Mike Gledhill & JR Mountford entertain the Wednesday Market shopping crowd with good old fashioned acoustic Blues & Americana, fuelled by Joules.

a fun evening to test your blues /rock knowledge specially themed  this year’s Festival

**** PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE – BIDDULPH TOWN HALL – BRING YOUR OWN DRINKS AS NO BAR AVAILABLE ****

Combining the mercurial talents of English songwriting legend Boo Hewerdine and acclaimed American Blues guitarist and songwriter Brooks Williams, State of the Union create a magical, stripped back and enthralling musical atmosphere, their performances consistently brilliant, equal parts emotive and entertaining.

**** PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE – BIDDULPH TOWN HALL – BRING YOUR OWN DRINKS AS NO BAR AVAILABLE *********************

Join Ricco down the Dyers for a one-off Music Quiz helping to raise awareness and funds for the Musicians Against Homelessness Campaign, supporting Crisis. £1 pp entry fee.

Back for a one-off special as part of this year’s Festival, expect some of the areas finest acoustic musicians.

Nixon Tate

Gregory S Davies

Venn Goodwin

Jim McShee

An evening of Music and Tapas featuring the vocals and acoustic guitar from the latest generation of Leek’s Rhead musical dynasty.

“For over 20 years, Slaid Cleaves, out of Austin, TX, has spun stories with a novelist’s eye and a poet’s heart.
On his latest release “”Ghost on the Car Radio”” Cleaves crafts 12 stories with care and compassion; some might describe his characters as losers but he gives them dignity and voice and a bunch of great folk-rock tunes to boot.”

Local talent from across the Staffordshire Moorlands help to kick off this year’s Festival with an evening of acoustic music from across the genres.

Join Teresa Pattison with the Black Cat Dance Band for a great night of swing dancing. A guaranteed fun evening for all abilities

Bring over some of your old Motown records
We’ll put the speakers in the window and we’ll go
On the roof and listen to the Miracles
Echo to the alley down below….

Fine ales, great food, good company and classic tunes on vinyl.
BYOV (Bring Your Own Vinyl), we’ll provide the rest!

KIRK FLETCHER.Kirk Fletcher has a reputation as a bonafide can’t-miss performer. His soulful playing and singing never fails to elicit chills, and his unique approach to blues and roots music is both refreshingly modern and completely authentic.
Widely considered one of the best blues guitarists in the world, he has commanded the respect and acclaim of critics, peers and fans across the globe. Born and based in Los Angeles, California, Kirk is a four-time Blues Music Award and a 2015 British Blues Award nominee and has played with a variety of popular artists, including Joe Bonamassa and a three-year role as lead guitarist of The Fabulous Thunderbirds. He is also the frontman of his own Kirk Fletcher Band, having released three studio albums and a live album. A fourth studio album is currently in the works.

“Kirk is hands-down one of the best blues guitarists in the world.”
Joe Bonamassa

“Kirk fires off soulful, straight-from-the-heart solos that dazzle on big stages. ..Fletcher also blows people’s minds when he’s playing rhythm guitar.”
Guitar Player Magazine
WITH SUPPORT FROM”
Chris Bevington & friends have had a great 2016 so far and their reputation has helped them to establish the band as a top Professional Blues Band.
The aim of 2016 was to promote the second album “Better Start Cookin” to a wider audience and hopefully attract more friends along the way.

The highlights have been the support of Paul Jones BBC Radio 2 and the great Airplay he has given us as well as that, we have loved playing at some of the best Festivals in the UK and appearing at The Upton , Cambridge and Colne Festivals has been a fantastic Experience
The planning for Album Number 3 has already started and we hope to start very soon and the involvement and Song writing abilities of Jim Kirkpatrick and Scott Ralph is sure to build upon the great feedback we have received for Album No 2, so for us all , it’s very exciting times.”

STARTS 7.30 PM £14.

With a heartfelt tribute to the late Chuck, Berry family endorsed Dominic ‘Chuck Berry’ Cooper and his Combo are set to storm the Red Lion with some amazing Rock, Rythmnand Blues.

