ARTISTS PROFILES

Images of the 2006 Festival - Click here

Main Stage Marquee 2008
	Chuck Berry's music has transcended generations. He earns respect to this day because he is truly an entertainer. Berry, also known as "The Father of Rock & Roll", gained success by watching the audience's reaction and playing accordingly, putting his listeners' amusement above all else. For this reason, tunes like "Johnny B. Goode," "Maybellene" and "Memphis" have become anthems to an integrated American youth and popular culture. Berry is a musical icon who established rock and roll as a musical form and brought the worlds of black and white together in song.
	One of the greatest and most respected guitarists in the world, Jimmie Vaughan will headline the Saturday night at the Maryport Blues Festival in an exclusive UK performance. Jimmie  is an international roots-blues rock sensation, having founded The Fabulous Thunderbirds, toured globally for years, and played with the greatest musicians of all time (including brother Stevie Ray Vaughan) and is a mulitiple Grammy award recipient. Jimmie will be performing with his  Tilt-A-Whirl band consisting of the great drummer George Rains, rhythm guitarist Billy Pitman, and Hammond B-3 organ player Bill Willis,  and as an added bonus will be joined by joined by Austin's Queen of The Blues, Lou Ann Barton . Vaughan's life is synonymous with music. He picked up the guitar at 13, after he was sidelined by a football injury. By 15, he had started a band and by 16 had opened for Jimi Hendrix in Dallas. In the mid-1970s, he founded the Fabulous Thunderbirds. The band went on to storm the pop charts with the song "Tuff Enough" (1986) and record eight albums, including T-Bird Rhythm (1982), Tuff Enuff (1986), Hot Number (1987), and Powerful Stuff (1989). In 1990, he recorded Family Style with Stevie Ray Vaughan. (His brother died in a helicopter crash later that year.) Vaughan then embarked on a solo career. With his Tilt-A-Whirl Band, he released Strange Pleasure (1994), Out There (1998), and Do You Get The Blues? (2001). In 2003, he released a career retrospective, Essential Jimmie Vaughan. As a guest musician, he has played with some of the biggest names in music -- and appeared on Bob Dylan's Under the Red Sky, Carlos Santana's Havana Moon, Willie Nelson's Milk Cow Blues, and B.B. King & Eric Clapton's Riding with the King. Vaughan has won four Grammy Awards, most recently for Do You Get The Blues? (Best Traditional Blues Album). Click here to visit Jimmie's website
	Jools Holland & the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra has become established as one of the most prolific touring acts in the UK, creating their own unique big band sound playing a mix of boogie-woogie, swing, jazz and R&B. It’s been a particularly busy time for the music maestro recently with the publication of his autobiography, 'Barefaced Lies and Boogie-Woogie Boasts' and top 10 chart success with his latest album 'Best of Friends’. Last year, the 30th series of cult BBC show  Later…with Jools Holland was aired and the exuberant Hootenanny celebrated its 15th anniversary. Click here to visit their website
	Marc Almond as an international artist is both critically acclaimed and hugely successful as a singer, songwriter and performer.  With Dave Ball he established the first successful British electro-duo: Soft Cell and had a string of international hits, the most successful being their multi-million selling version of the northern soul song 'Tainted Love'.  The song is as popular today as it was in 1981 and is regularly aired with the duo's other hit singles Bedsitter, Numbers, Torch and Say Hello Wave Goodbye.  The single Memorabilia was the first ever techno record and set the pace for a whole musical movement.  Soft Cell notched up in excess of 10 million record sales worldwide and established a style that was to influence several generations of musicians that followed. Click here to visit Marc's website
	Ruby Turner is one of the best voices in popular music described as "Truly the genuine article and blessed with a voice that has been likened to Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin, Ruby can breathe life and meaning into a song whether it is a passionate soaring ballad or a soulful up-tempo groove"{The Guardian, Feb2002} r major break came in the mid 1980's, when she was asked to join 'Culture Club' at the height of their stardom. An offer of a solo record deal closely followed and she soon signed to Jive Records. Four albums & the 'Best of Ruby Turner' compilation album were all released to critical acclaim over the next few years. This period went on to spawn the hits 'If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) and 'I'd Rather Go Blind' and, in the American R'n'B chart, the number 1 hit single 'It's Gonna Be Alright' - one of less than ten British records to achieve this! It was at this time that she also released her hit album 'The Motown Songbook' on which she performed with some of the great stars of that era - The Four Tops, The Temptations, Jimmy Ruffin etc. Ruby affirmed her ability as a fine songwriter, an aspect of her talent which she has gradually been honing and tuning, when she penned nine of the songs for her 'Call Me By My Name' album released at the end of 1999. Artists as diverse and influential as Lulu, Yazz and Maxi Priest have all covered some of her songs. To date, Ruby has released 10 albums plus the BBC's 'Live From Glastonbury', as well as appearing on releases by the likes of Brian Ferry, UB40, Steve Winwood and Jools Holland. She recently sang on 5 tracks on Mick Jagger’s solo album. Ruby affirmed her ability as a fine songwriter, an aspect of her talent which she has gradually been honing and tuning, when she penned nine of the songs for her 'Call Me By My Name' album released at the end of 1999. Artists as diverse and influential as Lulu, Yazz and Maxi Priest have all covered some of her songs. Click here to visit Ruby's website
