CONONLEY is the latest village to get a regular Blues and Roots night thanks to Ben Blue Waters.

The Keighley singer-songwriter will launch what he hopes will become a regular event at the village’s Railway pub on Saturday, January 28 at 8pm.

He said: “If it all goes well we will continue on a bi-monthly basis, on the last Saturday of the month.

"The Railway is a friendly, intimate pub, and music fans can be assured of a warm welcome. We have three talented and popular solo acts lined up, all of whom have played for me before at my other nights.”

The headliner is Gerry Cooper, originally from Newcastle but a West Yorkshire resident for many years and playing many kinds of music with many different people.

Ben said: “Gerry has worked in ceilidh bands, Irish rock groups, pit bands for musicals and church groups.

“However, his first love has always been solo acoustic blues: listening to the pre-war recordings of the old blues players was a major influence in his youth and has become increasingly important as the years have rolled on.

“Gerry now performs at clubs, festivals and pubs: anywhere that will have him or where he can sneak in unnoticed!

“Gerry plays six and 12-string acoustic guitars, a Michael Messer ‘Lightning’ resophonic guitar, mandolin, ukulele, harmonica and bass. He has even been known to pick five-string banjo, but not in the presence of ladies.”

Gerry sites his main influences as Blind Blake, Rev. Gary Davis, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Blind Boy Fuller, Robert Johnson, Sleepy John Estes, and the Memphis Jug Band.

Many modern players have influenced him too, especially Roger Sutcliffe, Steve Phillips, Stefan Grossman, Michael Messer, and Paul Rishell & Annie Raines.

MaAlso playing in colony will be Martin Plock, known as the Scottish Cowboy, playing original material influenced by the darker side of blues and country music.

Ben said: “His deep voice and brooding lyrics create an atmosphere tinged with a hint of menace, alleviated by his dry humour.

“Joe Kemp mixes folk, jazz and soul to produce intricate and refreshingly different Blue-eyed Soul, performed in a powerful and exciting way.

“Taking influence from nature, books and the world around him Joe offers a refreshingly different style of original music.”