News
February 2024
UPDATE: Unfortunately I have snapped a tendon and will be unable to play for the next few months. This will almost certainly affect the Ryde Festival.
The first festival of the year is the Ryde Gypsy Jazz Festival taking place on the Isle of Wight. See the Upcoming Gigs page for more details.
The festival features both the Harry Diplock Trio and the London Django Collective, check out the Discography page for links to/reviews of the music of each, or listen to them in play on the Jazz page first.
January 2024
The year begins with a selection of gypsy jazz gigs including the one above at the Crazy Coqs live music venue on Django Reinhardt's birthday. See the Upcoming Gigs page for more details.
To listen to more gypsy jazz, check out the first enthusiastic reviews of The Harry Diplock Trio's debut album on the Discography page and then consider streaming or buying.
November 2023
The Harry Diplock Trio's debut album is now available to stream or buy following its launch last month at Green Note.
Check out the Jazz page to listen to extracts from the album launch. Links to stream/buy the album as well as reviews can be found on the Discography page.
October 2023
Pete will be performing top quality '50s music with The Blue Jays as part of the Behind the Bricks festival at Battersea Power Station late the month.
Benji Kirkpatrick has released a new album In Phase.
Go to the Upcoming Gigs page to book tickets for the festival, or the Discography page to buy or stream Benji's album, as well as reviews.
September 2023
The London Django Collective will be performing as part of Soho Jazz Week early in the month. Also The Vanguards have been interviewed in Bluegrass Today.
October will see the launch of the Harry Diplock Trio's debut album at Green Note. The single Rose Room from the album has been released this month.
Go to the Upcoming Gigs page to book tickets for either event, or check out the Jazz page afterwards to listen to the LDC/Harry D in play. The Discography page features releases by the LDC and the Harry Diplock Trio's Rose Room, and will link to the latter's album when available. The link for the Bluegrass Today interview is on the Folk page.
August 2023
Matt Holborn and other gypsy jazz musicians will be performing at the Edinburgh fringe for four days this month starting on the 19th. PM Warson will be performing as part of France's Bethune Retro festival on 26th
Go to the Upcoming Gigs page to book tickets, or check out the Jazz and Blues pages afterwards for clips. See the Discography page to find their latest music, including the LDC's EP Fiver, released this summer.
June 2023
The London Django Collective has released a new EP, Fiver.
See the Discography page to find links to buy it, the Jazz page to hear some samples or the Upcoming Gigs page to find out where you can hear them perform the tracks live.
May 2023
Festival season is almost upon us. Check out the Upcoming Gigs page for details.
Early confirmations include: The Vanguards are playing at the Black Deer Festival of Americana (Kent), Crossover Festival (Nottingham) and Cambridge Folk Festival. Benji Kirkpatrick and the Excess will be playing at the Warwick Folk Festival and Matt Holborn (London Django Collective) will be a part of the Edinburgh Fringe.
March 2023
PM Warson features in this month's edition of the French magazine Illico! marking the band's gig for Le Bang Club in Saint-Quentin.
See the article on the Rhythm and Blues page or check out this and other gigs on the Upcoming Gigs page
February 2023
Guitarist magazine is featuring an article on the legacy of Django Reinhardt this month – including a contribution from Harry Diplock. Harry, Pete and Remi Oswald will be recording an album soon.
Meanwhile, Bandcamp are reviving their Bandcamp Fridays promotion for 2023.
For the first Friday of every month starting on February 3rd, (then March 3rd, April 7th...) they will waive their revenue share to support musicians on all sales, including The Craig Charles Trunk of Funk Volume 2, featuring PM Warson, as well as other music by PM Warson, The Vanguards, Benji Kirkpatrick and the Excess, the London Django Collective, Silvervoid...
See the Discography page to find links to buy all this music, plus a variety of helpful reviews. Visit the Blues page to hear PM Warson's featured track (Don't) Hold Me Down, or see the Jazz page both for a bit more on the Django Reinhardt feature or to see Harry, Pete and Remi in play.
January 2023
The Harry Diplock Trio are set to be joined by the French Gypsy Jazz virtuoso Remi Oswald for their gig in Green Note – one of several gigs in London for lovers of Django Reinhardt's style this month
Meanwhile, PM Warson has been featured in the Alias section of the Italian newspaper il manifesto.
See the Upcoming Gigs page for links to the gigs, visit the Jazz page for clips featuring Harry Diplock and other members of the London Django Collective or the Discography page to find links to buy their music. A link to the full PM Warson interview is on the Rhythm & Blues page
November 2022
Benji Kirkpatrick and the Excess have some new gig dates in the West Country with their new drummer Joelle Barker
See the Upcoming Gigs page to book for links to the gigs, or visit the Discography page for reviews and links to buy the album Gold has Worn Away
October 2022
PM Warson and band have released Every Day (Every Night) as a new single before going on a tour which goes all round Italy (but starts at the Ramblin Roots Festival in Utrecht)
Meanwhile The Vanguards have been featured in The Bluegrass Standard soon after releasing their album South of the River
See the Upcoming Gigs page to book for PM Warson's Italian gigs, or visit the Discography page for links to buy the latest singles/albums or for reviews. The article on The Vanguards is linked from the Folk page.
September 2022
PM Warson and band are going on a tour of Spain this month and will be playing tracks from their latest album Dig Deep Repeat. The tour coincides with an excellent article featuring him in the October edition of Guitarist Magazine.
See the Upcoming Gigs page to book tickets for the gigs, or the Rhythm & Blues page to see and hear clips of the band in action (plus a look inside the magazine). Visit the Discography page for links to buy the album or for reviews.
