Chad Strentz, West Weston's Bluesonics

Swinging blues, Americana and soulful R&B from two of the very best for this top "double-header" at the The Donkey, Leicester.

Chad Strentz is one of the finest blues singers in the country. Following the release of his debut solo album, “Shake-Down”, Chad is now performing live with The Chad-illacs, and his reputation as songwriter and front man extraordinaire goes from strength-to-strength!

Top harmonica man West Weston has had an amazing last two years that has seen him touring with Mud Morganfield (Muddy Waters son – as seen on Later With Jools Holland) and working with Wilco Johnson and Roger Daltrey on their No.1 album and packed out Shepherds Bush Empire show.

Chad Strentz & The Chad-illacs

Chad Strentz is recognised as one of the great contemporary R&B voices in the country, and his new album “Shake-Down” shines a light on his self-penned songs as well as a selection of close-to-the-heart covers.

Mixing rhythm and blues, soul and stunningly authentic Americana vibes, “Shake-Down” was recorded in three days during sessions that harked back to the golden era of producing blues and soul records – many tracks are one take, the musicians all playing “live” and producing a body of material that carries the atmosphere of these electrifying sessions.

Chad Strentz has been “the voice” of some of the UK’s finest rocking R&B bands for the last twenty years, quite rightly earning him a reputation as a top front man and musician in demand across Europe. Known to many as the singer with the multi-award-winning Paul Lamb & the King Snakes, he has also put the miles in with The Big Town Playboys, Shout Sister Shout, Cat Talk and Breakout Blues. As part of the King Snakes, Chad has won numerous British Blues Awards including Best British Blues Band.

“Shake-Down” is released on TreeHouse44 and was voted the Independent Blues Broadcaster’s Association Album of the Month for September 2014 and the German Blues News magazine’s Album of the Month for October 2014. See www.chadstrentz.com for further artist information.

West Weston’s Bluesonics

Swinging Chicago blues doesn’t come any better than this – led by harmonica maestro Mr Weston, this is a band guaranteed to have you up on your feet.

“Steve ‘West’ Weston has got a pretty solid claim to being London’s top harmonica man. His tone is extraordinary, as is his taste and style, and within his chosen field – old style Chicago/West Coast harp playing – he’s right up there with anyone in the world today.” Blues In London

Introduced to the piano at the age of seven and after learning a few boogie-woogie classics, Weston quickly found a calling in music, an urge that would grow even stronger when his father brought home “This Is The Blues”, an epic blues record featuring Sam Meyers, Junior Wells, and harmonica king Sonny Boy Williamson. Suddenly Steve had not only found the music he loved but also the instrument to express it.

Playing his preferred laid-back Chicago style American blues, Steve Weston captures an audience with a unique charisma as a performer within the band and as a leader onstage.

The last couple of years have seen West Weston touring extensively with Mud Morganfield (son of Muddy Waters) and also top the album charts with Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey.

Both bands share the same rocking rhythm section of Orlando Shearer (upright bass) and Mike Thorne (drums), the Chad-illacs also feature Pete Farrugia on guitar, whilst Paul Garner takes the stage with the Bluesonics showcasing his distinctive guitar sound that has established him as a solo artist in his own right.