"A talented banjo player, guitarist and singer of vintage skiffle, jazz, country, rock 'n' roll and blues music of the 1920s, 30s, 50s and 60s" with his own band – The Lonesome Travellers
NEW ALBUM – COMING VERY SOON – YOU’RE GONNA LOVE IT!!!
I know what you’re thinking… Why didn’t I just send The Jake Leg Jug Band’s April update on Monday 1st April?… Well, I just knew that you wouldn’t believe me!
Having completed the first quarter of 2024 so quickly, we now move into the next and with it comes brighter nights and hopefully finer weather that will see some lovely outdoor performances as well as some exciting new ventures for the band.
Our gospel album “Some Glad Morning” (album number 9) will be released within the next month and it will also be available at all of our shows, especially the dedicated gospel shows that we are doing throughout the year in a number of UK churches.
See our dates listed below for the month ahead
APRIL 2024
SAT 06 APR 2024 DARLINGTON NEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUB (COUNTY DURHAM) 12.30pm, 2 x 60 min sets. @ St Augustine’s Parish Hall. www.darlingtonjazz.co.uk
You’re receiving this email because you signed up to our mailing list at a live concert you surely haven’t forgotten us already? You can unsubscribe at the bottom of this email if you’re one of those kind of people
Hello roots music fans everywhere, be you a fan of jazz, blues, folk, country or good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll. May I start by congratulating you all on keeping live music ALIVE and booming everywhere you go and thank you for being YOU… The people who leave the house, who come out and who enjoy sharing the great atmosphere of live sound.
March is now here, almost a quarter of the way through the year, which is not a bad thing at this time of year because it’s sunshine and warmth are just on the horizon.
MY EXCITING NEWS THIS MONTH is that The Lonnie Donegan Story is now officially confirmed to appear at THE GREAT BRITISH R&B FESTIVAL – and why not? He was the king of roots music in the UK.
1 – He had one of the first jazz bands on the British trad scene in 1950 – The Tony Donegan Jazz Band. 2 – He was a founder member of the legendary Ken Colyer Jazzmen. 3 – He was a founder member of The Chris Barber Jazz Band. 4 – He was among the first to perform with blues legends, Lonnie Johnson, 5 – Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee and Josh White. 6 – He commercialised blues music, he commercialised folk music and is the sole reason that many jazz banjo players, blues guitarists and and rock stars ever made it in the music business at all. ALL ROADS LEAD TO LONNIE
I have The Story of Skiffle concert, the follow up to the Lonnie Story, appearing at Bude Jazz Festival this year and I am delighted to announce that another major Jazz Festival along with a major Folk Festival are ready to accept the show for 2025
So what can I say?
The next 2 years are going to be epic, especially when you consider next years tour of Denmark with Baby Jools & The Jazzaholics!
It is most certainly a great time to be doing what I do and I thank you all for your support because without you I’m just a sad lonely guitarist with a banjo at my side.
THIS MONTHS TOUR DATES FOR ME ARE AS FOLLOWS
MARCH 2024
Sat 2 – Kingston Upon Thames, Ram Jam Records – with The Jake Leg Jug Band Sun 3 – Willingham, Jazz Club, Cambs – with The Jake Leg Jug Band Sat 9 – Camden, The Green Not – with The Jake Leg Jug Band Sun 10 – Birmingham, The O Bar – with The Hit Parade Heroes – 6pm Fri 15 – Caterham Surrey & South London Blues Club – with The Jake Leg Jug Band Sat 16 – Congleton Unplugged – with The Jake Leg Jug Band – 2pm Sun 17 – Stafford, Jazz Society – with The Jake Leg Jug Band Wed 20 – Amersham, Jazz Club, High Wycombe – The Warren James Skiffle Group Fri 22 – Northamton, Ravensthorpe Village Hall – with Baby Jools & The Jazzaholics Sat 23 – London, Candlemaker – with The Jake Leg Jug Band Sun 24 – Halesowen Jazz Club, Cricket Club – with The Lonnie Donegan Story Fri 29 – Nantwich, Nantwich Jazz and Blues – with The Hit Parade Heroes Sat 30 – Tipton, Horseley Tavern – with The Hit Parade Heroes Sun 31 – Worcester, Chestnut Tree – The Warren James R’n’R duo
You are receiving this email because you subscribed to join either The Jake Leg Jug Band, a Warren James show or The Liam Ward Band mailing list at a live performance! You probably subscribed to win a free CD, or you may have been tipsy when you did it! To unsubscribe, go to the bottom of the page where you can do this! But, I wouldn’t do it if I was you – stay fun and keep your love for live music! If you do unsubscribe then Liam will start blowing his jug and harmonica through your letter box at 3am!
