Live & Kicking: 17th February 2011
On Saturday the 11th September last year my dear friend and colleague Kevin Thorpe died suddenly within minutes of leaving the stage at the Newark Blues festival following an incredible set from his new project Tipping Point. Many people in the region will remember Kev for not only his fine work with Out of the Blue as well as his numerous solo projects but also for his work as part of EmmNet in developing the contemporary music network across the East Midlands.
Twice winner of the BBC Radio 2 – Blues Song of the Year, It is without any doubt that he had invested a lot of love care and attention to this new collection of songs and was extremely exited with the responses the material had received up until his untimely death. For lovers of his work alongside Eddie Tatton in Out of the Blue this was to have been an opportunity to see and hear Kev take his usually laid-back style and raise the ante a little more with a new, edgier and dynamic sound featured on the new album ‘Antedote’.
From the many musicians working on the project alongside him Kev put together a live band including his old rhythm section from Out of the Blue (Nigel Lobley and Paul Mallatratt) and newcomer Dominic Hollands. The group began recording their debut album in the spring of 2010 and sadly by September it was all but over. Family, the other members of the band and friends felt strongly that his new songs should still be heard regardless so the album was completed and is now on sale at www.tippingpointblues.co.uk and at the numerous live shows the guys have lined up! The date of this week’s concert was booked by Kevin way back in the summer of 2010 and he had always planned the event to be a highlight show for the new band. So for friends, fans and anyone interested in hearing some fine Rhythm ‘n Blues written but one of the UK’s top contemporary writers Friday night’s show at the Lincoln Drill Hall is not to be missed. The show starts at 8pm with support from Dale Storr and tickets (£10.00) are on sale from the Box office (01522 873894) at the door on the night or through www.lincolndrillhall.com.
If you won’t be able to get out to see Tipping Point on Saturday night a gentle entry to the weekend is available at the Tap & Spile this Friday night. Those fine exponents of all things that the Gypsy Jazz style of music can offer, Hotclub of Lincoln return to the bijou surroundings of the Tap and Spile. This fine little combo consisting of some great players, turn out some of the finest swing Jazz available in the area and always guarantee a great night out – especially in the most suitable of surroundings that are the Tap & Spile! Free entry and the music tunes up from around 8pm.
