Legends of Blues and R&B play the O2 October 28 – 31st
I was fairly sure I saw Little Steven on a street near the Barbican a few days ago. I was in a lunchtime hurry when about 20 feet from me walked a well-dressed couple – the woman a younger brunette with the air of a publicist, and the gentleman, as the Kinks might say, a dedicated follower of fashion, if those togs came from the Samuel Jackson collection. The man wore a backwards Kangol cap, a burgundy jacket, and I think his pants had a pattern and was he wearing an ascot? With those large Hollywood sunglasses on I couldn’t quite tell, but, that couldn’t be Steve Van Zandt, could it? What would he be doing in London?
A quick check of upcoming gigs showed he was due in the UK the following week for his first London show for over 25 years at BluesFest (this weekend at the O2 complex in north Greenwich) . Also, coincidentally, his buddy Bruce was in town that day, signing copies of his new book, and I did notice the street in question featured a few nice Italian restaurants… so call me Columbo, but for the sake of a celebrity sighting, I’m going with: I saw Little Steven.
Steve Van Zandt European Tour Dates? Just the One.
was that Little Steven – we may never know…
Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul was the final act confirmed for the fantastic lineup of this year’s BluesFest, which is being underwritten by American Express and kicks off tomorrow at the three music venues inside the massive O2 complex. Your only chance to catch LS & the DOS in Europe this year will be Saturday night at the Indigo, the nicely arranged 3,000-seat sister venue to both the O2 Arena, which holds almost 20,000, and, housed under the same giant white former Millennium Dome, the Brooklyn Bowl, which offers a more authentically American experience (not really) with smaller live acts, American food and hipster bowling.
This weekend all three venues are going to be packed with some big names and some blues/R&B up-and-comers: Jeff Beck, Van Morrison, Bad Company, Richie Sambora, Mary J Blige, Maxwell, Jo Harman and more. Friday night, British guitar VIPs Robert Plant and Mark Knopfler are heading to Greenwich for a special birthday party jam in honour of Bill Wyman. The Rolling Stone has just turned 80, but in the world of blues, that makes him barely middle aged.
BluesFest 2016 lineup:
Friday October 28th
The O2 Arena:
DOUBLE BILL: Mary J. Blige & Maxwell
Indigo2 at The O2:
Bill Wyman Birthday Gala Featuring Robert Plant, Mark Knopfler, Imelda May and Mick Hucknall
Brooklyn Bowl:
Darrel Higham, JD & The Straight Shot, Big Boy Bloater
Saturday October 29th
The O2 Arena:
Bad Company & Richie Sambora
Indigo2 at The O2:
Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul
Brooklyn Bowl:
Jo Harman, Lauren Housley, Hollie Stevenson
Jeff Beck headlines with Van Morrison Sunday night
Sunday October 30th
The O2 Arena
DOUBLE BILL: Van Morrison & Jeff Beck
Indigo2 At The O2:
DOUBLE BILL: Walter Trout and The Temperance Movement
For more information check the official site.
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A former ABC National, Dallas and Atlanta radio personality, Martina O'Boyle is now making movies and covering culture in London, Dublin, and as far in Europe as the cheapie flights will take her, for Pop Culture Beast.