Events

The S.H.I.T!
 
With the world on an ever increasing downward spiral and the very foundations of society crumbling around our ears, four indomitable members of the international blues & rock community have come together in celebration of the mess that is the here and now.  Yes, these like minded musical badasses: Ian Siegal (guitar/vocals); Mike Hellier (drums); Roger Inniss (bass) and Rob Tognoni (guitar/vocals), having finally been defecated out after of years of paying their dues to the blues and rock greats of yesteryear, have grouped together to form the band: The S.H.I.T!
 
"The evolution of The S.H.I.T! was right under our noses ... Siegal, Hellier, Inniss, Tognoni. It was a sign to finally be S.H.I.T.!" writes Rob Tognoni on his inspiration behind forming this mighty supergroup.  "The world can finally enjoy a good S.H.I.T! show."
 
The S.H.I.T! Line up
 
"The S.H.I.T! is about to hit the fans!" - Ian Siegal
 
Ian Siegal - Siegal’s long list of past achievements include 13 British Blues Awards, 3 Mojo Blues Albums of The Year, 4 European Blues Music Awards, and 3 US Blues Awards nominations. Classic Rock Magazine hails Siegal as a “National Treasure”.
 
Mike Hellier - Mike has played with Mike Scott from The Waterboys and toured and recorded extensively with some wonderful artists including James Hunter, Johnny Thunders, Sherman Robertson, Mike Vernon and many more. He has spent five years touring Europe with the eldest son of Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield, appearing with Mud on ‘Later with Jools Holland’ with Jools himself guesting on piano.  "Mike Hellier - you're a shuffling motherf*!ker" - Jimmy Carpenter.
 
Roger Inniss - When Roger was a little boy he often dreamt of becoming an aircraft pilot, motor racing driver or painter like Salvador Dali. As he grew older he became aware of how these dreams influenced his life. As a musician Roger enjoys the freedom to fly like the pilot, he loves the attention to detail and teamwork of a motor racing driver and enjoys the surrealism of life and music like Dali.
 
Rob Tognoni - Rob Tognoni (AKA the Tasmanian Devil) has been treading stages worldwide for the past 40 years. He has opened for the greats - Roy Buchanan, Stevie Ray Vaughan's mentor Lonnie Mack, Joe Walsh from the Eagles, shared stages with Peter Green, Sting, ZZ Top, Bo Diddley. He has played venues all the way from maximum security prisons in Australia to Mozart's House in Vienna!.
 
Expect blues, expect roots, expect Americana but, above all, believe in the words of Rob Tognoni: "make no mistake we will always be the S.H.I.T!" and in Ian Siegal when he writes: “The S.H.I.T! just got real!”

Support comes from The Debt Collectors

Dom Martin was brought up in the often tough, but community driven streets of Belfast Northern Ireland and has certainly paid his life and musical dues. 

He has made a fairly 'meteoric' rise in terms of today's industry with his jaw dropping, entirely natural sounding and unforced/unschooled skill on acoustic guitar, matched with an authentic 'Belfast Blues' voice, bringing to mind comparisons with many from (Glasgow born) John Martyn to Rory Gallagher, with nods to many in-between, not least perhaps the likes of Van Morrison and Foy Vance.

Dom has won multiple awards for his acoustic work with a 2019 European award, UK awards in 2020/2021/2022 and as a result is now an inductee in the UK Blues Hall of Fame.

Dom is equally adept on electric with his power trio, having won the UK Blues Awards Best Instrumentalist Award 2022 & 2023. The trio is always an extremely popular addition to any blues/rock festival.

In late 2018 Dom was invited by Cerys Matthews to play a live session on the BBC Radio 2 Blues Show and she described his work as “absolutely wonderful stuff”. 

At the end of 2019 Dom released his debut album, “Spain to Italy” which attracted a lot of attention and promised a successful career ahead for the Irishman.

A second and highly reviewed studio album "A Savage Life" was released in April 2022 which cemented Dom's place in the UK and European Blues/Rock scene and in September 2023 he released his latest album "Buried In The Hail" on Forty Below Records scoring many top marks with reviewers and gaining Classic Rock Magazines "Blues Album of The Month" above many industry top names. 

In August 2023 Dom and his band gained many new fans whilst aboard Joe Bonamassa's KTBA Mediterranean Cruise III and he was certainly the talk of the ship. 

“Dom Martin is the next rising star in the global roots scene. Jump aboard now before he passes you by.” – Rock and Blues Muse

Support comes from Blue Nation
 

THE CHRIS BEVINGTON ORGANISATION. I cannot emphasise how good this band is live, their albums are great with ‘Cut And Run’ firmly fixed on my playlist, the album full of original tracks are a joy to listen to but live, this band take on a whole new life. With 9 band members, the sound will always be big, horns, backing singers, guitars, keys, drums and of course Mr Bevington on the bass, they not only fill the stage but also the entire place with a wall of sound.

Opening with ‘It’s Too Late’ Scott Ralph taking the lead vocals and rhythm guitar, ably assisted by Sarah Millar and Kate Robertson, the up-tempo guitar heavy song shows the band mean business. ‘Boogie Man’, ‘She Ran Away To The City’ followed before probably one of my favourites ‘61&49’.

The guitars sounding amazing and the vocals just feel very real, sludgy riffs which build and get all lovely with slide work and the backing vocals just lifting it to another level.