	Marc and Ruby will be joined, Louise Marshall , the newest member of the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Band. Born in Oldham, Louise started singing at the age of 15 months old and playing the piano at 3 and truly loves performing. She attended both ‘Chetham’s School of Music’ and ‘Guildhall School of Music and Drama’ to further her skills as a pianist. Her career as a singer has taken her all over the World with numerous artists, Beverley Knight, Marti Pellow, Michael Ball, Russell Watson, Bryan Ferry , Karl Jenkins, Paul Weller and Robbie Williams to name but a few. Her musical styles stem right through from Classical, singing and conducting The National Youth Choir of GB to Jazz at Ronnie Scott’s and 'The Jazz Café'. Numerous film soundtracks, 'Troy', 'Ray', 'Phantom of the Opera' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean 3' and a handful of West End shows such as “Jesus Christ Superstar’, ‘Soul Train’ and ‘The Genius of Ray’ and Louise is also part of the Dance and Pop World where she performed on Top of The Pops singing ‘Right On’ by Silicone Soul’.
Other Main Stage Artists (in alphabetical order)
	When singing sensation Shemekia Copeland first appeared on the scene in 1997 with her groundbreaking debut CD, TURN THE HEAT UP, she quickly became, at 18 years old, a roots music superstar. Critics from around the country celebrated Shemekia's music as fans of all ages agreed that an unstoppable new talent had arrived. Shemekia released two more CDs: 2000's Grammy©-nominated WICKED and 2002's TALKING TO STRANGERS (produced by Dr. John), and in that short period of time, collected five Blues Music Awards, a Grammy© nomination, five Living Blues Awards, and was honored with the coveted "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" Award by the DownBeat Critics' Poll. Rock legend Robert Plant called her "the next Tina Turner." Shemekia has already had a lifetime's worth of career highlights, including performances on national television, appearances in films, and sharing stages with some of the biggest names in the music world. And now she can add the title 'radio host' to her already impressive list of accomplishments. Copeland will host her own weekly blues radio program, Shemekia Copeland's Blues Show, exclusively on Sirius satellite radio beginning April 22, 2006.
	Chris Farlowe is one of the great underrated British souls and blues influenced singers of the last forty years. His musical career  began with a skiffle group in 1957, and during the 1960s Chris recorded numerous singles. followed by he records numerous singles. His most successful was "Out of Time" which was number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1966. His next four singles were also well received. The most famous was "Handbags and Gladrags" (which was written by Mike d'Abo), later covered by Rod Stewart and more recently by the Stereophonics). As an English R&B star of the early 1960s, Farlowe released one single, "Stormy Monday Blues", under the pseudonym, 'Little Joe Cook', which helped perpetrate the myth that he was black. His association with jazz rock group Colosseum began in the 1970s, recording a live album and three studio albums . In 1972 he joined Atomic Rooster and is featured on the albums Made in England and Nice and Greasy. He also sang on three tracks of Jimmy Page's Death Wish II soundtrack 1982 and Outrider album in 1988.
	Little Jenny & the Blue Beans are a sultry Blues Rock act from Scandinavian. The band was first formed in 1997 and since then their career has seen them feature at many of the major European festivals including: Belgium Rn’B Fesitval, Peer; Copenhagen Blues Festival, Denmark; Åmåls Bluesfestival, Sweden and the Lahti Blues Festival, Finland. They also regularly tour in France as well as Scandinavia and have recently begun to break through in the United Kingdom. Little Jenny herself has been the recipient of two of the top Swedish blues awards: the Jan Rosenqvist award in 1998 and the Åmal blues festival award in 2001. She is now considered to be one of Sweden’s greatest blues harmonica players. Little Jenny has a fine blues pedigree having toured with the likes of Eric Bibb between 1990 and 1999. Other career highlights include her performing at the Mustique Blues Festival with the English blues diva Dana Gillespie. Alongside Little Jenny, all the band members have years of experience backing a large number of Sweden’s most famous artists and enjoy endorsement from some of Scandinavia’s top industry players.
