APRIL
APRIL
THE LIST IS CONSTANTLY BEING UPDATED. GET ON THE MAILING LIST OR FOLLOW US ON TWITTER FOR WEEKLY UPDATES.
NOT ALL EVENTS ARE PRE-BOOKABLE.
CONCESSIONS ARE FOR STUDENTS WITH VALID ID, OVER 60s & MUSICIANS' UNION MEMBERS.
BK = BEAR KEEPER (MEMBERS)
WE CLOSE AROUND MIDNIGHT.
"Effortlessly slips from smoky soul, to folk-pop and
heart-wrenching alt-country, all in a rich voice"
- Q Magazine
SATURDAY 01 APRIL
DANNI NICHOLLS
British Americana singer/songwriter Danni Nicholls is “an artist with the elegance and imagination to restore your faith in the visceral power of an original song" (Paul Sexton, BBC Radio 2). Her two Nashville recorded albums 'A Little Redemption' and ‘Mockingbird Lane’ have received much critical acclaim with the latter being nominated for the Americana Music Association UK ‘Album of the Year’ award in 2016.
Danni is returning to the Bear Club with a brand new Live Album 'The Vintage TV Recordings' featuring live songs from across her two albums. With performances guaranteed to melt your heart into the soles of your cowboy boots.
DOOR: 7.00PM
MUSIC: 8.30PM
£10 / £9 / £5 (BK)
EMAIL TO RESERVE
THURSDAY 06 APRIL
BBC INTRODUCING BEDS, HERTS & BUCKS
Following the success of last year's event, the Beeb returns for another night featuring and up and coming artists from each of the three counties. Hosted by Gareth Lloyd and BBC Three Counties Radio.
SIAN CROSS
In the past Bedfordshire’s Sian Cross has worked as a backing vocalist for Jessie J, Daniel Beddingfield and Stevie Wonder. Now Sian is focusing on releasing her own heartfelt music with intimate and soulful melodies. Drawing on true stories Sian’s honest lyrics tackle tough subjects that other songwriters avoid such as child abuse, autism and cancer. She’s already earned support from BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC London and BBC 6 Music.
KELVIN JONES
We’re only a few months in but Stevenage’s Kelvin Jones has already had a great year. He started 2017 touring across the US with KT Tunstall. In the first week of the year BBC Radio 2 made his album ‘Stop The Clocks’ their album of the week. This follows a huge 2016 where he toured with James Morrison, played the Royal Albert Hall and ended up on the Radio 2 playlist three times! With music inspired by John Meyer, BB King and Ed Sheeran- Kelvin Jones is not to be missed.
TEN TONNES
Hertford’s Ten Tonnes- aka 20 year old Ethan Barnett- burst onto the scene last year with his debut EP ‘Lucy’ which earned nearly half a million streams. The title track was made Introducing Track of the Week on Radio 1 which was followed by an appearance on the BBC Introducing stage at Reading & Leeds. This year he played several shows at SXSW in Texas including a performance at the BBC Music Radio 2 showcase. His next EP ‘Born To Lose’ is produced by Hugo White of The Maccabees and will release on June 9th. This could be your last chance to catch him in such an intimate venue.
DOOR: 7.00PM
MUSIC: 8.00PM
FREE / First come first served
FRIDAY 07 APRIL
THE UNTOUCHABLES
Champions of raw blues and swinging soul, The Untouchables base their sound on the great artists who recorded for Chess Records in the 50s.
With a string bass, a vintage drum kit, a cranked guitar through a hot valve amp and a wailing harp, this band turns any venue into a rockin' juke joint.
DOOR: 7.00PM
MUSIC: 8.30PM
£5 / £4 / £0 (BK)
EMAIL TO RESERVE
SATURDAY 08 APRIL
M.A.D. TRIO
ALBUM RELEASE CHARITY TOUR
Playing exciting original compositions and some jazz classics with their own arrangements, the band combines the lyrical phrasing approach of pianist Emilio Merone, with solid and expressive double bass playing from Milko Ambrogini and the creative drumming of Gaetano Di Giacomo.
