Willie & The Bandits

Touring constantly, while slowly but surely building up an audience, this three piece deserve everything they get judging by this superlative show. A simple three-piece set up of bass, drums and guitar (albeit, several of them) and with the dreadlocked Willie sitting on his own personal stool right at the very front of the stage, this was a masterclass in blues-based dynamics, the band showcasing their tight and brilliant musicianship, the bassist displaying almost supernatural finger dexterity whilst Willie showed his eclectic string-based range, and the drummer keeping it all together. But it wasn’t about showing off, or getting all muso on us, the band alternating between all out blues-based pounders and quieter, but never less than passionate passages. Almost quaint in their socialist credentials and politic-social commentary, their good-natured stage persona also helped to earn a rapturous applause, a fitting end to their UK tour.

Latest Music Bar, 24 November 2013

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