Ian Siegal solo and band gigs in November... (Photo by Liz Aiken (www.lizaiken.com))!
November 11th we were lucky enough to be at Nottingham's Rescue Rooms for The Big Blues Double Header where both the Ian Siegal Band and the Matt Schofield Band complemented each other's styles very well.
November 12th the Ian Siegal Band played what was possibly the stand out gig of this UK tour at London's famous 100 Club (see excerpts from professional revue below).
November 14 saw Ian open for Southside Johnny at The Grand Opera House in York where he went down a storm.
November 15th the Ian Siegal Band headlined the last night of the excellent Carlisle Blues Festival to great acclaim.
November 16th it was the turn of all those who went to Gateshead Old Town Hall to enjoy this fantastic band - this event was promoted by the well respected Newcastle based music collective known as The Jumpin' Hot Club, and the very good support band were a quirky rather alternative country duo from Leicester called The Hi and Lo.
November 18th it was back to York. Fibbers this time and the mood of the band was darker but just as fascinating.
November 19th and the band played The Arc in Stockton-on-tees and the lighter mood had returned and a great gig ensued...
There were other great nights of music from our heroes on this tour some of which we didn't manage to attend and one of those was The Blues Assembly in Leamington Spa where many fine blues artists played that night...
The last gig of this leg of the tour was to have been in Maryport, Cumbria but due to extensive flooding in that area unfortunately it had to be called off. These floods are still causing havoc so I'm sure I speak for everyone in wishing the people affected by the floods a swift return to a more normal situation...
The band will do a one off UK date at the new Charlotte Street Blues Club in London on December 19th., and this will be a great place to be that night if anyone reading this can make it - tickets are going fast so if you want to be there do not hang around too long before getting yours.
All that remains is to say how much people enjoyed this UK tour and to wish Ian and the band well as they prepare to work all over Europe, South America and the Caribbean over the next few months. We are now looking forward to next March when they do more UK gigs...
From all accounts the recent Ian Siegal Band gig at The 100 Club was "way out there" and as I wasn't lucky enough to attend this review google Blues in London and read their review as this is the only thing I can manage to advise people who would like to read about that particular gig, I hope Blues in London won't mind but I've put a little taster for you below so go check it out...
Ian Siegal
The 100 Club , 100 Oxford St, London - 22nd November 2007
Review by Mark Harrison
"I should think that anyone interested in blues at the moment, especially in London, has at least heard of Ian Siegal. He seems to have been given the mantle of Saviour of British Blues. He’s young(ish), he does blues, he’s British and he’s very good, so there’s a feeling that he could be the one to break out of the ‘blues ghetto’ and get some mainstream success. Judging from this fine performance, I’d say he just might..
...Ian Siegal turned out to be the best live act I’ve seen in ages. He may not take it as a compliment, but in my view, he’s as good as anyone who was going in the 60s and 70s, and he’d have been a big name then...
...Certainly at the 100 Club that night, everyone on stage seemed to be totally ‘up’ for the gig, excited about playing. It comes over, and it generates the sort of atmosphere that this sort of thing really should be all about..."
Now go read the rest of this review at Blues in London and anything else you can find about Ian Siegal if possible, as if you are anything like me it could shake up not only your take on the blues, but to a certain extent your life...
B.H.