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This is the archive of the combined Barking Spider and Andy Broad Portsmouth Blues Site mailing lists.
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PAUL DOWNES- Railway Folk Club, Alma Arms, Eastney, Monday 12th March. Paul Downes' sensitive and yet fun approach to his live performances has put him among the most respected artists on the British acoustic music scene today. He has often been introduced as one of the greatest acoustic guitarists in the world. It is easy to see why when you see the dazzling array of styles he performs with effortless brilliance, but at the same time he considers himself as a singer of songs, rather than a guitar technician. Paul's rich musical background progressed through working with Phil Beer, The Arizona Smoke Revue, Pete Seeger and, currently, The Joyce Gang. Eight albums with bands, three highly acclaimed solo albums and over one hundred and fifty session credits have still left time for Paul to tour every concert venue, theatre and festival in Britain, plus many tours in the USA and Europe. He's also performed cabaret in the West Indies and been a newsreader on US radio! Paul spent his youth playing classical guitar, but subsequently took up folk music. From the age of 12, Paul's best friend was Steve Knightley; then at 16, they met Phil Beer. Later, of course, Knightley and Beer became Show Of Hands, one of the top acoustic duos in English acoustic music today. A few years touring as Downes and Beer, all around Europe and the UK, playing sessions on hundreds of albums, four records of their own and two solo sets for Paul... and they met Bill Zorn and formed the now legendary Arizona Smoke Revue. A meteoric rise lead to TV and radio appearances, major European festivals, world tours and four albums. Paul was later asked to stand in on a Joyce Gang gig - and the rest, as they say, is mystery. He still gigs extensively in the UK and USA, so don't miss an evening in Eastney in the presence of one of the finest solo artistes on the circuit! Paul Downes appears at The Railway Folk Club at The Alma Arms, Highland Road, Eastney on Monday, 12th March. Tickets (£5) will be available on the door, which open at 8 p.m.