Riding high on his critically acclaimed fifth studio album and an US tour with the legendary Joe Satriani last year, blues guitar great, Matt Schofield, returns home to the UK, including a stop in Stockton on Tees.

Opening the show for Matt Schofield was one of the bright hopes of British Blues, The Ben Poole Band. Ben recently released his latest album, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, the follow-up to his earlier debut album, Let’s Go Upstairs. Ben delivered a superb set of soul inspired blues. Tracks like his tribute to Gary Moore, “Time Might Never Come,” his superb cover of “Mr. Pitiful” by Otis Redding, and “Hanging in the Balance” were well received by the Stockton crowd. Ben most certainly won over the audience and picked up some new fans in the process.

This last week saw the return of Matt Schofield to his home shores to undertake his most extensive UK tour to date. Matt thrilled the crowd with a career spanning set, including tracks from his latest offering in the form of “From Far Away,” “Everything,” and the stunning “The Day You Left,” along with old favorites like “Siftin’ Thu Ashes” from Matt’s first studio album. The band, playing as a trio, were tight, with Jamie Little on drums and Carl Standbridge on bass getting their time to shine during their respective solos. Matt brought his set to a close with “Dreaming of You” from his 2011 album Anything But Time and left the crowd wanting more.

Matt Schofield treated the Teesside crowd to an evening of guitar mastery, his appreciation of space, superb tone and stunning solos left the audience encapsulated with his jazz infused British Blues.

Matt Schofield
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Ben Poole
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ARC, Stockton Arts Centre
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About The Author

Adam Kennedy is an experienced music photographer based in northeast England. He has been shooting concerts for several years, predominantly with the band Vintage Trouble. In 2013, he was one of their tour photographers, covering the UK and Ireland tour including the headline shows and as opening act for The Who. As an accomplished concert photographer, Adam's work has been featured in print such as, Classic Rock Blues Magazine, Guitarist Magazine, Blues in Britain magazine, broadcast on the MDA Telethon on ABC Television in the US, used in billboard advertising for Renaissance Hotels in the US, and featured online via music blogs such as Uber Rock and Guitar Planet. He is also the official photographer at Newcastle Rock and Blues Club.