Coming to The Musician in November 2018

The best of Paul Weller, The Jam & The Style Council performed acousticly by the No 1 Tribute to Paul Weller...
Tony Brown & Kev White of 'The Modfathers'

Originally formed by Robert Calvert and Dave Brock (of Hawkwind) from the ashes of The Sonic Assassins in 1978, The Hawklords re-emerged in 2009 with a memorial concert in London for legendary British artist, the late Barney Bubbles, graphic designer for many of Hawkwind's early 1970s albums. Since 2009 Hawklords have consistently toured Europe and the UK, released two official live concert performances on DVD and have produced six consecutive albums of original music, with album number seven due to be released, worldwide, in October 2018.

The band's critically acclaimed 2017 album release, ‘SIX’, entered The Official UK Top 40 Rock and Metal Chart at number 35. A “Full-blown sonic slab of classic British space-rock”, it was nominated for best rock album of 2017 by One World Music Radio Awards.

‘Hawklords VII: Brave New World’, the new album for 2018, is part two of a trilogy of new releases that are concerned with War, Peace, Love.

Each live show features a jaw-dropping digital projected lightshow, specially created by lighting designer and tour circuit veteran, Dave 'Lighthouse' Johnson.

The Watch are a 5-piece band from Milan. Their music is inspired by the classic style prog of the 70’s and in particular, by the music of Gabriel-era Genesis. The band have a number of their own albums under their belt featuring their own material, however tonight they will perform the Genesis classic album Selling England By The Pound plus highlights from 1970-1975. The Watch, so incredibly authentic in what they are recreating, are endorsed by none other than Steve Hackett.

The Room are a melodic rock band from the Southeast of the UK. The six band members bring together a broad range of musical influences which has helped form The Room’s distinctive style. Smart songs with great melodies are the essence of the band’s sound. Formed in 2010 with Martin Wilson from neo-prog rock band GLD and bassist Andy Rowe were joined by former GLD guitarist Steve Anderson, drummer Andrew Rae and Steve Checkley on Keys. The band started writing their first album over the winter 2011, recording it at Platform Studios in the summer of 2012. Melodic Revolution Records signed The Room on an album deal and Open Fire was released in Dec 2012.
March 2014 saw the arrival of new drummer Chris York. The band signed a deal for album two with UK label Bad Elephant Music in 2015 and the album, Beyond The Gates of Bedlam was released in November 2015 to further critical acclaim..
Nominated in the Best New Band category at the 2016 Classic Rock Society awards The Room always deliver an outstanding show.
Following a series of highly successful supports for Inglorious, Lifesigns and Soft Machine, a busy festival season and some headline shows, The Room filmed their final show of 2016 at The Robin 2 for release on DVD in 2017.
2017 was all about writing for the new album although the band did play a number of festivals and shows trying out some of the new material. In February 2018 The Room announced album 3 was to be released in November 18 and it would be recorded with legendary producer John Mitchell at the controls.  2018 also saw the departure of keyboard player Steve Checkley to be replaced by Mark Dixon. The line up was strengthened with the introduction of guitarist Eric Bouillette with both new members appearing on the 3rd album.
Ford and Wilsher are from Multi Story and perhaps the Chas and Dave of prog! Expect a few acoustic versions of their input from Multi Story plus some new material and perhaps some cover versions!
Howard Sinclair has been to the venue before supporting acts such as The John Hackett Band. Howard is a accomplished songwriter in his own right with a impressive back catalogue. A wonderful evening of three acts and not one to be missed.