WM is, in essence, a dynamic duo, composing and producing their own material as well as making acoustic versions of songs they feel strongly for. Chilled out blues tunes or sing-a-long party classics – WM has got it all.
The duo’s grounded, intimate and acoustic style topped off with lush harmonies quickly earned them recognition on the local scene which later turned into a long distance cooperation between Norrköping and Melbourne, Australia. Their ambition was, and continues to be, to compose, perform, record and release tight and well-rounded music – respected by the public and their peers..
Founded in Sweden in 2012, WM made the move to Australia and Melbourne in 2014 where they crafted their product further for the Australian audience – gaining a lot of exposure and playing a range of venues and residencies. A four-month roadtrip during the early months of 2015 took them to venues from Albury to Broken Hill, Sydney, Coffs Harbour and everywhere inbetween. Presently they reside in Manchester where they are enjoying the rich heritage of live music.
Westerburgh & Micaela spent a couple of years gigging around Australia. Photo taken by Erica Wheadon by Brisbane River, May 2016.

The duo came to be after Dennis had heard Micaela perform a version of Woody Guthrie’s – ‘Hard ain’t it Hard’ at a local bar in Norrköping, Sweden. He quietly enquired if she would be interested in sparking up an acoustic collaboration. They quickly found that their voices worked well together and decided to embark on a short-term project, playing at venues in Norrköping as well as recording a handful of cover songs.
After receiving great initial feedback, short-term became long term and they decided to write a few songs of their own, which later turned into the exceptional album Good Sad Days (now available on Spotify, iTunes and other digital platforms) made through an overseas collaboration. They have also worked with Scottish music producers Blind Digital & MOxico in order to try their hands on different genres such as rap, digital and dubstep.
In mid 2014, the duo reunited in Melbourne, Australia where they spent the year playing different venues and shaping their product. In 2015 they moved north to break into the Brisbane music scene. After gigging throughout south-east Queensland they moved back to Europe and spent a few months in Sweden before relocating to Manchester, UK.

Jimmy and the boys guarantee a great night of blues/rock classics on their home turf, featuring the incredibly talented Jordan Swann – one to watch for the future !

Maharaja Blues is the culmination of the flow of three talented rivers, Richard, Jonathan and Satinder as they merge with the great Mississippi, fusing the sound of the beating tabla with the euphoric slide blues and the fire of the harmonica.

Barrelhouse Jukes is a 3-piece acoustic blues and roots band based in Staffordshire and Cheshire. We play our own interpretation of Blues, Jazz with a West Coast feel thrown in for good measure.

Rick is one of those rare singer-songwriters who is wholly convincing in his ragged-edged country, folk and blues idiom. Joined in an informal session with like minded and similarly talented musician friends from across North Staffordshire and beyond…

If you like hoodoo harmonica and electric blues,
Automatic Annie is the blues band for you.

Their combined musical experience
is a genuine vintage number.
​
Jump on This Train and get your Mojo Working. ​
Enjoy the ride with Automatic Annie and their electric blues machine.
All Aboard!

United by a love of all styles of blues from the 1950s onwards, Mat (Vocals/Harmonica) and Paolo (Guitar/Vocals) play a diverse, dynamic set illustrating all shades of blues and allowing each others’ instrumental, vocal and improvisational qualities to shine.

Local singer/guitarist Donna is a popular act on the local open mic circuit.

Rain can be described as many things. They are dynamic, diverse and deliberate, with thoughtful lyrics, insightful melodies and theatrical guitar woven together from the strands of life’s experiences into a cloth of many colours.
Rain deliver a wide range of cover songs and original material.

This four piece outfit are guaranteed to get people on their feet and keep them there! Drawing from a repertoire of Soul and Blues classics, this will be sure to fill the dance floor at Infinity Live.

Buxton Boys Bin53/4 will cover the full range of Acoustic Blues, Country and Rock. Band Members Ric Bateman and Dave Speak with the addition of Dave Jones and Tim Kearney make up the ‘The Bin 53 Four’.

Oli Ng is a 21 year old Singer-Songwriter from Crewe, Cheshire. Taking influences from artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Brian Fallon and Ryan Adams, Oli’s songwriting has something for everybody

The Missing Link is a vastly experienced and talented five-piece band based in Stoke-on-Trent, playing an eclectic mix of classic pop-rock songs with a little bit of soul, mostly from the 60’s and 70’s, but including some less-obvious and more adventurous numbers.

Bill makes a long awaited return with his all new electric line-up, after concentrating on solo acoustic gigs in recent years’. . .Bill, Pete Latham, Al Bruce, Andy Yates and special guests….

Folk rock lovingly created and crafted by Chris Rowley with some background bits from Gareth Pask

“Relationships, road rage – I draw on everything I’ve experienced. And then I feel a lot better when people listen because they’re like ‘I get it’. That’s what creates a link between me and my audience. If it’s in the right setting, it’s really engaging. I get, not a buzz, but I appreciate the audience more, and they can appreciate what I’m doing.”

