The California Feetwarmers

Birnam Arts Centre, Dunkeld, June 10; Kirkcaldy Acoustic Music Club, June 16

Tom Jones is a fan, they’ve been nominated for a Grammy – and now The California Feetwarmers are coming to make even more of a splash in a town near you.

They are recognised as one of America’s hottest new bands, having grabbed a string of accolades over the past few years – and they have returned to this side of the Atlantic for a run of UK dates this month.

For fans of ragtime, blues and early swing music, they stylishly dig down and rework old classics, revisiting material from The Blue Ridge Playboys, Scott Joplin, The Memphis Jugband and Emile Grimshaw’s Rag Pickers.

The last time the band was over here, they wowed a sell-out crowd at the 1,000-capacity old Fruitmarket during Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival, where they were hailed as one of the most outstanding acts of the entire three-week event. Since then, the seven-piece has continued to impress wherever they appear – and garnered praise from some of the biggest names in the biz.

When they recently played the swankiest nightclub in Beverly Hills – where Hollywood’s A-list go to have themselves some fun – Tom Jones enjoyed the show so much, he ended up a confirmed fan following their killer set.

Afterwards, he told them they were “as good as it gets” and should be aiming to play London’s famous Ronnie Scott’s Club.

“Just tell them Tom Jones sent you,” he said.

The result of that is undocumented but having heard their brand-new album, it’s safe to say they stand every chance of not only getting a gig at Ronnie Scott’s but of going down an absolute storm if they ever do.

Tom Jones wasn’t the first big name to fall under their groovy spell… blues giant Keb’ Mo’ (real name Kevin Roosevelt Moore) – a three-time Grammy Award-winning blues singer, guitarist and songwriter – asked them to play as he sought to provide an air of authenticity when he recorded his latest album.

When Keb’ Mo’ grabbed them to provide the right feel for the track that has won them so much attention, he did so as he wanted it to be “a joyous thing – a party”.

That track won the band a Grammy nomination.

The California Feetwarmers are a throwback path to New Orleans, circa 1920 – their boisterous on-stage antics are solidly underpinned by playing what is as close to the source as it can be.

You can hear the results of their recordings on their new 13-track album Silver Seas, which gets its official European release next month and will be available to buy at their shows.

The California Feetwarmers are a throwback path to New Orleans, circa 1920.