Geraint Watkins And The Mosquitos, Niall Kelly Band
Tuesday, July 10, 19:30adv £17.50
Geraint Watkins is an acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician, who is also well known through those who choose him to work with.
His solo albums ‘Bold As Love’, ‘Dial ‘W’ for Watkins’, ‘In A Bad Mood’ and ‘Moustique’ all received a very warm reception and Geraint was rewarded with numerous BBC radio sessions and a spot on the ‘Later… with Jools Holland’ TV show.
Jools Holland was quoted in Mojo: ‘One of the great underrated songwriters. He mashes up elements of Cajun, country, blues, soul and British pop and it’s about love, death and grown-up issues, sounding like it is sung by someone who has lived a life.’ Bob Dylan is another of the many who have praised him, with a number of plays on his ‘Theme Time Radio Hour’.
Geraint was born in South Wales in the 1950’s. After an art-school education he moved to London. Early records with a couple of bands attracted attention and soon he was heard on chart hits backing Shakin Stevens and Dave Edmunds.
Other top artists have made plain their admiration – he’s much in demand as a hired hand, playing and recording with Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, Nick Lowe, Bill Wyman, Status Quo and many more.
But it’s with his band the Mosquitos where he can be best heard. Graeme Thompson in The Word described him as: ‘Warm, witty and heartfelt, dispensing alternately rueful and wry nuggets of wisdom from the badlands of middle age.’ And Gavin Martin in Uncut said his music is: ‘A suave refinement of deep-seated influences… matching a spare sophisticated style with a connoisseur’s touch. Astringent, observational songs seal the deal.’
A series of album reissues are planned to start in 2018.
8.15pm Niall Kelly Band
9.15pm Geraint Watkins & The Mosquitos (two sets)
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