“ I’m not ashamed – ain’t that news ? I’ve been living with the blues “

These are the words of the late giant of the blues Brownie McGhee and are echoed by acoustic blues travellers Ken Mayall and Jim Bruce.

Singer and harmonica player Ken is a veteran of the British scene, having performed in major festivals alongside stars of the blues such as Paul ... Lamb, Stan Webb, Les Wilson, The Hamsters, the Hoax and a host of others.

He has also been nominated for the title of blues harmonicist of the year by the “British Blues Connection” and with his group the Walter Harpman Band, has played on the Paul Jones show on the B.B.C.

For Ken to play acoustic blues sees a return to his musical roots as his first influence were recordings of brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry.


The influences of his fellow traveller are more widespread, taking in the ragtime guitar style of Blind Blake, the dark music of Robert Johnson, and the lighter finger-picking styles of Lightnin’ Hopkins, Blind Boy Fuller and Brownie McGhee.

Jim is an excellent guitarist and singer, who lived and played around the Chicago area over a period of 7 years before arriving France. Over the past years he has played in UK (where he originates), Germany, Denmark and now France, where he now lives.

The music resulting from these two musicians takes us back to the very roots of modern blues music.