Coming to The Musician in April 2018

Asphodelia is a dark symphonic metal act founded in 2016 in Foggia, Italy, by Samuela "Samah" Fuiani (vocals and keyboards) and Ruggero "Lordian" Doronzo (guitar), and currently including Davide Ricciardi (bass), Giuseppe Centonza (drums) and Gianni Colonna (guitar). Their sound blends symphonic and choral sonorities, electronics and echoes. Their lyrics are usually centered on the theme of the afterlife, on the life and death of the dichotomy, the fleetingness of time and the misery of the human condition.

The band is named after the asphodel, typical of the ancient Greek mythology, the Asphodel Meadows is a place where the indifferent souls, who lived a good life die.

The band released at promo EP entitled ' Vengeance ' on May 26, 2016, receiving enthusiastic response from their fanbase. In May 2017 they signed a management and booking deal with The Flaming Arts Agency , Russia, as main support to The Agonist , Sirenia and Cellar Darling .

Welcome to Mighty Music for the release of their debut album ' Welcome Apocalypse ', scheduled for April 20th.

WELCOME BACK MR LEWIS!

"Really great and impressive and inspiring and exciting... There's not a lot of people that can tell a story and use language like that in music." - Will Oldham

"A wordy force of nature… stirs you up with politics or knocks you sideways with sadness… ideas burst from Jeffrey Lewis like an overstuffed suitcase – strange ones, funny ones, poignant ones, usually a mixture…. kicking out ramshackle fuzzbomb jams… it's difficult to imagine how any couple of hours spent in Lewis's company couldn't prove inspirational." (four of five stars) - The Guardian

"Bizarre but brilliant" - Uncut

“[Jeffrey Lewis is] The best lyricist working in the US today.” - Jarvis Cocker (Pulp)

"Jeffrey is the only artist I've sent fan mail to.” - Jens Lekman

"Hands down my favorite contemporary songwriter" - Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie)

Welsh indie pop maestros Seazoo are touring their debut album released in Jan 2018.

Fresh from supporting psychedelic punk rockers The Lovely Eggs on their UK tour, alongside sharing bills with Peace and IDLES in recent months, the band’s latest release further builds anticipation for their debut record with the influences of acts including Grandaddy, Super Furry Animals and Yo La Tengo shining through once more.

Extensive support across the radio airwaves from Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1), Steve Lamacq, Chris Hawkins, Lauren Laverne and Radcliffe & Maconie (BBC 6 Music), alongside widespread critical acclaim (DIY, The Line Of Best Fit, Q Magazine), leaves the five-piece well-placed going into what promises to be an exciting 2018.

'Seazoo mash together some manic axes, some wah-wah-ing all over the shop and some recalling '90s grunge, thumping basslines, theremin-y synths, big beats, and crystal-clear vocals. It's a haywire piece of pop gold that will ensnare your heart on first listen.' THE LINE OF BEST FIT.

'This is thoughtful, proper and smart pop (with a wonderful twist of the abstract) in the spirit of Yo La Tengo and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci.' - LOUDER THAN WAR

'The single, Dog Hotel, is a brilliant cross section of the band: lovely naughties guitar, touches of atonality, group vocals, bullfrog-mating-call bass line and spaced-out synths.' - ARTROCKER

Presenting "The Marley Experience", the Ultimate Bob Marley Tribute Band live & direct from the heart of the UK. Giving you all the hits, classics & sing alongs like One Love, Three Little Birds, No Woman, No Cry, Iron Lion Zion, I Shot the Sheriff, Get Up Stand Up and many many more.......

Established in Leicester’s West End back in 2014 The DG’s one and only line-up is now a decade in. Max Manning and Tom Best front the band on stage; sharing out the vocal, guitar, and harmonica duties. The band’s rhythm section consists of Andy Boulton on bass & Tom Walker on drums, who (along with Manning) have been playing together for almost twenty five years.
As of 2017 the band have been frequently joined on stage by highly accomplished musician & good friend Tony Robinson; who provides organ, piano, & trumpet. Over the years Tony has worked with a number of popular artists including: The Beautiful South, The Specials, & Manic Street Preachers.
The DG’s are a band who pride themselves on their retro rock-n-roll approach to live performances and original material which seamlessly bridges the gaps between blues, rock, & Americana.

Michael Lee Firkins is a world-renowned guitarist/vocalist from Omaha, Nebraska. Michael has been playing his unique brand of Blues-Rock, Country and Southern-infused guitar boogie for his fans around the world for many years.

