Fletcher filled the bass post. Rob Townsend of Family fame  replaced Hughie Flint in 1982 at the drums. 

 

Simply the best purveyors of the Blues in the UK today.

The story of how band formed in 1979 to play the music that was their passions - the blues - just for fun and a bit of beer money, and then found themselves with whole new careers on their hands, has been well documented in countless magazine articles and record company biographies.

They've released 20 or so albums - culminating in their current release FEW SHORT LINES.

In the past 35 years the band have played all around the world in venues ranging from intimate clubs through to civic halls and theatres, and have wowed festival audiences in many countries - including headline appearances at Glastonbury.

Whilst not being unique in being the only band to have survived such longevity, they are one of the few outfits to have consistently recorded new material throughout such a long career, and whilst staying true to their blues roots and have constantly developed their music and redefined their approach on several occasions.  Their 1994 album 'Wireless' saw them venture into the purely acoustic arena for the first time, and the 2000 release of the 'Scratchin' on My Screen' album confirmed the presence of purely acoustic settings of the blues in their repertoire.  1999's 'Brassed Up' cd was, as the title suggests a foray into big band blues whilst 'Stepping Out'  released in 2002 saw a return to the band's basic 5 piece line up with the double barreled vocal front-line of Paul Jones & Dave Kelly being joined by Tom and Gary both singing lead on a couple of songs.

With 4 singers and songwriters in the band the quality and variety of performance and material offered by The Blues Band is pretty much unrivaled, and the band's passion and reverence for the music, their presentation and showmanship all combine to deliver the definitive 'good night out' available from any artist currently operating in the Blues field in Europe.

For a band to stay together for such a period takes commitment and belief but most of all requires an audience that keeps coming 'Back For More' (as per their 1989 album).  Thousand of gigs and hundred of thousands of attendees cannot be wrong !

2017 TOUR DATES 

OCTOBER

Thu  19  Andover The Lights  www.thelights.org.uk    01264 368368

Fri  20  Cannock  Prince of Wales   www.inspiringhealthylifestyles.org    01543 578762

26th Floral Pavilion, Marine Promenade, Wallasey CH45 2JS   www.floralpavilion.com    0151 666 0000

27th The Brewery Arts Centre, 122a Highgate, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 4HE  www.breweryarts.co.uk    01539 725133

28th Sage Gateshead, St Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2JR   www.sagegateshead.com 0191 443 4661


NOVEMBER

Th  2  Barrow in Furness Forum  http://www.theforumbarrow.co.uk/  01229 820000

Fri  3    Ayr Gaiety Theatre  http://ayrgaiety.co.uk/  01292 288235

Sat  4  Stockton  http://arconline.co.uk/  01642 525199

Th  9  Exmouth Pavilion    https://www.ledleisure.co.uk/exmouth-pavilion  01395 222477

Fri  10  Truro  Hall For Cornwall  https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk/ 01872 262466

We 15  Solihull          https://www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk  0121 704 6962

Thu 16  Peterborough    https://www.vivacity-peterborough.com/vivacity-venues/the-key-theatre/  01733 207239

Fri  17  Cheltenham Bacon Theatre  http://www.bacontheatre.co.uk/  01242 258002

Sat  18  Bradford u Avon  http://www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk/  01225 860100

Tue 21  Epsom  The Playhouse https://www.epsomplayhouse.co.uk/ 01372 742555

Fri  24  Herne Bay Kings Hall   https://www.kinghall.com  01227 374188

Sat  25  DISS  Corn Hall  https://www.thecornhall.co.uk/ 01379 652241

Mo  27  Bury St Edmunds Apex  https://www.theapex.co.uk/  01284 758000

Tue  28  Crawley   Hawth  https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/The-Hawth  01293 553636

DECEMBER


Sat  2   Cardiff  The Globe  http://globecardiffmusic.com/  07590 471888

Th  7  &   Fri 8th    Wavendon  The Stables  http://www.stables.org/ 01908 280280

Sat  9  Wimborne  Tivoli Theatre  https://www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk/  01202 885566

Thu 14  Portsmouth  The Guildhall  http://www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk/  023 9387 0200 /  0844 8472362

Fri  15  Witham Public Hall  http://www.withampublichall.co.uk/shows.html 0345 017 8717