We play American folk and blues music on guitar, banjo and anything else to hand. Artists We Also Like Uncle Earl, Chance McCoy, Neko Case, Mississippi John Hurt, Old Crow Medicine Show

McRooney are Des Rooney and Pete McLuskie – but usually joined by various friends including Steve Luff (harmonica) Tom Wojtulewicz (bass) Jamie Parkes (fiddle)

The Northwesterns one n only Cowboy Rock Band !!!!
Ridin in from the hills of Wigan Alabama, a 4 strong maraudin band of desperado hired guns with their own unique brand of Cowboy Rock, Hellbent & Heaven sent in their mission to Rope n Brand the hard drinkin patrons that frequent the saloons of the North Western prairies

Storming the Birmingham music scene, this newly formed vibrant mix of Midlands based musicians have already had huge success at the Birmingham International Jazz Festival and local venues, tipped as the the “best find in 2016”. A high energy band, playing Emma’s original blues tracks all the way through to more recent covers. However you won’t of heard them played like this before! Featuring Baz Newey on bass, Dan Machin on guitar and Roy Adams on drums.

Staffordshire, England, born singer songwriter Lissy Taylor has spent the last two and a half years living in Lexington Kentucky USA, this Southern US influence combined with her smooth vocals and lyrics will captivate and transcend you into a unique blend of americana, pop and blues.
This last year, whilst in the United States, she was nominated for 3 music awards, and made live performances on both TV and radio.
Lissy released her debut EP ‘Reminds Me of You’ in 2017, produced by Broken Crow Studios and features Nashville’s musicians; Mark Prentice on bass & piano and Michael Severs on lead guitar. Her music is now receiving airplay on radio in the US and us available to listen to on Spotify or download on iTunes.

Lissy is now back in England and continuing her pursuit of music.

Tearing it up with his own raucous interpretation of traditional blues, Pistol Pete Wearn is a renowned vocalist, slide guitarist, harmonica player and songwriter. Equipped with acoustic guitar and stompbox he blends traditional material and originals with the odd slide-ifed cover.

Tight, slick and lots of humorous laugh out loud banter tonight with everyone chirping in with some nice one liners and some nifty stage wear from the new guy. With a powerful vocal, again keeping within the ethos of the Extra’s high octane brand of R&B it’s the Extras we know and love but with a bit…..well…Extra.

All home-grown acoustic blues to folk via Americana. Line-up may include any passing mates…

Three experienced musicians with a passion for live performance, have come together to form Blackmoon Lake. Playing covers of music by: Led Zeppelin, The Doors, John Mayer, Joe Bonamassa, Cream, Peter Green, John Mayall, S.R.V., Pink Floyd ……
What’s not to like?

Circle Of Thieves are an exciting new band featuring Demon’s Ray Walmsley.
Playing a mix of country rock and blues covers as well as originals.
Vocals are handled by the fabulous Alison Danks with Neil and Ian Barker on bass and drums.

Hannah sings classic country songs about drinking and heart ache straight from a Honky Tonk, her sultry and smokey voice taking on the likes of Patsy Cline, Skeets McDonald and Willie Nelson. But what also cannot be ignored in her voice is the strong influence from the blues, as exemplified on her cover of an old Charlie Patton number and her powerful rendition of ‘Trouble In Mind’.

The Acoustic Trio, consisting of Kristina Rough (Bass, vocals), Christian Shooter (guitars, vocals) and Owen Jones (Guitar, harmonica, vocals) is dedicated to the ” Harmony.
It is covered, but the repertoire is remarkable: Marlene Dietrich, Edith Piaf, the doctors, and Robyn Hitchcock, but also the everly brothers, Neil young, Leonard Cohen, the rolling stones and Christy Moore – to name only a few. There’s a soporific seagulls folktale, too.
The principle of the band: in principle there is no principle. The song is sung every good piece, which can give a new face to the vocal arrangement of the three.
A Soporific Seagulls concert is a great experience: whether quiet or loud
And kind of a bit different. You shouldn’t miss it!

So why ‘Cry Baby and The Hoochie Coochie Boys?’, starting with The Hoochie Coochie Boys, the band has been heavily influenced by the Chicago Blues sound, as well as a British influence from Nine Below Zero & Dr. Feelgood, and Hoochie Coochie Boys is a nod to the great Muddy Waters. Rob Wilkinson underpins the band with old time harmonica playing and a wailing tone, hence the Cry Baby.

