UNTIL 2002, Oli Brown had never picked up a guitar – now the 19-year-old blues star is coming to Worthing with his first solo tour.
By 2006, after just four years of playing the guitar, Oli Brown had toured America twice as the opening act for blues royalty such as Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor and Taj Mahal.
He had also shared UK stages with Walter Trout, Paul Jones, Buddy Whitting
ton and even the godfather of British blues, John Mayall.
Connections with other great artistes such as Johnny Winter, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robben Ford, Walter Trout and Devon Allman have reaffirmed the belief, that for many, Oli is the most promising blues artiste Britain has produced in a long time.
Not only a guitar prodigy but also a singer, songwriter and consummate performer, Oli Brown formed his band in 2007 after meeting drummer Simon Dring and bass player Fred Hollis at jam sessions.
By March that year they were playing their first solo gigs.
Since their formation, the band have received rave reviews after performing live for Paul Jones on BBC Radio 2, performed as guest artistes with the American blues band, Blinddog Smokin' and were the only UK blues act to be selected to perform at the 24th International Blues Convention in Memphis, Tennessee.
Last year, the Oli Brown Band were signed by major blues label, Ruf Records, and made their first official album Open Road.
The album will form part of the Oli Brown Band's concert at Worthing Assembly Hall as well as plenty of the original and cover material that has made them so successful at live gigs across the globe.
The Oli Brown Band, with cabaret seating and real ale, will be at Worthing's Assembly Hall, in Stoke Abbott Road, tomorrow night (Friday, October 16) at 8pm.
For tickets, priced £12, call 01903 206206.
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