Top quartet are stompin’ in Shaftesbury

On Sunday 23rd July the Stompin’ Dave Quartet are live at Shaftesbury Arts Centre, as part of Shaftesbury Fringe Festival. Inspired by the festival’s spirit of creative development, Dave has brought together four of the UK’s top musicians, forming a brand new jazz and blues band who will make their debut as a group at the festival.

Bridport-based Stompin’ Dave has only ever worked as a musician, making well over two hundred and fifty festival appearances – including Glastonbury, Camp Bestival, and Bestival. A former member of The Producers, a UK Blues Band of the Year, Stompin’ Dave was nominated for a British Blues Award in 2014.

“Stompin’ Dave is a master of all kinds of American roots … a formidable musician and a true original” The Daily Telegraph.

Ray Drury’s first band was soul act Rufus Stone. He played many gigs with the band including supporting Curtis Mayfield, and Gloria Gaynor. Ray moved over to blues and performs with many different artists including multi award winning blues band The Producers. Ray was named best UK keyboard player by Bronte Blues Club Awards, and voted third best UK keyboard player in the Blues Matters magazine poll. One of bassist Paul Francis’ first professional gigs was at Glastonbury in 1979 with Steve Hillage, of legendary psychedelic rock band Gong. Since then Paul has worked with an amazing array of music industry names, touring the UK & Europe with Paul Weller, performing with The James Taylor Quartet, and many, many others.

London based Sam Kelly has been voted into the Blues In

Britain magazine Gallery of the Greats as a five-times winner of the UK Drummer of the Year award. In recent years Sam has been awarded first place in the drummer category in the Blues Matters Writer’s Poll. Sam has performed with Dr. John, Ben. E King, Robert Plant, The Foundations, Chaka Khan, Billy Ocean, Paul Jones, Imelda May, Gary Moore, and Chris Barber. Sam was an original member of renowned 1970’s British funk band Cymande who attained US Billboard R&B chart success. Cymande reformed in 2014 and Sam has subsequently toured across the globe with them, including many headline shows at Ronnie Scott’s.

Sunday 23 July, 7.30pm. Tickets £14, from Shaftesbury Arts Box Office 01747 854321 or shaftesburyarts.org.uk