What’s On

John Gregory will be performing a ‘homecoming’ concert at the Atholl Room at the Centenary Centre, Peel, on Friday, December 13.

This is his first full-length performance in the island after his recent mini-UK tour.

John’s had a bumper year of playing – by Christmas he’s on track to complete more than 130 performances. Early this year he was featured in Blues Matters magazine and he’s also had the honour of sharing the stage with some of his musical heroes.

As a thank you to everyone who has supported him throughout the year John has decided to make this show totally free (though donations will be welcome for the hire of the venue).

You can expect an evening of fancy fingerpicking guitar, stories of the blues greats and singalongs.

The concert will start at 7.30pm prompt and there will be an interval in the middle so people can grab a pint across the road and there’ll be plenty of time to head back to the pub afterwards as he’ll be finished at 9.30pm. (Please note there will be no bar/refreshments available at the centre on the night).

“A very fine acoustic picker” – Blues Matters magazine

“John is an outstanding musician of early blues and ragtime styles”

– Mississippi John Hurt’s biographer Dr Phil Ratcliffe, author of Mississippi John Hurt: His Life, His Times, His Blues

Jazz Sabbath is an English jazz trio, with a fictional backstory that they are from the late sixties. The band was created by Adam Wakeman, touring keyboard and guitar player for Black Sabbath (2004–2017) and Ozzy Osbourne band member (2004–present). Jazz Sabbath plays jazz renditions of Black Sabbath songs, claiming to be the original writers of those songs and accusing Black Sabbath of plagiarism.^[2]

The band first appeared in a mockumentary on YouTube in February 2020. In this short film band leader Milton Keanes (Adam Wakeman) was interviewed by actor Robert Powell about the early days of Jazz Sabbath, their cancelled debut album and the alleged theft of their songs by Black Sabbath. This album was later released as an actual album on 10 April 2020.^[3]

We are delighted to announce we have the Martin Harley Band coming to the Peel Centenary Centre Friday March 21st! If you went to the Big Wheel Blues Festival you will remember them headlining! It has been a while since we had a Blues artist at the Centre and who better than Martin Harley! Also, we have had generous funding from the Dept of Enterprise “Winter Event Fund”and are able to offer a 50% discount on the Ticket Price to just £10!!!! Come and celebrate the end of Winter with a night of great music! Tickets available now from www.etickets.im/cc

“Sunday 6 April 25 @ 7:30PM (door open 7:00PM)

The Jesse Janes come to the Isle of Man

Americana quartet the Jesse Janes are bringing their previously sold out live show celebrating the soundtrack from the 2000 movie ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou? and other iconic Bluegrass and Blues classics to the Isle of Man for the first time.

Expect to hear classic tunes made famous by the likes of Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, EmmyLou Harris, Alison Kraus, Elvis, The Stanley Brothers, Roy Orbison, Jimmy Rodgers and Gillian Welch to name a few.

The Jesse Janes are an Americana quartet made up of Irish sisters Kate and Mary Rose plus Liverpool lads Tom and Ben. They have been enchanting audiences in Ireland and the North West of England for over 10 years with their unique and joyful interpretations of Americana classics, alongside some of their own original songs.

Opening for the Jesse Janes will be well-known Isle of Man country blues guitarist John Gregory, AKA Blue John.

John specialises in fingerpicking blues from the 1920s onwards, naming Mississippi John Hurt and Big Bill Broonzy as two of his biggest inspirations.

John has toured the British Isles, opening for top US acoustic blues musicians Ari Eisinger, Toby Walker and the Erin Harpe Country Blues Duo and did several headline dates of his own in the UK in 2024.

He has also played at events at The Bitter End in New York and in Austin, Texas as well as travelling to Chicago to play Big Bill Broonzy’s guitar in 2018.

Tickets are priced at £10 & are available from https://www.etickets.im/bjm/

The Houghton Weavers
Pictures by Paul Currie
07796 146931
www.paulcurrie.co.uk

THE HOUGHTON WEAVERS, The Northwest’s Premiere Comedy / Folk Group, Stars of Radio and Television, have been entertaining folk for a whopping 50 years!, with their unique blend of popular folk music, humour and audience participation.

Having recently performed as a headline Act at The Great British Folk Festival, their single “Wild Mountain Thyme” appeared in the Heritage Charts Top 40 and is due to appear in an upcoming film, ‘Between Weathers’.  The band has recorded over 30 albums, 23 of which were arranged and produced by Steve Millington.

THE HOUGHTON WEAVERS promise plenty of laughter with their infectious humour and funny stories galore. You’ll hear the old Weavers favourites such as Blackpool Belle, Sit Thi Deawn, Matchstalk Men and Dirty Old Town, together with new songs penned by the lads, original poems and of course some audience requests thrown in to make every show a little different!

Jim Berry and Steve Millington, featuring Simon Brady on guitar and mandolin, is an exciting combination on stage which will certainly have you singing along to this

feel-good show! 

THE HOUGHTON WEAVERS guarantee a wonderful evening of entertainment and their experience – together with their style and professionalism – ensures that, as their motto says, they always `Keep Folk Smiling!’

www.houghtonweavers.com

www.facebook.com/houghtonweavers

Tickets £20.

Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7.30pm