TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE VIA WE GOT TICKETS HERE, THE SHIRE HALL AND NOW AT DOVE HOUSE.
As well as the online ticket provision via We Got Tickets clicking on the links on this website.
Hard copy tickets will are now available via the Dove House Hospice shop, 33 Market Pl, Howden, DN14 7BL. Telephone 01430 431660
Tickets can also be purchased at: The Shire Hall, 11 Market Place, Howden, DN14 7BJ where online tickets can also be purchased.
All events are at the Shire Hall unless otherwise stated.
Telephone 01430 432510
Doors are 7.30 for 8pm
SATURDAY DECEMBER 17th
£16.50
BUY TICKETS HERE
Blues and soul become inextricably entwined in award-winning singer-songwriter, Kyla Brox, whose raw talent has seen her described as “the finest female blues singer of her generation”. Winner of the UK Blues Challenge 2018 and the European Blues Challenge 2019, voted Best Female Vocalist in the 2019 European Blues Awards and semi-finalist in the International Blues Challenge 2019 and 2020, Kyla Brox is at the very top of the UK Blues scene.
Daughter of cult blues figure, Victor Brox, the Mancunian vocalist began her career as a teenager in her father’s band and has now honed her own sophisticated sound, as heard on her last two critically acclaimed and award-nominated albums, Throw Away Your Blues and Pain & Glory, which reached No.1 in the IBBA Charts for 2019 and was nominated Best Album in both the European and UKBlues Awards.
Her voice; tender, urgent, gritty, blurring the distinction between pleasure and pain, mixed with the enchantingly fluent guitar work of Paul Farr, inspired bass playing of Danny Blomeley and in-the-pocket drumming of Mark Warburton, combine to make a unique and powerful, often joyous, always emotional experience.
Kyla also plays in duo form with her husband, virtuoso acoustic guitarist, Danny Blomeley, whose playing, by turns delicate and unrestrained, has earned him a following in his own right.
A completely independent artist, Kyla has built her career year on year; starting out at grassroots with local pub gigs and growing to headlining concerts all over the globe, including some of the most prestigious Blues festivals in the world.
With thousands of albums sold and a constantly growing fanbase, Kyla Brox is widely regarded as one of the very best soul-blues singers the British Isles has ever produced.
“The finest female blues singer of her generation” Manchester Evening News
“Manchester’s answer to Aretha Franklin.” Tony Wilson, Factory Records
“Surely one of the finest voices Britain has ever had” Pete Clack, Blues In Britain
“Kyla Brox knows how to handle the gears… the Mancunian vocalist lets songs percolate, raising the temperature by degrees, then giving it both barrels in the final stretch. It’s a thrilling tactic.” Henry Yates, The Blues Magazine
“An authentic soul diva… sensitive, sexy, and with infinite reserves of sassiness” City Life
Lil’ JIMMY REED & The ‘A’ Team
& Chicago Bound
JANUARY 14th 2023
From shot-gun shack and cotton-field to festival main stage, the prodigious talents of Lil’ Jimmy Reed have taken him a long way from the Mississippi river. One of the last surviving performers of classic Louisiana down-home blues, Lil’ Jimmy’s stinging guitar work, gritty vocals and haunting harmonica have been taking Europe by storm. His music has won him many awards and an induction into the Blues Hall of Fame. He is accompanied by the ‘A’ Team, comprising pianist Bob Hall, widely regarded as the UK’s finest blues and boogie exponent, and diminutive dynamo Hilary Blythe on rock steady bass.
Born Leon Atkins in 1938 in a shot-gun shack in Hardwood, LA, a small cotton town on a bend in the Mississippi river, he grew up near a nightclub where blues stars Slim Harpo and Lightnin’ Slim were frequent visitors. By day he picked cotton and every night he absorbed the sounds of the blues wafting across the street. At six he had his own guitar, made from a cigar box, and by the time he was a teenager he was proficient on both guitar and harmonica, playing local clubs around Baton Rouge. His big break came when the legendary Jimmy Reed failed to make a date and Leon got to take his place in the band. He gave a show stopping performance, the crowd loved him, and when, soon after, Jimmy passed away, Leon became Lil’ Jimmy Reed.
Lil’ Jimmy took a break from music to serve his country in the military, but he’s now back playing better than ever. On his return Lil’ Jimmy has shared the stage with B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Bobby Blue Bland, among many other stars. Among many awards he has been named Blues Harmonica Player of the Year by the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame, received the Living Legend Award from the Baton Rouge Blues Society, awarded a gold disc by the Alabama Blues Society and inducted into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame.