Greg Murray and the Seven Wonders – an Irish singer-songwriter with a wonderful group of close friends with the love and energy for creating music together. Greg is currently working on a new cd of recordings of Irish/Latin/country/folk/gospel influenced material that we are loving playing live together.

With Mat Walklate (Harmonica) Bo Lee (Bass)
Dr Tom Attah is a practising musician, and Popular Music Course Leader at Leeds College of Art and Design. His Ph.D. was awarded by University of Salford. His research interests include the effects of technology on popular music, particularly blues music and blues culture.

Tom’s teaching and blues advocacy includes workshops, seminars, lectures and recitals delivered to learning institutions in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. Before being appointed to LCA, Tom taught undergraduate modules at University of Salford and BIMM Manchester.

As a guitarist and singer, Tom performs solo, with an acoustic duo and as part of an electric band. Tom’s solo acoustic work includes his own original Blues compositions and has led to performances at major music festivals around Europe, including major stages at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, the Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival, and Blues Autour Du Zinc. Tom’s multiple national radio appearances include performances and documentaries for BBC Radio 4.

Tom’s journalistic writing is regularly featured in specialist music publications including Blues In Britain magazine, and his original research papers and book reviews are published in several international peer-reviewed journals.

Funk, Hip Hop, Soul, Reggae & Latin

Chris D Vocal & Sax,
Neil Simpson Bass,
Carl Hemmingsley Drums &
Dan Machin Guitar

RnB on steroids…..”a little Malpractice never hurt anyone”.
Malpractice are a bunch of naughty boys who should know better. Our mission…To bring Feelgood to the people from Harecastle Delta to the Bathpool Jetty. Influences include 70’S R&B, Pub Rock, The Blues, The Chris Bevington Blues Band.

Leek’s very own Les Hunt (Climax Blues Band) teams up again with fellow Hunter band members Fastfret Nick Egan on Bass, Cathouse Les Critchlow on skins. Always a good gig.

John Dhali is a 22 year old Soul-Folk artist with a fiery presence, a rare depth of understanding and a knack for writing good tunes. Hearing his music for the first time has been likened to ‘welcoming home an old friend’. Instantly familiar melodies, profound lyricism and a soaring vocal combine to form a magical musical medicine for the Soul. Think Mumford and Sons, Paolo Nutini and Jeff Buckley all rolled into one.

The Bluesmakers, the former John Waterhouse blues band from North Staffs, still going strong after 30 years!

All home-grown acoustic blues to folk via Americana. Line-up may include any passing mates…

A small but perfectly formed display of some of the finest American cars located within North Staffordshire..
Roebuck Car Park at the rear of the pub.

Band Members
Jill Povey – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar.
JR Mountford – Acoustic/Electric Guitar.
Farnham Heywood – Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/Harmonica

A lot of plushy numbers in a laid back manner!
Acoustic Blues, Jazz, Americana and a whole lot more besides

Appearing on Sparrow Park Stage sponsored by ctd architects

Described by fRoots magazine as a ‘call to arms that has melody and plenty of northern grit’, Leek based Phil Maddocks will be teaming up with The Outdoor Angels to showcase his Americana tinged songs. The band will feature Phil’s regular collaborator, Nick Bayes on bass alongside Leek’ s very own Tom Rhead on electric guitar plus popular local drummer Rick Wilson will be providing the rhythm.The band are about to record a brand new single, titled appropriately enough, ‘Outdoor Angel’.

Stoke-onTrent acoustic duo spun off from the Gillespie Blues Band

JAXHILL are Mike Gledhill (guitar, resonator and vocals) and Phil Jackson (harmonicas and vocals). We play acoustic blues, americana and our own songs in blues clubs, folk clubs, acoustic nights and anywhere that we can have a good time and the audience can go home happy! Our influences are Robert Johnson, Son House,Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Ry Cooper,60s-70s songwriters, Sonny Terry,Brownie McGhee, Miles Davis and Charles Mingus. We host a monthly acoustic night at The Cock Inn, Leek and play gigs across The Midlands to infinity and beyond!

A Festival favourite, all the way from The Roots Room, Derby, Frank Gannon & Matt Clarke spinning the very best in 50’s/60’s Rock n Roll and R n B original 45’s

Pete and Jen started working together as a folk duo in the summer of 2013. Mostly influenced by Folk Revival music – Bert Jansch, Fairport Convention, Tom Paxton, Judy Dyble, Sandy Denny, John Renbourn, All About Eve and Pentangle

A fresh young rockin’ band from the UK with a driven powerful sound! Playing great classic rockabilly as well as some new materials.

