Sherman Robertson & Blues Move
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
"Sherman Robertson deserves to have his name added to the short list of the finest musicians who play electric blues." - Living Blues. "Some of the best Texas soul-blues anyone could hope for. Potent singing and sizzling guitar, Sherman Robertson is one of the most important artists in contemporary blues." - Blues Revue.



The Nimmo Brothers
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
The Nimmo Brothers are one of the most respected exponents of modern blues the UK has produced since the blues boom of the ‘60s. They are at the forefront of the British blues scene winning best UK blues album and best UK blues band at the British Blues Connection Awards as well as headlining festivals and clubs throughout the UK, Europe and America.



Ian Siegal Band
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
"There are good blues singers and then there is Ian Siegal, who’s in a class of his own." - Mike Mager, Blues in Britain. "Ian Siegal is without doubt the most talented musician/songwriter to emerge on the British blues scene in recent years. Ian doesn't just perform the blues, he is totally possessed by them!" - Ian Brown, Blues4ever.



Jake Stigers Band
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
“Where the hell did this guy come from? This is an album full of power pop with bits of bluesy rock flavour that should be in your collection” - Smother Magazine. “With a well refined hard rock ‘n’ roll sound, Jake Stigers has a lot to offer, with smooth riffs and Stigers’ voice; a well-oiled piece of rock-n-roll machinery… his lyrics are filled with wit and edge.” - Ear Candy Magazine.



Joanne Shaw Taylor Band
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Producer and Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart discovered Joanne Shaw when he saw her playing at an event hosted by UB40 and his reaction was as follows;- “I have played with all sorts of blues musicians all over the world, RL Burnside in Memphis, John Lee Hooker in New York but I have never heard a British white girl playing the blues guitar so deep and passionate it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end”.



Leicester Blues All-Stars
De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
A tribute to the Kings of The Blues: B.B. King, Albert King and Freddy King, featuring Dawson Smith, Simon Faulks, Tony Alles, Geoff Overon, Mick Ridgeway, PJ Baker, Steve Cooke.



Howard Smith & The Razors
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Local guitar ace Howard Smith and his hard driving band The Razors always deliver a high energy show packed with no frills, blue collar, rockin’ blues. Influenced by two distinct styles of blues The Razors mix the classic killer British r’n’b of Dr Feelgood with the greasy slide work of Sonny Landreth and Lowell George. Tight as hell. Yet as loose as the proverbial goose, The Razors are always a thrilling live proposition.



Dr Teeth's Big Band
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Signed to Big Bear Records the home of ‘The Big Town Playboys’ this eight piece, horn driven band open up proceedings on the main stage. Serving up a tasty cocktail of non-stop jump, jive, swing, blues and boogie that they’ve dubbed New Breed Swing, it won’t be long before these guys are headlining festivals in their own right.



The Dirty Backbeats
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
This high octane five piece from Leicester blend Captain Beefheart’s mystic blues skits, Love's r'n’b infused psychedelia and a healthy dose of English eccentricity. The Backbeats have honed their sound through constant gigging over the past couple of years and as a result have developed an enviable live reputation that has seen them compared to artists as diverse as The Cramps, The Who, Tom Waits and Kings Of Leon.



Kyla Brox
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
She's the daughter of legendry 60’s multi instrumentalist Victor Brox (Victor Brox Blues Train, Alexis Korner, Graham Bond, Peter Green) and it’s not surprising that Kyla is steeped in the blues tradition and started out playing in her father's band. The past few years have seen her star shining bright with both Blues Matters and Blues in Britain featuring her on their front covers.



Jack Of Hearts Band
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Fresh on the local scene in 2006 this raucous rocking five piece have fused sleazy rock ‘n’ roll with down ‘n’ dirty blues to great effect. They start with Muddy Waters and throw in a little Captain Beefheart and sprinkle liberally with Led Zeppelin and from there the magic things start to happen.



The Two Timers
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
The Two Timers are a unique two-piece formed in Paris, in 1993. Vocalist, drummer and harmonica player Sarah James has a soulful voice reminiscent of Sam Brown or Julie Driscoll. Guitarist G.R. Russell (ex Geno Washington, Dr Feelgood) plays electric, acoustic and bottleneck guitar and mandolin, whilst foot stomping an electrified suitcase. While drawing parallels with the earliest blues combos, their energy owes more to John Spencer’s Blues Explosion or Led Zeppelin.



