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OLI BROWN to play 3 Midlands dates on UK tour

posted 2 Feb 2012 00:27 by Sean Larkin   [ updated 5 Feb 2012 11:13 by Peter Keevil ]
Winner of ‘Best Band’ and ‘Best Album’ at the 2011 British Blues Awards

Wed 18th Apr The Rescue Rooms Nottingham

Thu 19th Apr  O2 Academy Birmingham 
 
Sat 28th Apr - The assembly, Leamington Spa
 
“A real talent and should have a great career" Joe Bonamassa
"I am a big fan of this boy" Walter Trout
"One of the best and brightest guitar heroes performing in the world today" Classic Rock
"Puts on a masterful show" The Times

Late 2002 saw Oli pick up a guitar for the first time. Two and a half years later at age of 15 he was invited to America as the guest of American Blues band Blinddog Smokin’. This first trip saw Oli on the same stage as Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal.

In 2008 Oli was signed to the German Blues label, Ruf Records. Thomas Ruf  flew into the UK to see Oli perform and signed him on the spot. Oli’s debut album, OPEN ROAD, was recorded and released in 2008 and received great reviews across the UK and Europe. It was voted the No. 2 Blues album of 2008 by readers of Blues Matters! magazine and it still rides  high in the Blues Charts.

The Oli Brown Band was the only UK act to be selected for the 2008 International Blues Convention in Memphis. While in Memphis Oli was asked by John Fry (the owner of Ardent Studios) to go in and record a live session for them - this session received 1.3 million hits in three weeks.  (Ardent Studios have recorded and mixed albums for The White Stripes, Isaac Hayes, Led Zeppelin, R.E.M, The Raconteurs, Stevie Ray Vaughan,  BB King...amongst many others.)

Vanquish Guitars became an endorsee of Oli and now produce the Oli Brown Signature guitar (made to the specific requirements that he wants on stage). Hofner, Blackstar, Kustom, Ernie Ball, Whirlwind, T-Rex and Shure all now support and endorse Oli Brown.

2010 saw Oli return to the studio with the legendary producer, Mike Vernon (Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Freddie King, David Bowie etc).  Mike came out of self imposed retirement to work with Oli after seeing and hearing him on various You Tube videos. The Mike Vernon produced album, HEADS I WIN TAILS YOU LOSE, was released April 2010 in the UK, Europe and America. The press reception was fantastic -

“The hottest young pistol in British Blues” Mojo
“A British Bluesman to rival Trucks and Bonamassa” Uncut
“Brown’s fretwork really stuns” Classic Rock
“His singing voice is compelling” Guitarist
“The more you hear it the more you love it” Properganda

Mojo Magazine and Classic Rock voted HEADS I WIN TAILS YOU LOSE their No. 4 and No. 3 Blues album respectively of 2010.

2011 saw Oli touring in the UK,  Europe, New Zealand, Canada and America (with an appearance on American breakfast TV). October and November 2011 saw The Oli Brown Band on a major 25 date UK tour with the legendary John Mayall and at the end of the tour John Mayall invited Oli to be the lead guitarist in his band for the December 2011 Jakarta Blues Festival.
Oli is now writing and recording his third album, “Here I Am”  which is planned for release April 2012. The new album will coincide with Oli’s headline tour of the UK in April 2012 and Germany in May 2012.