Band Members
Joe Newbon – Guitar / Vocals
Sam French – Bass / Vocals
Curt Jones – Drums / Vocals

Founder of the Cuckoo’s Folk Club, Friend of Fairport, one of the instigators of Leek Arts Festival, and overall Leek Legend! Dave Rhead pulls together some mates for an afternoon of American Dance tunes and other good stuff.

Familiar faces on the Northern Soul circuit, the guys hit the decks adding early sixties soul, sixties and seventies funk into the mix with some classic blues rock thrown in too.

Swamp Dog Millionaires, Louisiana funk blues from the Mersey bayou. Featuring Kenny Roberts, Gaz Gaskell, Tom Maguire and Mark Dagnall.

“JIM HAMMOND’S ELECTRIC MUDSHACK”
Are a 40s/50s R&B country Blues band with a Mixture of Surf Rockabilly for good measure.
Influences: ‘Hound Dog Taylor’, Lightning Hopkins, Little Milton,Magic Sam,Lois Jordan,Mickey Baker,Amos Milburn

Jim Hammond + Mark Morgan + Nick Whitfield

veni, vidi, lusi
A familiar face on the local blues scene for the past few years, Mike brings acoustic blues to his old stomping ground of the Cock Inn.

It’s a Sunday Supper Safari !!
Steve Giddings will be hosting at the Blue Mugge and just a few minutes stroll away Mikey Rhead will be hosting at the Fountain Inn
expect friends to stop by to join them for acoustic blues, country, whatever takes their fancy really.

It’s a Sunday Supper Safari !!
Steve Giddings will be hosting at the Blue Mugge and just a few minutes stroll away Mikey Rhead will be hosting at the Fountain Inn
expect friends to stop by to join them for acoustic blues, country, whatever takes their fancy really.

The guys who added the Americana into the first Leek Blues Festival and have been a permanent fixture ever since !!

Cajun, Zydeco, Swamp ‘n’ Roll from the bayous of Staffordshire

Formed in the dim and distant past of 1993, in Stoke-on-Trent, Elvis Fontenot have evolved to become the premier European swamp’n’roll outfit that they are today
Lineup is Nick Barber (Accordion/Vocals/Frottoir), Paul Asher (Accordion/Fiddle/Mandolin), Holly Vee Lucas (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Stu Duthie (Bass/Harmonica/Vocals) and Chris Plimbley (Drums)

Firm Festival Favourites

The obvious choice for our ‘end of show party’*

Nick is an Organ/Piano player/vocalist who performs a mix of styles, mainly Blues but also Jazz fusion and Rock, He is a highly regarded musician who has been recognised for his songwriting by international artistes from Lil John Roberts(George Duke Band, Snarky Puppy), Francis Dunnery(It Bites, David Sancious), Mike Lindup(Level 42).

Nick has recently worked with Mollie Marriott, PP Arnold, Corky Laing also appearing with Dennis Chambers, Gary Husband, Jeff Berlin, Steve Hackett, David Sancious, Lulu, Ginger Baker, Van Morrison, Shakatak and is currently the Keyboard/Hammond organ player for The Norman Beaker Band whom tours UK and Europe regularly with Larry Garner(Louisiana Blues Guitarist) and Chris Farlowe(Out of time, Handbags & Gladrags) and occasional support for Van Morrison.

LEEK BLUES AND AMERICANA PRESENTS……..
Texas-raised Londoner Rodney Branigan learned to play in Austin, perform in Los Angeles, craft songs in Nashville, and put it all together in London.
Artists are often described as having “a unique talent”; few epitomise this more than multi instrumentalist Rodney Branigan. In fact, Texan-born Rodney’s talents as a musician are as plentiful as the many instruments he expertly plays side by side.
He masterfully combines extraordinary multi instrumentalist skills with heartfelt lyrics and a rich soulful voice;(often compared to Jeff Buckley)A passion for musical diversity has seen Rodney travel the world with his own, inimitable style of musicianship. Having toured his native America coast-to-coast, Rodney’s desire to share his fusion of organic progressive folk with undertones of rock, flamenco, classical, bluegrass and jazz have also seen him play China, India, Africa and all across Europe; earning him love from new fans and respect from established musicians alike.

Rodney Branigan the songwriter is a truly gifted man. Rodney Branigan the performer has to be seen to be believed. Having opened for Billy Sheehan, Jack Johnson, Francis Cabrel, G-Love, Billy Bragg, Angeliqu Kidja, Show of Hands to name a few.
http://www.rodneybranigan.com/index/

Rodney will be supported the Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek by the talented local singer/songwriter Rob Davies.