The Blues Demons
De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
The Blues Demons are a classic acoustic blues trio featuring three of Leicester’s most respected players; Mick Ridgeway on vocals and harp, Bob Dayfield on vocals, acoustic, slide and steel guitars and Tony Alles on vocals and acoustic guitar. All three take a turn on lead vocals mixing up old time delta blues and their own original compositions.



The Forty Fours
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
With just drums and electric guitar this overdriven combo cook up a potent brew of backwoods hoodoo and psychedelic garage blues. The result is undiluted juke joint grit and barrelhouse bawling, with a firm nod in the direction of The White Stripes, The John Spencer Blues Explosion, The Black Keys and Fat Possum Records.



Dawson Smith & Simon Faulks
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
When not tearing up the stage with their electric band The Dissenters, songwriter vocalist Dawson Smith and lead guitarist Simon Faulks often perform as an equally impressive acoustic duo. Together they’ll take you down the back roads and by-ways of Texas and the Gulf Coast where the likes of John Haitt, CC Adcock, Chris Whitley and Sonny Landreth roam.



Carlton Cole & Neil Brammall
De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Carlton Cole’s brand of acoustic blues and roots has been delighting audiences for the best part of twenty years now and like a fine wine he just keeps getting better with age. Carton’s rich vocals and excellent acoustic guitar work is complimented by the Neil Brammels fine blues harmonica.


Tony Jones
De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
A student of blues history Tony Jones has absorbed the legacy of the old masters and plays beautiful interpretations of many classic, songs alongside his own beautifully crafted compositions. Recent performances supporting American blues stars like Catfish Keith and a number of high profile solo gigs have given Tony the platform he so rightly deserves.



7storeysoul
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
7storysoul specialise in 70s soul and funk, with a far-reaching repertoire that features both classics and rare gems (including Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Earth Wind and Fire, Isley Brothers, Gil Scott Heron) and their own high quality originals. With a nine to ten piece line-up that features sweet strings, sax, an ultra tight rhythm section and two female lead vocalists, this excellent group make the sunshine wherever they play.



Nick Harper
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Son of the legendary Roy Harper, Nick been playing the guitar at the age of ten, surrounded by the likes of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Dave Gilmour, so it was no surprise that Nick made his recording debut on his father's ‘Whatever Happened to Jugula?’ album. Now a superlative singer-songwriter in his own right, his soulful voice and passionate songs are matched by his awesome guitar playing and marathon live performances.



John Butler & Rick Willson
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Diesel Park West’s creative star is well and truly on the rise again, what with an excellent new album Blood & Grace as well as recent live tributes to both the Byrds and The Band under their belts. Frontmen John Butler & Rick Willson are no less impressive when performing unplugged, playing a mixture of Diesel Park West favourites and songs from many of their ‘60s West Coast heroes such as Moby Grape, Jefferson Airplane, CSNY and the aforementioned Byrds.



David Wyatt
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Very possibly the best emerging singer-songwriter in the UK today, David Wyatt possesses an emotive, four octave voice, big, dramatic songs and a vagabond charm and that makes him a spellbinding live performer. David is currently working on a new album and piloting his barge around the canals of England.



Dan Britton
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Dan Britton is a dynamic singer-songwriter and charismatic live performer. He blends classic American West Coast sounds with hints of Celtic soul, country, roots and rock into his own unique style. His influences ranging from Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Waterboys, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Van Morrison, Jackie Leven, Gram Parsons, Gillian Welch and Jim White.



Gren Bartley
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Possessing a fine, intricate finger-picking style influenced by guitarists such as Kelly Joe Phelps and Richard Thompson, Gren Bartley first picked up the guitar in 1998 playing along to songs he'd heard on the radio, before going on to discover. folk and blues. A relaxed and confident stage performer Gren has performed regularly in Leicester over the past couple of years.



Rachel Mainstone
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Young singer-songwriter Rachel Mainstone has been wowing audiences across the country with her soulful, sultry vocals and excellent songs. Some high profile support slots with Ian Parker have won her much critical acclaim and many new fans. Catch her now at the start of her road to stardom.



Joel Owen
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De Montfort Hall, Saturday 5 May
Joel Owens elegant and very English approach to the art and craft of song-writing has drawn comparisons with Nick Drake. Although Drake’s influence can be heard in both Joel’s songs and voice, he is still very much his own man, the proof of which being his recently released debut album ‘One of Those Days’.