Michael Lee Firkins’ most recent release "YEP" is a classic blues-rock opera featuring Matt Abts and Andy Hess of Gov't Mule on drums and bass with Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones) on keys. “Yep” is the first album to feature Michael's vocals and has received rave reviews around the world. Guitar Player Magazine called the album "a great showcase of his swampy tones and muscular slide work" while Premier Guitar Magazine speaks in glowing terms of the "instrumental brilliance and the hush-to-howl layers of guitar that paint Yep’s 11 songs in vibrant Technicolor"

Michael Lee Firkins was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Born to musician parents (his father was a lap steel guitarist and his mother a pianist) he started playing acoustic guitar at the tender age of eight. Mostly self taught, he also took lessons at a local Omaha music store. Learning the songs of the times, Michael was heavily into Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and AC/DC. By 1979 Firkins was electrified, he soon played in local bands and in church from the age of 12 until 18. In 1985 Michael started touring the country in cover tune bands. Frustrated with cover tunes, he eventually went back to Omaha and began teaching guitar. For the next few years, Michael's musical influences were expanding. Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Albert Lee, and Danny Gatton were among the list of new favorites. You can hear Michael’s influences on every album he’s ever made, yet Firkins has crafted an unmistakable sound of his own that has influenced a generation of guitarists.

In 1990, Michael recorded a five song demo of instrumental guitar tunes that showcased his guitar playing and was featured in Guitar Player Magazine's Spotlight. As a result of that exposure, Michael was signed to Shrapnel Records and released his self titled debut album. This release showcased Michael's signature sound of rock blended with country, blues and jazz, selling more than 100,000 copies. The success of this album lead to Michael winning the "BEST NEW TALENT" award in a reader's poll in Guitar for the Practicing Musician and ranking as runner up in Guitar Player Magazine's "BEST NEW TALENT" readers poll. He was also hailed as "ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PLAYERS OF THE NEXT TEN YEARS" by Guitar for the Practicing Musician. As Michael's music was also hugely popular in Europe, Firkins won the Edison Award, Holland's version of a Grammy.

Spring of 2018 will find Michael touring Europe with exclusive releases on CD and Vinyl that will be available only at his live shows. Michael said “I’m extremely excited to be able to offer exclusive material to my fans at live shows. I think it will be a whole new experience that will create positive momentum for both artist and fans”. Of course, fans can always head to YouTube to view many videos of Michael doing what he does best.

Dutch-English singer and songwriter Gitta de Ridder draws the listener into a world full of atmosphere and feeling. Feelings of joy, sadness and wonder. Stories, thoughts, dreams, hopes, and all that lies between wrapped up in a blanket of indie folk acoustic guitar sounds and beautiful melodies.
She grew up in The Netherlands leaving the family home to go study music at age 18. A journey that took her from the Netherlands to Germany, to Italy, Greece, Ireland and the UK, settling in London in 2008 where she has lived ever since. Her first single 'Mr Yesterday' released in September 2014 gathered attention from BBC introducing, Amazing Radio and several Dutch Radio stations and with her self-produced debut EP 'Come Find Me' released in January 2015 and received with shining reviews she is starting to be a name to remember.

"Her remarkable voice is given the space and attention it deserves. She really is a wonderful singer." - Alex Gallacher 'Folk Radio UK' on the 'Come Find Me' EP

Chris Difford is a rare breed. As a member of one of London’s best-loved bands, the Squeeze co-founder has made a lasting contribution to English music with hits such as ‘Cool For Cats’, ‘Up The Junction’, ‘Labelled With Love’, ‘Hourglass’ and ‘Tempted’.

As a recording artist, Boo’s first tentative steps came with the band, The Great Divide before the formation of his much-loved eighties group The Bible and a career that subsequently bloomed such that he is now in constant demand as a musician, songwriter (writing one of Eddi Readers hits ‘Patience of Angels’) producer, teacher and live concert performer.

Come and experience Talon as you’ve never seen them before. Four members of the world’s greatest Eagles tribute band perform a selection of their favourite contemporary acoustic classics by James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, Crosby Stills & Nash, John Denver, Michael Jackson, and many more…

Kris Barras is one of the U.K's most exciting Blues-Rock Guitarists. His blend of soul-wrenching melodies with blistering technique has thrilled audiences worldwide for the past 13 years. The band's unique mix of foot-stomping riffs and catchy tunes have made them one of the 'must-see' Blues bands of 2017.
For lovers of
King King
Joe Bonamassa
Kenny Wayne Shepard
Gary Moore
Stevie Ray Vaughn

Special Guests:
ROBERT J HUNTER BAND
https://www.facebook.com/RJHunterMusic/
http://robertjhunter.co.uk/
Dirty rhythm & blues from the depths of Alderney. Island born Robert J. Hunter combines his gruff and powerful voice with the wild thud of overdriven blues guitar.
This is a road worn, dirty blues band that’s been honed to super tight perfection by sheer hard work and volume of shows.