Lil’ Jimmy’s European tours are hugely successful and he has received wild applause and standing ovations as he strolls through the crowds playing and singing his unique brand of down-home blues. His first CD “School’s Out” was rated “Superb” by CD Review
In Lil’ Jimmy’s band, the ‘A’ Team includes Bob Hall, an award-winning pianist and founder member of several famous British blues bands including The Groundhogs and Savoy Brown. He has accompanied many world-class bluesmen – John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry and Little Walter, to name just a few. His partner, diminutive dynamo Hilary Blythe, is an outstanding blues and gospel singer and rock steady bassist.
“You put on a hell of a show” Harvest Blues Festival Director (Monaghan, Eire)
“The feedback has been fantastic” Executive Manager Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival
**NEW CD** “Lil’ Jimmy Reed – Live” Fast Western 004 available on Amazon
SANDI THOM
FEBRUARY 11th £21
It’s been 16 years since her first single “I wish I was a punk rocker” shot to no.1 in 7 different countries and since then Thom has continued to make albums that are eclectic, different and timeless. Now get set for the most exciting release of her career, “My new album Wanderlust is going to blow Punk rocker out of the water” Thom states.
Having spent a significant time in the Middle East doing humanitarian work with street dogs and cats Sandi Thom has been of the radar for several years. However, having now permanently relocated back to the UK Sandi is back and better than ever.
“I’ve grown so much in the past 4 years that I’ve been of the road” Thom says, “my experiences have really shaped me and been amazing inspiration for my latest songs”.
With over 50 million Spotify streams the Scottish singer’s popularity continues to grow organically. “I’m always so humbled at how my songs just seem to continue to connect with people” she says. One song in particular; November Rain, taken from Thom’s album of Acoustic Classic Rock covers has seen a growth spurt.
“I couldn’t believe the number of streams on you tube when it hit 12 million, I never expected it to be so popular, but it just seems to connect with so many people, it’s amazing”
“2022 and beyond is going to be an amazing time for me. I am so excited to be hitting the road again with the band, playing live, getting back in the studio and just immersing myself in the industry again. I’m also really excited at the prospect of taking on challenging roles in theatre, it will be a whole new world for me and something I can really get my teeth into artistically” the mum of 6-year-old Logan says.
With her continued organic growth in popularity Thom says she’s so excited about getting stuck back into her career and can’t wait to release the hotly anticipated 7th studio album entitled “Wanderlust” along with an autobiography detailing her life’s story so far. Both the album and the book are set for release in the winter of 2022
Watch this space…
“Exquisite” The Times
**** Classic Rock magazine
“Unique pop-folk” The Herald
” Fierce & Honest songwriting” The Huffington post
“Internet Sensation” BBC
“Pugnacious and Sharp” The Irish Times
“Diverse and consistently Impressive” American Songwriter
I Wish Was A Punk Rocker Reborn…
The JAM’d
FEBRUARY 25TH £15.
Widely regarded now as the UK’s most authentic and leading tribute to The Jam, The Jam’d are totally committed to giving an unforgettable, authentic performance with all the energy, passion and style of the Woking 3.
As full time touring professional musicians, and massive Jam fans, the band don’t “try to be” or “pretend to be” The Jam, but rather put on a performance from the heart and soul, drawing on all their memories, experiences and love of what was the country’s biggest band in their day.
Gigging all around the UK and Europe, at major venues, festivals, and rallies. The show also includes the only replica of Rick Bucklers ‘Great White’ drum kit & features their own brass section!
Every effort is placed into reproducing the sound, arrangements and energy of a Jam gig. Those who saw The Jam live will remember the electricity, aggression, passion, and even fashion on stage, something not always prevalent in today’s world, but to The Jam’d, it is a passion, a mission, and an honour to play for fans of “the best band in the world!”
Featured on BBC Radio 4 and described by the organisers of the I.O.W. Scooter rally as “the best Jam tribute you’ll ever see!” you won’t be disappointed..
THE MARTIN STEPHENSON TRIO
FRIDAY MARCH 10tH
A BIOGRAPHY / QUITE A STORY TO TELL
Inspired by early Cure and the Brighton scene, Martin began his career as a busker aged
15 . He then spent three years plying his trade as the guitar player in various bands in
the North East of England . But Martin wanted more, he wanted to tell stories of his own
and he was quickly developing ways of doing just that.
He developed his song writing technique by Firstly learning a few licks from a Spanish
guitar book and repeated the process withJazz, Blues, Country, Skiffle, Reggae etc.
Eventually, this glorious collision of styles would become the trademark which Martin
has carried through his career of almost 40 years.
