2017 sees The Blues Band Celebrate their 38th year together and what better way to celebrate than a tour!
The Atkinson is lucky enough to be one of their tour destinations and on Friday 17 February Southport welcomes Paul Jones, Dave Kelly, Tom McGuinness, Rob Townsend and Gary Fletcher.
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, 38 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. With this line-up, it’s hardly surprising.
The band is today acknowledged throughout Europe and beyond as being amongst the very finest purveyors of rhythm & blues. They have inspired numerous other blues bands, many of which have come and gone …The Blues Band have remained a constant, increasingly popular fixture, however, and all with only a modicum of help from the record business – as Gary’s often quoted comment states “the music industry doesn’t bother us and we don’t bother them.”
These boys have real feel – for their music, for their audience and for each other. Playing with maturity and passion is second nature to all of them …. Paul Jones has devoted much of a creative career spanning almost 40 years to this eternal, inspiring form – the very base and roots of rock & roll ….. Dave Kelly, with his late, great sister, Jo-Ann, introduced a whole generation to the works of Memphis Minnie, Son House, Robert Johnson and Mississippi Fred McDowell …… the blues bit Tom McGuinness in the late ’50s and has never let go – the same sharp, tight grip which still holds Rob Townsend and Gary Fletcher within its spell. So here they are, as enthusiastic as ever – Britain’s finest, most skilled practitioners in the art of the blues. The Blues Band.
The Blues Band perform at The Atkinson on Friday 17 February at 8pm. Tickets are £22.
To book tickets for this event or to find out more information about all the other events and activities at The Atkinson, please visit theatkinson.co.uk or call our friendly Box Office team on 01704 533333.
-ENDS-
________________________________________________________________
LISTING INFORMATION
For interviews or press tickets/photos please contact Emma Lloyd Emma.lloyd@sefton.gov.uk / 0151 934 2129
The Blues Band
Friday 17 February
8pm
*£22
*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.
Posted on 6 January 2017 under General news