Many of the Blues Band’s 21st century fans weren’t even born when these five virtuosos, already music industry veterans, decided to fly in the face of musical fashion in 1979 and form a band ‘just to play the blues’.
No-one could have predicted that, 40 years on, they’d still be dazzling audiences with their showmanship and virtuosity. About 20 albums and thousands of gigs later, they’ve earned a reputation around the world as one of the finest exponents of the blues tradition in all its forms.
And they’re coming to the Cheese & Grain on 7th February.
Whether it’s Beethoven or B. B. King, Howlin’ Wolf or Handel, it all sounds better with a huge helping of skill, virtuosity and feeling. So when it comes to the Blues, aficionados of the genre can relax, because with The Blues Band, their music’s in good hands.
Formed in 1979 by five seasoned musicians, The Blues Band are celebrating 40 glorious years as Britain and Europe’s leading exponents of one of the greatest musical traditions of all time. It began back then with a phone call by Paul Jones, actor, singer, musician and radio presenter, no stranger to the pop charts throughout the 1960s as front man for the hugely successful Manfred Mann.
His fellow Manfred Tom McGuinness shared the same love of the music – he’d started out with Eric Clapton in the Roosters. And they knew the right people to make their idea for a band ‘just to play the blues’ work; they brought in legendary slide guitar man and singer Dave Kelly, talented bassist Gary Fletcher and drummer Rob Townsend, a member of one of Britain’s most eclectic, legendary outfits, Family.
The rest, as the saying goes, is history. But what history. TV, films, a stadium tour with Dire Straits, over 20 albums and the status of lasting legends. From Greece to Finland, Poland to Portugal, Italy to Denmark, the fans turn out in their thousands. What’s on offer is always the same; a stunning menu of original compositions and blues classics, all delivered with passion, love of the genre and entertaining showmanship.
If you want to know what 40 years of skill and devotion sound like, here’s your chance – if you love the blues, it doesn’t get any better than The Blues Band.
Tickets £27.50 (+booking fee) All seated show. Box office 01373 455 420.
www.cheeseandgrain.com
