Pete Thomas

Born in Reading and a graduate of the Newcastle College of Performing Arts the first instrument that Pete learned to play was the guitar. However in his early teens he discovered the bass guitar and subsequently the double bass and these have become his favoured instruments for live performance and recording.

At the Derby Folk Festival - image by permission © Mark Steele 

His professional career started when he was still at school and has enjoyed over decade of professional performance with many bands covering many genres: English and Irish folk music, jazz, particularly gypsy jazz, bluegrass, R&B and rock.

He is an old hand at performing at festivals whether folk, gypsy jazz or R&B and 2023 included The Cambridge and Warwick Folk festivals, The Edinburgh Fringe and the Bethune Retro Festival in France, the Costa del Folk Festival in Portugal and the Behind the Bricks Festival at Battersea.

PM Warson’s R&B band didn't tour much during 2023 although they did perform at big venues in France and the 100 club in London. They focussed during the year on creating their new album which is due for release early this year. The first two albums remain popular. Phil and Pete joined the Blue Jays again in October last year at the Behind the Bricks festival at the Battersea Power Station. The festival lasted a week and they performed three sets on the opening day (22nd) and the closing day (29th). A great rocking performance of late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s Rock & Roll music to a truly enthusiastic audience.

Gypsy jazz is as buoyant as ever with much demand for private functions such as graduation ceremonies, functions at banks, fashion houses and so on. However, the London Django Collective can be seen regularly in London at the Bellanger and Crazy Coqs and they are yet again to perform at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in February. Outside of London the LDC can be seen at the Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds in January. The Harry Diplock Trio officially launched their album in October last year to a sellout audience at the GreenNote music venue in Camden, North London. The band comprised Harry, Pete, and Remi Oswald (well known in Paris for his exceptional rhythm guitar playing) and supported by guests Giacomo Smith (clarinet) and Matt Holborn (violin). The term virtuosity can sometimes be overstated but not in this case, the musicianship being truly exceptional. The album can be purchased either by streaming or CD. (See Discography)

Benji Kirkpatrick and the Excess had a great time at the Warwick Folk Festival last July and the Costa del Folk Festival in Portugal in October. Benji has just released his latest album In Phase at the end of last year on which Pete performs on most tracks. It has already picked up a favourable review and can also be purchased by streaming or CD. (See Discography)

From the AmericanaFest in January to the Cambridge folk Festival in the summer, The Vanguards had a good 2023 performing at various venues and festivals. They are now an established part of the Bluegrass scene and are anticipating a similar full programme for 2024.

See the Discography page on this website for details and links for all the music mentioned above.

Click for pics/clips of Jazz, Folk and Blues/Rock

See also Pete Thomas's Instagram page and YouTube account.