As The Jake Leg Jug Band moves towards completing our first quarter of 2024 we are delighted to say how well attended, how enthusiastic and how appreciative audiences have been all around the UK!
Next weekend we are recording our second live album in 12 years at The Green Note in Camden Town, London. Then in April we will be performing our first Gospel show which will coincide with our new album release of 2024 – see details below the date list.
MARCH 2024 Dates
SAT 02 MAR 2024 RAM JAM RECORDS (KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES) 8.00pm, 2 x 45 min sets. www.ramjamrecords.co.uk
SUN 03 MAR 2024 WILLINGHAM JAZZ CLUB (CAMBRIDGE) 12.30pm, 3 x 40 min sets @ Willingham Social Club. www.willinghamsocialclub.com
** LIVE ALBUM RECORDING ** SAT 09 MAR 2024 GREEN NOTE (CAMDEN, LONDON) 8.30pm, 2 x 45 min sets. www.greennote.co.uk
You are receiving this email because you subscribed to join The Jake Leg Jug Band, the Warren James or the Liam Ward mailing list at a live performance! You probably subscribed to win a free CD! You may have been tipsy when you did it! To unsubscribe then go to the bottom of the page where you can do this! You will probably do this because you’re now sober and at home – which is a shame – I wouldn’t do it if I was you – stay fun and love the live music!
News update regarding final tickets available for The Lonnie Donegan Story at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, Wiltshire this Saturday 24th Febraury and The Jake Leg Jug Band ** LIVE ALBUM RECORDING ** next month at The Green Note, Camden, London on Saturday 9th March
The Lonnie Donegan Story – The Man Who Who Made The Beatles Play
The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, Wiltshire
Saturday 24th February (this Saturday) @ 7:30pm
Starring Banjo and Guitar, plus the stories and songs, Warren James New Orleans Drum Star, Baby Jools West End Bassist with Million Dollar Quartet Musical, Jim Swinnerton Guitarist with the Steve Gibbons Band for over 20 years, Howard Gregory
Only 26 seats left, so book now to secure your place
Thank you as always for your support – when we are massive stars we will thank you! Unless you unsubscribe – then we’ll cast spells on you and I may even come to your house and play my banjo through your letter box at 3am!
The Jakes at Doveholes Jazz Club – nr Buxton and Macclesfield
Hi there, Warren here from The Jake Leg Jug Band.
So that is month one completed, and we survived it.
The Jakes are delighted to announce that our new album is almost finished, it is now in the finishing touches stage – an album of 20s and 30s gospel songs, all performed in the wonderful jazz, blues and ragtime style of the time…… We can’t wait to update you of its release.
If you wish to join us at a show then you can find us at the following venues this month!
TUE 06 FEB 2024 OLNEY JAZZ CLUB (MILTON KEYNES) 8.00pm, 1 x 50 min sets The Carlton House Club. www.olneyjazzclub.com
FRI 17 FEB 2024 THE VENTURE THEATRE (ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH, LEICESTERSHIRE) 8.00pm, 2 x 60 min sets. www.ashbyventuretheatre.org.uk
Kicking off this New Years Eve with two shows! The first is in Uttoxeter and then we sprint across the Midlands to Moseley, Birmingham…
Then everything goes mad with a very busy January with my brethren of The Jake Leg Jug Band, The Lonnie Donegan Story (now in it’s second sell-out year) as well as Baby Jools & The Jazzaholics and other Hit Parade Heroes concerts.
Across all the shows that I will play with in 2024, their are performances at many of the UK’s biggest and best festivals, jazz and blues clubs, some of our most beautiful theatres and even performances on the continent are being arranged and sorted.
You can find details for all of these great shows on the websites listed at the bottom of this update.
Also, the tour dates for the shows that I will appear on are all listed below, so if you can and wish to come along and enjoy a night of REALLY FUN MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT, then hop on down.
