British Rhythm & Blues icons coming to Barnoldswick
Tickets are selling fast for the first show.
Two British rhythm & blues icons are set to come to Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre for two very special performances in August as part of the Blues of the World programme.
Paul Jones and Dave Kelly—two towering figures whose lifelong dedication to the blues has helped shape the genre on this side of the Atlantic. The pair will headline the intimate Barnoldswick venue on Thursday, August 27th and Friday, August 28th, for two performances that will combine deeply authentic blues music and jaw-dropping musicianship.
Jones first rose to international fame in the early 1960s as the original frontman and harmonica powerhouse with Manfred Mann, the group that stormed the charts with classics such as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "Pretty Flamingo". Yet beneath the pop success Jones was always, at heart, a devoted bluesman. A passionate scholar of the music, his deep knowledge and unmistakable voice have made him one of the most respected interpreters of the blues in Britain, a reputation further cemented through decades presenting blues programmes on BBC Radio 2, where he has championed the music and its history to millions of listeners.
As for Kelly, he is widely regarded as one of Europe's finest acoustic blues guitarists and slide players. He built his reputation through spellbinding performances steeped in the traditions of Delta, Chicago and country blues, and through collaborations with artists across the international blues world—including appearances alongside giants such as Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson's circle of musicians.
Their musical partnership became legendary with the formation of The Blues Band in 1979, alongside fellow luminaries including Tom McGuinness, Hughie Flint, and Gary Fletcher. What began as an informal jam between friends quickly grew into one of the most successful blues outfits Britain has ever produced.
After The Blues Band finally stepped back from touring after more than forty years on the road, Jones and Kelly continued their musical journey together in a stripped-back duo format that captures the essence of the blues in its purest form.
For anyone who loves authentic blues—or simply great musicianship delivered with passion, humour and soul—an evening with Paul Jones and Dave Kelly is a rare opportunity to witness two genuine legends of the genre doing what they do best.