Laurence Jones (Page 1 of 3)

..............if you can get the link to work. Seems a bit flaky.

Has support slots with Royal Southern Brotherhood & Buddy Whittington coming up.

Olivefarmer gets the credit for bringing Laurence Jones to the forum's attention and have to say, he caught my ear back in November when he opened for Buddy Whittington for 2 nights at Sedgefield R'n'B Club. Laurence was chosen for the gig on the recommendation of Danny Bryant, so in that sort of company, I'm going to add my twopenn'eth and make him my other one-to-watch in 2013. Check him out if you're near any of these dates:-

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 9.00pm The Great Malvern Hotel - Malvern
Wed, 23 Jan 2013 9:00pm Newbury Rock and Blues Club
Sat, 26 Jan 2013 2pm Skegness Rock & Blues Festival - 2pm - The Blues Stage
Sat, 2 Feb 2013 9:00pm The Hop Pole Inn - Bromsgrove
Sat, 9 Feb 2013 9.00pm Keystones - Worcester
Sun, 10 Feb 2013 4:00pm Lichfield Vaults - Hereford
Fri, 15 Feb 2013 8.30pm Red Hot Blues - Didcot
Sat, 16 Feb 2013 9.00pm The Victoria - Hitchin
Sat, 2 Mar 2013 9:00pm Crew - Nuneaton - with Chantel McGregor TBC
Sun, 3 Mar 2013 TBC Doncaster Blues Festival
Sat, 9 Mar 2013 8.00pm Sydenham Blues Club - London
Sun, 24 Mar 2013 6:00pm Banbury Blues, Roots and Acoustic Festival - Mill Arts Centre
Sat, 30 Mar 2013 9:00pm Waggon and Horses - Wootton Bassett
Fri, 5 Apr 2013 9:00pm The Hop Pole Inn - Bromsgrove
Sat, 6 Apr 2013 8.00pm Borough Blues Club - South Wales
Sat, 13 Apr 2013 9:00pm the rolleston Swindon
Fri, 26 Apr 2013 8.00pm Arlington Arts Centre - With Chantel McGregor
Thu, 2 May 2013 8.00pm The Maltings - Farnham - with Danny Bryant
Fri, 3 May 2013 8.00pm The Star Inn - Bentworth - Hampshire
Sat, 11 May 2013 TBC Mainsforth Blues festival
Sat, 18 May 2013 TBC Stourbridge Blues Festival
Fri, 24 May 2013 8.00pm Sydenham Blues Club - London
Sat, 8 Jun 2013 8.00pm Guisborough Blues Club
Sun, 23 Jun 2013 around 2:00pm Linton Blues festival
Sat, 20 Jul 2013 around 4:00pm Upton Blues festival - at The Star Inn
Thu, 8 Aug 2013 9:00pm The Hop Pole Inn - Bromsgrove
Fri, 16 Aug 2013 9:00pm Bentworth Blues Festival

Mike

Very cool. Love his tone. As I mentioned in a comment on youtube, the true measure of quality is the ability to perform live as a 3 piece and deliver a tight, full, cohesive product. Good stuff!

What is it about that big, yellow, shiny thing that occasionally appears in the sky around this time of year that brings out the primitive in people that they rush out into their gardens to give up burnt offerings to it – or as the Americans and Australians call it “have a barbeque”. I have to believe it was this return to paganism and not the fact it was the finale of Britain’s Got Talent that accounted for the disappointingly low turn-out at Guisborough R’n’B Club on Saturday night for Laurence Jones’ headline gig.

Still, it may only have been a half turn out for Guisborough, but it sounded like it was the noisy half that turned out. With no support, Laurence & band; Luke on bass and new face Tobe on drums came out just after 9pm and delivered a hot first set, starting with a couple of pacy  blues shuffles before flicking the switch to rock. For 45 -50 minutes, the lads delivered a bouncy mix of older and new originals balanced with a couple of well chosen standards, including All Along The Watchtower which you have to ask, is that a Hendrix or a Dylan cover; especially when to my ears it leaned a little toward U2’s Rattle And Hum take.....