August 2022
The Vanguards are releasing their second album South of the River at the end of this month, coinciding with their performance at the The Long Road Festival, Lutterworth
Visit the Discography page for links to buy the album. See the Upcoming Gigs page to book for the festival, or the Folk page to see and hear clips of the band in action.
July 2022
The line-up of Benji Kirkpatrick & the Excess is changing as Pete Flood is moving on to pastures new. The Purbeck Valley Folk Festival in August will be the last turn for the original trio, with Joëlle Barker joining thereafter.
See the Upcoming Gigs page to book for the festival and later gigs, or the Folk page to see and hear clips of the band in action.
Visit the Discography page for links to buy/stream the band's celebrated album Gold Has Worn Away or to read reviews.
May 2022
PM Warson's second album Dig Deep Repeat has been released at the start of a tour of the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden.
Check out the Discography page for links to buy/stream the album or to read a ★★★★ review.
See the Upcoming Gigs page to find out where he's playing, or the Rhythm & Blues page to see and hear clips from his latest tour.
March 2022
PM Warson will be touring The Netherlands in May to introduce his new album. See the Upcoming Gigs page for full listings, the Rhythm & Blues page to hear him perform or the Discography page to buy/stream his music.
October 2021
The London Django Collective will be playing at Ronnie Scott's in November. See the Upcoming Gigs page for info, the Jazz page to hear the band perform or the Discography page to buy or stream their music.
July 2021
PM Warson’s album True Story was launched in May. You can hear songs from the new album July 10th if you're in the London area. See the Discography or the Upcoming Gigs pages for more info (including a ★★★★ review). You can find a clip on the Blues page following the gig.
May 2021
Finally! With opening up taking place this summer, some gigs and festivals are swimming into view. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Gigs page for more info.
September 2020
On Friday 18th September, Benji Kirkpatrick performed his interpretations of Jimi Hendrix's songs to mark the 50th anniversary of the legend's death. His album was a solo effort, but this time he will be accompanied by Pete Thomas. See the Folk Page for his full show.
August 2020
Benji Kirkpatrick and the Excess have managed to record a second song Hiring Fair from home. Listen to it on the Folk page.
The band will be playing at the Shrewsbury Folk Festival, which this year is a virtual festival to be viewed online (see Upcoming Gigs for the link).
Or you can see reviews of, and links to, their much celebrated album Gold Has Worn Away on the Discography page..
The London Django Collective have also had their first live gig since lockdown (for charity). See the Jazz page for the video. Links to buy their tracks are also on the Discography page.
July 2020
Benji Kirkpatrick and the Excess have managed to record a new song Barefaced Lies despite lockdown. Listen to it on the Folk page or see the Discography page for reviews of, and links to, their much celebrated album Gold Has Worn Away.
June 2020
A little performance from lockdown: a personal take on the Irish folk song Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór – see the Folk page.
March 2020
Covid-19 has beaten
us all
but only in the short term!
Watch this space to see when my gig list starts up again, hopefully not too far in the future.
In the meantime the London Django Collective have released their fifth volume of music (Jeremie Coullon) and Benji Kirkpatrick and the Excess' Gold Has Worn Away has had another fine review. See the Discography page for details of both – good music to help while away self-isolation!
Bandcamp is currently waiving its fees, so for music bought that way more money goes to the musicians.
Unique, unmissable performances in March include Living Here? by Ayenai, set to gypsy jazz, and the long awaited return of The Album Project, bringing the music of a classic Rock year: 1973.
February 2020
Benji Kirkpatrick and The Excess are going on tour with their latest, widely praised, album Gold Has Worn Away. See the Upcoming Gigs page for listings and the Discography page for details of the reviews.
Also tune into BBC Radio 6's Tom Robinson Show on the evening of the 22nd to hear them perform. A version of the recording will appear on the Folk media page after it has aired.
Upcoming Gigs, Discography, Media (Folk)
January 2020
Pete Thomas is playing in the house band for the UK Americana Awards at the end of the month. See the Upcoming Gigs page.
The London Django Collective is releasing their fourth volume of music this month. See the Discography page for details & links.
December 2019
Gold has Worn Away by Benji Kirkpatrick & the Excess has received a cascade of glowing reviews!
See the Discography page for details and links, and check back for details of their upcoming tour.
November 2019
It's your last chance to see the Worry Dolls in 2019 as they conclude their tour at The Lexington on Friday November 8th
and launch their EP River
October 2019
The Bellville Hot Club are playing on Friday October 25th and twice on Saturday October 26th at the Metropole Festival Club as part of the Cork Jazz Festival
September 2019
The London Django Collective is releasing a series of musical volumes starting October 14th.
See the Discography page for updates and listen to the sample track Tiger Rag on the Jazz page.
August 2019
Benji Kirkpatrick and The Excess are touring in September ahead of the launch of their new album Gold Has Worn Away.
Hear them in play on the Folk page and find dates and links on the upcoming gigs page.
Links to buy Gold Has Worn Away are on the Discography page.
Upcoming Gigs, Discography, Media - Folk
June 2019
Lovers of Django Reinhardt living North of the border are in for a treat as Latchepen set off on their 'mostly Scottish tour' in August. See the upcoming gigs page for details.
Classic Rock magazine is featuring Revive It - title track of Silvervoid's latest EP – as one of the best tracks by a new band!
Check the Discography page for links to Silvervoid's EPs.
April 2019
Bluegrass will be visiting the Emerald Isle when the Vanguards tour Ireland in May. Hear them in play on the Folk page and see the upcoming gigs page for dates and links.
Gypsy jazz is sounding from Paris to London to Edinburgh as the Gonzalo Bergara Quintet tours this July.
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