Performer:

Warren James & His Skiffle Heroes

Following the success of Warren James’ telling of The Lonnie Donegan Story we are delighted to invite the band back to perform for us a more broad and varied selection of songs that had England swingning throughout the 1950s Skiffle-Boom.

On Saturday 6 July, 1957 a young James Paul McCartney met John Lennon at Woolton Village Féte after he went along to watch Lennon’s band “The Quarrymen Skiffle Group” performing – and the rest is history.

Lonnie Donegan had launched The Skiffle Boom the previous year and in doing so he quite accidentally became the catalyst for the future of British Pop Music..

Thousands of Skiffle Groups appeared all over Britain and many had some major hit records. For The Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group with Nancy Whiskey on vocals, “Freight Train” was their biggest hit. “Last Train to San Fernando” was a huge success for the American Johnny Duncan. Meanwhile, The Vipers, gave us “Don’t You Rock Me Daddio”, “Cotton Fields” and “Maggie Maggie May”, which was the first song that the Beatles learnt..

Skiffle was the influence behind the 60s folk revival, whilst many more became the pop stars and hit makers of the 50s and 60s onwards. The Beatles, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones and The Who all started in Skiffle Groups..

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SkiffleHeroes

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Warren James is a fine purveyor of vintage jazz, blues, skiffle, gospel, and roots music whilst being widely acknowledged as one of the most entertaining of banjo and guitarists on our scene.

With his band, The Lonesome Travellers, it has been known for him to venture into old-time New Orleans styles of the American string bands, rag-time, and americana.

A favourite artist and band at jazz and blues venues, festivals, and prohibition themed events such as speak easy, Great Gatsby, and vintage music events.

“… Not many banjo players have taken the jazz and blues scene so warmly whilst fronting his own band and entertaining an audience quite as well as Warren James has. He is an exceptionally talented banjo player and guitarist, as well as a breath of vintage fresh air for the UK jazz and roots scene…”

During the last 3 years, Warren James’ name has become recognisable in the UK, owing to his explosive skiffle themed concerts, which have been so warmly embraced by the UK jazz and blues community.

He tours over 250 performances a year with some of the busiest and most popular bands in the UK, including The Jake Leg Jug Band, who are firm favourites in the UK, and gaining notoriety in Europe, with 10 albums achieving strong air play on BBC Radio 2 and across all digital outlets.

“Entertainment… just like it used to be”