31st July (Support: Naomi Mather) 

 Gary Fletcher BandNaomi Mather

All Tickets £10

“Gary Fletcher in the studio with us  … and I played that track (‘Payback’ from the new album 'Human Spirit) a few weeks ago now, Gary, & the the reaction I got to it was just absolutely fantastic.  I really was amazed, you know, by how many emails I got and how enthusiastic everybody was about that track.” Bob Harris, Radio 2.

On acoustic guitar and vocal - Gary Fletcher 

Along with Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Dave Kelly and Hughie Flint (replaced by Rob Townsend in 1981) Gary was one of the original founding members of The Blues Band in 1979. The band continues to tour and release new material. A significant contributor of material to The Blues Band’s catalogue – the band’s anthemic ‘Greenstuff’ is one of his songs - he started to work as a solo singer/songwriter around 2003 releasing ‘The Official Gary Fletcher Bootleg’ CD on the Hypertension label in 2004.This was a collection of the demos of songs he’d pitched to The Blues Band over the years. Gary’s 2007 release - the ‘Human Spirit’ CD on the BGO label – features all new recordings produced by Bill Gautier with a stellar line-up of musicians such as Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody, Rob, Paul and Dave from The Blues Band, Steve Simpson, Mark Feltham and Dennis Greaves. 

On drums – Pick Withers 

Pick was a founder member of Dire Straits and appears on the band’s first four albums (‘Dire Straits; Communique; Making Movies & Love Over Gold). He thus provides the magical rhythmic basis for classics like ‘Sultans of Swing’, ‘Telegraph Road’, ‘Private Investigations’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and countless others. He’s been a pro musician since the mid sixties when at only 17 years old he went with The Primitives to Italy and enjoyed great chart and live success. He worked as the house drummer at the legendary Rockfield Studio in Wales for a number of years and has played on countless records by numerous significant artists including Dave Edmunds, Magna Carta, Robert Plant and, perhaps most celebratedly, is featured on the classic album ‘Slow Train Coming’ by Bob Dylan. 

On lead guitar – Steve Ling 

Steve started playing guitar when he was ten and quickly got serious about it. Having gained A grade passes in music at both GCSE and A level he went on to study at The Guitar Institute for 3 years gaining an honours degree in Popular Music Performance. Paying his dues and his way through college he worked in a Frank Sinatra tribute act for 4 years, played onstage with Shaun Baxter, Paul Elliott, Terry Gregory and Hamish Stuart. Recently he has been working with emerging Icelandic singing star Hafdis Huld touring the UK, France, Spain, Sweden and Iceland, fantasy-pop-rock sextet Elyzian and progressive nu-metallers Aphid.

On bass guitar – Jack Fletcher 

Jack started playing drums when he was seven and has since gone on to play guitar and bass. He joined local rock band Aphid on drums at age thirteen, which over the years has endured various personnel changes but is still one of South West London's best-known and respected nu-metal bands. Regrettably, in September 2001, just as Aphid were gaining serious industry interest, Jack suffered a near fatal accident that hospitalised him for almost a year and restricted the band's progress. Jack then studied for 3 years at the University of Westminster and gained a degree in commercial music whilst Aphid re-grouped, recruiting Steve Ling on guitar. Jack played bass on his Dad’s ‘Human Spirit’ album and gigs with Gary when they occasionally work as a duo in which context he plays lead and slide guitar.

The band's sound is built around Gary's songs and acoustic guitar playing though, whilst not a loud band they can rock too!  The set is predominantly originals but often included are covers of tunes from the likes of Willie Dixon, Eric Bibb, Blind Willie Johnson and, of course, The Blues Band.  There's an obvious blues tinge to the GF Band's sound but it's not a straight homage to Chicago, nor is it a power trio type blues band.  It's very 'musical' in a melodically and lyrically intelligent kind of way that gives some superb players a great landscape to perform on.

FOR TICKETS (£10) PLEASE PHONE 01535 600310 or 07522 326855 or EMAIL This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

From 29th June tickets may also be bought in person from Keighley Cougars RLFC Reception (10am-4pm) and G. E. Thornton & Sons on Main Street, Cross Hills during normal shop opening hours (closed lunchtimes between 12 noon & 2pm).