Just announced: Kokomo, 3rd April.

Kokomo

03 April / 19:30 / More Info / Buy Tickets

Formed in 1973, Kokomo’s original 10-piece and somewhat contrasting line-up consisted of four vocalists: Dyan Birch, Frank Collins, Paddie McHugh and Tony O’Malley from ’60s pop sensations ‘Arrival’, Alan Spenner (bass) and Neil Hubbard (guitar) were recruited from Joe Cocker’s Grease band; Mel Collins (saxophone) from King Crimson, and percussionist Jody Linscott (who went on to tour with The Who, Elton John, Dave Gilmour and more), Terry Stannard (drums) and Jim Mullen (guitar) completed the line up. Kokomo was never shackled to the traditional soul/R&B club circuit. Rather, the band launched onto the U.K. pub rock scene where their loose-limbed funk workouts were in an absolute class of their own and they took London by storm!

In early 1975, Kokomo were taken on by manager Steve O’Rourke (also Pink Floyd’s manager), and finally broke out of the pubs and the band joined the seminal ‘Naughty Rhythms’ tour alongside Dr. Feelgood and Chilli Willie & the Red Hot Peppers. Bob Dylan, who was signed to the CBS at the same time as Kokomo, admired the group and recruited them for the early sessions for his forthcoming ‘Desire’ album while they were in New York promoting their debut album.

They released a second album ‘Rise & Shine’ in 1977, but announced an indefinite hiatus soon after, and broke off to pursue other musical projects and goals. In re-uniting, Kokomo remain as sharp and funky as they were on their highly collectible ‘70s albums.