Beer & Blues Weekend: all you need to know!

Here’s everything you need to know ahead our annual Beer & Blues Weekend, which kicks off tomorrow:

We begin with Big Boy Bloater & The Limits, fronted by powerful vocalist and virtuosic guitarist Big Boy Bloater. Bloater cut his teeth in R&B six-piece the Southside Stompers, before taking centre stage in his own blues outfit. Jools Holland cited him “one of the greatest bluesmen of our time” and DJ Mark Lamarr put down the funds for a vinyl run of the single Whammy, just so he could own a copy! Support on Friday Night comes from Chris ‘King’ Robinson.

Winner of the ‘Best Female Vocalist’ prize at the British Blues Awards, Jo Harman gets us rolling on Saturday. She recently recorded a new album in Nashville with producer Fred Mollin (Carole King, Barbra Streisand), and this young talent is already giving artists 30 years her senior a run for their money.

As Jo Harman’s set adjourns, we have afternoon acoustics courtesy of two North West’s most erudite bluesmen, Serious Sam Barrett and SJ Downes, live in our Picturehouse Bar. These afternoon sessions take you through to the final headline act of the weekend; a special collaboration between Connie Lush and Kyla Brox.

Connie Lush recently returned from a European tour, and like Brox is nominated for ‘Best Female Vocalist’ at the 2016 British Blues Awards. Her album Renaissance, released late last year, also finds itself in the Best album category, confirming her performance and recording pedigree. Brox is known to many as a soulful and emotive vocalist; the daughter of pianist and bluesman Victor Brox, whom she first appeared on stage with at Band on the Wall at the age of 12. Her latest album Throw Away Your Blues is an affirmation of her talents, with BluesDoodles giving the album a 10/10 rating.
Lush and Brox are set to perform spellbinding individual sets, but expect fireworks when the two bands join forces for a spectacular finale…

Here’s the ales we have confirmed so far: