THE WILLIE NILE BAND

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It is great to be able to promote one of my favourite rock 'n' roll bands in the 'venue that thinks it's a village hall'.

Willie grew up in Buffalo, New York, part of a bustling Irish Catholic family with what he calls "an open-door policy." For as far back as Willie can remember, his parents welcomed house guests from around the world for extended stays, and "the cosmopolitan nature of the world kind of rubbed off," he says. After studying philosophy at the University of Buffalo, he headed for Greenwich Village, determined to make a name for himself as a latter-day troubadour. That he did throughout the '70s, becoming a fixture in the Village folk and rock scenes and getting tabbed as the next big thing to come out of that long-thriving artistic community. Writing in The New York Times, the great rock critic Robert Palmer called him "one of the most gifted singer-songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in years."

Thirty years have passed since the release of Willie Nile's first album, accompanied by press notices comparing him to Dylan and Springsteen. He made his recording debut in 1980 with his acclaimed self-titled LP on Arista Records, following it a year later with 'Golden Down'. He also opened the Who's North American tour at the personal request of the band. In 1982, he signed to Geffen Records but got caught in record-biz limbo and didn't manage to release another record until 1991, when Columbia issued 'Places I Have Never Been'. With the EP 'Hard Times in America' in 1992, which became a cult favorite throughout Europe, Nile finally managed to jump off the major-label hamster wheel. Gathering together his resources over time, he managed to put out his first self-released album, 'Beautiful Wreck of the World', just before the end of the century.

Nile is a songwriters' songwriter. No less a personage than Lucinda Williams has said of him, "Willie Nile is a great artist. If there was any justice in this world, I'd be opening up for him instead of him for me." Lou Reed hailed the 2006 album 'Streets of New York' as "a great album," while Graham Parker calls it "a real gem-stirring melodies, passionate vocals, intriguing lyrics…every track a winner." Says Ian Hunter, "Willie's from the big-hearted downtown alleyways of NYC. Well done!" Little Steven adds, "Willie Nile is so good I can't believe he's not from New Jersey!"
www.willienile.com
www.myspace.com/willienile

Micky Kemp hails from Farnham but his spiritual home is the New Jersey shoreline, and his spiritual time is the early to mid-Seventies, when Southside Johnny, Little Steven and of course Bruce were all that mattered. His latest album, the critically acclaimed 'Blind Faith,' was recorded in New Jersey with Southside Johnny & The Asbury Dukes and produced by Bon Jovi guitarist, Bobby Bandera.

The May 2004 edition of Maverick magazine had this description of one of Micky's earliest gigs. "On February 9, 2004 a young Brit named Micky Kemp made his Borderline debut and gave a roomful of punters another story to tell in years to come. This blue-collar lad from Surrey, who grew up immersed in Johnny Cash and Elvis, tore through a ten-song opening set that had the audience on its feet and gasping for breath. From the opening power chords of 'Sweet Rock & Roll' to the thunderous ovation that followed 'Last Goodbye', Kemp's passion and energy carried the night."

www.myspace.com/mickykempband
£13.00
No reallocation
All ages

Not currently available