Date/Time
Monday 27 May 2024
7:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Categories Blues
Book here now: £12 full price • £9 or £6 if you prefer – please pay what you can*
Starting at 7.30 prompt, a set each from Martin McNeill and the Alex Voysey Trio, followed by a blues jam/open mic session. If you would like to be included, or to find out more, email organiser Mary Caffrey at mary.caffrey49@gmail.com
Alex Voysey Trio
“Outstanding, energetic, breathtaking”
Swanage Blues Festival 2024
Alex’s playing owes much to the blues/rock influence of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Joe Bonamassa, coupled with a refreshing and high-octane personal style. The musicians in the trio feed off of each other’s virtuosity and musical integrity to deliver shows packed with incredible guitar performances, phenomenal musicianship, funky grooves and catchy riffs. Their original material is engaging, complex and memorable and when coupled with virtuosic funk bass player Ben Hands’ monster 6 string Dingwall and the talents of drum maestro Paul Arthurs this is a band that is constantly evolving and which continues to excite audiences.
Recent highlights have included their sold-out debut at the legendary Soho Pizza Express jazz club and headlining at the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, with sold-out debut shows at Swanage Blues Festival, Diseworth Blues Club and Skipton Town Hall.
The trio’s recent album AV3 reached no 10 in the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association (IBBA) charts in January 2024 and their new originals album ‘Blues In Isolation’ was produced by Paul Long (Catfish/BB King/BBC Radio 2), released in March 2024 and launched to a sold-out Cheltenham Playhouse. It has subsequently hit the top of the IBBA charts as well as being IBBA pick of the month for April 2024.
The first single released from the album, Whiskey and Wine, has been hailed by renowned jazz and blues broadcaster Spencer Evans as ‘exceptional’. Listen here: Whiskey And Wine
“What a brilliant night! Diseworth blessed again with top quality blues – Alex is one of the best guitarists I have ever seen and that includes Gary Moore and Mark Knoppfler. PLEASE come back soon, AV3!” Diseworth Blues Club, Jan 2024
“Remarkable gig last night – thank you for the superb entertainment” Henry’s Blueshouse Birmingham, Dec 2023
“Last night, I had the privilege to witness an extraordinary gig by the Alex Voysey Blues Band. As an avid lover of blues music I was blown away by the show these guys put on. Not least by the virtuosity, skill and dexterity of one of the best guitarists I have seen – and over the years I’ve seen many of the greats. Alex Voysey is not only a superb musician but plays with a feeling and a passion that is true to the meaning of the blues” Swanage Blues Festival, Oct 2023
More about the band at alexvoyseymusic.com
Martin McNeill: bottleneck bluesman
Martin McNeill is an acclaimed slide guitarist and singer steeped in traditional blues. He draws on classic Mississippi and Chicago blues styles as well as playing vintage soul material in his distinctive bottleneck style. His influences include Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Tampa Red and Robert Johnson alongside the smooth sounds of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke.
Martin, who lives in Essex, has been performing since the British blues boom of the late sixties. As a teenager he got to play support sets for visiting US artists including Fred McDowell and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. His Cat Squirrel album was runner-up as record of the year in the 2020 UK Blues Awards and peaked at No 2 in the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association chart. A more recent release, Sweet Soul Slide, highlights the mellow side of his work. He was among the five finalists in the 2024 UK Blues Awards ‘Acoustic Blues Act of the Year’.
Festival appearances include Sidmouth Jazz & Blues, Rye Jazz & Blues, Dart Festival, Broadstairs Blues Bash and the Swanage Blues Festival. He plays regularly at London’s leading blues bar, Ain’t Nothin’ But.
“Love a slide guitar? This is one of the best exponents around” Dart Festival programme
“One of the country’s finest bottleneck blues guitarists” Stephen Foster (BBC Suffolk/Radio Caroline presenter)
“Stunning guitarist” Ashwyn Smyth (Digital Blues presenter)
“Renowned blues elder statesman” Blues in Britain magazine
“Live excellence… Martin is so good. You’ll just look at your guitar after seeing him” US bluesman Lightnin’ Willie
More about Martin at
bottleneck-blues.com
facebook.com/martin.mcneill.710
Martin’s YouTube channel
* See Access, Tickets & Finding Us for more about why there are three ticket prices, plus other useful info about coming to events at Ashburton Arts Centre.