Award winning Blues / Classic Rock Band From Newport, South Wales. playing original material

Luke Doherty – Was born on 29th March 1994, in Newport, Gwent. He had an interest in music at a very young age. Although no one in his family play an instrument, he was determined to learn to play something, and at the age of 5 he started playing piano, but didn’t like it. He then asked to play the drums but was told by a drum teacher he was way too young and to wait a couple of years. He then settled on a 1/2 size acoustic guitar which he had to give up after 3 months due to medical reasons. At 71/2 he was nagging his parents again to learn guitar, so they bought him a second hand 1/2 size electric guitar and a second hand amp and he has never looked back. He instantly became hooked on blues, intently watching any blues musicians he could find on TV or DVD.
Luke met Eric Clapton when he was 9yrs old at the John Mayell 7Oth Birthday concert in Liverpool. Also aged 9 he asked his parents if he could take Rock School exams which he sailed through to grade 8 by the age of 11, as well as a extra performance grade 8. He was then interviewed on BBC Radio Wales because he was the youngest person to have passed grade 5, 6 and 8. Also when he was 10 years old he recorded Parisian Walkways, of which Gary Moore has a copy.

Steve Tilston is one of our most celebrated songsmiths, widely recognised within the world of folk and contemporary music; the words, arrangements and subtle, quite superb guitar playing could be no one else. He’s toured with John Renbourn’s Ship of Fools, in a stunning partnership with traditional singer Maggie Boyle (producing the classic recordings Of Moor and Mesa and All Under the Sun), as guitarist with Ballet Rambert, with Maartin Allcock and Pete Zorn in WAZ! with Brooks Williams in A Transatlantic Song-Swap and with his daughter Martha. More recently he teamed up with Yorkshire alt-country band The Durbervilles and old Bristol pals Keith Warmington and Stuart Gordon as the Steve Tilston Trio. His new album, Distant Days, an acoustic retrospective featuring reworkings of some of his best and most famous songs, will be out ahead of his tour.

"The more you listen, the more there is to discover" - Bob Harris

"He can stand shoulder to shoulder with any guitarist/songwriter in the world." - Dirty Linen

Support comes from Saskia Griffiths-Moore, an English singer-songwriter known for her pure, clear voice and her nu-folk style repertoire. She has released three EP.s and one album and performed sell out concerts in both large and small venues across South England.

International touring blues-rock powerhouse Catfish are making waves on the music scene in the UK and Europe. They have now won a total of five UK Blues Awards. Matt Long, the guitarist/vocalist, was named Instrumentalist of the Year in the UK Blues Awards in both 2020 and 2021. In the UK Blues Awards of May 2020, the band was also named Band of the Year. In 2018 they won the UK Blues Award for Blues Act of the Year (England) to add to their 2016 British Blues Award for Paul Long as Keyboard Player of the Year.

In the last few years, they have played at almost every major UK Blues festival and have established themselves as a real force in the British Blues scene. They now tour regularly in Europe.

DIIO (pronounced D-2-O) are the ultimate tribute to the Master Of Metal, Ronnie James Dio. The idea for DIIO goes back a few years to a gig on Rhodes with Hi-On Maiden and Sack Sabbath and a long standing friendship between Matt Duggan (Ronnie) and Russ Saxton (Vivian), coupled with a mutual admiration of the immortal RJD.

One drunken evening in the summer of 2016, the plan was cemented and with the addition of Tony Clark (Jimmy) and Pete Mather (Vinnie) on bass and drums and the ultimate DIIO tribute was born. All four members are veterans of the tribute circuit and have played (and still play) in some of the most respected outfits in the UK.

As well as all the classics from RJD's solo career, DIIO also plays the very best cuts from his time in Rainbow and Black Sabbath. Expect to hear classics including Holy Diver, Don't Talk To Strangers, Heaven and Hell, Neon Knights, Stargazer, Kill The King and many, many more all delivered with a precision and attention to detail that is second to none.

Saxonized are the only Saxon tribute band from the UK. Their set list comprises of classic Saxon tunes from the 80s and 90s and 00's such as Denim and Leather, Wheels of Steel, Forever Free, Never Surrender, Ride like the wind, Rock and Roll Gypsy, Strong Arm of The Law, The Eagle Has Landed, Motorcycle man, Battalions of Steel, Rock the Nations, Dogs of War, Battering Ram.. plus many more! With their strongest line-up ever Saxonized are making their presence known on the tribute circuit and are gaining rave reviews wherever they play.

Raw power Country, Blues, Southern rock, and Americana delivered by four highly experienced and
dedicated musicians.

