Gary Fletcher (from The Blues Band) & The GFB
The GFB + Gary Fletcher
Entry Requirements: 18+ after 7pm
Gary Fletcher and the GFB
Paul Jones, Dave Kelly, Tom McGuinness and Gary Fletcher formed The Blues Band back in 1979. They finally ‘parked the tour bus’ in Sept ’22.
Gary’s own individual work had run in parallel with The Blues Band for some years, so now was his opportunity to focus on his music along with the very fine musicians who make up the GFB.
They are Alan Glen (Yardbirds, Nine Below Zero etc) harmonica Tom Leary (Lindisfarne, Joe Brown, etc) violin, Andy Billups (The Hamsters) bass, Nick Ritchie (Canto, Mud) guitar and Sam Kelly (Tom Robinson, Circulus, The Blues Band) drums
Playing songs from The Blues Band’s repertoire alongside material from his own albums including the recent and critically acclaimed ‘River Keeps Flowing’ album - "Believe me if you’re going to buy one album this year you won't better this one." Pete Clack for Amazon. "One of this year’s finest albums, without a doubt." Roy Bainton for Blues In Britain.
Line Up
A founder and ever present member of The Blues Band with Paul Jones, Gary has appeared with and/or recorded with Peter Green, Maggie Bell, Van Morrison, John Mayall, Long John Baldry, Guy Barker, Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody, Kim Simmonds, Henry McCullough, Zoot Money, Nat Adderley, Guy Barker etc.
The music straddles blues, Americana and folk, playing guitar, slide, banjo, mandolin and ukulele.
The full 6 piece lineup is Tom Leary (Feast of Fiddles, Lindisfarne) on violin and mandolin, Alan Glen on harmonica (Yardbirds, Nine Below Zero etc), Andy Billups (The Hamsters) on bass, Nick Ritchie on lead guitar (Mud) and Sam Kelly on drums (Tom Robinson, Dave Kelly Band)
Gary’s released several albums featuring both electric and acoustic lineups as well as the acclaimed ‘In Solitary’ solo offering, which along with the electric ‘Giant From the Blue’ album, secured 4 star reviews from Maverick and R2 magazines. Bob Harris featured Gary live in the studio on his BBC R2 show several times and had him play sessions for his YouTube channel ‘Under the Apple Tree’.
"Really really good songs, great band, real quality and fun too! What was not to like? Terrific night out" Maverick
"Amazing solo album from Gary Fletcher" Good Times magazine (legendary German music paper)
"A truly inspiring album, already picked up by Radio 2’s Bob Harris, this is tender and stirring in equal measure, revealing the emergence of a major solo talent" Blues Matters magazine
"I played that track (‘Payback’) a few weeks ago now, the reaction I got to it was just absolutely fantastic. I really was amazed, you know, by how many emails I got and how enthusiastic everybody was about that track.” Bob Harris on BBC R2