They have performed in many prestigious venues. Ronnie Scott’s, 606 Club, Jazz Cafe, Spice of Life, Charlie Wright, Pizza Express, The Archduke and all over the Milan jazz music scene.
50% of album sales on the tour goes to Macmillan Cancer Support, along with 50% of tonight's revenue.
CLICK HERE TO HEAR
DOOR: 7.00PM
MUSIC: 8.30PM
£10 / £9 / £5 (BK)
EMAIL TO RESERVE
THURSDAY 13 APRIL
BAR OPEN
Lights low, records playing and the best beer, gin and whisky selection in town. 7.00-11.30pm.
FRIDAY 14 APRIL
MAUREEN WASHINGTON
Maureen Washington is an award winning Jazz vocalist from Canada.
Slipping easily from sassy to sexy within a single lyric, at times echoing the haunting tones of Etta James and Carmen McRae, and then faster than ear can make the transition, Maureen exudes the impish irreverence of Jann Arden and the vocal agility of Holly Cole.
And yet, with all splendor attached to such comparisons, Maureen’s musical style remains distinctly her own. This is Maureen's debut tour in the UK to promote her new CD entitled Harvest Moon.
DOOR: 7.00PM
MUSIC: 8.30PM
£10 / £9 / £5 (BK)
EMAIL TO RESERVE
“..rock solid rhythm..” “..Mat sings with power and plays with plenty of inventiveness..” “..Paolo takes some fine instrumental breaks..” “..this is a fine release..”
- Blues In Britain UK
SATURDAY 15 APRIL
WALKLATE & FUSCHI
Mat and Paolo play a diverse, dynamic live set illustrating all shades of Blues and allowing each other’s instrumental, vocal and improvisational qualities to shine. Each performance is rock-solid, yet full of inspiration and spontaneity.
Mat and Paolo are an "Electric Blues Duo" as they use old tube amplifiers creating a rich tone that brings the listeners back to the very early days of the 1950’s Chicago Blues. Think of Muddy Waters plugging in his red Telecaster for the first time into an old tube amplifier and Little Walter blowing his harmonica through an old Fender Champ amplifier. The result is a magical performance that stands out for its intensity and energy.
Living in Manchester and strongly influenced by its Afro-Caribbean community, Mat and Paolo also pay homage to Ska, blending the uplifting rhythms of this genre with the spirit and sentiment of the Blues.
Mat Walklate - Harmonica & Vocals
Paolo Fuschi - Guitar & Vocals
DOOR: 7.00PM
MUSIC: 8.30PM
£10 / £9 / £5 (BK)
EMAIL TO RESERVE
THURSDAY 20 APRIL
BAR OPEN
Lights low, records playing and the best beer, gin and whisky selection in town. 7.00-11.30pm.
"Krissy Matthews writes, sings and plays guitar like a man possessed.”
- Classic Rock, UK
FRIDAY 21 APRIL
KRISSY MATTHEWS BAND
Touring to celebrate the release of their first live album, coming out on Proper Records this month. The band is an exciting, high octane, power blues trio hailing from Oxford, UK.
Matthews has performed some of the most legendary European venues including Ronnie Scotts, Loreley, Tanzbrunnen and Festa Avante opening for bands such as Joe Bonamassa, Toto, Gregg Allman and Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Krissy Matthews - Guitar / Vocals
Sam Weston - Bass / Vocals
Max Maxwell - Drums / Vocals
DOOR: 7.00PM
MUSIC: 8.30PM
£5 / £4 / £0 (BK)
EMAIL TO RESERVE
"Matthews has delivered a varied and truly intoxicating take on the blues.”
- Rhythm and Booze, UK
“There’s an exhilarating tight-loose swing and old-school honestly about
Price’s brand of soul-bop that leaves you panting”
– Mojo
SATURDAY 22 APRIL
NIGEL PRICE ORGAN TRIO
The Nigel Price Organ Trio, winner of the 2010 Parliamentary Jazz Awards for ‘best jazz ensemble’ is led by one of Britain’s finest guitarists.
