Venue lands tremendous coup
21st-century blues phenomenon Samuel James to play Arlington Arts, one of only three UK venues
Blues artist Samuel James is performing at Arlington Arts as part of whistle-stop tour on Thursday, May 5 (8pm).
This date is just one of three UK performances from the American troubadour, who is also appearing at the Green Note in London and the Southern Gothic Festival in Cork.
Although James' music has been described as “real blues”, he is by no means a revivalist. While musically he has been compared to Charley Patton or Gus Cannon, his writing goes in another direction entirely. His songs are often written as linear stories, novels in musical format. Each song is a story, an often humorous tale of love gone haywire, or small town racism, or a folk tale of mythical symbolism.
James plays finger style, slide, banjo, harmonica and piano. Live, his set includes some older material which he truly makes his own. His musical lineage stretches back to the immediate post-slavery era. His grandfather (born in 1890) played guitar in contemporary blues styles of the era and his father was a professional pianist and trombone player. With such a heritage, Samuel carried the musical torch and was playing the piano at the age of eight and touring the Northeastern circuit professionally by the age of 12.
His own influences are very much worn on his sleeve – a visit to his www.myspace.com/sugarsmallhouse page sees videos of Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Skip James and many others.
Arlington Arts director Tony Trigwell-Jones said: “It's well documented that Samuel receives standing ovations at almost every show he plays. He has a mesmeric finger-picking style on national steel and acoustic guitars and a voice that sounds like it's coming straight out of the delta. We really are privileged to be his only out of London date on the mainland.”
Tickets, priced £9 (£11 on the door) are available from the box office on 01635 244246, online via www.arlingtonarts.co.uk and from Mary Hare Hearing Centre, Weaver's Walk, Newbury.
