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Arthur Brown is synonymous with his 1968 hit “Fire” and the Hammond-driven “Crazy World” line-up which spawned it. However, his ‘God of Hellfire’ burned out fast and, in 1970, he returned with a new project: the prog-festival freak-show Kingdom Come followed by a varied solo career. Those initial four band albums, by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and by Kingdom Come are thrilling, as tend to be Brown’s cameos on other peoples’ projects. 

Best known for his flamboyant theatrical performances and his powerful, wide- ranging operatic voice. He has been a major influence on a wide range of musicians due to his outstanding vocal ability and wild stage persona and concepts. He is considered a pioneer of shock rock and progressive rock and influential on heavy metal music.

He associated with Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Frank Zappa, Hawkwind, Klaus Schultze and Alice Cooper and made a cameo appearance in the cult film “The Committee” and also “Tommy”. His countless collaborations include The Alan Parsons Project, The Stranglers and The Prodigy.

His best-known single “Fire” hit number 1 in the UK singles chart and Canada, and a number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The album “The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown” had top ten success on both sides of the Atlantic. Following “Fire”, the press would often refer to Brown as “The God of Hellfire”, in reference to the opening shouted line of the song.

Arthur shows no signs of stopping or slowing down and continues to record and release hugely inspiring music, including his most recent release “Long, Long Road” (2022) and the launch of his new multi-media show “A Human Perspective”.


Dom Martin is a Belfast born multi award winning artist who burst onto the music scene in 2019

with a unique guitar style and voice, captivating audiences everywhere.

BBC Radio 2 presenter Cerys Matthews - Absolutely wonderful stuff” Classic Rock Magazine - "The Belfast guitarist is a sprawling talent" Walter Trout - "Dom Martin is amazing! A unique, genuine, vital artist"

makingascene.org - "The likes of Dom’s talent only comes around once in a lifetime"

Blues in Britain Magazine - "Now and again you stumble across a rare talent of such sheer genius that you actually wonder whether what you have witnessed can possibly be for real. Dom Martin is one such talent"

Music-News.Com - "Dom Martin is an absolutely fabulous performer"

Rock & Blues Muse - "It’s obvious that Dom Martin is the next rising star in the global roots scene. Jump aboard now before he passes you by"

AWARDS

Instrumentalist of The Year - 2023 UK Blues Awards

Instrumentalist of The Year - 2022 UK Blues Awards

(Inducted into the UK Blues Hall of Fame for his third successive Acoustic Award) Acoustic Act of The Year - 2022 UK Blues Awards

Acoustic Act of The Year - 2021 UK Blues Awards Acoustic Act of The Year - 2020 UK Blues Awards Best Solo/Acoustic Act - European Blues Awards 2019

Dom is fairly unique in that he is an extremely talented multi award winning performer both as a solo acoustic act (Dom Martin) and as a power rock trio (Dom Martin & Band). His ability to perform both shows at large festivals is attractive to festival organisers looking for quality shows for different stages.

This unassuming musician is another fine product of the Belfast music factory responsible for Sir Van Morrison, Gary Moore, Paul Brady, Brian Kennedy, Foy Vance and many more.


​​Hamilton Loomis

 has released his first-ever Christmas album, This Season. With covers of five Yuletide classics and five originals destined to become seasonal classics, the album offers something for everyone. "When I was a kid," he recalls, "my mom always had Christmas records playing in the house. There's such a great tradition of Christmas albums across just about every genre of music. It's something I've always wanted to do, and when I started writing these new songs I realized this was the time to do it."

Loomis not only shows off his songwriting and musical chops here, but his production skills are also on deft display as originals and classics seamlessly blend together to create an almost-perfect holiday vibe.

 

 


THE HITMAN BLUES BAND

The Hitman from New York City and his Hitman Blues Band play original Modern/Alternative Blues and inspired versions of blues classics = blues for the 21st century! The common thread for every tune is the blues - from soulful blues ballads to foot tappin' music to make you want to dance. Powerful vocals, ripping guitar, a solid rhythm section, stirring backing vocals, plus a little humour in the narrative. This is a blues show like no other.

Vocalist, guitarist and and band leader Russell ‘Hitman’ Alexander has New York City in his veins and the blues in his heart, The man in the shades, top hat and sharp suit is playing real blues, informed by 50 years of mastery of New York City’s thousand styles while imitating no one.

