Gig Reviews

The UK's northernmost Blues Festival, held in Orkney, once again proved a major success. With a mix of local and national/international blues artists, this year's event was hailed as the best by some attendees who have been coming for over two decades. The welcoming...

Words: Colin Campbell Pictures: supplied Interview with Dylan Pepper Festival Organiser and Drummer with Andy Taylor GroupFirst I asked Dylan about the background and how he got involved? When I was just a little boy, my mum used to take me up to it, and it was run by...

‘Some of my best songs come from ridiculously ordinary moments’ observed Graham Nash as he recounted the tale of having breakfast with Joni Mitchell one wintry day in Ventura Boulevard. After which they passed by an antiques shop wherein a vase took Mitchell’s eye....

Roaring back to full power after the enforced absences and restrictions of the pandemic, the Montreal Jazz Festival returned to optimum strength once again this July. Although the word ‘jazz’ is in the title, it shouldn’t deter you from checking out this annual...

Black Deer Festival, Eridge Park, Kent June 16 – 18, 2023Black Deer is mostly billed as the primary UK Americana music festival and generally speaking the artists booked reflect that fact. But this year, the line-up featured the wonderful US blues artist, Bonnie...

A Tuesday night gig out for me,is something I haven't done in a long time but the excitement of seeing this young up and coming artist play some Blues had me drooling at the mouth, especially as I've only seen him via the Internet, which doesn't compare to seeing him,...

The 100 Club on London’s Oxford Street is one of the country's most iconic venues. It has been hosting live music since 1942 when it went under the name of, The Feldman Jazz Club. It was renamed The 100 Club in 1964 playing host to most of the bands that were starting...

Following a false start, in fine showbiz fashion, Brian May whipped up the highly expectant audience into a frenzy by introducing legendary guitarist James Burton. With Ronnie Wood, Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter, May, and his protege Arielle, they began tonight's set, with the...

Tonight’s gig at Blackpool Opera House is one of only five shows in the UK this year. This magnificent building first opened its doors in 1878 and has a seated capacity of 2,812. These types of venues are few and far between these days, often making way for larger but...

It’s an ironic coincidence that Kenny Wayne Shepherd is playing the Shepherd’s Bush Empire as he put on such a commanding performance to make the venue his own in all but name. As an explosive guitarist and skilful songwriter, he has built his own high kingdom of...