	Derrin Nauendorf  is an Australian who blends blues, folk and country by combining guitar, voice and lyric to create a unique and passionate rootsy sound that has to be experienced; and can only be described as pure Derrin Nauendorf. Since first embarking on our shores 6 years ago, Derrin has worked relentlessly to get his music heard. Touring firstly as a duo, then for several years solo and, more recently as solo, duo or trio with his newly formed band. Derrin  has a distribution deal with Pinnacle, national radio plays, ‘live' sessions on BBC Radio 2 with Paul Jones and Bob Harris coupled with sessions on many local BBC and other radio shows, the publishing of Derrin's lyrics for ‘Shipwrecked' by Cambridge University Press in an English teaching guide, a full endorsement from Yamaha guitars, presence in various publications e.g Mojo, Q, Maverick, Blues Matters, Blues in Britain, and last but not least a 4 star album review in The Sunday Express alongside Jools Holland, Tom Waits and The Beatles! Derrin will  perform with Jeff Lang, Australia's best known roots and blues slide guitarist/songwriter.
	Jeff  Lang is  Australia's best known roots and blues slide guitarist /songwriter and will  perform with Derrin. Jeff has been touring Australia for 10 years and touring in America, Canada, and the UK for last 4 years. He has amazing and original chops on slide guitar, a great voice, and an explosive sense of humor.
	Drawing on an eclectic range of influences, Ian Parker is fast becoming Britain’s best loved blues/roots performer. A songwriter genuinely literate, sometimes almost literary, Ian is an original craftsman rooted in the blues but not trapped by any desire to replicate the past. He is without doubt a relevant contemporary blues man.  Expressed through a distinctive bitter-sweet vocal delivery and harrowing guitar work, Ian’s songs hold nothing back. His ability and willingness to share with his audience, naked honesty and genuine emotion, is what sets him apart. Ian signed to Ruf Records following a personal introduction to US record producer, David Z (Prince – Purple Rain) and his debut album ‘INSIDE’ was released in October 2003. This was followed by a CD and live DVD Whilst the wind and  Pilgrimage, recorded in the US. Last year, ‘WHERE I BELONG’ was produced by Matt Butler, whose extensive CV includes none other than Sir Paul McCartney.
	Sherman Robertson (US) first wowed Maryport in 2004 with his  zydeco, hard-swinging Texas electric blues, R&B and swampy Louisiana blues and a unique ability to play R&B, zydeco and blues with a rock edge. "I use that driving, road-cooking type zydeco groove, and put blues on top of it, It's basically rhythm and feel " says Robertson.."  His considerable credentials include playing with Clifton Chenier, " the King Of Zydeco, Terrance Simien's briefly Rockin' Dopsie, Johnny Clyde Copeland and several other well-known artists. When Paul Simon needed a guitar player to add some sounds to his Graceland album, he chose Robertson and soon after legendary British producer Mike Vernon (John Mayall's Bluebreakers with Eric Clapton, Freddie King, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie) signed Robertson to Atlantic Records. Robertson's first solo recording, 1993's I'm The Man (Atlantic1994), was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award.
	Beth Rowley, with her towering vocals and sophisticated, gospel-tinged sound, has been launched into the spotlight in 2008, with live radio performances, TV appearances and supported David Gray on tour in March. Beth also appears on the soundtrack for the new film, ‘The Edge of Love’. Starring Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller and Cillian Murphy, the film is based on the life of the poet Dylan Thomas. Beth recorded the stunning new track, ‘Careless Talk’ specifically for the film, which is released in the UK on 20th June. Her Debut album 'Little Dreamer' was released on 21st April  and the debut single  'Oh My Life' was released on 3rd March and is being played regularly on Radio 2. 'Little Dreamer' largely co-written by Beth with saxophonist Ben Caste (Duke Special) and the 11-track debut follows the EP 'Violets' and demands attention.
