Bands 2025

Celebrating the music of Irish blues guitar legend Rory Gallagher

Cloak & Dagger are a three piece band from Southampton are the masters of the Irish Blues perfected by the late Rory Gallagher.

Dubbed “England’s equivalent to Joe Bonnamassa” by Blues Matters, Jim Kirkpatrick has built up over a quarter-century’s experience in Blues and Rock and earned a tonne of respect from his fans, peers and critics alike. Not only is he a gifted songwriter (who’s written numerous nationally UK playlisted songs) but he’s also a deft-fingered, multi-skilled, guitarist who’s famed for possessing both Bonnamassa-type energy and slide guitar and fingerstyle— worthy of the great Duane Allman — as well.

Jim is probably best-known as the lead guitarist of the legendary British melodic rock band FM, with whom he’s served since 2008. However, he’s also worked and toured with many other big hitters, worldwide, several of whom have collaborated with him on his solo material, such as Bernie Marsden and John ‘Rhino’ Edwards.

Striking out as a solo artist, Jim made a seismic and immediate impact, and earned well-deserved acclaim, as a songwriter, guitarist, vocalist (and live performer) with his critically acclaimed, 2020, 12-track solo album ‘Ballad of a Prodigal Son’. Life Music Media called it “The most important British Blues-Rock album of recent years,” and proclaimed, “Jim should be regarded as being right at the pinnacle of the world’s best Blues guitarist/vocalists.”

Now, Jim’s following up that triumphant solo outing with his forthcoming album of new material: ‘Dead Man Walking.’

“I think some of my strongest tracks ever are on this album. I’ve incorporated some country, Americana and gospel influences in with the usual blend of rock and blues. This is new territory for me.

“The tracks ‘Dead Man Walking’ and ‘Union Train’ are southern-tinged whilst ‘Promised Land’ is almost like a work song.

“There’s some out-and-out rockers like ‘Life On The Run’ and Heaven Above’, and some blues and soul with ‘Road of Bones’ and ‘The Journey Home’.

“There’s one cover on the album, which is Rory Gallagher’s ‘I Fall Apart’. It’s very different from his original version. There’s an epic orchestral score on it.

Jims current album ‘Dead Man Walking” has been called 'Quite simply a masterpiece’ by Metal Planet Music who gave it 10/10. Blues Matters Magazine said ‘This is the album of the year, no question about it’ and continued to say ‘If there is a better blues/rock guitarist within this sceptres isle of ours, I’ll eat my hat’! Blues In Britain exclaimed that the album is ‘Quite brilliant’!

Recently, Jim has been lauded as 'the hardest working musician in the business’, 'Britains most unsung blues/rock guitar hero’ and 'the biggest secret in the blues/rock world’. That is all about to change!

Celebrating the music of Irish blues guitar legend Rory Gallagher

Jinx are a high energy power trio comprising

Stevie – Guitar, Vocals

Bri – Bass, Vocals

Nik – Drums

JACK-AUSTIN DESPY BLUES BAND
Like Led Zeppelin? Cream? Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore? Ever listened to Stevie Ray Vaughan? THEN YOU ARE IN FOR A TREAT! The Jack-Austin Despy Blues Band have their roots firmly in Blues and Rock, with a little bit of country thrown in. These young teenagers play with an expertise you would expect in musicians who have been playing for 50 years, yet their combined age is less than 50. They have found their own style, sometimes mashing two or more songs to bring a bit of fun to classic tracks, interspersed with some new original material. This three-piece band comprises Jack-Austin Despy on lead guitar and vocals, Vincent Lilley behind the drums and Leon Adams on bass. The passion and precision of the rhythm section gives Jack the freedom to display his amazing talent on guitar. Blues veterans have said, after seeing them play, “The future of Blues is safe in their hands”.

Fantastic band from N. Wales area, paying tribute to Rory Gallagher & Jimi Hendrix.
SandraiseR are a hard rocking blues power trio dedicated to the music of Jimi Hendrix and Rory Gallagher.
Led by the awesome talented guitarist Steve Pendle & now featuring ex Sinnerboy drummer Johnny Brutal & ex Sinnerboy Bass Nick Skelton.
SandraiseR are an absolutely top class band covering Rory Gallagher and Jimi Hendrix with a bit of Cream. If they're performing near you, then cancel everything else and go to watch them. See them while you can in this part of the country.

