The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Wednesday 28th March 2018

Sidestepping the customary blues-clichés, David Migden & The Twisted Roots – their name accurately reflecting the melting pot genre – perform unique material in a genre-busting crossover of blues, rock and American roots music. His range and tone astonishing; David Migden is regarded as one of the best male vocalists of contemporary Blues music!

David Migden was raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, moving to the UK as a teenager. After playing and touring around Europe, initially in the Lee Sankey Group with Matt Schofield and Ian Siegal, he then teamed up with (the then) Dirty Words, releasing “Second Hand Tattoo,” their debut album, to an excellent response from critics and fans alike. David Migden and his band, by now renamed Twisted Roots  released their follow-up album “Killing It” in 2012, once again receiving lustrous reviews in the relevant media and radio play across the globe.

David Migden & The Twisted Roots won the prestigious New Brunswick “Battle of the Blues” competition and appeared at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Canada in Sept 2013,. They were nominated in the British Blues Awards for best original song (“Shel”), and twice in a row, 2013 and 2014, in the category best singer. The band also won both Best Band and Best Newcomer in the “Blues Matters“ writers’ poll of 2013. As a result they were chosen to represent the UK at European Blues Challenge 2104 in Riga, Latvia in April 2014, where they won third place. In Riga they were noticed by Alfie Falckenbach of Blues Boulevard Records, and in the following months an agreement was reached for worldwide release of their third album of self-penned songs: “Animal And Man.”

The band’s reputation has been growing with radio play across the UK, Europe and the US.‘Animal & Man’, recorded at Rimshot studios in Kent, has the sound and songs the band have always wanted. 

The members of The Twisted Roots have each individually played with a host of internationally renowned artists including Robert Plant, James Brown, Matt Berry and Corinne Bailey Rae, and have gained a reputation for playing exhilarating shows.

David Migden – Vocals/Trumpet/Piano

Phil Scragg – Bass

James Sedge  – Drums/Percussion

Joe Gibson  – Guitar/Backing Vocals

Graham Mann – Keyboard/Trombone/Backing Vocals/ Percussion

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One time solo singer/songwriter Charlie Rivers has witnessed a truly organic growth in his music which has slowly but surely taken on a full band sound, spurred on by Steve McCormack (guitar), Steve Bassett (bass) and Ash Rushman (drums). In the space of only 16 months, The Charlie Rivers Band has morphed from the 'hear-a-pin-drop' sounds of one man and his guitar, to an uncompromising full band musical experience. 2009 saw the guys play at the "Busking Cancer" launch event alongside "Madness," and attained duo slots at Hyde Park and Wireless festival. Last year the band launched their much anticipated debut album 'Tender Chaos,' playing a host of sell out shows both in the UK and abroad including a storming headline set at the the Local & Live Music festival. Their single "Crazy" received a great deal of local radio play and recent support sets have included Newton Faulkner, Matt Berry and Toploader. The band are currently working on their follow up album, having previewed some of their new material throughout the course of 2011, set for a release in early 2012.

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When Andy released the first ever naked Christmas music video it hit the national headlines, leading The Mirror newspaper to ask “Is this the best Christmas music video ever?” With the topics of his songs ranging from pandas to Luxembourg via Pot Noodle, Andy Twyman blends blues with humour and rock and roll to titillate your ears, mind and toes. Having already performed at Glastonbury Festival, on BBC Radio, and on Channel 4, Andy’s reputation is growing as a highly original emerging artist.

Andy first took to the stage aged 12 in pubs and clubs, with his guitar, voice and harmonica, often jamming with local musicians including Rory Graham (aka Rag and Bone Man). Before hitting 18, he had gigged as a solo act in top London venues including The Jazz Café and 100 Club. Driven to create a distinctive and exciting act, Andy learnt to play foot operated drums, giving his songs a beat to get people on their feet. Drawing on influences as diverse as Muddy Waters, Monty Python, the White Stripes and Noel Fielding he developed a one man band show. In recent years Andy has brought this show to Spain, the Netherlands and France, has performed twice on BBC Radio and on London’s Resonance 104.4FM, and has had articles written about his music in The Sun, the Mirror, and The Daily Mail newspapers. On Christmas Eve 2015, Andy's Christmas music video, 'A Naked Noel', was broadcast on Channel 4, and in 2017 Andy was interviewed on the London Live TV station to discuss his festival appearances and new live album release. When the summer arrives, Andy performs at festivals all over the country inducing laughter and dancing amongst the drunk and disorderly. He has performed at many of the biggest and best UK music festivals including Glastonbury, Beautiful Days, Standon Calling, and Green Gathering.  

Quotes

"The master of the one man band...a first class musician and songwriter"

Blues in Britain Magazine

"The audience realised they were in the presence of a real entertainer, a provider of a refreshing blast of new blues"

Blues Matters Magazine

“His guitar sounds either stoic like John Lee Hooker or grooves like Bo Diddley”
Wasser-Prawda (Germany)

"A one man band with edge...an excellent, versatile, contemporary singer songwriter that gives the blues a new take with humour"
Lancashire Blues Archive

"The audience were enthralled and entertained"

The Hastings Flyer

(photo credit: Laura Wispells)

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