Top bluesman joining Bishops

A TALENTED virtuoso blues guitarist will be the next musician to grace the stage at Doveridge Club with the Vice-Bishops.

Uttoxeter’s top blues act will welcome The Lewis Hamilton Band to the Sand Lane venue tonight.

The Bishops will open the show with their range of blues-rock covers and original numbers, before Hamilton and his fellow-musicians take to the stage.

A collaborative performance from both acts will close the evening’s proceedings.

Bishops drummer Fred Hopwood said: “As a guitarist, Lewis pays tribute to some of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, taking influence from people like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix and Rory Gallagher. He also is influenced by more modern blues-rock musicians such as Joe Bonamassa, Derek Trucks and Matt Scofield.

“As a vocalist he has developed his own unique and powerful style of singing, while taking influence from the likes of Joe Cocker and Dave Mathews.”

Scotsman Hamilton’s debut album, Gambling Machine, won the Scottish New Music Award for Scottish Jazz/ Blues album of the year for 2012.

His third, Ghost Train, has enjoyed widespread critical acclaim and airplay in more than 15 countries.

Award-winning axeman Hamilton, 20, has performed with musicians including Aynsley Lister, Ryan McGarvey, Henrik Freischlader, Alan Nimmo, Chantel McGregor and Ben Poole.

The Bishops are the longestestablished act in the Uttoxeter area.

Doors for the Doveridge show open at 8.30 p.m.

There will be a late bar and admission costs £4 on the door.

More information is available by calling 01889 563123 or 564403 or go online at www.facebook.com/thevice-bishops