The Blues Band are to play at Bridport arts Centre on June 23rd at 8pm.
Originally formed in 1979 by ex Manfred Mann group members, Paul Jones and Tom McGuiness to play pub gigs on Paul Jones’ night off from a career as an actor on London’s West End. Almost two and a half decades and over 16 albums later The Blues Band are still going strong.
The band are today acknowledged throughout Europe and beyond as being amongst the very finest purveyors of rhythm & blues. They have inspired numerous other blues bands, many of which have come and gone.
They have achieved all of this with only a small amount of help from the record business – Gary often comments “the music industry doesn’t bother us and we don’t bother them.”
This independent streak goes right back to their early days when in an unusual move the band “bootlegged” their own first album .The ‘bootlegging’ came about because, having recorded their first album, the so called ‘major label’ which was to release it changed their minds and the band didn’t have the cash to pay the studio bill. So they got 1000 copies pressed up, mastered from a copy tape that they had, signed the plain white numbered sleeves and sold them at gigs & via mail order etc. Only then did another ‘major label’ pick up the album and release it widely.
The band have a real feel for their music, for their fans and for each other and continue to delight audiences.
Tickets are available from Bridport Arts Centre Box Office Balcony (seated) £18/£17 members/£15 concessions. Standing £17/£16 members/£14 concessions, call 01308 424202
