Some concerts sell well. Some become events. And then there are those rare occasions when demand simply refuses to slow down. That is exactly what has happened with The Ben Poole Trio. The response has been nothing short of phenomenal, and because so many people wanted to experience one of Britain's most explosive live blues-rock acts, Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre has added an extra Sunday Afternoon Matinée.
If you've never witnessed Ben Poole live, prepare yourself. This isn't simply another blues guitarist playing familiar licks. This is a musician who attacks every performance with passion, power and complete conviction, turning every concert into a thrilling rollercoaster of soaring guitar solos, deep blues grooves and full-throttle rock 'n' roll.
Over the past decade, Ben Poole has evolved from an exciting young guitar prodigy into one of the most respected and internationally acclaimed blues-rock guitarists of his generation. What began in local clubs has become a career that has taken him across Europe, North America and onto some of the biggest festival stages in the world. Along the way he has earned a reputation as one of the most electrifying performers on today's blues scene.
But Ben Poole is far more than another technically gifted guitarist. His music lives somewhere between the soul of Gary Moore, the swagger of Joe Bonamassa, the fire of Rory Gallagher, the feel of Stevie Ray Vaughan and the raw power of classic British rock. Every solo tells a story. Every bend of a string carries emotion. Every performance feels completely alive.
When he steps on stage, the atmosphere changes instantly. His guitar tone is thick, warm and dripping with vintage character before suddenly exploding into fierce, blistering solos that leave audiences absolutely spellbound. One minute he can reduce a room to complete silence with an intimate blues ballad; the next he's unleashing a wall of sound that shakes the foundations.
It's little wonder that Guitar World recognised Ben as one of the Best Blues Guitarists in the World, placing him alongside giants such as Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray and Joe Bonamassa. That kind of recognition is reserved for players who possess something truly special.
The praise from fellow musicians and the music press is extraordinary. Jeff Beck called him "F*ing Amazing!**" Gary Moore described him as "A REALLY good player." Beth Hart simply said "So Amazing!" while Kenny Wayne Shepherd labelled him "Killer!" Richie Kotzen called him "Unbelievable," and Classic Rock Magazine summed it all up perfectly with just two words: "Truly Astonishing."
These aren't compliments handed out lightly. They come from artists who have spent their lives at the very top of rock and blues music. When musicians of that calibre talk about Ben Poole with such admiration, you know you're witnessing an artist operating at the very highest level.
His relentless touring has seen him ignite audiences at major festivals including Glastonbury, Download Festival, Sierre Blues Festival and countless prestigious blues events across Europe. Yet ask those who know his music best, and they'll tell you that Ben is at his most devastating in an intimate venue, where every note, every roar from the amplifier and every ounce of emotion can be experienced at point-blank range.
That is exactly why Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre is the perfect setting.
This is a room where the audience are close enough to feel the heat from the amplifiers, where every guitar string vibrates through the room and where the connection between band and audience becomes something genuinely unforgettable. There is nowhere to hide, and that's precisely how Ben Poole likes it.
Expect slow-burning blues that ache with raw emotion before erupting into explosive guitar solos. Expect colossal riffs, irresistible grooves and moments of breathtaking musical sensitivity. Expect valves glowing red, guitars howling into the night and a rhythm section driving everything forward with unstoppable force.
This isn't background music. This isn't polite blues. This is blues-rock at its loudest, fiercest and most exhilarating.
It's the sound of sweat dripping from the walls. The smell of hot amplifiers. The roar of a Fender Telecaster pushed to its absolute limits. It's the kind of concert that reminds you why live music can still make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Due to overwhelming demand we've added this extra Sunday Afternoon Matinée—but don't wait too long. If the response so far is anything to go by, tickets won't be around for long.
The Ben Poole Trio are coming back to Barnoldswick with one mission—to blow the roof clean off the place. And if you've ever wondered what modern British blues-rock sounds like at full power, this is where you'll find out. ?
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