Blue Rose Code

Blue Rose Code play Artisan Tap on Monday 16 November, with the set starting at 8:00 PM. The band is fronted by Ross Wilson, an Edinburgh-born singer-songwriter who describes his work as Caledonian soul — a mix of Scottish folk and jazz that's toured the length and breadth of the UK.

Wilson's first album, The Ballads of Peckham Rye, was nominated for Scottish Album Of The Year in 2014 and brought in a heavy-hitting list of collaborators: Danny Thompson, Karine Polwart, John Wetton, Aidan O'Rourke, and Kathryn Williams. The follow-up, ...And Lo! The Bird Is On The Wing, saw him back with Danny Thompson and adding The McCrary Sisters, and it earned praise from Ewan McGregor. Between the two, there's a good deal of ground to cover, and the live set draws on that folk, jazz, and soul blend.

Beyond the records, the band works regularly for the BBC, STV, Alba, TG4, and Virgin Radio, and has played festivals like Celtic Connections, the Edinburgh Fringe, Looe, Summer Isles, Lindisfarne, and Southern Fried. Critics have described his shows as having an almost religious intensity, calling them a "burnished blaze of Caledonian Soul, muted jazz and poetic recitation."

It's a Monday night, so it's one of those mid-week gigs that works well if you're around the area. Artisan Tap is at 552 Hartshill Rd, Stoke-on-Trent, and the music kicks off at 8:00 PM.