	Ian Siegal is one of most respective blues artists in the UK and it has been said that had Siegal been around in the sixties he would today be accorded the same reverence as artists such as Van Morrison, Joe Cocker and Eric Clapton. Instead, he is a child of the seventies who dropped out of art college in the late eighties to go busking in Germany. From the streets of Berlin Siegal progressed to clubs around Nottingham, then to London and ultimately to major stages around Europe. Ian's earliest musical memories are of the likes of Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis and Chuck Berry. This led him into a life-long passion for the Blues and all of its various branches, and most of all, the inimitable Muddy Waters. “I cannot remember not knowing about Muddy Waters, even as a child,” says Ian. “His music and that of Howlin' Wolf have been a huge influence on me.”His last album was described by Mojo magazine as ““Awash with wit, lust and distraction…one of the most inventive Blues recordings ever made by a British artist.”
	Earl Thomas comes with all the right moves, an amazing blend of blues, rock, soul and funky rhythm & blues. He’s got a voice that’s been compared to Otis Redding and Al Green with plenty of musical heat. Ike Turner says, “He’s just one of the most entertaining people you’ll ever meet. His songs have been recorded by Etta James, Solomon Burke, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green. His dynamic stage show described as one part Sam Cooke, one part Otis Redding, one part Al Green, and ten parts Earl Thomas has been impressing audiences around the world for over a decade. His direct approach and engaging personality has seen him opening shows for Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Etta James, B. B. King, India.Arie and Ike Turner. He’s performed at top music festivals including the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival, has released eleven critically acclaimed cds, and has songs currently in two feature films. He is a singer, songwriter, producer, and world class entertainer
	Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen Jon Cleary is a triple threat—with a salty-sweet voice, masterful piano skills, and a knack for coupling infectious grooves with melodic hooks and sharp lyrics.   He balances a career performing with his band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen and Bonnie Raitt, recording with both groups, and composing songs for various artists.  His live shows are an explosive funk party mixing old school soul with the rhythms of New Orleans.  Cleary has produced 4 recordings over the past 10 years .Born in Kent, England, Cleary has educated himself in the musical culture and life of New Orleans for the past 20 years steeped in the sounds of the Caribbean from Cuba to Haiti and beyond.  His deft piano style and unmistakable vocals are heard on recordings by Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, B.B. King, Ryan Adams, and Eric Burdon.  Cleary’s original compositions have been recorded by Taj Mahal on Phantom Blues, and Bonnie Raitt’s most recent albums Souls Alike and Silver Lining.  Cleary does double duty performing as full-time keyboardist for Grammy Winner Bonnie Raitt when not touring with his the Absolute Monster Gentlemen.
	This year’s MC is Mark Singleton, who has also compered the festival’s Battle of the Bands contests in 2006, 2007 & 2008. Musician Mark started playing the drums 10 years ago after surgery following a climbing accident, when his doctor said it would improve the movement in his foot. He joined local group The Answer - which opened the festival two years ago - in 2004 after blues band Stealer, which he co-founded, dissolved. In 2006, he joined blues outfit Sidewinder.Click here to visit their website. His musical influences are wide-ranging - Black Sabbath to Rush, John Lee Hooker to Stevie Ray Vaughan.Mark, who described his MC role as an “absolute honour”, said: “The festival has stimulated the local blues scene and been a great catalyst for local musicians who have been inspired to start bands. South Quay did just this to enter Battle of the Bands. "The festival is influencing the next generation of musicians to learn and perform.”
	TRAIL BAND BIOGRAPHIES (in alphabetical order) 2007 to be updated
	Dave Arcari gravel ’n’ whiskey delivery falls midway between Tom Waits and Alabama 3’s Larry Love, relayed over a backdrop that variously recalls Slim Harpo, Leadbelly and Vincent Gallo National guitar-driven alternative blues that owes as much to trash country, punk and rockabilly as it does to pre-war Delta blues. Slide guitarist and songwriter Dave Arcari is better known as front man of alt. blues Radiotones which has three internationally-acclaimed albums under its belt. A series of shows with the mighty Alabama 3 (by personal request of the band), gigs with Son of Dave and John Spencer and a summer 2005 tour in Estonia (including headline sets at the Augustibluus Festival) have now established Dave Arcari as a formidable international solo performer, and built a media reputation as a‘hell-raising National guitar madman’. Click here to visit Dave Acari's website
