Blues Rock Roadshow

BLUES ROCK ROADSHOW

IMV 19th June 2026

Out at the The International Music Venue last night to see the hugely talented BLUES ROCK RO0ADSHOW featuring Remi Harris and Dave Small, familiar from the "Man of the World" shows. This show however is different, covering a range of very familiar rock classics, and indeed a few i didnt know!, and dipping into the legacy of the likes of Peter Green, Rory Gallagher, Led Zeppelin and others... and everything played superbly, with stacks of energy and brilliant musicianship, despite that I find this a difficult review to writelll

Throughout, Remi's guitar work is breathtakingly good, you will have to go many a mile to hear another player this good... and Dave's terrific vocals and percussion are a perfect match in the genre.

Behind the principals, the bass playing is sublime.. beautifully clear in the mix it manages to be melodic, fluent and rocking throughout, while the drummer doesnt fall into the bluesrock trap of being overly flambouyant.. simply playing superbly in perfect unison with the band throughout and driving things along perfectly

No two ways about it, this is a band of four outstandingly gifted musicians playing together as a unified whole.. each member has solos in the show, but this is a band... four guys playing together as a magnificent whole... and my, they rightly went down a storm with the audience.

Reason I find this review difficult is that over the last year or so i have gradually lost interest in the blues/rock and guitar hero music which no longer fires me as it once did... so although it was abundantly clear that this band is outstanding in every way, masters of their craft and delivered a superb performance... it is not the genre of music i enjoy these days, so sadly i didn't really enjoy the show... everyone else in the room did though

!!

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Mike Sanchez

MIKE SANCHEZ

IMC 14th June 2025

Wonderful evening in the The International Music Venue on Sunday in the company of Mike Sanchez and his band, The Portions.

Mike is a rock'n'roll boogie woogie pianist and singer delivering pure old time high class rock'n'roll with class and energy to spare... and last night was a classic example

Mike starts off chatting easily with the audience before launching into rocking boogie woogie and we are away.. the spirit and free flowing nature of the music is intoxicating as Mike and the band power through a range of rock'n'roll songs some familiar and others new to me... among others we heard a bluesy "Route

66" and a rocking "Down the Road Apiece"...

Barely a gap between songs, the band rock on through the set with energy and obvious joy... occasionally Mike breaks off to chat with the audience about the music, his home-life among other things, seemingly getting sidetracked before launching into the next songs...

The band are all experienced high class musicians clearly with a love of the music and playing together... drummer Mark Morgan swings and drives the rhythm while Nick Whitfield plays outstanding rocking upright bass. Tom Bull plays guitar brilliantly achieving a superb tone from his Telecaster... Mike however is the centre of attention playing outstanding boogie woogie piano, singing superbly and grinning constantly...

This is boogie woogie, rock'n'roll, played brilliantly as it should be played... with spirit, joy, freedom and seemingly totally off the cuff... clean, rocking uplifting music with no electronic gadgetry... just high class musicianship and energy...

If you haven't seen the band, you are missing out.. see them when you can!

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Big Yellow Tambourine Band

BIG YELLOW TAMBOURINE BAND

IMV June 6th 2026

Saturday night at the The International Music Venue proved to be one of the really great nights.... in the company of The Big Yellow Tambourine Man Band - Bob Dylan & Joni Mitchell tribute show

The two principles, Isabelle Nutton (Joni Mitchelll) and Bob Thomson (Bob Dylan) deliver the songs with great assurance and quality reproducing the style and mannerisms of Bob and Joni.

The show started with "Bob" solo playing "The Times they are a changing" and "Blowing in the Wind" followed by 'Joni opening with "Chelsea Morning and "Both Sides Now"

From this point the band appeared to provide superb accompaniement.... At the back John Jackson kept the beat and rhythm with his meticulous and superb drum work while Ryan Thorne played triangle and guitar as well as harmony vocals. As the music moved into more electric styles, Ryan really showed his brilliance with superb guitar work. Finally Ryan Fincham appeared playing superb fretless bass... the musicianship of the band was absolutely outstanding and the sound and tones they produced superb.

Bob and Joni are undoubtedly two of the greatest songwriters/performers we have seen, each with an seemingly endless legacy of wonderful songs... almost impossible to decide on a set list!!... there are countless classics that didnt appear but each and every song played was an absolute gem... whatever the set list there would be some songs people would have liked included... but you cant knock the selections made...

There are a few songs that maybe had to appear... for Bob "Blowin in the Wind", "Mr Tambouring Man" and "Like a Rolling Stone" and for Joni "Both Sides Now", "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Woodstock"... and all were there tonight...

The set was approximately chronological, and for Bob featuring only songs from his golden age, pre-1976!!

Both artists delivered the material with clear affection and quality throughout... .

The the show ended with Joni delivering a superlative version of "Raised on Robbery" while Bob dedicated the final song, "Forever Young" to the sublime artists they were paying tribute to...

Inevitably they were back for encores, Bob and the band delivering a rollicking version of "Rainy Day Women 12 & 35" and Joni ending with a blistering version of 'Woodstock"

A simply superb band accomanying two superb leaders, through a set of magnificent songs.... a truly wonderful performance, uplifting, nostalgic and superb... loved every moment!

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