Jools Holland And His Rhythm And Blues Orchestra

The undisputed King of boogie-woogie Jools Holland has announced his much-anticipated Autumn / Winter tour for 2011. Joined by his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, the music maestro will embark on a 33 date tour from Friday 28 October through to Thursday 22 December, impressing audiences old and new with the trademark party experience and stunning musical performances that a Jools Holland tour has become renowned for.

The legendary artist Shane MacGowan has been confirmed as Jools’ very special guest on the Autumn / Winter dates, creating a unique collaboration every night of the tour that is not to be missed. He follows in the footsteps of celebrated UK singers such as Lulu, Marc Almond, Dave Edmunds and Alison Moyet, who have all shared the stage with Jools Holland over the last few years.

Shane MacGowan, one of Ireland’s most illustrious musicians, with a fiercely distinctive appearance and vocal style, will be a huge treat to audiences across the UK on this tour. MacGowan formed The Pogues in 1982, and by 1988 the band were supporting U2 in America and had sold over a million copies of their album If I Should Fall From Grace With God, as well as reaching No. 2 in the UK single charts with the Christmas anthem ‘Fairytale Of New York’ (with the late, great Kirsty MacColl). MacGowan left the band in 1991 and went on to work and collaborate with musicians such as The Jesus and Mary Chain, Nick Cave and Van Morrison, before founding The Popes. More recently, he has been back out on the road with The Pogues and is now in process of writing a brand new album. MacGowan has worked previously with Jools Holland – in 2003, they collaborated on the track ‘Just To Be Home With You’, featured on the Jack O The Green – Small World Big Band Friends 3 album, part of the multi-platinum selling Jools Holland and Friends series.
With long time guest vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall along with the inimitable musicianship of the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Jools Holland will perform tracks spanning his entire solo career as well as songs taken from his latest album Rockinghorse which was released last November. The album includes unique collaborations with some of the world’s most notable singers and musicians including Booker T., Michael McDonald, Alison Moyet, Allen Toussaint and David Sanborn.