OPENING
Hubcap
https://www.facebook.com/hubcapdananddave/?fref=mentions

Hubcap are a Rock Blues Psychedelic two piece band. With Vampin electric Slide and Rockin Guitar Riffs, Dans 'mitchel/bonham' influences, they're definitely not a duo to miss...............

No one can ever say that Bonafide frontman, Pontus Snibb, is laid back. If he's not bouncing about Europé heading up Bonafide, or skin thumping with Jason & the Scorchers, we now see he's managed to set time aside to write and soon record the second record together with his
trio Wreck of Blues.

Pontus's take on it: "I've been into the whole blues vibe since I was a kid, and if I'm honest, it will probably be that sort of riff that will be getting played when I stop doing what I’m doing. When I finally got around to doing this, the tracks were the easy bit as I've had most of them in storage some time, but as you know, I never stop creating. The musicianship was essential, and after doing over 2000 shows with Håkan Nyberg (a.k.a DAD) I couldn't think of anyone else I'd rather have part of my rhythm section. He's taken care of the skins, and the low-end rumble comes from my bass soul mate, Kalle Johansson".

"The final result is pleasing, as it really represents the passion I have for this genre, but as the great Albert King used to say...Blues Power...can you dig it?"

Roots & Branches presents:
David 9 Lunas (former frontman of B.L.O.W Little Angels) again shows his ability to wander through popular music genres – folk, soul, pop, blues, rock and country – tipping hats, referencing classic sounds, acknowledging past greats and using these sounds to build his own gentle, meticulously wrought but formidable musical identity. Music is sometimes deep and insightful, often it is accessible and infectious, rarely is it both. Universal Joy is one of those rare occasions.
SPECIAL OFFER £2.50 for Contributing Singers on the night.
Compare - Shelia Mosley

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

Crow Black Chicken have earned a reputation as one of Irelands top blues acts. This power trio of Christy O Hanlon (Vocals, Guitar, Stephen McGrath (Bass) and Gev Barrett (Drums, backing vocals) combine elements of folk and hard rock with the blues rock of bands like Gov't mule, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin to create their greasy blues rock sound.

"These guys do the nasty blues like the devil hisself was hurting and rock like they'll skate come judgement day" Ray Wylie Hubbard

"CBC could save rock and roll" Alvin Youngblood Hart

Koyo visit The Musician as part of a short UK tour to support their new single release. Combining influences of Tame Impala,Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Radiohead and Bullet For My Valentine, this Psychedelic/Progressive act certainly entertain. Supporting acts Eyes Of Albion and Colossloth will add a nice angle to this free entry show.

2018 will be the 40th anniversary of the death of legendary folk singer Sandy Denny. She passed away unexpectedly at the age of 31 in 1978, after having made a lasting impression on British folk(rock) music, with her beautiful band albums (The Strawbs, Fairport Convention, Fotheringay) and solo records'

To mark this occasion Linde will renew her hommage to her favorite singer.

Linde will also be her own support singing some of her own wonderful songs.

"I got intrigued about the different versions of this song (Who knows where the time goes). It's been covered so many times, by so many diverse people, from Rufus Wainwright to Judy Collins, but I think my favourite comes from the artist Linde Nijland"
Tom Robinson (BBC6)

"Linde Nijland has given Sandy Denny's music the respect it deserves, and made a lovely and fresh record that shows off her beautiful voice as well as her good taste".
Joe Boyd (Producer Fairport Convention, Nick Drake i.e.)

With a life-time in music, you will hear echoes and influences from the whole tradition of the blues in his playing. His uncompromising adherence to a genuine belief in his music has never been deflected. His distinctive raw, attacking riffs and phrases are reminiscent of such legendary names as Freddie King, Albert Collins or T-Bone Walker.

Mick Pini started playing guitar as a young boy back in 1960. Since then he’s paid his dues in pubs, clubs, festivals, concert halls - even busking on the streets. Over a lifetime he’s worked with all sorts: BB King, Doctor Ross, Professor Longhair, Rich Grech, Mojo Buford, Louisana Red, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Chris Farlowe, Mike Vernon and Luther Allison. Pini has more recently worked with Roy Estrada and Jimmy Carl Black.