The Hitman Blues Band constantly get great album and live reviews, and feature in the top of the blues charts around the world. Their latest album 'Hey Can You Guys Play...' has received superb reviews and they have a new studio album for 2024:

" An album that delivers great pleasure with a genuinely innovative, bold approach that works fabulously. " Blues Matters magazine

“Fine musicianship and strong song writing – a winning formula!” Blues in Britain magazine

“Led by New York guitarist Russell ‘Hitman’ Alexander, Hitman has a striking, charismatic personality and knows how to entertain and put on a show with superb danceable blues and great covers. Born to play and with real personality, as he tells stories, jokes with the crowd, proudly features his excellent band and plays a spiky guitar with great panache and soul. What a find you may think and you’d be right” – Blues Matters magazine.


Alice Armstrong is a multi-award nominated singer-songwriter and entertainer from Surrey, UK, known for her impressive vocal range, dynamic songwriting and unmatched stage presence. Her voice and songs vary widely in emotional tone and are a common addition to Joe Bonamassa’s personal Spotify playlists.

An Alice Armstrong show promises a soulful, genre-busting performance packed with world class musicianship and wry British repartee. Her personal and provocative content is heavily infused with soul, blues, funk, rock and jazz, and is served with an enigmatic performance reminiscent of the likes of B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Janis Joplin and Tina Turner (with a touch of Maria Callas), leaving the awed audience laughing, crying and tapping their feet in equal measure. 


A 3-piece band from Birmingham, use Riff based Melodic Blues Rock from a reservoir of influences, including Beatles, Cream, Zeppelin, Brit Pop 90’s, more recently Rival Sons and Vintage Trouble, to create their memorable sound. Their songs are delivered by three accomplished musicians, fronted with stunning vocals. All backed up with impressive gig experience, stage presence and great songs. They play top venues and festivals in the major cities of the UK and further afield including two tours of NYC’s Greenwich Village and Manhattan. They are equally happy doing stripped down acoustic or fullblown electric gigs Their most prestigious performances have been on the Main Music Stage @ F1 British Grand Prix Silverstone, twice, and tours / gigs with Dirty Thrills, Steve Conte (NY Dolls), Skid Row, Brian Downey (Thin Lizzy), Von Hertzen Brothers, Virginmarys, Cats in Space, King King, Daxx & Roxane, Kris Barras, The Record Company, Sari Schorr and Chantel McGregor. Main support to Toploader @ Rhuddfest and main stage slot @ Evoke Festival Brentwood. The quirkiest was The Tramlines Festival Sheffield, acoustic on a moving Tram.


True Strays are lifelong friends, songwriters and country boys – Joseph James and James Cameron – from Bristol, England who are fast carving out a niche of their own in the UK Americana scene. Their music is a cathartic celebration of alternative roots americana and blues rock.

Their songs focus on the dirt that life throws at you and how struggle can be transformed into something better. The prolific songwriting duo draw influences from classic sounds such as Neil Young, Muddy Waters, Fleetwood Mac and modern retro inspired acts like Alabama Shakes, Gary Clark Jr and the Black Keys.

From the rock and roll circumstances of their first meeting, in a sand pit in playgroup 30 odd years ago, they have completed countless UK tours, supported bands as diverse as My Baby and Elles Bailey, been jump started by Keith Allen, played by BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 4, played their first European dates, survived 70+ festival shows at prestigious festivals like Green Man, Boom Town, Larmer Tree and Shambala and have been featured on the Spotify’s Nu-Blue and Modern Blues Rock playlists.

2021 sees a year’s hard work behind the scenes coming to fruition. A recent invite to showcase at the prestigious UK AmericanaFest, a debut album and a performance at Black Deer Festival all on the horizon. With or without live shows, True Strays are not giving up on their musical calling.


Young troubadour Connor Selby signed to Provogue Records in December 2022 and has released his major label debut, the self titled Connor Selby to critical acclaim. One of the brightest talents on the UK blues scene. He has been voted “Young Artist of the Year” at the UK Blues Awards for the last three consecutive years (2020, 2021, 2022) and he already has an impressive venue checklist, including Wembley Stadium, where he opened for The Who in July 2019 and has since gone on to play Hyde Park, London, with Pearl Jam, Stereophonics and Johnny Marr in the summer of 2022. Connor has also had a productive 2023 touring the UK as the opening act for Blues and Rock Luminaries Robert Cray and Beth Hart. Connor is also due to embark on a headline tour in October of 2023.

There’s a timeless melancholic quality to his music. Relatable in its honesty and openness, he draws from anxiety and vulnerability but delivers it with a world-worn elegance. The sky is the limit for Selby, who, along with awards, has picked up numerous plays on BBC Radio 2. It’s easy to see why with his soulful blend of blues and his emotionally introspective songwriting, which sits alongside his impressive armoury of guitar playing.


