Gig Preview: Tipitina at Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues Club

Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Club have organised a gig guaranteed to bring the festive atmosphere for their final gig of the year on December 9th.

Lancashire based band Tipitina love the music of New Orleans, Barrelhouse, Gospel and Rhythm & Blues. Fronted by vocalist Debbie Jones and including the talents of Justin Randall, John Hicks, Andrew Dalton, Andrew Jones and Pat Flood, Tipitina launched their debut album back in 2009 and have since built up a strong following across the UK.

“A wholly admirable album, the youthful energy, sincerity and obvious affection for the New Orleans style is captivating – a sure-fire club and festival attraction” - Jazz Journal
“To capture the spirit of New Orleans so fully, from a base in the North West of England is a spectacular achievement”
- The Guardian
“Instantly recognisable, Tipitina are really on to something” - Paul Jones, BBC Radio 2 

The gig costs £10, £8 for members. There is a food available at the venue from 6pm until 9pm, so audiences can book a table early and make an evening of it.

For more information, visit the Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Club website.

The Sandhouse Stompers go Coast to Coast for Favela Brass

The Sandhouse Stompers, a 9 piece New Orleans brass group made up of Northern musicians, are embarking on a 120 mile walk from Morecambe to Whitby to raise funds for Favela Brass.

Starting on 23rd July, the group will play 9 gigs as they walk through towns from coast to coast, as well as stopping to busk and raise awareness of the work Favela Brass does.

The Favela Brass project provides free brass, percussion and English lessons to children in a small favela in Rio de Janiero.  Brass instruments are extremely expensive to buy in Brazil and brass tuition is almost non-existent in Rio's state school system. Net result: children in Rio's low-income neighbourhoods rarely learn to play brass, which is a huge shame considering that music plays such a central role in the cultural and social life of the city. The Favela Brass project aims to change that situation for children in a small favela (slum) called Pereira da Silva in Rio's Laranjeiras district.

The Sandhouse Stompers are - Mark Ellis (saxophone), Stuart Garside (trombone), Tom Ashe (trumpet), Paul Grady (trumpet), Neil Morley (trumpet), Gareth Smith (trumpet), Rowena Smith (trombone), James Stretton (tuba) and Mark Kerrigan (drums).

Keep an eye out for the band busking over next week or so, or catch them at one of their 9 performances -

23rd July, 4pm - Knight Stainforth Hall, Stainforth
23rd July, 8pm - Victoria Hall, Settle
24th July, 8pm - Foresters Arms, Grassington
25th July, 8pm - Crown Inn, Pateley Bridge
26th July, 5pm - One Eyed Rat, Ripon
27th July, 8pm - Little 3, Thirsk
28th July, 8pm - Helmsley Brewing Co., Helmsley
29th July, 9pm - Coach House Inn, Rosedale Abbey