Lil' Ian playing Robert Johnson's Crossroads Blues at the National Jazz and Blues Festival, Tauranga, New Zealand
Lil' Ian playing Furry Lewis' Falling Down Blues at Rotorua Blues Festival, New Zealand
Born in the UK, but now living in New Zealand, I have been playing acoustic guitar for some years now and not always blues. I started off in a traditional English Folk band - Shire Reeve, Hartlepool - and some of my music is influenced by the Celtic nature of that. If you get to listen to my 'Out Of The Blue' CD, listen to Cypress Grove for instance. I play this in DADGAD - very Celtic feel. I was also influenced by some of the American Primitive Musicians such as Leo Kottke - who wasn't in the 70's? - and John Fahey. I guess I cut my teeth on these guys - but was always pulled back to the players that first motivated me to play - Josh White, Big Bill Broonzy and Gary Davis.
Along the way of course have been a myriad of players such as Ry Cooder, John Hammond, Stephan Grossman, Duck Baker and the wonderful John James. I hope what currently comes out is me though, despite these influences.
I have performed in the UK, New Zealand, Singapore, Turkey and Greece and have been featured on TV in both the UK and New Zealand along with several radio performances. I have appeared on the same bill as John James, Steve Tilston, Duck Baker, and have opened for Dave 'Honeyboy' Edwards, Stephan Grossman and Andrew White. I currently have two CD's on release that are receiving airplay around the globe.
Some reviews:
"An excellent guitarist in the old style" Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records, US
"Kiwi slide guitarist extraordinaire" Radio Hauraki, New Zealand
"The real deal" HotFM, Australia
"One of the best country blues guiatrists we've heard in years" Good Time Blues Review, Argentina
Lil' Ian playing Blind Blake's Police Dog Blues at the Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival, Paihia, New Zealand.
Lil' Ian playing Snooks Eaglin's Come Back Baby at the Bay Of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival, Paihia, New Zealand