Eric Clapton called him the “legitimate successor to Peter Green”, while Mick Vernon described him as “having the energy and attack that made Freddie King one of the greats. There are too few great guitarists working the European scene. Sure there are many good ones, but only a few have the potential to make a mark in a way Peter Green did many years ago”.

A veteran on the blues circuit, Mick now lives in Germany but is very much the real deal and a fascinating character as well as one hell of a guitar player.

As Peter Green is said to have said, ‘it’s is the notes that he doesn’t play that makes him’.

Playing live - Mick will be playing with Strange Blues as his band in England for this tour . They have steadily earned a reputation as a blistering live act, gigging steadily around the East Midlands and supporting and playing with the likes of Sally Barker and Aynsley Lister.

Don't miss this exciting new blues band!
On guitar is the epitome of the Texas guitar slingers, the amazing TIM AINSLIE (Swagger, ‘Groove Doctors’, King Bizkit, Ainslie’s Vibes),
on drums, the powerhouse of Rory Gallagher’s Band and Nine Below Zero BRENDAN O’NEILL, on vocals and harmonica RICHARD ‘KING BIZKIT’ EVERITT the leader of the world renowned band ‘King Bizkit’, and on bass guitar the one and only FERGIE FULTON, (previously with Booze ‘n’ Blues, GrooveDoctors, Hokie Joint).

Both Sides Now presents The Joni Mitchell Songbook!
 
Of all the leading lights of the West Coast singer-songwriter movement, Joni Mitchell remains its most influential figure, with a body of work running the gamut from folk to mainstream pop, right through to modern jazz and back again.
 
This comprehensive survey of Joni’s career includes landmarks such as Big Yellow Taxi (her most covered song), River and A Case of You (both from the breakthrough album Blue), the radio hits of Help Me and Free Man In Paris (from double-platinum Court and Spark) and the jazz-infused stylings of In France They Kiss On Main St (The Hissing of Summer Lawns) and Coyote (Hejira).
 
Both Sides Now brings together a group of top-drawer musicians, led by singer Sarah Miller and keyboard player Aidan Goldstraw, whose devotion to Joni’s back catalogue shines through in performance. This is no mere ‘tribute act’ – it’s an evening spent together, exploring the work of a musical genius.

This is a very rare chance to see two of North America's finest bands share the stage, together with an up and coming British band with an excellent pedigree.

Mystery
Hailing from Quebec, Canada Mystery has become one of the most popular and respected Progressive Rock Band in the world, with a big following all over Europe. MYSTERY has created a unique and enchanting world with their sophisticated symphonic rock sound. Recording albums over the years with guest musicians like Daryl Stuermer ( Genesis, Phil Collins) Nick D’Virgillio ( Tears for Fear, Spock’s Beard) Richard Lanthier (April Wine) and more, the MYSTERY Live Band always delivers a stunning live show with music that reaches the heart of fans worldwide.

www.therealmystery.com

Midnight Sun
Midnight Sun contain former members of Prog bands Also Eden and Unto Us in vocalist Huw LLoyd Jones, keyboard player Ian Hodson and guitarists Andy Gelband and Tom Ennis but offer a harder edged, more metallic form of Prog. The band are due to release their debut album in early 2018.

www.facebook.com/midnightsunprog
Damian Wilson now replaces Presto Ballet.

Damian has been a member of Threshold, Landmarq just to name two plus a band called Headspace along side Adam Wakeman. Damian also has a notable solo career also with many albums to note.
www.damianwilson.com

Showcasing the talents of Leicester College Students

Since their humble beginnings in West London in 1996 to now, Who’s Who, the longest established Who Tribute Show in the UK, have received incredible reactions across Europe and beyond for their exciting live performances. Pete Townshend’s leaping and Roger Daltrey’s microphone whirling antics have all but transformed the standard of tribute shows and set a benchmark within the industry for others to follow.

Widely recognised and respected by their musical peers and acknowledged by members of (and those close to) The Who, as the group that most interprets the songs of Pete Townshend and the legendary live performances of The Who with honesty and integrity.

Giving nothing less than 100% during a performance, Who’s Who ensure that a night to remember is guaranteed for those people who are lucky enough to be able to attend.

Electric Circus UK are the only UK based W.A.S.P tribute band. Formed in late 2015, with a deep passion for the mighty American outfit, it was decided a tribute act was needed that truly emulated this great Los Angeles band.
You will see on stage, a custom made "Blackie Lawless" microphone stand with illuminated skull, an outfit with actual steel saw blades, and period correct guitars also customised, even an American guitarist to add to the authenticity.

The first three albums are the preferred era and favourites like, Animal, Love Machine, Wild Child, On Your Knees, Blind In Texas, are included in the set list.

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