Barbican International Jazz & Blues Festival 2014
American musicians will be playing close to the Mayflower Steps at the Barbican International Jazz & Blues Festival 2014.
Mississippi blues guitar-man Robin Henkel will headline the event, which takes place from June 13-15 on The Barbican, close to where the Pilgrims left for the New World in 1620.
The Festival’s music programme is due to run between noon and 9pm on Friday and Saturday, noon to 7pm on the Sunday on an outdoor stage entertaining onlookers with excellent – and free – music.
Robin Henkel will be joined by Ric Lee, award-winning drummer and descendant of Robert E. Lee, the head of the Confederate Army in the American Civil War.
The pair will appear on Friday night at the Festival, performing vintage blues in front of the crowds at this free outdoor event. They will be joined by South West-based soul-blues singer Mama Tokus.
"It’s great that we have got some Americans flying into play our event," said Dan Thompson, Festival Director.
"We’re showcasing two great American artforms: blues and jazz. It’s perfect that we’re welcoming musicians from across The Pond".
Robin Henkel performs slide guitar and country blues drawing from the music and styles of pioneers like Robert Johnson, Fred McDowell and Elmore James. He has performed with Jimmy Witherspoon, Lowell Fulson, Buddy Miles and Big Jay McNeely and he’s opened shows for BB King, Dizzie Gillespie, Bonnie Raitt, Dr John and John Mayall.
Ric Lee has performed at the Festival before. In 2012 his band The Bayou Brothers stole the show when they whipped up the crowds with their infectious zydeco-blues – a Louisiana version of the blues, performed with accordion and rub-board. The Bayou Brothers won San Diego’s Best Blues Band award last year.
After meeting Ric at the Festival in 2012, Mama Tokus was invited to perform in California in May 2013 with Ric and Robin. Now the musical exchange continues as the guys fly this way across the Atlantic.
Robin and Ric join a series of headline acts that will excite audiences hungry for good music.
As well as Robin Henkel, Friday night sees a performance by Dom Pipkin and the Iko's - a rip roaring New Orleans piano outfit.
The band brings the classic sound of New Orleans funk and R’n’B right into the 21st century, led by killer piano man Dom, who has appeared with Dr John, Zigaboo Modeliste (drummer with classic funkers The Meters), Eric Bibb, Pee Wee Ellis, Ray Davies and Paul Jones.
On early Saturday night we get Rabbit Foot - a raucous punk-rock-African blues two-piece from Brighton with guitar and tom-tom drums. This outfit was nominated for a British Blues Award last year and were London finalists in Hard Rock Café’s Battle of the Bands.
They are followed by Brassroots - a 7-piece East London-based brass-band and percussion outfit, fusing an eclectic collection of musical genres played by a group of international musicians with groove, energy and an incredible funkiness.
Brassroots have set stages ablaze from Ronnie Scott’s to Glastonbury, London Jazz Festival to Channel 4, Secret Garden Party and Bestival to WOMAD UK & Canarias, where 40,000 people on the streets of Las Palmas went nuts to their sound.
The Festival is also showcasing top local musicians in its programming. Opening the Festival is Singapore-born, Torpoint-resident guitar man Jimmy Appudurai-Chai - a blues guitar artist whose claim to fame was knocking the Beatles off the Number 1 spot in his home country in 1969.
You’ll see The Diehards - led by Plymouth slide blues supremo Thomas Ford, and infectious jump-jive boogie-woogie outfit The Roosters.
The Co-operative Big Band opens proceedings on Saturday lunchtime, playing a set of funk and fusion, then you'll hear The Blow-Up, performing versions of soundtracks and cinematic jazz.
On Saturday night there will be a premiere of brand-new rhythm’n’blues outfit The Primitive Noise Band, fronted by superb songstress Becky Brine.
On Sunday, listen out for trad-jazz trombonist Roger Marks and his Armada Jazz Band and swing big-band The Solar System, fronted by Rat Pack-inspired Michael Campari.
The Festival is brought to a close by Company B, performing swing, jump-jive and wartime-inspired rhythm’n’blues.
Business and venues are catching Festival fever by staging gigs and related events.
There will be a stage outside Bacaro on The Parade, where blues and jazz music will be programmed throughout the weekend.
There will be music in the arcade close to Parade Antiques, off Southside Street, with slide guitar man Thomas Ford there on Sunday June 15 from 1pm.
On Wednesday June 11, Plymouth restaurant Bistro One, on Ebrington Street, is staging a Louisiana Supper, with Robin Henkel, Ric Lee and Mama Tokus, where diners can experience Robin’s music and talk close-up, whilst eating a Southern US-inspired menu.
On Thursday night, the Plymouth Blues Society stages its first birthday party, in association with the Festival, where Vince Lee and the cream of Plymouth’s blues players will perform alongside Robin Henkel and Ric Lee.
And Sutton Harbour-based eatery the Dolphin Brazzerie will be staging themed meals. The Admiral MacBride pub, close to the Mayflower Steps will also be hosting performances, as will Café Kiss on Bretonside.
To find out more about all the Festival and Fringe events, visit the Festival website
The Festival's background
Kaos Production Ltd, creators and producers of the event, and Plymouth Waterfront Partnership (PWP), the Waterfront Business Improvement District, have teamed up to stage this year’s event.
Chris Arscott, PWP Chairman said "PWP has funded the Festival as part of a wider programme of events in the Waterfront this year. It’s a Plymouth event that enhances the city’s cultural offer, attracts visitors to the historic Barbican and adds vibrancy to the splendid marina backdrop of Sutton Harbour."
The Festival provides the back-drop to La Solitaire du Figaro Eric Bompard Cachemire - the world-class international sailing event in Sutton Harbour, which Plymouth will host over the same weekend. That means Sutton Harbour and the Barbican will be shown off at its best: bustling with activity on and beside the water. Click here for more information
