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Starting out as the band behind Ian Dury, the Blockheads are a legendary outfit that has grown in stature from the early days of the Stiff tour in 1977, right up to the present day. Backing up Ian Dury’s poetic lyrics, this is the band that brought you ‘Hit Me with your Rhythm Stick’, ‘What A Waste’, ‘Reasons to be Cheerful (Part 3)’, and ‘Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll’, among many others.

Rarely off the road since the demise of Ian Dury in 2000, but now with Derek Hussey fronting the band, the Blockheads are still one of the most underrated British bands of all time, with a legion of fans of all ages.

Their new album, ‘Same Horse Different Jockey’, was released on 23rd November 2013, which was also the 35th anniversary of the release of ‘Hit Me with your Rhythm Stick’, and continues to show both their diversity and supreme quality, as well as showcasing their uniqueness.

Derek Hussey’s lyrics in the bands new songs keep the combination of poetry, word play, earthy humour and deadly-accurate observations of everyday, British working-class life, that Ian Dury had perfected, but with an added bite for the 21st century. Hussey is known to the bands followers as Dury’s best friend and minder, memorably singing with Ian and the band at a televised concert in the late 90’s.

This album release campaign has been supported by a hugely successful Kickstarter project, with the fans getting involved and enabling the band to make music videos in association with Free Seed Films (www.freeseedfilms.com). You can see the new video for the first single from ‘Same Horse Different Jockey’, ‘Express Yourself’ on the Blockheads YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/blockheadsofficial . In addition there has also been a remake of the classic ‘Blockhead Watch’, but for the modern generation, with a ‘Blockhead Clock’ available for iPhones from the Apple app store.

As well as through their own new material, interest in “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll”, the recent biopic of their erstwhile front man Ian Dury, the performance of ‘Spasticus Autisticus’ at the 2012 Para-Olympic Opening Ceremony, and the musical ‘Reasons To be Cheerful’, has seen a resurgence in the bands popularity over the past couple of years and they continue to go from strength to strength.

Along with some new material you can expect to hear “Hit Me with your Rhythm Stick”, “Wake Up And Make Love With Me”, “Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part 3)”, “What A Waste”, “Clevor Trever”, “Sweet Gene Vincent” and many more from the illustrious back catalogue.

The Blockheads are fronted by Derek ‘The Draw’ Hussey, and Chaz Jankel, Norman Watt-Roy, John Turnbull and Mick Gallagher still remain from the original band. The current line-up is augmented by John Roberts on drums and a rolling line up of saxophonists that includes Gilad Atzmon, Terry Edwards and Dave Lewis.
CATFISH

nternational touring blues rock powerhouse Catfish are making waves on the music scene in the UK and Europe. In 2018 they won the UK Blues Award for Blues Act of the Year (England) to add to their 2016 British Blues Award. This year they were nominated for three UK Blues awards, winning two of them - Band of the Year and Blues Instrumentalist of the Year (Matt Long). 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 and, although their tours in March and April plus most of the summer festivals have been cancelled this year due to Covid-19, they still have a November tour of Europe in the diary.

Their first two albums 'So Many Roads' and ‘Broken Man’ both reached no. 1 in the IBBA airplay charts. The second of these, ‘Broken Man’, was also nominated for a UK Blues Award and was named album of the year by the IBBA. Their current album 'Burning Bridges' was released in May 2019 and has received excellent reviews from the UK and European music press. It was the third most played album by the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association in 2019 and has been nominated for a UK blues award for 2020 as album of the year.

'Catfish are one of the finest live bands in Britain today. The quality of musicianship is outstanding and in Matt Long, they have one of the greatest young guitarists on the scene today...' Blues Matters Magazine.
James Oliver has already rubbed shoulders with many of the greats of the guitar firmament. Now, having recorded three vital, very contemporary albums with his band Glas, he is preparing to write a new chapter of not only his career but also Welsh music history.

His progress since forming Glas in early 2012 has been steady rather than spectacular, playing every gig in the Valleys before expanding horizons beyond. See him on stage, though, and spectacular is very much the word. Little wonder the late, great Deke Leonard of Man/Iceberg fame was moved to say that ‘Speaking as a guitarist, James Oliver scares the hell out of me.’ Taff Williams and Tweke Lewis, who have played with him, were similarly impressed.
Oliver’s propulsive guitar won Glas an invitation to play the prestigious Monaghan Blues Festival in Ireland – the first Welsh act to do so – while other festivals at Tenby and Colne soon followed. His rootsy, Fender-fuelled music has been heard supporting the likes of Albert Lee . Bill Kirchen,and, only this year, Played London’s legendary 100 Club. Former Love Sculpture/Dave Edmunds bassist John David has worked with Jamesin the studio, further enhancing a more than respectable CV.

