The Best of Blues is coming to Southport

The Best of Blues is coming to Southport

On Friday 7 –Saturday 8 October the second annual Big Blues Festival comes to Southport with some of the biggest names on the circuit performing at The Atkinson.

Last year’s festival was such a success that The Atkinson team were worried they wouldn’t top it, but 2017 is proving to be the best yet

This year’s festival, sponsored by Blues Matters Magazine sees the likes of Dr Feelgood, Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders and Liverpool’s own Connie Lush Band take to the stage alongside the fabulous Lisa Mills, Rosco Levee and Dan Burnett.

On Saturday 8 October we have the new Little Blues Stage running from 12pm-5.30pm in the foyer and 6-11pm in the Theatre Bar. The line-up features Benjamin Bassford, Charley Hicks, Joni Fuller, George Shovlin & George Lamb. 

The Little Blues Stage has been programmed by Blues Matters Magazine as a showcase for new bands and a way to introduce blues to a potential new audience at The Atkinson. It will mean great music can be heard throughout the day for free! The Bakery is opening late with great bites and beers throughout!

Emma Lloyd from The Atkinson said:

“The Atkinson is fast gaining a reputation for its Blues programme across the North West. Bands and artists want to perform here and we want to offer the best quality music we can to our audiences.

We aim to give people a chance to hear new and upcoming bands and artists as well as seeing the old favourites. Blues music is passionate and the festival has an amazing atmosphere thanks to those that support it.

It’s my own favourite event and I look forward to it each year. Thank you to Blues Matters who are the festival sponsors and are running this year’s new Little Acoustic Stage, which will add another dimension to the weekend.”

 The Big Blues Festival comes to The Atkinson on Friday 7 – Saturday 8 October. Gig tickets for the headliners Dr Feelgood (£16) and Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders (£20) are available.  Festival tickets are £34 (£39 after 30 September). To book your tickets, please visit theatkinson.co.uk or call our Box Office team on 01704 533 333

 

-ENDS-

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EDITORS NOTES:

For interviews images or further information, please contact Emma.Lloyd@Sefton.gov.uk

Dr Feelgood – Friday 7 October, 8.35pm

Formed on Canvey Island in Essex in the early 1970s, Dr. Feelgood remains one of the most popular and exciting live rhythm and blues acts in the world. The raw and uncompromising style of their performance resulted in the album Stupidity that immediately went to the number one position in the U.K. charts.

Dr. Feelgood have also enjoyed global success with a string of hit singles including Milk and Alcohol, Roxette, Back in the Night, Down at the Doctors, She Does it Right, Going Back Home and See You Later Alligator – which gave the group their first gold record.

(Support Band) Jon Casey Blues Band, 7.30pm

The renowned 3/4 piece Rock & Blues Band that specialises in Cream, Clapton, Gallagher, Mayall, Mayer, Moore and Bonnamassa. They hit the stage for our #BigBlues Festival supporting Dr Feelgood.

Saturday 8 October

Dan Burnett, 12.30pm

A nominee for the British Blues Awards 2015 -Dan Burnett is a powerful force in the world of blues and soul music. It’s in his blood.

He has written and recorded music for TV & Film (including the Nicolas Cage movie ‘Stolen’, and the US TV series ‘Supernatural’), and has gigged extensively in the UK, Europe and USA. He’s shared stages with some incredible artists, including: Paul Jones (BBC R2, Manfred Mann, The Blues Band), Aynsley Lister , Sherman Robertson (USA) , The Animals & Friends and more!

 

Rosco Levee, 2.15pm

Rosco Levee and his band pack a righteous psychedelic punch with their own brand of cosmic blues infused R&B sound. A proper rock n roll band for the new age, Rosco is currently in pre-production of his 3rd studio album to be recorded in April/May with a release date in September 2016.

 

Lisa Mills, 4pm

Currently receiving praise for her re-recording of her 2005 album, ‘I’m Changing’ with Grammy-winning producer Trina Shoemaker (Sheryl Crow, Beth Neilsen Chapman, Indigo Girls) at the helm, Lisa is one of the greatest soul/blues singers you’ll ever hear and she’s no mean guitar slinger either!

 

The Connie Lush Band, 6.30pm

Connie has been recognised as one of the finest Blues singers in the UK today.  The winner of “Best Female Vocalist Uk” no less than five times has earned Connie her place in the Gallery of Greats, alongside Alexis Corner and Eric Clapton to name just two.  Her incredible stage presence and powerful vocal have also been recognized overseas as she was twice voted “European Blues Vocalist of the year” by the “Blues Trophies Awards”  Pride of place is her award from the people of Liverpool for “Performing Arts”….and is still being nominated.

 

Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders, 8.30pm

Andy Fairweather Low came to prominence as the lead singer in Amen Corner. The 60s saw them clock up hit after pop hit. Songs such as ‘Bend Me Shape Me’, ‘Hello Suzy’, ‘(If Paradise is ) Half As Nice’ are internationally remembered to this day. But if you were paying close attention you might have picked up a clue in the magnificent ‘Gin House’ to Andy’s future musical collaborations.

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LISTING INFORMATION

#Big Blues Festival: At a Glance

 

Friday 7 October

7.30pm – 8.15pm Jon Casey Blues Band

8.35pm – Dr Feelgood

 

Saturday 8 October

12.30pm – 1.30pm Dan Burnett

2.15pm – 3.15pm Rosco Levee

4pm – 5pm Lisa Mills

6.30pm – 8pm The Connie Lush Band

8.30pm Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders

 

Please be advised that there is a £1 per ticket booking fee for telephone and online sales and a 2% fee for credit cards at the Box Office.

-ENDS-

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About The Atkinson

The Atkinson is Southport’s beautiful new home for music, theatre, art, poetry, literature and history, right in the middle of Lord Street in Southport. Significant investment has been made in refurbishing the stunning 19th century buildings, to create a really welcoming multi art-form venue with a strong contemporary feel.

The Atkinson offers an exciting and varied destination for families, cultural tourists and arts enthusiasts alike, with a full day and night time offer. Wile the day away visiting the new shop, that sells gifts and contemporary crafts from regional makers and then relax in the Bakery, choosing from a selection of artisan bread sandwiches, cakes and sharing platters. You can even take little bit of The Atkinson home with you from the delicatessen. Wander through the major exhibitions and see performances from some of the UK’s foremost musicians, actors, performers and companies, films, family activities and much more.

The new Museum is now open. Sefton Between Land & Sea tells the story of Southport and Sefton as well as the area’s dramatic maritime history. While Discover Ancient Egypt – the new Egyptology Gallery is the home of the Goodison Egyptology Collection, a remarkable collection of archaeology that has not been seen for over 40 years.

 

 

 

 

Posted on 6 September 2016 under General news

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