Ian Siegal

“Awash with wit, lust and distraction…..one of the most inventive Blues recordings ever made by a British artist.”
(MOJO)

Charismatic, massively talented and as ruggedly handsome as they come, “Siegal is the cleverest writer and most magnetic performer of Blues working in the UK” MOJO. He is one of only two living British artists to be given the highest rating in the Penguin Book of Blues.

It has been said that had Siegal been around in the sixties he would today be accorded the same reverence as artists such as Van Morrison and Joe Cocker. Instead, he is a child of the seventies who dropped out of art college in the late eighties to go busking in Germany. From the streets of Berlin Siegal progressed to clubs around Nottingham, then to London and ultimately to major stages around Europe

Two successive European tours (2003/4) opening for ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings brought him to the attention of a wider audience. Wyman also invited Ian to record with the Rhythm Kings. This was followed by UK tours as a duo with Big Bill Morganfield (son of Muddy Waters).

During this time Siegal was also capturing the hearts of audiences in Holland, Belgium, Austria and Hungary. In 2005 he topped the Soul/Blues/Jazz charts in Holland and in 2006 he debuted in the USA, appearing at the Waterfront Festival, the largest music festival on the West Coast.

His 2005 album Meat &Potatoes has been universally praised and was re-released as a double disc pack together with a DVD of his stunning performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival, where he played the main stage as one of three UK artists (the others being Jamie Cullum and Joss Stone). That was followed by Swagger his 2007 release, which again received universal praise, and an acoustic album The Dust was released at the end of 2008.

Biography

Born in the deep south (of England!) in 1971, Ian's earliest musical memories are of the likes of Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis and Chuck Berry. This led him into a life-long passion for the Blues and all of its various branches, and most of all, the inimitable Muddy Waters. “I cannot remember not knowing about Muddy Waters, even as a child,” says Ian. “His music and that of Howlin’ Wolf have been a huge influence on me.”

At 16 he began to roadie occasionally for his cousin's band and one night, quite unexpectedly, he was asked to sing. The result was a blown-away audience and a delighted (and rather surprised) young vocal talent with a career ahead of him. It was 2 years later that he picked up a guitar and taught himself to play. At 20 he dropped out of art college and travelled to Berlin, busking for a living. This is where he says his playing dramatically improved as, if he didn't make money, he didn't eat! By the time here turned to England he knew that a career in music was the only one for him.

A visit to Nottingham resulted in a five-year stay and Ian's first band became one of the most popular on the local music scene. He quickly showed himself to be a gifted songwriter with a deep understanding of tradition, but with an eye on the future. Moving to London, the Ian Siegal band was born, and appearances on larger festival stages followed - establishing him as one of the most natural, exciting and vibrant talents on the scene today.

website: www.iansiegal.com
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