Warren James – January Tour Dates
JANUARY 2024
Wed 3 – Sutton Coldfield, Jazz Club – Warren James Skiffle Group
Sat 6 – Hanley, HMV, In store concert – Jake Leg Jug Band – 2pm
Sat 6 – Warrington, Private Booking – Warren James – 8pm
Sun 7 – Coventry, Jazzamatazz, Ansty Club – Jake Leg Jug Band
Tues 9 – Leeds, New Orleans Jazz Club – Jake Leg Jug Band
Thur 11 – Chaddersley Corbet, Swan Inn Jazz Club – The Lonnie Donegan Story
Fri 12 – Gloucester, Cafe Rene – Jake Leg Jug Band
Sat 13 – Walthamstow, Ye Olde Rose & Crown – Jake Leg Jug Band
Wed 17 – Bristol, The Old Duke – Jake Leg Jug Band
Thur 18 – Bristol, The Old Duke – The Hit Parade Heroes
Sat 20 – Kings Heath, Hare & Hounds – Warren James RnR Duo with Stevie Barr
Sat 20 – Doveholes, Jazz Club – Jake Leg Jug Band
Sun 21 – Coventry, Jazzamatazz – Baby Jools & The Jazzaholics
Tues 23 – Stoke on Trent, Studio Day
Sat 27 – Bollington, Arts Centre – Baby Jools & The Jazzaholics
Sun 28 – Coventry, Jazzamatazz, Solihull – Warren James Skiffle Group
Wed 31 – Northallerton, Romanby Jazz, Swing & Cabaret Club – Jake Leg Jug Band
We are delighted to wish all of our followers a very happy New Year from: Duncan Wilcox (double bass), Liam Ward (harmonica, etc) and Warren James (guitar & banjo).
This is our new newsletter for all of our followers, and you can still follow us on Facebook and Instagram
This update previously came from our harmonica and etc player, Liam Ward, but it will now come directly from myself, the guitar and banjo player in the band (now that I’ve learnt how to use our authentic 1920s and 1930s HD laptop and keyboard, by Hewlett-Packard)
I look forward to keeping you updated with all of our extensive tour dates around the UK during 2024.
Roots music – especially the unique blend of swinging jazz, blues, ragtime and gospel tunes that we play really needs your support this year, so we do hope that you will continue to escape the mad world and enjoy what we do live on stage in our own little mad, but fun, corner of the world.
For those who don’t – you are always able to cancel these updates at the very bottom of the email by clicking where it says unsubscribe – it is that simple – but you will miss out on a life-time of fun, authentic roots music, and we’ll all be sad forever and ever… Think of the three starving blues musicians that you will leave stranded…
Anyway, wacky humour aside, the year ahead is going to be epic for the Jakes and we do hope that you will come along with us on the journey.
Blisworth – Northamptonshire
The 2023 The Most Storming Year for The Jakes
With only one gig left in 2023, its time to reflect on what has undoubtedly been the best ever year ever for the band.
After 12 years of hard work, this year has been a real good one for us.
122 live shows, the release of our 8th album, our first BBC Radio 2 airplay (thanks again Cerys Matthews) and lots of appearances at new festivals, theatres, arts centres and clubs. We’re eternally grateful for everyone who’s put us on or put us up this year and we look forward to seeing you all next year.
With over 80 gigs already in the calendar, as well as another new album, it looks like more of the same.
During the year we made a few short video series called TOP JUG, it was a wacky way of showing you life on the road with The Jake Leg Jug Band – the behind the scenes of live and travel around the lovely United Kingdom – you can still see those among our other videos by clicking here
A huge thank you from the heart of our bottoms and a Merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Some live shots from 2023 – where you there?
January 2024 Tour Dates – If we are near you then why not come along and join us for a fun show and blast of live entertainment.
New Years Eve I shall share a gig with my fellow band mates – Baby Jools Aldridge, without doubt Europes top New Orleans jazz and blues drummer. Star of the west end production, The Million Dollar Quartet, Jim Swinnerton on double-bass, Moseley’s own Stevie Barr on bass guitar, plus other musical guests, including DJ Dylan Gibbons.
New Years Eve Party
This will be a cracking end to an amazing year and a fabulous start to 2024, for us all, with some members of my close musical family. Hosted by Karen Plant at The Fighting Cocks in Moseley, Birmingham – get on down for 9pm
We are absolutely delighted that last Monday, on the BBC Radio 2 Blues Show, hosted by Cerys Matthews, a track by The Jake Leg Jug Band was featured. This is great news for us as we have been trying to get the attention of the BBC national networks for many years and finally we have. HUGE THANKS to Cerys and her team.
