Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Described by The Guardian as ‘a master of the contemporary blues’, Skip ‘Little Axe’ McDonald comes to the Gallery Sessions at Barnstaple’s Queen’s Theatre on Thursday 12 th May for an exclusive solo performance. Providing guitars, bass, keyboards, and vocals, Little Axe is the return to the blues that Skip grew up with and learned from his father. Born Bernard Alexander in 1949, Dayton, Ohio, Skip McDonald learned to play the blues on his father's guitar from the age of 8, although by the time he was 12 years old he had opted to perform doo-wop. But from picking up a guitar as a child, and returning to his roots with Little Axe, there has been a long twisting road. McDonald, along with bass player Doug Wimbish and drummer Keith LeBlanc formed the house band for the pioneering rap label Sugar Hill, providing the music for some of the most seminal records of the era by  Grandmaster Flash , Afrika Bambaata and others. From there he worked closely with Adrian Sher

Two of the world’s most iconic soul singers are set to share a stage at the Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple as good friends Gary U.S. Bonds and Ben E. King present The Great American Soulbook on Tuesday 15th March. Along with a stunning 8 piece band made up of the UK’s greatest musicians from the bands of Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Jeff Beck and Jerry Lee Lewis, this is set to be an amazing night made up of some of the greatest soul songs ever written. The legendary Gary U.S Bonds will host the show, and as well as belting out his own hits such as New Orleans and Quarter To Three, you’ll also hear Gary sing some of the world’s most loved tunes from one of the most loved eras. Gary will then be joined by another Soul legend, Ben E. King for what promises to be one of the most talked about tours to come to the region in years. Ben E. King is one of the defining soul singers of all-time. From his early days as the lead singer of The Drifters, through to his solo work, Ben E.