Nigel Price is a regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s where he has racked up over 500 performances. He spent three years with the James Taylor Quartet and has performed with the BBC Big Band, Carleen Anderson and the legendary David Axelrod. His blend of flowing, fiery bebop lines, deep blues feeling and his will to swing hard has made him a big hit with jazz audiences everywhere. He is joined by legendary drummer Steve Brown and the incredible organist Ross Stanley. “The real thing” – London Jazz News
DOOR: 7.00PM
MUSIC: 8.30PM
£10 / £9 / £0 (BK)
EMAIL TO RESERVE
THURSDAY 27 APRIL
BAR OPEN
Lights low, records playing and the best beer, gin and whisky selection in town. 7.00-11.30pm.
FRIDAY 28 APRIL
SARAH VAUGHAN REIMAGINED
Sarah Vaughan is one of the most renowned jazz vocalists of all time. Beloved by millions, her recordings were the foundation of what constitutes being a jazz vocalist today.
Winner of the 2016 Sarah Vaughan Competition in the USA, Deelee Dubé returns to the club with the Bear's old friend Renato D'Aiello, a Ronnie Scott resident and staple artist of Luton's 33 Records. Come and hear the old and discover the new.
Deeley Dubé
Renato D'Aiello (Tenor Sax)
Liam Dunachie (Piano)
Joe Downard (Bass)
Alfonso Vitale (Drums)
DOOR: 7.00PM
MUSIC: 8.30PM
£10 / £9 / £5 (BK)
EMAIL TO RESERVE
SATURDAY 29 APRIL
LUKE TUCHSCHERER & HANNAH ROSE PLATT
Luke Tuchscherer is a Bedford-based singer/songwriter. His debut album 'You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Sense', reflected the more acoustic side of Tuchscherer’s songwriting – featuring confessional songs, storytelling and social commentary – and has attracted universal critical acclaim. The album was voted second best album of the year in Americana UK’s reader’s poll (and Luke was named second best male artist) and featured on multiple “Best of 2014” lists. His appearance at The Bear Club is in support of his new album 'Always Be True'.
Hannah Rose Platt is an enchanting singer-songwriter, talented storyteller and guitarist. She recorded her debut album Portraits in Nashville last year (produced by herself andMichael Bonagura) where she worked with some of the industry's leading names, Grammy award-winning musicians Mark Fain, (Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton) Stuart Duncan (Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss) and Jeff Taylor (The Time Jumpers, Elvis Costello).
Lyrics are the mainstay of her work, while subtle acoustic arrangements and beautiful guitar hooks form an uplifting backdrop. Hannah’s stories get under your skin…she plays with sentiment without being saccharine, focusing on optimism infused with realism and honesty.
DOOR: 7.00PM
MUSIC: 8.30PM
£10 / £9 / £0 (BK)
EMAIL TO RESERVE
SUNDAY 30 APRIL
JAZZ JAM
What is the Jazz Jam?
The Jazz Jam is a session led by a great house band, where musicians and singers come to try out material, play old classics and sit in with other players.
Who is it for?
It is for everyone. Half of the crowd come to play, half come to just watch. It's the sort of gig where you don't know what's coming next.
What's the vibe?
It's a relaxed Sunday afternoon feel, very friendly and a chance to see some great music up close, often with musical combinations and improvisations that you will never see again.
If you are lucky...
....you might even see Perry's jazz dancers who stop in every now and then, clear some tables, and hit the floor.
Find the Jazz Jam on Facebook HERE
DOOR: 1.30pm
MUSIC: 2.00pm - 5.30PM
£4 / £3 (BK)
NO RESERVATIONS. FIRST COME FIRST SERVED.
SAVE MONEY BY BEING A MEMBER,
AND SUPPORT THE CLUB AT THE SAME TIME.
FIND OUT MORE HERE