FROME’S R‘n’B Festival weekend is coming to The Cheese and Grain on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th March.
Tickets for both shows are £35 or £20 for a single show in advance or £25 on the door.
On Saturday 24th March the show will feature The Pretty Things and Dr Feelgood. After more than 55 years of continuous service, The Pretty Things – still featuring original members Phil May and Dick Taylor – remain a significant, challenging force in Rock ‘n’ Roll.
They still retain that energy, as befits one of this country’s most exciting live acts, whilst their recordings and song-writing maintain the same levels of inspiration and innovation that were set back in 1964, with the world’s first and best ever Garage anthem, ‘Rosalyn’. Underrated and often overlooked, The Pretty Things have had a seminal influence on Rock music. Their diverse and unexpected history has spawned countless imitators, many of whom have seen greater commercial success than their heroes, but The Pretty Things remain the original and the best.
Dr Feelgood was formed in Canvey Island in 1971, the group soon became a major force on the R’n ‘B circuit. Their distinctive sound was centred on Wilko Johnson’s choppy guitar style and the distinctive vocals of Lee Brilleaux. The breakthrough 1976 live album “Stupidity” topped the UK album charts and their place in rock history was assured. The group have continued to tour worldwide following Brilleaux’s death, gathering even more fans after Julien Temple’s movie “Oil City Confidential”, about the band’s early days, premiered at the London Film Festival, to huge critical acclaim.
Expect all the classic material,such as “Milk & Alcohol”, “She Does it Right”, “Roxette”, “Back in the Night”, “She’s a Wind Up”, “Down at The Doctors” plus many others.
On Sunday 25th March the show will feature Albert Lee & His USA Electric Band and Johnny Mars Blues Express All Stars.
Albert Lee’s impeccable pedigree stretches back over 40 years, performing with many of the greats along the way, including being a regular member of the touring bands of Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris and The Everley Brothers. While living in Nashville he was the “go to” guitarist for session work and live shows. His list of credits are endless, including performances with Willie Nelson, The Crickets, Lonnie Donnegan, Jimmy Page and Ricky Skaggs.
The American Blues singer/songwriter and harmonica player, Johnny Mars, like so many other Blues musicians was born to sharecropping parents in South Carolina. His family were constantly moving home, so he was on the road from an early age, getting his first harmonica at the age of nine years old.
He would sit in at juke joints listening to the likes of Muddy Waters and Little Walter. He was forced to move to New York by the death of his mother and was a familiar figure on the Greenwich Village scene, often supporting Jimi Hendrix . He formed the Johnny Mars Blues Band, moving to San Francisco in 1967 and shared the stage with Santana, Alice Cooper and the legendary Paul Butterfield Blues Band. He toured with Magic Sam and opened for B.B.King and John Lee Hooker.
Buy tickets in advance from The Cheese & Grain, Frome www.cheeseand grain.com. Box office: office@cheeseandgrain .com (01373) 455420
Tickets also available from Raves from the Grave: 01373 464666