AYNSLEY LISTER + MARK PONTIN GROUP + JIMMY REGAL AND THE ROYALS
AYNSLEY LISTER
With his hard hitting rhythms and guitar work reminiscent of a young Clapton, Lister is one of very few artists playing blues-infused rock with a modern edge – heartfelt, soul searching and full of fine song-writing played with both passion and vitality. Fresh from his richly deserved accolade as “Guitarist of the Year” in the British Blues Awards and straight out of the studio, Aynsley Lister is back on tour armed with his brand new studio album. This is a show not to be missed!
“An absolute masterclass in art of guitar playing with immense touch, technique and tone.” – Nigel Foster
“Superb” – The Times http://www.aynsleylister.co.uk/
MARK PONTIN GROUP
Mark Pontin is a genuine “triple threat”. If he were solely a singer the new album from The Mark Pontin Group would stand head and shoulders above the pack on that strength alone. His effortless vocals can turn on a dime from gritty and raw to smooth and melodic, displaying enviable range without the strain and the kind of control and dynamics rarely seen in a blues/rock context. His abilities as a guitarist easily put him in the upper echelons of blues and rock players, in the UK or anywhere else for that matter. His beautifully nuanced playing, musicianly without over-indulgence, at times wrangles massive sounds from a Marshall amp, at others coaxes delicate harmonics from an acoustic guitar.
As a songwriter, Mark displays the kind of versatility rarely seen within the often predictably rigid confines of the blues/rock scene and demonstrates how easily – when you know how – the genre can incorporate shades of jazz, funk, soul and pop music.
In the short period since the release of their 2013 debut Days Of Destiny, The Mark Pontin Group established themselves firmly on the UK Blues/Rock scene. The Mark Pontin Group are never happier than when they are on the live stage utilising not only their remarkable individual talents but also great interplay and improvisation, with no two shows ever being the same. Obvious comparisons could be made to Cream or Hendrix though it could be said that MPGs abilities range further still, incorporating a rich variety of flavours into their own secret formula. Now, with their new album Textures it is clear that the bar for contemporary blues/rock has been raised and The Mark Pontin Group is a force to be reckoned with. http://markpontingroup.com/
JIMMY REGAL AND THE ROYALS
A howlin’ blues three piece – harmonica, guitar, drums – modelled after acts on the Fat Possum label such as RL Burnside and T Model Ford and in the tradition of Hound Dog Taylor and the like. But we also throw in a good heap of Little Walter and New Orleans music, including Professor Longhair and James Booker, making for a unique mix. We’ve been featured in Blues in Britain and our debut CD, a mix of originals and covers, has been getting radio airplay on blues programmes around the country and the US. Our motto: “Work all day for money, fight all night for love.” http://jimmyregalandtheroyals.bandcamp.com