Martin formed his band The Daintees, who became a busking sensation and were
signed by Kitchenware at around the same time as Prefab Sprout and Hurrah! The band
and indeed Martin have always been known for their incredible range of styles, each
album covering a multitude of genres, tempos and moods.
Disenchanted at the way the industry was moving and following the band’s break up
shortly after The Boys Heart , Martin distanced himself from the main stream music
industry and relocated to the Scottish highlands in order to recharge and reevaluate.
Then followed a number of years in which Martin supported himself through a
combination of extensive live work and a multitude of self Financed solo albums.
2000 saw the reformation of the Daintees, to this day Martin splits his time between
solo and small collaborative projects with band albums and annual celebratory Daintees UK tours’
KIKI DEE & CARMELO LUGGERI
FRIDAY MAY 19th £23.
Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri – The Long Ride Home Tour
For over 25 years now Kiki and Carmelo have been touring their spellbinding acoustic live show across the UK and Europe. Performing in this stripped back fashion allows each of their exceptional talents to shine through and create a wonderful and warm sense of intimacy for the audience.
Kiki has recently celebrated her 55th year in the music industry and has cemented her status as one of the UK’s finest and most revered vocalists, always moving forward with the music that she creates with Carmelo . Kiki says Carmelo is her favorite guitarist , and he co-writes and produces all their songs.
The duo’s latest critically acclaimed album THE LONG RIDE HOME was released in 2022 , and is full of haunting, emotional and stunning songs that will hopefully please their army of fans.
Join Kiki and Carmelo for an acoustic journey of their songs and stories which also include some tracks from the new album , unique covers of songs by artists such as Kate Bush and Frank Sinatra and of course Kiki’s own hits “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, “I Got The Music In Me”, “Loving & Free” and the stunning “Amoureuse”
TWO PIANOS
OCTOBER 7TH £15
Join the sensational David Barton and Al Kilvo, along with their top-class band as they battle it out to deliver the best rock ‘n’ roll piano experience audiences have seen. Feel the energy and witness the foot stomping performance of Two Pianos as they bring you to your feet and have you dancing in the aisles, singing hits from Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Elvis, Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Everly Brothers and more!
“Two Pianos are truly awesome rockers!” — Jerry Lee Lewis
“Two of the hottest Rock ‘n’ Roll piano-pounders in the world” — The Yorkshire Times
“Highly recommended ”— Chas & Dave
“Dedicated rockers par excellence-top of our gig list.” — The Times
“There is enough talent and individuality in his act for him to make his mark nationally and not just for a year or three.” — The Stage
“So, it was non-stop electrifying Rock ’n’ Roll all the way except for a glorious interlude where they found themselves playing straight, snatches of everything from Beethoven to Rachmaninov, just for the hell of it, just because they could and seemingly wanted to playfully out-bravura each other.” — The Yorkshire Times
IAN McNABB
November 4th £16
Robert Ian McNabb was born in Liverpool on November 3rd 1960. An only child – the son of Patricia and Robert.
He first picked up a guitar at the age of 12 after seeing Marc Bolan on Top Of The Pops.
Ian joined his first band, Young World, at the age of 15 ; They played the working men’s club circuit for a couple of years before Ian joined another band City Lights. This band again gigged extensively around the North of England cabaret circuit, but Ian grew tired of playing other peoples songs and decided that cabaret was not the way forward for him. He had always written songs for fun but now he began to take it seriously.
In 1981 Ian formed The Icicle Works with Chris Sharrock (drums), and Chris Layhe (bass and vocals).
They quickly gained a following through their debut single release, Nirvana, and extensive live performances up and down the country.
The Icicle Works became part of the Liverpool renaissance movement of the eighties, alongside acts such as Echo And The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, WAH!, Heat, OMD, Black, Dead Or Alive, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Lotus Eaters, and China Crisis.
They signed to Beggar’s Banquet records, and under the guidance of Martin Mills scored a top 20 hit with Love Is A Wonderful Colour in the U.K ; and top 40 placings in the U.S, Canada, and Europe with Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream), with their eponymous debut album.
The Icicle Works achieved top 40 placings in the UK for all four of their albums – The Icicle Works, The Small Price Of A Bicycle, If You Want To Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Songs, and Blind – until they split up in 1988.
Muff Winwood signed Ian to Epic records in 1989, paying a buy-out fee to Beggar’s Banquet; but Muff’s insistence on using The Icicle Works name, (with new musicians Roy Corkill and Zak Starkey) when the original band had ceased to be, caused friction, and after one disappointingly received album, Permanent Damage, Ian was dropped from Epic’s roster.
Ian began a collaboration with his friend and previous Icicle Works producer, Ian Broudie – a number of songs featured on subsequent Lightning Seeds records, which became hugely successful.
