IN LESS THAN 18 MONTHS THEIR OWN BRAND OF MODERN, 'DANCEFLOOR GOSPEL-BLUES' HAS CATAPULTED THEM FROM NEAR-COMPLETE OBSCURITY TO RAVE REVIEWS AND BIG-STAGE APPEARANCES ACROSS THE WORLD. FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THEIR 2019 ALBUM 'THE LOST ARC' THEY RECEIVED RADIO AIRPLAY BY CERYS MATTHEW (BBC 2 BLUES SHOW) AND REACHED #1 IN THE INDEPENDENT BLUES BROADCASTERS AIRPLAY CHART AND WERE NOMINATED FOR THREE UK BLUES AWARDS.
IN SEPTEMBER 2019 THE BAND WON ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS ACCOLADES IN BRITISH BLUES MUSIC WHEN THEY WERE SELECTED TO REPRESENT THE UK AT THE INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN BLUES CHALLENGES IN 2020.
THE ACHIEVERS DRAW ON THEIR OBSESSION WITH AMERICAN VINTAGE DANCING MUSIC AND THE SONGWRITING PIONEERS OF EARLY RHYTHM & BLUES, AMERICANA AND SOUTHERN SOUL - AND WITH THEIR INFECTIOUS RHYTHMS, JOYFUL MELODIES AND FOUR-PART HARMONIES THEY STAND PROUDLY AS BRITISH BLUES & ROOTS OUTLIERS.
J. Emmanuel is a Soul/Blues artist from Nigeria, currently residing in the beautiful city of Edinburgh. His rich tone of voice and smooth delivery gives his music a unique soulful vibe and conscious feel. At an early age, Emmanuel sang in the choir and developed a deep love and passion for music. Growing up, he was heavily inspired by Gospel, Soul, and Blues.
A chance encounter at work would see him transition from a music fanatic to singing, in nearly every venue in the Edinburgh. In 2017 he was one of the founding members of Bourbon Street 5 which went on to support artists like Grammy nominated Blues Guitarist Eric Gales, Grammy Nominated Blues Singer Sugar Ray Rayford, Euro Blues Award Nominated Guitarist Erja Lyytinen. Now, as a solo artist, he is on a journey to inspire others through his music; with a debut EP release in 2023. Not to be missed!
Gary Martin Blues Duo
The gig will be held in the Speakeasy
Nominations & Awards:
*Winner - Best Instrumental Album (Inferno)
- The Blues Junction Production Awards 2021
*Nominee - Guitarist of the Year
- 2021 Blues Lounge Radio Show Awards
*Finalist - Blues Instrumentalist of the Year
- UK Blues Awards 2021
*Winner - Best Instrumental Album (Coolerator)
- The Blues Junction Productions Awards 2020
*Finalist - Blues Instrumentalist of the Year
- UK Blues Awards 2020
*Winner - Best Instrumental Album (Blues Guitar Grooves)
- The Blues Junction Production Awards 2017
Gulf Coast Records announces what promises to be THE blues music tour of the year: "Blood Brothers," featuring Blues Music Award-winners Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia, which kicks off in late March and goes through April.
Both Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia are celebrating the release of blazing new albums: Zito's double live set, Blues for the Southside (released Feb. 18) , debuted at number one on the Billboard Blues Chart; and Castiglia's new disc, I Got Love, is set for release on March 25. For the "Blood Brothers" tour, fans will get to see each band doing a set, followed by both bands uniting onstage for a grand finale.
Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia come together to create a musical journey unlike anything seen before in the Blues and Roots genre. Armed with a history of the Blues and Rock 'n' Roll, they bring both bands together to create the tour of 2022, "Blood Brothers."
Mike Zito is a five-time Blues Music Award winner and Albert Castiglia is the 2020 BMA winner for Blues Rock Album of the Year, Masterpiece. With both artists on the exciting Gulf Coast Records label, it only made sense to join forces and give the fans what they wanted.
Although a young man new to the scene, it would be wrong to think Dom Martin hasn't paid his life and musical dues. Brought up in the often tough, but community driven streets of Belfast Northern Ireland, Dom traded his craft for a time locally without a (self confessed) clue how to break into the (international) music business and possibly with too much humility to try. 'Discovered' by his present manager, Dom has made a fairly 'meteoric' rise in terms of today's industry, with his first ever EP release attracting BBC 6 music and BBC Radio 2 support - including a converted session with Cerys Matthews and quite rightly, he now has a number of international tours and Festivals in the book for 2022.
His jaw dropping, entirely natural sounding and unforced/unschooled skill on acoustic guitar, matched with an authentic 'Belfast Blues' voice, brings 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 is equally adept on electric with his power trio and is always a popular addition to any blues/rock festival.
His progress since forming Glas in early 2012 has been steady with nearly 2000 gigs since, playing every gig in the Valleys before expanding horizons beyond. See him on stage, though, and spectacular is very much the word. Little wonder the late, great Deke Leonard of Man/Iceberg fame was moved to say that ‘Speaking as a guitarist, James Oliver scares the hell out of me.’
Bill Kirchen says James Oliver is the real deal, a passionate roots rocker loaded with guitar firepower.
As music business veterans will tell you, success is 10 per cent inspiration and 90 per cent perspiration. As he enters the next stage of his career, James Oliver has a track record that shows he will not allow an ounce of his talents to be wasted. And with new musicians to interact with, chances are the music in store will exhibit hitherto unheard dimensions to delight his growing army of fans. With his new album of original material TWANG set for release in 2020. James plays
Blues, rock a billy, rock and country…it’s all here in one explosive pickin package’
Chris Bevington Organisation is full of style, swagger, replete with tones and textures of the blues and that added extra the joy and harmonization as the musicians gather around the microphones and jam. They are playing with a natural feel and layering the sounds to bring the listener a bucket full of pleasure. Opening with It’s Too Late, a bright n’ breezy beat filled number we get to know the band with delicious licks from Jim Kirkpatrick’s guitar, bursts of Scott’s baritone horn and his vocals that curl around the music picking up the juicy sound and delivering the lyrics. I know it is too late, the speakers are going to be playing this music for a while. The child of the blues, Rock n’ Roll is ever present and this is given full voice as we hear Got To Know. This track demonstrates the power of backing vocals as Kate & Sarah join the fun. This is a number that will get the party going, gig or festival goers would just have to get up and dance as the beat energizes the listener.
The blues is captured, old-style vibe with the beat of a holler and the gentle refrain from tambourine and humming adds a texture that conjures sun, heat and cotton and a swig of whiskey. Once again, the Organisation has developed the blues; this is crisp modern and a song you will never want to cut and run from as the rhythms build and the intensity hots up; leaving you excited and wanting to hear the rest of the album the perfect combination for a title track as it curls around the delta and up into the Mississippi Hill Country. Followed by It Ain’t Easy the beat changes we are hitting the swampy heat of New Orleans with horns and the pure unadulterated joy of musicians getting together and playing as the song says this vibe It Ain’t Easy, they achieve it with every note they play the saxophone and horns are the icing on the cake. The track ends appropriately with a laugh of unadulterated joy.
Like all albums and shows ,we have to find our way home. Coming Down with The Blues the penultimate track is no doctor’s prescription. It is music’s answer about how to be uplifted whilst coming down with the blues because your baby’s locked the door. This is blues of smoky nightclubs, as the vocals, lyrics, guitar and horns meld into a melody of untainted delight. The energy is high and the audience will be clapping with joy and dancing with blues pleasure.
We celebrate with Chris Bevington Organisation music that makes you, smile, and dance and have a good time.