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Matt Schofield UK tour news
Award winning Brit' jazz and blues fusion guitarist Matt Schofield may live in Canada now, spending most of his time touring USA and around the globe, but he has not forgotten his homeland fans. Fresh from victory at the 2011 British Blues Awards, Matt is back with a 14-date UK tour.
Kicking off on 2nd November at the Stables, Milton Keynes, the venue founded by the late Sir Johnny Dankworth and his wife Dame Cleo Laine. Matt is joined on the tour by his acclaimed trio. Hammond organ monster Jonny Henderson, and American drummer Kevin Hayes. Kevin joined Matt last year after 18 years with Robert Cray. Kevin co-wrote a few of Cray’s hits, and has also recorded and toured with BB King, Albert Collins, Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker and a host of other greats.
Matt and his pals take the M1 "oop North" to Sheffield the next day, for a show at the 02 Academy. Then to Fleetwood in Lancashire on 4th Nov, for the “Fleetwoodstock” music festival. It is Fleetwood's 175th anniversary, and they celebrate in style, with Matt and his band headlining the Friday night of the festival.
Bonfire night, the guys (get it?) light up the skies in Newcastle at the Riverside, a brand new venue in the City's Quayside. Nov 10th, it's Gloucester Guildhall, then Brighton Concorde2 on 11th. Some special guests will be joining Matt from the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. Matt will be holding a master-class at BIMM earlier in the day.
Nov 12th he is in Kent, at the Stag Arts Centre, Sevenoaks. A stone's throw from the M25. Nov 13th sees the band make a welcome return to Lichfield Guildhall, where they have sold out the same venue in the past. Nov 14th they visit The Timepiece in Exeter.
London audiences are not neglected, as Matt and the boys call in to trendy Camden venue, Dingwalls on 22nd Nov, where they promise a "one off special" - featuring The Trio + a horn section, and some very special guests joining the band. Matt keeps very good company and is well respected by Robben Ford, and a host of blues and jazz greats all over the world, so that may well be a night to remember. They warn to get tickets early for that one, so take heed…. and your camera.
Nov 23rd Colchester Arts Centre hosts the band, and this too promises to be a decent night out, in a really cool venue, formerly a church, with a nice big stage. Nov 24th is Oxford 02 Academy. Nov 25th they stop off at Selby Town Hall. Nov 26th the tour ends at Clitheroe’s, The Grand. A charity-supported organisation has created a cool performance space here. A lot of good blues music happens up that way, as Burnley and Colne are close by, and both host major annual blues festivals.
Guitarists and axe mags globally, all hail this Brit’ as one of the greatest players to ever come from the UK. Matt (34) stays put on UK based record label, Nugene Records. The UK blues scene is proud of what Matt has achieved on a worldwide scale. Often compared to his hero Robben Ford, and to Larry Carlton. You can also hear the awesome Meters influence in his work too.
He won Guitarist of the Year in the 2011 British Blues Awards. Jonny Henderson won Keyboard player of the year. Matt has been pro’ since he was 18, toured and recorded with Lee Sankey and Dana Gillespie, before forming his own band. In big demand globally, they have headlined major festivals and worked with some of the world's biggest blues and jazz names. During breaks in the UK tour they zoom off to Belgium, Netherlands and Turkey for major shows.
www.mattschofield.net
Words SIMON REDLEY
