On Sunday 23rd July the Stompin’ Dave Quartet are live at Shaftesbury Arts Centre, as part of Shaftesbury Fringe Festival. Inspired by the festivals spirit of creative development, Dave has brought together four of the UK’s top musicians forming a brand new jazz and blues band. Making their debut together as a group, the band features Stompin’ Dave on vocals, electric guitar, and tap dancing, Ray Drury on keyboards, Paul Francis on bass, and Sam Kelly on drums.
Bridport based Stompin’ Dave has worked exclusively as a musician, he has made well over two hundred and fifty festival appearances, including some major ones such as Glastonbury, Camp Bestival, and Bestival. A former member of former UK Blues Band of the Year The Producers, Stompin’ Dave was nominated for a British Blues Award in 2014. “Stompin’ Dave is a master of all kinds of American roots…a formidable musician and a true original” The Daily Telegraph.
Ray Drury’s first band was soul act Rufus Stone. He played many gigs with the band including supporting Curtis Mayfield, and Gloria Gaynor. Ray then moved over to blues and currently performs with many different artists including multi award wining blues band The Producers. This led to Ray was named best UK keyboard player by Bronte Blues Club Awards, and voted third best UK keyboard player in the Blues Matters magazine Poll.
One of bassist Paul Francis’ first professional gigs was at Glastonbury Festival 1979 with Steve Hillage, of legendary psychedelic rock band Gong. Since then Paul has had a long and varied career working with an amazing array of music industry names. Paul has toured the UK & Europe with Paul Weller, and performed with jazz funk band The James Taylor Quartet, and many, many others.
London based Sam Kelly has been voted into the Blues In Britain magazine Gallery of the Greats as a five-times winner of the UK Drummer of the Year award. In recent years Sam has been awarded first place in the drummer category in the Blues Matters Writer’s Poll. Over the years Sam has performed with such well known artist as Dr. John, Ben. E King, Robert Plant, The Foundations, Chaka Khan, Billy Ocean, Paul Jones, Imelda May, Gary Moore, and Chris Barber.
Sam was an original member of renowned 1970’s British funk band Cymande who attained US Billboard R&B chart success. Cymande reformed in 2014 and Sam has subsequently toured across the globe with them, including many headline shows at Ronnie Scott’s.
More information on Stompin’ Dave’s Quartet can be found at www.stompinstore.com/quartet. The shows start at 7.30pm. Advance tickets are £14. Available from Shaftesbury Arts Box Office 01747 854321 or online via www.shaftesburyarts.org.uk