Since forming the band, Tom has recorded three albums, two studio albums, a live album and an EP. This on top of appearing on recordings with Dr.John, Iggy Pop, Jeff Beck & Gary Moore.

Giants of Rock reviewer, festivals for all, said he had witnessed one of the best sets he could remember for a long time. "Tom's throaty vocals were not only tremendous but incredible, with exceptional guitar
playing. Slide guitar, and “honky tonk” returns from the keys player Wes, was a thing of beauty.

'One of Britain's most distinct and talented voices' - Kerrang!

'Tender and epic, enormous yet touching' - BBC Music

'A moving and quietly joyous collection of pieces weaving together strands of folk, jazz and country' - The Guardian

Having toured the world as frontman of Scottish Indie giants, Idlewild, acclaimed songwriter Roddy Woomble recently toured UK in celebration of the 10 year anniversary of this debut solo album, My Secret Is My Silence.

Growing up between America, France and the UK, and lived in Glasgow and New York City, Roddy now lives on Mull in the Western Isles of Scotland, from where he hosts the annual Iona Village Hall Music Festival and has recently published, Instrumentals, a collection of words, lyrics and photographs from tours fronting Idlewild, critically acclaimed solo albums, and Roddy’s life in Scottish Hebrides.

Having established himself as a leading voice in the thriving British contemporary indie folk music scene, with his anticipated new album, 2018 will see Roddy take a darker more lo fi direction held together by Woomble’s trademark poetic lyrics, "evocative vocals and consummate gift for a tune.”

Roddy now hits the road to perform an acoustic tour showcasing his folk driven solo songs and Idlewild classics in intimate venues.

Apologies this gig has been postponed until 2019. Refunds from the point of sale.

Following the success of his tour in early this year, Gaz Brookfield takes to the road once more.

Celebrating 15 years of belligerently refusing to give in!

Since winning Acoustic magazine's 2010 Singer Songwriter of the year, he has spent his time on the road, touring the UK and Europe. In this time he has shared the stage with the likes of Levellers, Seth Lakeman, Frank Turner, New Model Army, Nick Harper, Newton Faulkner, Miles Hunt, and many more, racking up over 1000 gigs to date.

Gaz remains the only unsigned solo artist to sell out The Fleece, Bristol. A feat he as now achieved 5 times. The last three times selling out over 6 months in advance.

Often playing as many as 200 gigs a year, Gaz's relentless and never-ending tour schedule takes him to every corner of the country and beyond. The last few years have seen Brookfield play at over 100 UK festivals, including Glastonbury, Beautiful Days, Bearded Theory, and many more, firmly cementing him as a festival favourite.

DELTA LADIES – 'The New Sound of Hillbilly Trance'

We welcome back the DELTA LADIES for a return visit to The Musician. Since their last appearance they have enhanced the line-up with the addition of renowned double bassist Tony Reeves. Tony's track record includes stints with greats such as John Mayall, John Martyn, Davy Graham, Colosseum & Greenslade. Together with percussionist Danny Bryan (Barry White, Imagination, Drifters) the Delta's have one of the very finest rhythm sections in the country.

DELTA LADIES continue to develop the unique blend of Roots, Folk, Blues & World Music and politically aware lyricism – christened 'The Sound of Hillbilly Trance' by legendary DJ the late Barry Marshall- Everitt (Bex Marshall). The band is fronted by VK Martin on guitars / banjo / dulcimer and Dee Stone on fiddle and keys. The music is a vivid mix of sounds over the colourful rhythmic textures of Danny Bryan.

Drawn from original material and adaptations of American and roots classics.