Dom Martin is a Belfast born multi award winning artist who burst onto the music scene in 2019 with a unique guitar style and voice, captivating audiences everywhere.
BBC Radio 2 presenter Cerys Matthews - “Absolutely wonderful stuff”

Classic Rock Magazine - "The Belfast guitarist is a sprawling talent"

Walter Trout - "Dom Martin is amazing! A unique, genuine, vital artist"

makingascene.org - "The likes of Dom’s talent only comes around once in a lifetime"

Blues in Britain Magazine - "Now and again you stumble across a rare talent of such sheergenius that you actually wonder whether what you have witnessed can possibly be for real. Dom Martin is one such talent"

Music-News.Com - "Dom Martin is an absolutely fabulous performer"

Rock & Blues Muse - "It’s obvious that Dom Martin is the next rising star in the global roots scene. Jump aboard now before he passes you by"

AWARDS
Album of The Year “Buried In The Hail” - 2024 UK Blues Awards
Instrumentalist of The Year - 2023 UK Blues Awards
Instrumentalist of The Year - 2022 UK Blues Awards
(Inducted into the UK Blues Hall of Fame for his third successive Acoustic Award)
Acoustic Act of The Year - 2022 UK Blues Awards
Acoustic Act of The Year - 2021 UK Blues Awards
Acoustic Act of The Year - 2020 UK Blues Awards Best
Solo/Acoustic Act - European Blues Awards 2019
Dom is fairly unique in that he is an extremely talented multi award winning performer both as a solo acoustic act (Dom Martin) and as a power rock trio (Dom Martin & Band). His ability to perform both shows at large festivals is attractive to festival organisers looking for quality shows for different stages.
This unassuming musician is another fine product of the Belfast music factory responsible for Sir Van Morrison, Gary Moore, Paul Brady, Brian Kennedy, Foy Vance and many more.

The Tony Edwards Band is a new British Power Trio out of East Anglia. Vastly experienced, the band members many years of gigging and widely varying backgrounds, make for an explosive mixture of power and virtuosity.
Guitarist and singer Tony Edwards came initially from a jazz background. Performing came naturally, and by the time he had reached his late teens he had been privileged to work with some of the British jazz greats including Jack Parnell, Jimmy and Alan Skidmore and Dave Amis as well as holding down a local club residency.
A love of electric guitar then led to Tony finding a role as a guitarist and front man. In the 90’s he opened for such rock legends as Magnum and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
In the last few years, Tony has been the front man of highly respected Rory Gallagher tribute ‘Secret Agent’, and has taken the show to festivals in the UK and Europe.
He is also a successful guitar teacher and guitar tech who plays his own handmade guitar on stage.
Bassist Dave Brown is usually better known by his alter ego, ‘Glam Dave’. With many high profile gigs to his name, he is a seasoned crowd pleaser. Dave is also an accomplished guitarist and songwriter.
Drummer Ian ‘Jaspa’ Woodthorpe is no stranger to the road or studio. Like the other members of the band, he has toured extensively in the UK & Europe with Hello and Buster James.

Aiden is well known for his powerful and engaging performances leaving his fans both excited and mesmerised. Having played throughout the UK, Europe and Ireland as a power trio Aiden is often likened to one of his heroes Rory Gallagher implementing a similar approach to the guitar with fierce passion and an energy like no other. Guitar riffs, catchy hooks, intense lead and great lyrics combine to give you something special and will leave you wanting more!

"Guitarist take you on a journey, sometimes gentle and dreamy and sometimes they wander off and leave you behind. Aiden plays with total commitment and takes the audience with him every step and note of the way. Looking out through a veil of dark hair with fire in his eyes as much as his fingers you can't resist following his lead. Solid, meaty riffs and the attitude of a real rocker, the man has a commanding presence and a keen following. "

~Petula Mitchell

"For me, Aiden is a fantastic young player with the personality, talent and passion to be a major name in British Blues. Not only does he posses some great guitar skills but he seems to be one of a dying breed... The type of musician who doesn't. view music as a competition, just a great platform for many like minded people to express their art and share and learn with each other. Look out everyone... there's a new slinger in the mix!

