Saturday 2nd May - Feeling, Fire and Fun - The British Blues All Stars
Zoot Money Vocalist. Keyboard player - and movie actor - has been one of the great names of British R&B scene for half a century. With his Big Roll Band he became a major draw at venues such as Soho’s Flamingo Club. The list of artists Zoot has shared a stage with seems endless, but includes Alexis Korner, Pink Floyd, Andy Summers of The Police, Eric Burdon and The New Animals, Ruby Turner and Chris Farlowe. And if you missed him on stage, chances are you’ve seen him on screen acting with Ronnie Barker, Leonard Rossiter, Ray Winstone and Kate Winslet. However, as a musician, if anyone deserves the title British Blues All Star, Zoot is the man.
Dave Kelly is undoubtedly a British Blues legend, regarded as one of the finest slide guitar players whilst being blessed with one of the best Blues voices this side of the Mississippi. Dave began his career alongside his sister, the late, great Blues singer Jo Ann Kelly, and as a founder member of The Blues Band, has enjoyed 35 years of success with Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend. He learned his trade as sideman to the Masters, Howlin’ Wolf , John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy and Son House, and recently played with the legendary James Burton and toured with superb singers such as Maggie Bell and Christine Collister. If there is such a thing as a British 'blues pedigree', then Dave Kelly's sets the standard.
Gary Fletcher has been The Blues Band’s bass player since they formed in 1979. As well as his vast experience playing the Blues and R&B, Gary’s career has encompassed many other genres, from pop and rock through to folk, soul and even country and western, which resulted in Gary playing in a country band at Wembley Arena. His talents as a song writer have produced numerous solo projects which have attracted, as guest musicians, the cream of the British R&B establishment. Gary’s music drew the attention of BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris. Sessions on Bob’s show were a great success, and ‘Whispering Bob’ remains an admirer. The CD Giant From The Blue by the Gary Fletcher Band is the icing on the cake of a successful musical career which continues apace.
David ‘Pick’ Withers was drummer with Dire Straits for their first four albums. Held in high esteem by his peers as a musician, he’s played with a variety of acts, including Prelude, Michael Chapman, Andy Fairweather-Low, Nick Lowe, Del Shannon, Ian Anderson, Foghat and Dave Edmunds as well as folk luminaries Bert Jansch, Ralph McTell, Rab Noakes and Magna Carta. Along with Mark Knopfler he played on Bob Dylan’s Slow Train Coming Album. His career with Dire Straits included Pick playing on memorable hit singles such as Sultans of Swing, Romeo and Juliet and Private Investigations. When it comes to playing the Blues, there’s no finer drummer for the job on the British scene than Pick Withers, a musician well worthy of the title ‘legend’.
Pete Emery is a breath-taking Blues guitar player and like his fellow All-Star, Dave Kelly, Pete enjoys a rock-solid foundation in the Blues. He learned his trade in The Deep Blues Band, the storehouse of Bristol blues musicians who constantly had their musicians stolen by London bands - The Groundhogs, The John Dummer Blues Band and others. As a British Blues All Star he stands well alongside Dave Kelly, because Pete honed his craft over many years on the club circuit with his legendary partner and soul mate, Dave’s much-missed sister, Jo Ann Kelly. He’s often played with The Blues Band, and like Dave Kelly, he’s one of the chosen few to underpin the vocal talents of Christine Collister on their 2005 Live album.