So, first half down; as usual, the sound at Guisborough was superbly handled for a small venue. Laurence was in good voice and his Telecaster was sounding good; reminiscent of Davy Knowles or Oli Brown, and if Oli is turning his attention Stateside, like Davy, then Laurence has found his niche. Tobe on drums was crisp and sharp while the sound mix allowed Luke on bass to stand out; on the whole, the three lads make a pretty tight unit.

After the customary refreshment and raffle break, the lads were back on, and this was the crunch; I’ve twice seen Laurence deliver powerful support sets, but did he have enough in his tank for headliner? In short, yes. The earlier set was the “teaser” compared to this. The skinny-jeaned scallywag stepped it up a gear and plundered his album and went full on for the title track showcase Thunder In The Sky. Then he brought things down(?) with a juiced-up Steeler’s Wheel cover with audience sing-a-long before a double-encore ending with Voodoo Chile winding up a dynamic 70 minute set.

So, one album in, can Laurence Jones deliver, as a headliner?  Hell yes! And he’s already got a guitar case full of new stuff, so looking forward to album #2. As for Britain’s Got Talent, well, why watch it on TV when you can find gigs like this on the doorstep,  where a British Blues Awards Young Artist nominee is playing while another nominee in the same category, Andrew Pipe is in the audience enjoying the music.

Laurence has a pretty comprehensive rosta of gigs coming up between now and Christmas; supporting or headlining, this is an upcoming young band worth catching...

June 2013
Jun16 - The Highway Inn Beer Festival - Burford - 3pm
Jun22 - The Bridge Inn Blues Festival - Brewood - 9:00pm
Jun23 - Linton Festival - around 2:00pm
Jun26 - Academy of music & Sound - L.J Band Master class - Birmingham -
Jun29 - Napton Festival - 7.30pm - tbc

July 2013
Jul05 - The Castle Inn - Swindon - 9pm
Jul06 - Braised Nose Arms - Cropredy - 9pm
Jul13 - The Greystones - Sheffield - 8.45pm
Get to the gig early and don't miss the brilliant Blues/Rock Band "Dosch"- who will be opening up for us. These guys are great and you are in for a treat
Jul20 - Upton Blues festival - at The Star Inn - around 4:00pm
Jul25 - Maryport Blues festival - rugby league club -
Jul26 - Maryport Blues Festival - sailors return -
Jul27 - Maryport Blues Festival - Labour Club -

August 2013
Aug01 - The Hop Pole Inn - Bromsgrove - 9:00pm
Aug03 - Cambridge Rock Festival - 6.20 STAGE 2 -
Aug04 - Gloucester Blues Festival - 4.30pm
Aug07 - Kelly's Bar - Leamington Spa - Laurence Jones & Friends - 8.30pm
This is a brilliant venue run by Mr Steve Walwyn (Dr Feelgood). Steve has kindly given us one of his "Kelly's Nights". Laurence Jones Band will be inviting some of their great musician friends to make the night even more special.
Aug09 - The Grapes - Stafford - 9.pm
Aug14 - The Malt Shovel Tavern - Northampton - 8.30pm
Aug16 - Bentworth Blues Festival - 7:00pm

September 2013
Sep06 - Newark Blues Festival - 6.50pm
Sep09 - Citadel - St Helens - supporting The Hoax - 7.30pm
Sep11 - Cafe Rene - Gloucester - 8.45pm
Sep20 - Red Hot Blues - Didcot - 8.30pm
Sep21 - Hare & hounds - kings heath - AFTERNOON GIG
Sep22 - Clowne Rock and Blues Club - Clowne - 8.30pm

