Tom Attah

Thousands of people, a beautiful concert building, a dazzling array of food, beers from all over the country and the best music in the city – how could any musician refuse the offer to play?  For a blues player, knowing that this is the stage that Muddy Waters played with Otis Spann on their first visit to the UK in 1958 makes performing at Leeds Town Hall  extra special.

[Show slideshow]

The sound was just brilliant in such a huge space and the organisers were incredibly welcoming and helpful – thanks to everyone, but special thanks to Dean, Maria and Martha who really made the evening fly.  Cheung!  If you see this, I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful ale you brought to me after the set!

More thanks to @tomattah who was amazing tonight. And @lumenarts and @barhiresolution for sorting our bars!!!!

— LeedsBeerFest (@leedsbeer) September 5, 2014

@tomattah @leedsbeer thank you SO MUCH!! You were amazing. Hopefully you'll come back next year!!! X

— Maz (@EstibalizTerron) September 6, 2014

Some terrific images from a performance earlier this year.  All pictures (c) Ayşegül Thornett – a hugely talented artist.

[Show slideshow]

Really pleased and proud to have played at Colne this year – the 25th festival event.  Dr Feelgood, Kyla Brox, Mud Morganfield, Eric Bibb, Eric Burdon, Ron Sayer Jr., Marcus Malone, The Devil’s Jukebox, Lucy Zirins and many, many other acts graced the stages up and down the town.  I played with Frany Eubank on the Blues Train on Friday and then again with the band on Sunday night – Some images of the men at work are below!

The Blues Train: Every year, the festival runs a train for the audience all the way from Blackpool to Colne.  In the last carriage, there are musicians and a keg of beer to get the passengers in the mood.  It’s always a really good atmosphere and great fun.  Last year I was honoured by having the beer named after me (!) and this year we had a terrific time – as well as me meeting one of my University of Salford students, who took some photos.

[Show slideshow]

The British Stage – John Ashton: The Franny Eubank Band played on Sunday 24th at 21:30 on the British Stage.  The room filled up as we got ready to play – around 1,200-1,300 people, all in a great mood.  The band was Franny, me, Bo Lee and Manchester’s own Luke Flowers. So many friends and musicians were in the audience. The following images are available at John’s excellent FLIKR site, alongside many others from the weekend.  (c) 2014 JOHN ASHTON

[Show slideshow]

The British Stage – Howard Thomas: Howard is another of the talented people who captured the performance in photographs.

[Show slideshow]

The British Stage – Northern Life Magazine: Northern Life Magazine have used images of the band to illustrate their feature on the whole festival.

[Show slideshow]

The bottom line of this for me is that it’s such a thrill to be asked to play this festival – and the reaction makes it worth working very hard on stage to make sure that we have a good time.  We were interviewed by the BBC several times and the crowd reaction was out of this world.  What a night!

It’s been a very, very busy few weeks – I will post some photos from my travels.   I am pleased to say that John Ashton’s photos from earlier this month are featured in the May 2014 Blues In Britain magazine – have a look!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ickledot/14036607154/in/photostream/

The University of Salford’s annual celebration of Black History Month is well under way and there are places available for upcoming events.

A feast of music, video and interpretative dance has also been organised by Jocelyn Loubser in the Music and Performance Directorate in collaboration with the Equality and Diversity Office.

On Tuesday 22 October from 6pm-10pm, the venue will again play host to a varied collection of bands, ensembles and dance, reflecting the diverse population of the UK.

Performance student and singer Francesca Evans will start proceedings, followed by Capoeria Angola Manchesterwho use Brazilian martial arts derived from the traditions of African slaves to produce an exciting spectacle of music and movement. Freestyle Rap artists, Fictionary will delight with their word skills and recent Salford graduates, Holly Marland and John Haycock will demonstrate the Kora –  a West African harp –  originally used for storytelling. Tom Attah, a PhD student and blues singer will bring the concert to a soulful close while images of Woodstax are displayed on the Christie Tiles.

Colleagues are encouraged to attend these free events and no booking is required.

Black History Month celebrates the contribution culturally diverse people have made to the UK and forms part of Listen!, the University’s commitment to equality and diversity. This is the fourth year the University has been involved, and the theme this year focuses on the 50th anniversary of the public speech given in Washington by civil rights activist, Martin Luther King.

To find out more, please call 0161 295 2261.

Related show

• Artist: Solo Acoustic
• Date: 22/10/13
• Time: 8:30pm
• Venue: Media City UK
• City: Manchester
• Address: University of Salford, Plot B4
• Venue phone: 0161 295 0100
• Country: United Kingdom
• Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed
• Box office: 0161 295 2261
• More information

A whole two months of gigs coming up!

blues power 2013

Related show

• Artist: Tom Attah Electric Band
• Date: 04/10/13
• Time: 9:00pm
• Venue: The Wardrobe
• City: Leeds
• Address: 6 St. Peter’s Square LS6 8AH
• Venue phone: 0113 383 8800
• Country: United Kingdom
• Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed

• Artist: Tom Attah TRIO
• Date: 25/10/13
• Time: 6:30pm
• Venue: The Wardrobe
• City: Leeds
• Address: 6 St. Peter’s Square LS6 8AH
• Venue phone: 0113 383 8800
• Country: United Kingdom
• Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed

• Artist: Tom Attah Electric Band
• Date: 29/11/13
• Time: 6:30pm
• Venue: The Wardrobe
• City: Leeds
• Address: 6 St. Peter’s Square LS6 8AH
• Venue phone: 0113 383 8800
• Country: United Kingdom
• Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed

Once again, I am thrilled to be playing at Leeds International Beer Festival at the Town Hall – this year, with my friends The Leeds City Stompers!

“TOM ATTAH as we saw last year is truly the torch carrier for authentic blues, which has brought him the nickname of ‘The Living Bluesman’. Playing all over the joint from Glastonbury to The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, sessioning for BBC RADIO and JAZZ FM, he’s also played with Grammy Award Winners and a who’s who of major artists, yet his performances are personal and raw…From Delta to the download he’s gonna show you what Blues music is really about…”

See the whole post here: http://www.leedsbeer.com/music/

Related show

• Artist: Solo Acoustic
• Tour: The Long Weekend Tour
• Date: 03/05/13
• Time: 9:00pm
• Venue: Burnley International Rock & Blues Festival – Memphis Stage
• City: Burnley , Lancashire
• Address: Inn On The Wharf, Manchester Road
• Country: United Kingdom
• Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed

• Artist: Solo Acoustic
• Tour: The Long Weekend Tour
• Date: 04/05/13
• Time: 2:30pm
• Venue: Reading Beer Festival
• City: Reading
• Address: Kings Meadow, Reading, Berkshire
• Country: United Kingdom
• Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed

• Artist: Franny Eubank Band
• Tour: The Long Weekend Tour
• Date: 04/05/13
• Time: 9:30pm
• Venue: Matt & Phred’s
• City: Manchester
• Address: 64, Tib Street, Northern Quarter M4 1LW
• Venue phone: 0161 839 7187
• Country: United Kingdom
• Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed

• Artist: Solo Acoustic
• Tour: The Long Weekend Tour
• Date: 05/05/13
• Time: 8:30pm
• Venue: The Saints Rooms
• City: Cockermouth , Cumbria
• Address: Kirkgate
• Country: United Kingdom
• Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed