NORTHUMBRIAN MUSIC
NIGHTS
What they're saying about
Martin Stephenson &
The Toe-Rags
After five critically acclaimed albums with his band The Daintees: "Boat to Bolivia"; "Gladsome, Humour and Blue"; "Salutation Row"; "The Boy's Heart"; and "There comes a Time", Martin Stephenson cut the ties with Kitchenware, the record label based in the North East that had brought himself and the band the success they undoubtedly deserved. Martin had brought world-wide attention, not only to himself and the Daintees, but also to the company that had given him his break in the music business. The break with Kitchenware and the Daintees came in 1993, Martin feeling he had exhausted the band's possibilities.
But from these albums came songs that were to give him the strength to carry on as a solo performer: "Roll on Summertime"' "Crocodile Cryer"; "Rain"; and the unforgettable "Wholly Humble Heart". From his humble beginnings, busking and knocking on doors asking if the student occupiers would like some live entertainment, playing rocabilly with the Blue Moon Boys through to the success of the Daintees, Martin has never really left behind the roots of his music, and his last three albums (on Demon Records): "Yogi in my House"; "Sweet Misdemeanor"; and "Over the Leap, Beyond the Law" have seen Martin recording with local Irish bands like the Devlins and the Prayerboat, stripping down the music to its acoustic essentials --finding the heart of the matter.
Now resident in Scotland, Martin works with local musicians purely for the enjoyment of making real live music, and his past history of successful albums and tours have prepared him for 'the long haul'. to delight you on this tour, Martin has joined up with two old friends from the North East, Joe Guillan (guitar/vocals) and Graham 'Shippy' Shipcote (double bass). This sees Martin return to his rockabilly roots with a band that can really cut the mustard.
Joe Guillan has been lead guitarist with The Sureshots for over 12 years, touring all over the planet -- including a tour of the west-coast of the USA in September -- and playing with Sonny Burgess, Little Richard, Johnny Powers and Sleepy La Beef. Joe is not a one-style guitar player either, apart from playing stunning rockabilly, he can turn his hand to melodic jazz standards at the blink of an eye.
Graham Shipcote, once a Daintee (in 1981!) is one half of the Hot Licks Cookies, voted 'Best Live Duo of the Year' in 1995 by Keep it Live magazine, in '96 voted 'Best Acoustic Act' in the British Blues Connection Poll. Since their conception they have played all the major blues festivals in the UK and Jazz/Blues festivals from New Orleans to Israel.
Graham and Joe both played on Martin's "Sweet Misdemeanor" album. Martin Stephenson and the Toe-Rags will delight you with songs from Martin's back catalogue re-worked and re-throught, with country and jazz standards, with stories and poems that Martin has picked up on his busking adventures, plus some of the hottest rockabilly on the circuit.
