Music : R&B, Soul, Rock and Acoustic
**ROACHFORD - LIVE @ The Brook - Monday 27th March - Doors: 20:00**
Ever since bulldozing his way onto the scene with unforgettable tracks like 'Cuddly Toy' and 'Family Man' in the late 80's,
Andrew Roachford's maverick take on music has spread far and wide.
As the first artist to sign a staggering seven-album deal with Columbia Records, it heralded the beginning of something big.
"Getting signed and being a black British artist gave me a sense of pride," enthuses Andrew.
Like any artist worth their salt, Andrew Roachford's music is the result of many things.
Raised in south London to West Indian parents, as a child of the 70's and 80's, it's no wonder that his music sounds the way it does.
Influenced by everyone from Curtis Mayfield and Al Green to The Roots, D'Angelo and Jill Scott, Andrew's formative years were also spent listening to Radio One, reggae and jazz. Born into a musical dynasty, his uncle Bill Roachford was a virtuoso saxophonist whose claims to fame includes teaching Ronnie Scott and Femi Kuti how to play Sax. The musical ball really started to roll however, when Andrew hit the road with his uncle. Playing gigs on the jazz circuit in those days, gave him a good grounding for things to come. "I got lucky enough to start gigging when I was about 14. I was in the middle of that whole jazz scene which was an interesting education. It taught me musically, how to listen and how to entertain. My uncle always told me that you had to give people a show."
Andrew's albums: 'Roachford' 1988, 'Get Ready' 1991, 'Permanent Shade of Blue' 1995 and 'Feel' 1997 have all reached gold status in Britain.
He was also Columbia's biggest selling domestic act for over 10 years.
As if any more proof were needed, the fact that Andrew Roachford has been approached by such luminaries as Michael Jackson and Chaka Khan to write songs, speaks volumes.
Now on his first UK Tour since touring Europe and Australia and in support of his latest album 'Word of Mouth' Andrew Roachford and his Band will be performing at
The Brook on Monday 27th March 2006
**Supported by MAMA'S GUN**
BBC Radio 1 Quote:
'PULL UP A CHAIR, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND RELAX TO THE SMOOTH JAZZ SOUL SOUNDS OF Mama's Gun. LED BY UBER COOL VOCALIST ANDY PLATTS. Mama's Gun SOUND FAB ON RECORD…AND HERE'S BETTING THEY GO DOWN A HOOT LIVE TOO!' .......(One Music Website, Lamaq)
Groove based, neo soul, funk, jazz whatever you care to call the musical coolness that exudes from the veins of this band. Mama's Gun are a unique, exciting and essential new act emerging from the UK music scene.
Quite unlike anything else currently available out there, it is no surprise that since the day Mama's Gun stepped on stage, people have begun to talk and hunt them down.
Tickets £14.50
Available from The Brook boxoffice on 02380 555366 and Online @ We Got Tickets