Over a decade ago Backbone Blues Band’s story began in a field. Two bandmates having a beer and talking music at the Blues on the Farm festival. ‘My sister’s been going to the King Biscuit Festival for years’ says one. ‘We should go!’

 Later that year the fledgling band made its first trip to the Mississippi Delta, cementing a love for the music and firing a desire to make Backbone a band that plays the blues in its own style - faithful to the genre but distinctive and entertaining in its delivery. More than ten years on, and with as many trips to the Biscuit in that time, the band has earned friends and plaudits both sides of the Atlantic.

Their fourth album, ‘old new borrowed blues’, enjoyed extensive radio coverage on blues shows and was extremely well received. Something of a watershed recording, it represents an homage to much missed lead singer Duncan Highet, whose passing left the band mourning the loss of a great friend. It also signposted the band’s way forward, with guitarist Tony Seaman stepping in to the lead vocal role, and new members Luke (Duncan’s son) on bass, and guitarist Martin Spellman bringing their own talents to the Backbone sound. Steve Pearce on keys and Martin Jezzard on drums complete the band personnel.

This year’s trip to the Delta sees the band making their second main stage appearance at the Biscuit - we believe the only non-US band to have played the festival more than once - and includes a return to Morgan Freeman’s iconic Ground Zero blues club in Clarksdale, where the band’s performances have enjoyed an enthusiastic following.

In the U.K. the band have built a reputation for delivering their blues in an entertaining and engaging style, with performances at a number of festivals and blues clubs, including the award-winning Tuesday Blues at the 100 Club. They’re already booked for the Looe festival on their return from the States, and for Blackpool’s inaugural blues festival in early ‘24. Catch them if you can, live or on record - you’ll like what you hear!


Raw power country, blues, southern rock and Americana delivered by four highly experienced and dedicated musicians. A decade of touring the UK and the EU, to celebrate the band's 10th year, they are looking to tour new and old venues nationwide. Since a young age, in his native South Yorkshire, Tom has been hailed a guitar prodigy.With high profile support slots including Dr. Feelgood, Danny Bryant, Lawrence Jones, as well his own headline shows and major rock, blues and country festivals across the UK and EU.

Described as an all round performer, whose skills are beyond his years, with nods to rock, blues, country and Americana, with southern soul infused in its core. The live performances are delivered with passion, heartfelt soul drenched musicianship and explosive drive, with guitar firepower. “If you see Killner listed as playing in your town or city anytime soon, go and see him – I know I will”

Since forming the band, Tom has recorded three albums, two studio albums, a live album and an EP. This on top of appearing on recordings with Dr. John, Iggy Pop, Jeff Beck, Gary Moore.

The 2018 album Get Back Up was described as the album that bigger names spend most of their career working towards, fresh, vital, intense, soulful and rock hard. Hard Road, released in 2015, described as a retro sounding blues rock album with southern influence, interspersed with passionate playing from Tom and the band.

Giants of Rock reviewer, festivals for all, said he had witnessed one of the best sets he could remember for a long time. Tom's throaty vocals were not only tremendous but incredible, with exceptional guitar playing. Slide guitar, and “honky tonk” returns from the keys player Wes, was a thing of beauty. In such hallowed company, to be picked as one of the FFA sets of the festival is simply an indication of the quality of the talented musicianship.



The influences are firmly set in the southern rock vibe and that’s where the bands passion clearly lies. Trying to do something familiar but with a twist that keeps the audience engaged and interested, whilst focusing on what serves the song. Guitarist James Ives and Lead Singer / Guitarist Ross Connor are clearly tone chasers and that is very transparent in ‘Separate Ways’ where the rhythmical and sonic element is so important.

The bands previous singles ‘Mind Your Own Business’, ‘Better Than Me’ and ‘Jester’ all display the very ‘rootsy’ foundations of what ‘Ramblin’ Preachers’ are about. The band also won the Introducing Stage at the Great British Rock & Blues Festival 2022 which helped the band in becoming what is one of the hottest live bands around.

With Arena like power, relatable song writing and a face melting live show they aim to continue their success with their debut album ‘Sins & Virtues’. With the excellent minds of producers Wayne Proctor & Oli Brown now intertwined within the band’s productions and compositions it’s a good time to get behind them and join the journey.

SOLID ENTERTAINMENTS Presents... WHITBY BLUES FESTIVAL