It always reminds me of a ‘Bonamassa’ type structure and so ably played by lead guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick, it’s a must for any blues fan to listen to. Cracking through the setlist interspersed with some chatter and much amusement from band and audience, it feels more like an intimate gig than a sell out Saturday night.

Jim takes over the lead vocal duties for ‘Five Long Years’ originally recorded by Eddie Boyd in 1966. It’s been covered so many times by so many greats but hearing this live version by the band is just astounding. The keyboards from Dave Edwards are superb but it is the skill of Kirkpatrick that ensures this version is head and shoulders above others.

I have said for a very long time that he is one of the best guitarists around, an exceptional blues player who can get such intricacy and preciseness, depth and lightness, it’s bloody epic! With his other band, FM, Jim shows his rock side with the soaring riffs and dual guitar harmonies which he is equally good at, but he really does shine in this setting, with the blues running through his soul which is so evident.

Anyway…back to the music with the tempo kicking back up to the party feel of ‘Don’t Need No Doctor’ and ‘Got To Know’ the band are clearly enjoying the night too and numerous folks are getting down with the groove, it’s so infectious.

THE CHRIS BEVINGTON ORGANISATION are one of those bands that you could pull up a chair and watch all evening, Neil McCallum on drums has the swing and the tempo to run the rhythm section with Chris Bevington himself on bass, without fault, Lewis Topping and Ben Oakes on horns (and cowbell!) add in the interest and together with the lovely ladies and aforementioned Scott and Jim this was another fabulous night.

Support comes from Robbie Reay.

Robbie Reay is an internationally renowned guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Equipped with a cigar box guitar and license plate stomp-box. He blends traditional material and original, contemporary, blues songs, influenced by life, the current struggles, folklore and the Deep South.

Greg Coulson is a British multi-talented musician and entertaining singer-songwriter whose work covers classic rock, quality pop, blues, funk and jazz. In 2018, he released his critically acclaimed debut album, “What’s New?” coinciding with appearances at various noted UK festivals.

Outside of his own recording career Greg has worked with legendary US songwriter Burt Bacharach and other successful artists including Morcheeba, The Blockheads, The Selecter, Lilly Moore, Tom Grennan and Sway. He is also a member of the rock band 'Spiritualised', who recently toured America opening for 'Queens Of The Stone Age'.

A noted talent on both keyboards and guitar, Greg’s heart lies firmly within songwriting and draws inspiration from his heroes, Steely Dan, Randy Newman, Little Feat, Ray Charles, Booker T and Dr John. 

Support comes from The Louis Crosland Trio. 

Powerful and energetic, standout act with an ultra confident, no-holds-barred swagger.

Gerry Jablonski and the Electric Band have a unique trademark sound and style.

Their raw and crafty stage show takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of dangerous, charming and gutsy music with hooks and melodies that cross genres and age groups.

“an absolutely refreshing and life affirming experience. The best band you never heard of” Classic Rock  Magazine

2018 Blues Awards - UK Blues Act of the Year

Support is from The Robin Robertson Blues Band. 

With a set list of original songs and covers that are heavily influenced by the Blues, The RRB are committed to highlighting the place of strong, talented women in the Blues and Rock genres; whether writers or singers.  As expected, the infuences of the band members, from Soul to Jazz, can't help finding their way into the set in some small way. With great musicianship, technical ability and real energy, audiences are guaranteed a powerful, and enjoyable live experience.

“Dave plays like he got his skin turned inside out and pretty soon my skin was inside out too listening and it was all good. That boy bleeds for you – he a real down deep player and a soul man…” SEASICK STEVE

SLIDE guitarist & songwriter Dave Arcari’s alt.blues sounds owe as much to trash country, punk and rockabilly as they do pre-war Delta blues and have been showcased via seven internationally-acclaimed solo album releases.

A finalist in the UK Blues Federation’s UK Blues Awards 2023, Arcari has had his music featured in numerous BBC TV programmes as well as  popular USA series The Deadliest Catch.

The ultimate validation for Arcari’s music and performance came in 2019 when National Reso-Phonic Guitars launched the ‘Dave Arcari signature model’ guitar. Arcari joins an elite and exclusive group of players who have signature models and is the first – and only – musician outside the USA to be honoured by the iconic instrument maker whose name is synonymous with the development of the blues genre.

Trevor Babajack Steger

Trevor Babajack is an English musician, raised listening to his mother, a club singer and the only two records in his parents record collection, Johnny Cash and Rory Gallagher. So, in the late seventies his own musical adventures began by playing bass in a local punk band.

In 1981 a friend dragged him reluctantly along to see Nine Below Zero,  the day after he bought himself a Sonny Boy Williamson record and a blues harp and he was hooked.

Living and working in the 90's with the Shona people in Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe, Trevor's first son, Jack was born.  Shona custom is that the father takes his son's name, so Trevor was known as 'Babajack'. (The Father of Jack).​

His music is influenced by his acquired passion for early rural Blues, mixed with the sounds of rhythmic African roots, in what can only be described as his own genre of original and seemingly improvised music, that makes him a thrilling and unique artist. His travels have taken him the length of the UK and across Europe, headlining Blues and Roots festivals and from little French cafés to The Royal Albert Hall.

Trevor has always been a hard working musician, thrilling performer (and woodworker, making his own instruments) earning himself winner of the UK Blues Acoustic Act of the Year 2023, recognition as one Britain's best acoustic Blues artists, harp player, slide guitarist and song-writer.