2019 will be a prolific year for the band with the release of a new album 'Ophelia', and album of traditional folk songs and other releases in the pipeline. Some festival appearances are book plus others in negotiation

“Where Old-time Americana meets the Velvet Underground” - RORY CARLILE New Roots Promo

“A unique sound, a subtle headtrip of refreshingly vital music” PETE FEENSTRA Ready to Rock

“A stunning fusion of Roots, Folk, Blues and World Music” - BLUES IN BRITAIN

“A great live act” - MAVERICK

Not just the notes – but the sound, energy and feel of Rory Gallagher, delivered by people who helped define it…

Gerry McAvoy formed Band of friends in 2012 having played with Rory Gallagher for 20 years and was on every record with Rory from 1971 to 1991. The band consists of Brendan O'Neill drums (Rory Gallagher 1981-1991) and Marcel Scherpenzeel on vocals & guitar.

ANDY WRIGHT PRESENTS: Legendary punk band -U.K SUBS continuing to represent the true spirit of punk rock. Inspired by the Damned at the birth of British Punk, the now equally legendary Charlie Harper formed the Subs out of his then R&B outfit The Marauders, late in 1976.
Starting out as The Subversives, the name was shortened to The Subs and then changed to U.K. Subs, whilst early line-ups merged their high-speed R&B sound into punk.
October 1977 saw Charlie joined by Nicky Garratt on guitar, and it was the Harper/Garratt song writing partnership that would go on to collaborate on the band's most successful record releases. Through 1977 and 1978 the band played shows all over London including the infamous Roxy punk club.

A John Fairhurst show is a true testimony of his versatility, armed simply with his trademark resonator or supported by the flair of Toby’s percussion, his music takes the audience on a musical voyage of spell binding improvisations drawing freely from a rich tapestry of influences that span from the Mississippi to the Ganges and all that is worthy in between. Fronted by their eponymous songwriter, the duo draw freely from rock, blues and world music, with a penchant for slide guitar and through his distinctive deep growling voice, the songs, delivered in pure raconteur style, narrate the hardships of a life on the road and the bleakness of our times.

In July 2017, John signed an new publishing deal with successful independent publishers Wipe Out
Music, helping him garner much wider international interest. Acoustic Guitar Magazine USA recently hailed Fairhurst as one of the top three Resonator guitar players worldwide - the only European on the list. A new album is currently in production; a real melting pot of diverse musical influences and
styles. He will again be working with his long term go-to producers Alex Beitzke and producer Bradley Spence (Radiohead, Prince, Florence and the Machine, Stereophonics, Iron Maiden, The Strypes, Kasabian). This promises to be a long awaited follow up to his highly regarded 2014 breakthrough album, ‘Saltwater’ and is due for release in the autumn.

The UK-based Project Blackbird’s five core members are vocalist Ming Nagel (originally from the USA), guitarist Alan Roberts, multi-instrumentalist Jamie Varley, multi-instrumentalist Jon Read (former trumpet player for The Specials), and now drummer Eddie Dublin. This “extraordinary” band, as BBC 6Music’s Tom Robinson has described them, offers an atmospheric, genre-fluid listening experience that draws equally upon intellect and emotion.
“Imagine a party at Ronnie Scott’s,” one fan suggests, “where Sade, Björk, Jeff Beck, and David Byrne meet Portishead and then go for a late night curry to exchange ideas…sublime”. This will be their first UK show following on from their tour in USA in March and April.

