Like every other genre of music the blues has developed significantly since its inception. One trait will always be prominent within the canon though- the need for heartfelt sincerity.
It’s the difference between those that can successfully bleed onto their guitar strings, and the people who can only hope to muster a feeble whine. In Ian Siegal’s case there’s little to deny the fact the award winning singer songwriter is as authentic as they come.
Which is part of the reason he’s the first UK musician to be nominated for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year at the Blues Music Awards 2012. That’s no mean feat in a global scene still dominated by N’awleans and the sounds of ‘the Delta’. But then the perseverance required for such an achievement is indicative of the man responsible.
A child of the seventies, Siegal dropped out of art-college towards the end of the following decade, and headed out to a Berlin in upheaval with the intention of busking. From here he returned to his homeland, began tirelessly gigging on the Nottingham circuit, and eventually progressed to dates across the UK, and then Europe, where he now shares main stages with the likes of Jamie Cullum and Joss Stone.
His last album, The Skinny, is arguably his finest yet, and thankfully there’s the opportunity to catch tracks from this, and the rest of his oeuvre, when he tours Britain this month. Shows will take place in Sheffield, Newcastle, York, London, Derby and Bury, amongst other towns and cities across the country, all of which will be well worth grabbing a ticket for. Full details below.
Ian Siegal UK Dates
14 Mar
LINCOLN Terry O’Toole Theatre
15 Mar
SHEFFIELD The Plug
17 Mar
NEWCASTLE The Cluny
18 Mar
NEWCASTLE The Cluny (matinee)
19 Mar
YORK Fibbers
20 Mar
MARYPORT Golden Lion
21 Mar
BILSTON Robin2
27 Mar
HIGH WYCOMBE Arts Centre
28 Mar
COLCHESTER Arts Centre
29 Mar
LONDON The Borderline
30 Mar
DERBY Flowerpot
31 Mar
BURY The Met
01 AprSCARBOROUGH Blues Festival
This post was written by Tim Osbourne.