	Howard Smith & the Razors The RAZORS are and will remain, Howard Smith, Craig Rhind and Chas Chaplin.   The three first played together back in 1993 and are back doing some gigs again after having a few years break from each other. They recorded a couple of tapes (that's what bands did then) and eventually a Live + Best of  CD "Here to Hear" in 1995. The Razors played all over the UK and even ventured as far as Switzerland on 5 occasions before throwing in the towel in 1997. A chance meeting in 2002 led once again to some great gigs and a real return to form for the band.   Click here to visit The Razors website
	The John O'Leary Band Blues harp player John O’Leary from Clonakilty in the Republic of Ireland has in incredible pedigree. He founded The Savoy Brown Blues Band, has played with The John Dummer Blues Band (with Tony McPhee), featured in studio sessions with Sweet Pain with Dick Heckstall-Smith, Victor Brox, Keith Tilman and Aynsley Dunbar, recorded with Champion Jack Dupree,and worked with luminaries like Keef Hartley, Donovan, Noel Redding, Marianne Faithful. Present band line-up features Jules Fothergill on guitar, Joachim Greve on drums, Roger Innis on bass with Julian ‘Mr Jules’ Grudgings on keys. A really classy line up for a band that allows each individual member to express themselves (they have been known to play only 12 numbers in a two hour set)  without being self indulgent, but involving and carrying the audience along with them. Click here to visit John O'Leary's website
	Sean Webster  The brainchild of Sean Webster, frontman guitarist vocalist, this three-piece band has a fast growing reputation on the British blues scene. Founded in June of 2003, theirs is a sound that comprises a sharp sense of song writing and a strong feel for contemporary blues rock. Eventually frustrated by simply playing cover versions of Clapton, Collins, Gilmour and Satriani, Sean was inspired to start writing his own material- a move which led to the current line-up of musicians, being Tom Latham on bass and Martin Collins on drums. Sean has been described as ‘a lean and hungry front man with that necessary ‘attitude’ that separates the potentially great from the merely mortal’ He is a superb guitarist with smouldering vocals a la Joe Cocker/ Stevie Nimmo. If you like Ian Parker, Nimmo Brothers, Amor then you will love this band. A great favourite at Maryport, Sean will blow you away! Click here to visit Sean's website
	Skunk are a four-piece West Cumbrian band who play their own brand of rock ‘n roll. Their self penned debut album was released in the autumn of 2004 and has since won the band many new fans both in the UK and abroad. Since ‘On a Good Day’ was released they have played extensively around the north of the country promoting their album. Skunk have also completed several successful short tours of Germany where the album is receiving a significant amount of national airplay. A recent review by the Chicago based ‘Go Jangle’ radio station described the band as ‘High energy funked up rock ‘n’ roll loaded with choruses around each bend’ Building on their initial success, Skunk are currently promoting their follow up album ‘Close to heaven, Deep in Sin’ which captures the high energy of a live performance, reflecting the influence of the recently returned ‘Funky Al’ on bass and the soaring guitar work of new boy Damage. Skunk continue to expand their reputation, appealing to both young and older music fans alike. Click here to find out more on Skunk's MySpace
	The Starvin’ Sid phenomenon has been hovering about the local scene at Cleethorpes for about 15 years now. They were originally a nine- piece band with only two rules- enjoy yourself and no politics. Their popularity is based on their capacity for energetic, humorous improvisational interpretations of a wide range of blues styles. The bands present incarnation ( and strangely it gets better with every metamorphosis) is a three-piece rock variation. The material is, as ever, a combination of classic blues by such stars as Robert Johnston, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King, alongside contemporary tracks by peole like Robin Trower, Z Z Top and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Click here to visit Starvin Sid's website
	AWOL is a four-piece band based in Maryport. It formed in 2002 and has been playing gigs round the county since then. It has played at the blues festival for the last four years, Silloth Beer Festival twice - once supporting The Animals - and other festivals. AWOL is Matty Penn (bass/lead vocals), Dean Newton (lead/rhythm guitar and lead vocals), Guy Little (lead/rhythm guitar) and Stephen Jackson (drums/backing vocals).  The band’s proudest moment occurred when AC/DC singer Brian Johnson saw one of its gigs and said they were “awesome.” AWOL, whose set consists of covers and originals, has released one album, A Way Of Life.
	FEED Me is a new blues rock band playing the Maryport festival for the first time. They were was formed when guitarists Kiefer McCrickerd and Jamie Francis left their old band and got in touch with long-time friend and drummer Ben McCartney.To complete the line-up, they employed Phil Lowery on bass and vocals.Although they are all experienced musicians in their own right - Kiefer, Jamie and Ben played at the festival in 2005 and 2006 - this is the band’s first gig together. Feed me plays a mix of rock and blues rock classics, such as Cocaine, Bad to the Bone and Money for Nothing.“Expect driving rhythms, soaring solos and an earful of passionately played music as Feed Me take you on a journey through some of the greatest songs of all time,” they say.