Soup was founded in 2004 by Trondheim based multi instrumentalist Erlend Viken. Viken recorded Soup’s first album, Give It An Empire out of his bedroom during January 2005, of which a highly limited 50 copies CD-R edition was released. Though the Empire album never hit the charts, it was in many ways the base of what should become the characteristic Soup sound; a musical landscape dominated by filmatic, melancholic and dynamic elements. In 2005 Viken started recording the slightly more electronic follow up; Come On Pioneers.The album was printed in a 300 copies CD edition, released by Viken himself late 2005. The album contained several songs of a more upbeat character, some of which got listed on Norwegian radio. The album was soon picked up by Oslo based indie label How Is Annie Records, who re-issued the album several times during 2006/2007. In april 2008 viken did a short term collaboration with drummer Stig Wålberg and guitarist Martin Skjold at Volda Student Bands Night. The gig marked the starting point of Soup as a band, and as live act.By the end of 2014 Thomas Nyborg leaves the band, and Espen Berge takes his place. After rehearsing with Berge early 2015, Soup joins stoner rock newcomers Spidergawd on their European tour in March 2015. In the transitions between drummers, Viken also collaborates with experimental percussionist Kim Henry Kling Ortveit for various compositions yet to be released. After the European tour in March, the band takes a recess before starting to work on the material for the upcoming album. This time also in collaboration with Paul Savage and Lasse Hoile, recorded in Namsos RC Studio, produced by Paul Savage and Soup. Viken goes to Glasgow in July 2016 to join the mixing of the album at Chem19 Studios, and the album is mastered at Strype Audio in November that year. During the 2015 Spidergawd tour, Soup is signed to Crisping Glover and Stickman Records, who also will release the upcoming album, Remedies.By the end of 2014 Thomas Nyborg leaves the band, and Espen Berge takes his place. After rehearsing with Berge early 2015, Soup joins stoner rock newcomers Spidergawd on their European tour in March 2015. In the transitions between drummers, Viken also collaborates with experimental percussionist Kim Henry Kling Ortveit for various compositions yet to be released. After the European tour in March, the band takes a recess before starting to work on the material for the upcoming album. This time also in collaboration with Paul Savage and Lasse Hoile, recorded in Namsos RC Studio, produced by Paul Savage and Soup. Viken goes to Glasgow in July 2016 to join the mixing of the album at Chem19 Studios, and the album is mastered at Strype Audio in November that year. During the 2015 Spidergawd tour, Soup is signed to Crisping Glover and Stickman Records, who also will release the upcoming album, Remedies.
REECE are a 3-piece Melodic Rock Band from South Wales, in the UK, blending together elements of Rock, Pop and Prog, harmony-rich vocals and big anthem-style choruses that scream melody from start to finish. With a driving rhythm section, melodic guitars & ear-catching vocal section, REECE, for the time being are here to stay !

Magic Teapot presents
Bryde + Lyla Foy Joint Solo Tour
The Musician, Leicester
Wednesday 21st November
7.45pm / £7 adv

Bryde

Pembrokeshire-born, London-based Bryde is a woman with an electric guitar, playing fierce and fragile songs.
Swaying from vulnerable to uncompromising within one verse and chorus, Bryde's music is honest and furiously authentic.
Fascinated with human psychology and inner workings of relationships Bryde's songs still hold close a defiant and life-affirming quality. Described as being about "entangling and unravelling" it moves from tender and delicate, to tough and unforgiving, drawing reviews that reflect this.

Bryde established her ethereal indie-rock sound early on, working with producers such as Jolyon Thomas ( Royal Blood) and Bill Ryder-Jones (Hooton Tennis Club, Our Girl) Radio support has reflected this coming from the likes of Huw Stephens on Radio 1, 6music, playlists on BBC Radio Wales and Amazing Radio and supported by Maz Tappuni on Radio X.

Now in 2018 the debut album Like an Island mixed by Catherine J Marks (Big Moon, The Amazons) has been released to a host of glowing reviews, citing comparisons to Radiohead, The xx, Warpaint and Jeff Buckley. The album reached No. 38 in the Official Indie Chart. Accompanied by another sold out London show (this time at Omeara) and a 35 headline tour of Europe followed by a long list of summer festivals and support shows with Joy Formidable, Bryde is on a roll and appears to have no intention of slowing down.

Lyla Foy

Lyla Foy performs intimate, melodic pop music. Coming from humble recordings made in her kitchen, her first EP, 'Shoestring' came out in 2013. This lead to her debut album 'Mirrors in the Sky' in 2014 which was supported by international touring, sharing stages with The National, Sharon Van Etten, Midlake and Phosphorescent. In 2015 she released her 'Umi' EP and some more touring followed. After taking a step back to form a new band, consisting mainly of women, to help realise a new vocal-heavy sound, Lyla did a short tour in summer 2017 with Fleet Foxes. New album 'Bigger Brighter' was released on September 14th 2018. While the album was made with long time collaborator Oli Deakin from Low Pines, it sees her first foray into singing collaborations: Jonathan Donahue from Mercury Rev lending his otherworldly vocals to lead single 'Far Behind You' and John Paul White from Civil Wars crooning beautifully on 'Bring Flowers'.