As music business veterans will tell you, success is 10 per cent inspiration and 90 per cent perspiration. As he enters the next stage of his career, James Oliver has a track record that shows he will not allow an ounce of his talents to be wasted. And with new musicians to interact with, chances are the music in store will exhibit hitherto unheard dimensions to delight his growing army of fans. Blues, rock a billy, rock and country…it’s all here in one explosive pickin’ package.
DEEP BLUE SEA

From wild wild west London Borough of Los Angeles, an astonishing vocalist, Dregas From the frozen north London Borough of Stockholm, a funky master of rhythm and groove, tougher than an IKEA manual, Amanda Dal on drums. From the sunny south London Borough of Santiago De Compostella, a master of so many guitar styles he leaves audiences dumbstruck, the amazing Iago Banet on guitar. From inner London, the Royal London Borough of Hartlepool, he played with Tenpole Tudor back in the day and is an established songwriter, Graeme on bass.
 
The Southbound sound derives from classic influences stemming from the Chicago and Delta blues as well as early Southern rock, taking their inspiration from iconic bands such as: Derek and the Dominoes, the Allman Brothers Band, Humble Pie, Santana, Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter and Ry Cooder which culminates into a unique blend of their own modern up tempo British Blues Rock and Soulful Ballads.

When performing live, all these influences come together to create an unparalleled live experience that’s both exciting and entertaining .
The band have been vigorously gigging around the U.K for the past few years at festivals and venues, and trodden the boards of many of the U.K's iconic music venues, both sharing the stage and supporting some of Britain's best blues and rock acts around, and at their own headline shows.

Southbound in early 2019 have released a brand new album called “Rocking Horse” showcasing 11 of their own original songs which blend blues, rock, and soul. Their twin guitar sounds, a funky back line and powerful vocals bring a fresh new approach on the genres with a young British fire behind it, breaking the restrictions on Blues and Rock and becoming a sound which is purely... Southbound.
RAINBREAKERS are noted for their distinctively forlorn vocals and moodily contagious songs that explore the complex struggles of life. The U.K. based four-piece formed when Ben Edwards [lead vocals & guitar] put together a band with his brother Sam Edwards [on drums] and later finding friends Ash Milburn [on bass] and the truly phenomenal musician Charlie Richards [on lead guitar] to complete the vision the brothers had for a unique sound.
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The band seeks to shape a musical marque for themselves as they continue to explore their unique brand of Rock and Soul and aim to cultivate the roots of their own introspective brand that's a subtle variety of brooding, English, roots-rock. Bottling the anger and frustration they witness in modern-day living and they siphon off their feelings into suitable musical containers that allow raw emotions to bleed out during passionate live performances and on high-quality recordings.
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Having toured across the UK and mainland Europe, this tenacious four-piece from the West Midlands, have won over crowds with their unmistakable sound, sharing stages with artists such as The Temperance Movement, The Kris Barras Band, Samantha Fish, Devon Allman and Wille and the Bandits.
 
Rainbreakers have been playing to capacity crowds at iconic venues such as The 100 Club, The Borderline, The Sage and Rock City. Performances at festivals like the Great British Rock and Blues and Wilderness Festival have seen the band receive accolades including nominations for the UK Blues Challenge and Best Emerging Artist in The British Blues Awards. Cementing Rainbreakers status as one of the brightest acts to materialise in recent times.
Fronted by an unusual pairing of mother & daughter, this musical powerhouse brings you original tracks with sounds firmly rooted in blues history. The unique vocal pairing of Lee Ainley & Tori Mai showcases tight harmonies wrought from close family bonds & a solid musical pedigree.

These unstoppable ladies create the feel of the music with their song writing artistry. On lead guitar is the raw edgy Elliot Young, who also drops his song writing prowess into the mix. The engine of the rhythm section growls along with the skilful David Atkin on drums. Locking in with David is patriarch Nat
Ainley on bass, making this a family affair. The sum of two vibrant young talents and three mellow experienced veterans make this band able to look to the future as well as back in time.

Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm are a touring band and will go where serious rock blues is needed. Their recent successful UK tour under the Ladies of the Blues banner took them to revered venues such as The Tunnels in Bristol, The Komedia in Brighton and The Water Rats in London. The band have paid their dues and are now supporting both national as well as international acts including Marcus Malone, The Brew, Eliana Cargnelutti, Erja Lyytinen and Troy Redfern.

Not only have they played the famous 100 Club in London, The Electric Palace in Bridport and the Limelight Theatre in Aylesbury, Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm are also becoming known on the festival scene and have performed at several festivals including one of the largest indoor blues festivals in Europe, The Great British Rock & Blues Festival Skegness.

In November they will once again be touring the UK with Eliana Cargnelutti. This journey will take them back to the 100 Club again and also to the Bude Blues, Rhythm & Rock Festival where they will be performing alongside the likes of Sugaray Rayford, Nine Below Zero, Stevie Nimmo & Kyla Brox to name but a few. Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm will also be appearing at the Blues, Rhythm & Rock Festival Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk and at the Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival Colne, Lancashire.

Their eagerly-awaited new album will be released in time for their November tour. This album will join their growing catalogue of recorded material. Their fist two EP’s, “Shoot me down” and “Bankruptcy” have been well-received by the IBBA (Independent Blues Broadcasting Association) with their debut EP “Shoot me down” having made the IBBA most played artists top 40 for February 2018 and in January 2019 their second EP “Bankruptcy” came in at number 18. The media reponse has been phenomenal, with tracks being played regularly on both national & international radio stations in the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, France & Holland.
Solid Entertainments Presents... Cleethorpes Blues Festival