Paul Jones & Dave Kelly

Paul Jones and Dave Kelly play the Liverpool Philharmonic on Friday 19 February 2027, in the Music Room. It's an acoustic blues set from two founder members of The Blues Band, and the setlist will draw from their own original material alongside the work of the greats they've spent their careers following.

That list of greats includes Howling Wolf, John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson — artists they actually played alongside. It's not just a tribute to the tradition, then; it's a set played by people who've shared a stage with the names they're covering. The acoustic format keeps things stripped back, with the focus on the singing and the playing rather than a full band around them.

Paul Jones has fronted his BBC Radio 2 R&B show for more than a quarter of a century, and he's as much a harmonica maestro as he is a singer. Dave Kelly is described as Europe's leading bluesman, having played with legends like James Burton and Buddy Guy, and is known for his blues vocals combined with guitar virtuosity. Together they've been part of The Blues Band since its start, and their roots in the tradition run deep.

The gig is in the Music Room at the Philharmonic, which is a good fit for an acoustic set like this. It starts at 20:00 on Friday 19 February, so it's a proper Friday night out in the city.