You may also know Lyla from psychedelic 6 piece Mono Club, fronted by Goldheart Assembly ex-frontman, John Herbert, in which she sings and plays bass.

The Zeppelins capture the sound, energy and look of Led Zeppelin at the height of their fame. We love Led Zeppelin’s music, it’s as simple as that. The Zeppelins are four musicians with decades of experience across tribute and original bands. We finally found the right combination to play Led Zeppelin’s music and play it right from the soaring high range of a young Robert Plant, those unmistakeable and timeless Page riffs, JPJ’s solid but creative basslines and of course, Bonzo’s thunderous beats.

Fleetingwood Mac are a young and exciting new tribute to the legendary band Fleetwood Mac. They didn’t set out to be yet another tribute band, with tacky wigs and fancy dress outfits, but instead bring across the live sound of Fleetwood Mac, with just one guitar, a keyboard, a drum kit, a man on the bass and of course, the vocals!

As much as they aim to create a genuine Fleetwood Mac sound, they can’t help but give it a modern edge, it’s just the way they play. How else are five people supposed to play tribute to a band that have lasted nearly 50 years? A band who over time have featured eight different guitarists & vocalists. A band that started out as part of the sixties British Blues Invasion and ended up as one of the biggest mainstream groups of the eighties.

The band aim to introduce the songs to a new generation of fans, who just like themselves, weren’t even born when the band were in their prime. They don’t go on stage pretending to be Fleetwood Mac, instead as five young musicians who love and want to share the music of one of the world's greatest bands to a wider audience.

For up to date info and news please join The City Acoustic Club Facebook group!

The Guilty & The Innocent tour returns to the UK this November, with a welcome return to the Musician for Andy.

Belfast singer-songwriter Andy White is writing songs about politics again. You know why.
Influenced both by touring his career retrospective box set last year (released on the 30th anniversary of hard-hitting debut ‘Rave On’), and throwing things at the telly in response to what’s going on in the world, Andy has written and recorded ten new songs and releases them as a limited edition 12” vinyl LP on November 24th. Album title is The Guilty & The Innocent.
Agree with it or not, it’s a powerful piece of work. Songs about Trump, Jeremy, Grenfell, Manchester, refugees, Belfast. Trump again. The unheard. There’s even a language warning. The album rocks like a Neil Young album, although some of it is solo acoustic, the way he’ll be touring in the UK, November 19–December 10. Full tour details below.

Leicester Jazz Houser Presents:
Winner of the prestigious Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize in 2017, awarded for excellence in both performance and composition, Tom Barford has emerged as one of the most exciting young players on the British jazz scene. “We are witnessing the birth of a new star in the jazz firmament” (Evan Parker).

Dave -Storey Drums
Flo Moore - Bass
Billy Marrows -Guitar
Rupert Cox - Piano
Tom Barford - Sax

One of the best tributes acts currently working in the UK today. With a show that takes in the full range of Simon & Garfunkel's career together, as well as drawing extensively from Paul Simon's solo career, this is live entertainment at its very best.

"A musical feast for anyone who loves the songs of Paul Simon." Chris Lloyd (Talon)

Weekend tickets £30 adv £35 door, Friday only, £12 adv £15 door, Saturday all day £22 adv £25 door, Saturday evening only, £12 adv £15 door.
Danfest8 Features 8 acts, 3 on Friday and 5 on Saturday. Comedy Of Errors, Karmamoi and 25yd Screamer open the Friday while Saturday sees Galahad, The John Hackett band {evening} plus I Am The Manic Whale, Orange Clocks and opening band Servants Of Science. Plenty of entertainment over the 2 days with all bands creating many styles under the prog banner. Both headline acts Comedy Of Errors and Galahad have a impressive back catalogue plus have performed throughout the UK, Europe and further afield. The other acts also can boast of excellent material.