October 2013
Oct03 - The Robin 2 - Supporting Pat Travers Band -8pm - 8pm
Oct10 - The Punch Bowl - Warwick - 9:00pm
Oct12 - The Court Theatre - Pendley - Tring - tbc
Oct13 - POLISH CLUB - BARNSLEY - 8.30pm
Oct26 - The Millennium Hall - Horton-cum-Studley - Oxford - 7.30pm
Oct27 - The Diamond - Sutton -in- Ashfield (Nottinghamshire) - 9.PM
Oct31 - The Maltings - Farnham - Surrey - 8.45pm

November 2013
Nov03 - The Lichfield Vaults - Hereford - 4pm
Nov06 - The Robin 2 - Bilston - NEW GENERATION BLUES TOUR - 8.30pm
The 3 Best young artists - Laurence Jones Band + Mitch Laddie + Federal Charm
Nov08 - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire - London - Supporting Walter Trout - 7.30pm
Nov09 - The Hooley Hall - supporting The Proof - surrey - 7pm
Nov16 - Patriot Club - Caerphilly -NEW GENERATION BLUES TOUR -8.30pm
The 3 best young artists, Laurence Jones Band + Mitch Laddie + Federal Charm
Nov17 - Prince of Wales -Ledbury - 4.pm
Nov21 - Beaverwood - Chislehurst - NEW GENERATION BLUES TOUR - 8.30pm
The 3 best young artists - Laurence Jones Band + Mitch Laddie + Federal Charm
Nov29 - Limelight Club - Aylesbury - NEW GENERATION BLUES TOUR - 8.30pm
The 3 best young artists, Laurence Jones Band + Mitch Laddie + Federal Charm

You’ve got to feel for poor Willie at Mainsforth; he spent most of last week re-doing the paintwork that Aynsley’s show blazed off, than along comes Laurence, aided and abetted by Russ Tippins, and Willei’s got to start again.

This gig had that “Obi Wan and Young Skywalker” vibes to it. Russ is a consummate pro, as well as a true gent, and he and his Electric Band took the stage first and laid some ol’ school rockin’ blues as only Russ can deliver; mixing his own Little Josephine and other material with some mighty Led Zepp covers as well as a romping showcase, Poncho.

So, what’s Laurence’s reply? As usual, he sets himself, Luke and Tobe get their heads down and they go for it. This approach keeps bums on seats and Laurence has patter to win over the audience, enough to bring on a “sing-a-long”, his own, interesting take on Steeler’s Wheel - Stuck In The Middle. Then, he invites Russ up on stage, and while Russ is tuning up, Laurence teases us with licks from Oh Well, before the two of them wrong foot us by launching into Bullfrog Blues, Russ taking lead guitar and Laurence puling his voice up from his boots. Then they dove into Hoochie Coochie Man, trading some hot leads between them, proving Laurence has a great rooting in blues.

That jam caused some spontaneous dancing to break out in Mainsforth, and Laurence made sure for the most part of his remaining set that they stayed on their feet with tracks like his own Bad Girl and especially when Tobe on drums hammered out the into to Rock and Roll. Think Tobe was mesmerised by one dancer; a 6ft tall woman, with 5ft long hair; imaging that head-banging...The only time the dancing stopped was when Thunder In The Sky caused jaw-bones to drop from those who’d not seen Laurence before.

Laurence is another one, heading off into the studio shortly, this time over to Louisiana to record with Mike Zito at the helm, and he treated us to a couple of new songs that are hopefully album bound, as well as an extra encore of Voodoo Chile.

Have to say, even with local legend Russ appearing, the overall audience was big; only around 50, but Laurence, Luke and Tobe certainly won them over, so hopefully word will get round for next time for this crackin’ band.

He has already recorded a couple of tracks

Should be a good CD on 2014

From the interview in Blues, looks like RUF are looking to Laurence to take over where Oli Brown has left off since his contract with the label has expired.

He may have skinny shoulders, but he's more than got the talent & drive to rise to the challenge; and he's a really pleasant guy off-stage. Heard a couple of the songs as "works in progress" over the last few months, and the album's already on my shopping list for 2014.