Ian signed to Andrew Lauder’s new imprint, This Way Up, in 1992, which yielded 3 albums : Truth And Beauty (which Ian had recorded at his own expense by remortgaging his house), Head Like A Rock, which was recorded in part with Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse in L.A and subsequently nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 1994, and Merseybeast – the latter 2 albums achieved top 30 placings; the first was heralded as “One of the best records released in Q magazine’s lifetime”.
This Way Up records ceased to be in 1997 and Ian found himself without a deal once more, so accepted an invitation to join his friend Mike Scott (The Waterboys) on bass guitar for a lengthy European and Japanese tour.
Ian self financed another record in 1998, A Party Political Broadcast On Behalf Of The Emotional Party, which featured Danny Thompson (John Martyn, Nick Drake amongst others) on upright bass. They toured together that Autumn to promote the record.
At the end of the decade Ian released the live disc Live at Life, recorded over two nights at Liverpool’s Life Cafe.
Ian then joined The Waterboys on keyboards for a European tour. When this was completed, Ian accepted Ian Broudie’s invitation to record on ‘The Barge’ – Pete Townshend’s studio which Broudie was currently renting, moored next to Pete’s Eel Pie complex. The resulting album – Ian McNabb – saw a return of Ian’s love of guitar driven pop/rock and was released on Sanctuary Records in 2001.
Ian briefly played bass guitar in Ringo Starr’s band in 2002.
Throughout the 00s Ian released a further 5 solo albums : Waifs And Strays, The Gentleman Adventurer, Before All Of This, How We Live, and Great Things – all self financed and issued on his own Fairfield Records imprint to a small, dedicated fan base.
All albums were supported by extensive touring.
In 2009 Ian unleashed his autobiography Merseybeast which has become something of a cult classic amongst the rock fraternity (Peter Buck of R.E.M contacted Ian recently to tell him that he’d only just discovered the book and loved it!) – it has since been released as an audio book, narrated by Ian himself.
So far this decade, Ian has released Little Episodes, Eclectic Warrior, and Kruggerands – harder rocking albums which both feature the band Cold Shoulder ; Respectfully Yours (a long promised album of cover versions) – and the first two albums that form a ‘trilogy’ – Star, Smile, Strong, which features collaborations with Prof. Brian Cox, a co-write with Ralph Molina (from Crazy Horse), and the unexpected return of Icicle Works drummer Chris Sharrock (who had gone on to work with The La’s, World Party, Del Amitri, Dave Stewart, Mick Jagger, Robbie Williams, Oasis, and both Liam and Noel Gallagher in their solo endeavours), and most recently Our Future In Space, which once again features Cold Shoulder, and the song Aquamarine co-written with R.E.Ms Peter Buck.
In September 2019, Ian announced the forthcoming release of “Utopian”, which would complete the trilogy, and mark his 20th solo studio album. Owing to hold-ups brought about by the pandemic, Utopian was not officially released until April 2021. “It’s possible that we now hold the World record for the longest pre-order”, said McNabb recently.
Ian turned 60 in November 2020. Sadly, again due to the pandemic, all plans to celebrate with a lavish hometown show had to be cancelled. Ian’s “Utopian” tour, was pushed back into 2022.
Ian’s notoriety has grown on social media throughout the pandemic – his sometimes controversial opinions landed him in a spat with actor Russell Crowe in January 2021. The twitter exchange in which Crowe defended a comment that McNabb made about Master & Commander, was first picked up by Vanity Fair, and within hours was being covered internationally – we lost count at 130 outlets who published the story.
2021 saw the release of another new album – Ascending – which re-visits the Icicle Works, earliest cassette demo’s, and work is underway on the latest edition to the discography “Nabby Road” ; named after the studio which Ian set up at home during lockdown – “It’s been my salvation, really – and while I do write stuff to keep myself entertained, I record it for the fans – they make all of this possible, and I love them dearly!”
Ian still lives in Liverpool. Until her untimely passing in March 2022, Ian was full time carer for his Mum, Pat.
Affectionately known to friends and fans alike as ‘Mammo’; she is missed by all her who came to love her, and the internet depended on her commentary of The Brit Awards, and Eurovision!
McNabb Towers will never be the same.
Ian tours whenever he can, and continues to write and listen to music constantly.
As he reaches his 40th year of performing live shows, he intends to share more stories and hours of greatest hits with all those who choose to turn out to see him.
Welcome to HowdenLive 
Hi Ian we used to get significant amounts of money in grants from the Arts Council which significantly subsided jazz in particular. We decided some five years ago that we would become self funding, we have been successful in that but we are no longer in a position to present shows that make significant losses as jazz ones often did.