Slowburner
Slowburner make a welcome return to Linton in 2011 with their own brand of Rockin’ blues lead by the powerhouse vocals of Paul Bridgewater. They continue the on stage excitement of band’s like Free and Bad Company, and are sure to get the Festival off to a great start on Friday.
Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash
With millions of album sales and concert attendances worldwide, Wishbone Ash’s heritage as one of the most enduring and best loved British rock acts is assured. As lead vocalist and key creative force, Martin Turner was central to the critical and commercial success of Wishbone Ash’s most revered albums, with his passionate vocal delivery, songwriting ability, keen melodic sense and production values being a key ingredient in the definitive Wishbone Ash sound. Friday night in Linton will never be the same!
The Manfreds
We are proud to announce the Manfreds will be back at Linton in 2011. They have proved one of the most popular Bands ever to play the Festival. The Manfreds line-up includes original Manfred Mann members Paul Jones, Mike Hugg, Tom McGuinness with Mike D’Abo and new members Rob Townsend, Marcus Cliffe and Simon Currie. Friday night is set to be a great start to 2011’s Festival.
Ben Poole Band
Ben Poole is being talked of as “the” new up-and-coming UK Blues guitarist; one of the finest to have emerged in Europe for years. Having already played with and received critical acclaim from some of his heroes; legendary blues artists including Jeff Beck, Gary Moore and John Mayall, at just 22 years of age it appears that there is no stopping this young and incredibly gifted guitarist.
Europe’s biggest selling guitar magazine ‘Total Guitar’ recently named Ben as “the guitarist to watch out for in 2010” and in June 2010 became the only unsigned blues roots artist to ever play at the ‘Download’ festival at Donnington Park.
He has filled support slots with acclaimed artists such as John Mayall, toured with Ruf Records blues artist Dani Wilde as her lead guitarist, and has also had the privilege of jamming on stage with two of his other heroes; Jeff Beck and Gary Moore.
If you haven’t heard of Ben now, you will certainly in the future. This is an opportunity to see this versatile and charismatic guitarist that should not be missed.
Erja Lyytinen
Erja Lyytinen is one of several talented young female blues artists to appear on the scene in the last few years. She grew up in a small town in Finland as part of a musical family. She plays slide guitar and has a fantastic voice. Over the last 5 years, Erja has toured Europe and the US and has taken part in the Ruf Records Blues Caravan. It’s good to know we have young talented people like Erja to carry the torch of the Blues forward!
Viva Santana
Now in their 10th year, this phenomenal 6 piece Latin rock explosion continues to amaze fans wherever they present their celebration of the music of the legendary Carlos Santana.
Guitarist Marcos Rodriguez has developed the Carlos Santana sound with stunning accuracy after years of immersion in Carlos’ music; his Latin roots are totally at home as Viva Santana’s front man.
Everything else is there; from the powerful 4 piece rhythm section that brings the heartbeat of the band that are congas, timbales, drums and bass with a precise understanding of traditional and modern Latin rhythms, to the infectious Cuban piano and haunting Hammond organ. The famous soulful vocal melodies in the native languages of the Americas by the only UK Santana tribute band that boasts Latin members completes what was recently described by Classic Rock Magazine as ‘One Of The Top 5 Must See Tributes In The UK’.
The current line up of musicians have played and toured with such artists as Roger Daltrey, Joan Armatrading, Jethro Tull, Bad Manners, Desmond Dekker and Yes.
This powerful six piece band takes you through the Santana years with a stunning show. From Santana 1, Abraxas and Moonflower to the recent hits from Supernatural, Shaman and All that I am.
Matthew Lee
We are delighted that Matthew Lee will be returning to Linton after his amazing performance in 2009. Matthew is undoubtedly one of the most talented rock pianists to appear on the scene in a long, long time, and an incredible showman as well. Matthew is very much a rising star in Europe and this will be a unique opportunity to enjoy his show at Linton.
Bernie Marsden
Bernie Marsden is one of the UK’s rock establishment. An original founding guitarist of Whitesnake in 1978, he has been involved in many projects and collaborations since, several with fellow ‘snake member Micky Moody.
Since 2009, Bernie has taken to the road with members of Rory Gallagher’s last touring band to present an evening of Rory’s music in all its muscular and poetic glory. Rory is one of Ireland’s most famous, respected and mourned blues rock guitarists. But don’t expect a straight forward tribute show, as Bernie explains; “This is all about being authentic by playing with members of his last touring outfit, but it’s also about what I can bring to the songs. For two hours it’s hard work, but it’s also good fun”.
The “Bernie Plays Rory” touring band features Bernie Marsden on guitar and vocals, David Levy on Bass, Richard Newman on drums and newcomer Jim Kirkpatrick on Guitar.
Together they cover everything from The Taste through to unreleased and newly discovered Rory songs. It is an extraordinary experience for fans of blues rock music.
Oysterband
For over 30 years the Oysterband have been one of the UK’s premier folk / rock bands. They have wowed audiences around the world with their high-energy fusion of folk, roots and rock. They started life as the The Oyster Ceilidh Band, the heartbeat of the band has always been a deep-rooted love of the traditional music of Britain.
Not the invented tradition of twee choruses and dodgy ideologies that inspired a million fake-rustic clichés, a travesty that turned off the very people it was alleged to represent. But a tradition that dealt in integrity, passion, human experience and human emotion – songs that made you want to dance/laugh/cry/jump for joy/kick a few heads in. Hey, that could be folk music, it could be rock music… maybe it’s just GOOD music. Whatever, it has helped the Oysters become one of the most irresistible bands of the last decade. And the one before that too.
Bare Bones Boogie Band
The Bare Bones Boogie Band are a stripped-down, no nonsense blues band, closest in sound and attitude to the classic British blues boom of the 60s and 70s, when bands like Free, Fleetwood Mac and the Stones were inspired by BB King and Robert Johnson, and in America when Janis Joplin was re-inventing Etta James. Live, the BBBB give it their all, with no apologies for their rawness, nor for their tenderness – heavy, soulful blues! What could be a better start to Sunday’s line-up at Linton?
Aynsley Lister
Influenced from an early age by 60’s R&B, Lister takes these key elements and mixes them with a more current and melodic lyrical approach. He is one of very few artists playing blues infused rock with a modern edge -tangible, heartfelt, soul searching and full of fine songwriting; played with passion and vitality. His hard hitting rhythms and guitar work are reminiscent of a young Eric Clapton.
Over his 25 year career, he has released ten CDs, two DVDs and written a series of instructional articles for Guitarist magazine. The only British artist to be featured in Classic Rock’s 2007 review “Top 10 Contemporary Blues Artists”, Aynsley’s roots may be blues, but his own material incorporates more contemporary influences. Having played many concerts and festivals, opening for artists such as Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, John Mayall, Bryan Adams and Lynyrd Skynyrd, can you think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon?
The Hamsters
Probably the most hardworking Band on the UK music scene, the Hamsters, have been wowing audiences for over 20 years with their unique brand of hard-rocking blues and virtuoso performances of material by Jimi Hendrix and Z Z Top. Many Hamster fans have asked the Band, “when are you going to play Linton”, well, it has finally happened and promises to be a great afternoon of high-energy blues and rock!
Walter Trout
Having played alongside some of the greatest names in Blues including John Lee Hooker, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and Canned Heat, we are at last privileged to welcome Walter Trout to Linton. Renowned presenter Bob Harris pronounced him simply “the world’s greatest rock guitarist”. Expect two hours of original songs, great vocals and some truly awesome playing to wind up the 2011 festival.
