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An Evening of Americana with Kelly Joe Phelps and Warren Maxwell & Gerry Paul.

"Kelly Joe Phelps is a great example of what the modern blues is all about. His music has all the authority of the great blues without any hint of re-hash or re-tread." 
The Edge, U2

Exploring the heart and soul of American music, Kelly Joe Phelps has been recording and playing around the world for close to 20 years. A virtuoso slide guitar player and accomplished singer-songwriter, he has toured alongside B.B. King, Lucinda Williams and Madeline Peyroux, recorded with Townes Van Zandt, jazz musician Bill Frisell and been signed to Rick Rubin’s American Recordings.

Phelps’ timeless approach lies at the crossroads of great American music: blues, folk, country and gospel. Hailing from Washington State, Phelps started out in the world of jazz as a bass player, but then embraced roots music and developed his own distinctive sound: “It’s a reflection of all the music I loved and steeped myself in. There’s a space and openness in rural music that makes sense to me.”

This year has seen Kelly Joe Phelps tour the United States, Canada, UK and Australia. With his slide guitar on his lap, Kelly Joe combines an extraordinary ability to improvise, while playing a set of both his own songs and Delta blues classics. On his most recent album, Brother Sinner & the Whale, he explores elements of gospel.

Warren Maxwell is the driving force behind many musical projects. The leader of psychedelic blues quartet Little Bushman, he is also well-known for his time in iconic New Zealand groups Trinity Roots and Fat Freddy’s Drop. Warren has collaborated with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and more recently spent time tutoring songwriting in Rimutaka Prison for Māori Television’s ‘Songs from the Inside’. Warren continues to compose music that ‘sounds and feels’ like New Zealand.

Gerry Paul was born in Dublin, but grew up in Wellington, where he still spends six months a year writing songs and wrestling sharks. Gerry co-founded and played guitar with the contemporary Irish band Gráda. With a love of Irish music for many years, he has been lucky enough to play in over 40 countries and has collaborated with many of Ireland's great musicians. Gerry also plays in Grammy Award-winning bluegrass legend Tim O'Brien’s "EIO" band and has recorded and played with NZ singers Greg Johnson and Mel Parsons.

www.kellyjoephelps.net

“Kelly Joe Phelps plays, sings, and writes the blues. Hold up before you lock that in - forget about songs in a twelve bar three chord progression with a two line repeat and answer rhyme structure - though he can certainly do that when he wants to. I'm talking about a feeling, a smoky, lonesome, painful - yet somehow comforting groove that lets you know that you are not alone - even when you're blue. Play on brother.” 
Steve Earle

“Kelly Joe Phelps knows how to create that elusive quality best described as ‘magic’.” - Blues Review

“If you have ever seen blues-folk troubadour Kelly Joe Phelps play live, you will know how mesmerising his guitar playing can be. Those mercurial fingers conjure the mystifying illusion of two or three sidemen.” - The Sunday Times, UK

Location

Rippon Vineyard