~Alan Nimmo (KING KING)

"In the few years Aiden Pryor has been playing at the Rory Gallagher Festival, this young man has certainly attracted a large enthusiastic and supportive fan base. Why? Because he is simply a class performer, a very talented guitarist, who delivers his music with passion and energy and that's not all, Aiden is a hell of a nice guy who connects with his fans.

~Joseph Cohen

Internationally renowned guitarist & singer Innes Sibun has put together a trio to celebrate the music of one of his earliest idols & influences, Rory Gallagher. Sibun says " I was reluctant to call it a tribute as Rory's music has always been so positive & life affirming that I prefer to call it a celebration of the massive gift he has left the world, tribute seems too small a word" 　
Sibun made his first album "That's what the blues can do for you" in 1991 with legendary producer Mike Vernon who had produced the early Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac album's as well as John Mayall's seminal Beano album featuring a young Eric Clapton.　 The album was voted number 1 blues album by RTE in Ireland that year.　
Following relentless touring he was asked to join Robert Plant's band for a world tour from 1993-94 taking in the U.S.A, South America & Europe.　 Following this tour he put together a band & made albums for various labels such as Viceroy & Provogue, in this time the band opened for the likes of Johnny Winter, Ronnie Earl, Taj Mahal & Peter Green. Innes was also asked to record a song for the Rattlesnake guitar album, a tribute to Peter Green which also featured Rory on one of his last recording sessions.　　　　　　　　　　　 　

In 2010 Innes was asked to play at the Ballyshannon Rory Gallagher festival in Rory's birth town, here he met Donal Gallagher, Rory's brother & road manager & they became good friends. Donal asked Innes to play at the Iridium club in NYC for the release party of the Notes from San Fancisco album which had not been released in Rory's lifetime. During his extensive recording career Sibun has recorded two of Rory's songs, "Million miles away" which can be heard on his album "The Box set" as well as "I fall apart" which was released on "Blues transfusion" an album he recorded in Mostar Bosnia with amazing Bosnian musicians. 　
Joining him in the trio are Kevin Jefferies on bass guitar & backing vocals, Kevin has a long & interesting career & has recorded & toured with the Roger Taylor band (Queen) as well as having chart success with his own band Babysnakes. The rhythm section can only be as good as it's drummer which is where Kevin O'Rourke fits in so well, Kevin again has a long & interesting career which has seen him play at the Montreux jazz festival, Notodden blues festival in Norway & Guitar en scene festival in France.　
The band will be playing songs from Rory’s first three records, Rory Gallagher, Deuce & Live in Europe. 　

　"Innes Sibun is the best sort of musician: overflowing with ideas　and energy sure, but drawing on a deep wellspring of feeling thats undeniable and immediately infectious"　

- Classic rock the blues magazine　

"Probably the best blues you'll hear all year"　

- Total guitar magazine　

"He's toured the USA in Robert Plant's band, topped major festivals across Europe with his own band, and is one of the finest electric blues guitarists in the UK. So why isn't Innes Sibun famous ? Answers on a postcard ....."　

- Venue magazine　

"There are moments of quite exquisite beauty here...should be filed under EXCELLENT "　

- Paul Lewis, Blueprint magazine review of "East monroe"　

　　
"National treasure status awaits"　

-　Classic rock magazine.　

Very much enjoyed you and the two Kevins playing a ‘Rory set’, great choice of broader, bluesy and ballesy material, great to have Laundromat as an opener, Take What I Want always a forgotten 　favourite (it was a track by James and Bobby Purify that I used to play as a young d.j. in a Cork club, which got everyone on their feet, so, Rory did a version but didn’t record until ’75), and you really excel on ‘Hot Coals’ - looking forward to hearing and seeing your show live and that we catch up soon.　

-Donal Gallagher .