Played for many years pro and semi pro,some great festivals including the main stage at The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival ,The Bulldog Bash in Stratford,The T.T. races in The Isle Of Man, top blues venues, support(most memorable support slot was with The Healers opening for the legendary Peter Green with the late great Cozy Powell on drums , and the excellent Neil Murray on bass, great night),and various headline spots. Last band recorded and gigged with was Red Handed blues band , we recorded the Handful of Blues C D in one day,time is money,which ive never had much of. (which was played in an hour long show dedicated to Red Handed on Nick Dows Sunday night blues show on BBC Radio Lancashire, best prog. on the radio., Cheers Nick.) .2 tracks off the C D are on the player. The track too long lasts the night was co written by the four of us, and our tribute to Lee Brilleaux, One Step forward by D.Bronze. Doin' a Deal , and Blues in F are a couple of my instrumental tracks featuring firstly my good friend Paul Randall (Bass), and the superb Mark Yarwood (drums), and secondly the excellent Red Handed ryhthm section. Previous long term band was the aforementioned Healers, many a good gig and time was had during those years. Am now fronting my own 3 piece blues band , featuring Paul Randall on bass and Mick McDonald on Drums .The track Sad Wer'e Through, recorded live at Anchor Studios in Hutton , Preston, thankyou guys, will be in the live set , as will tracks by Joe Bonamassa , Gary Moore, S.R.V. and others , and more original material such as Play The Blues. Thankyou to good friends Alan Pearson, Nick Dow, Lucas Campbell for support and encouragement.
Lucas Campbell reviews The Mark Thornley Band at BJ’s Blues Club 13th August 2009
Posted by: admin in BJ'S Blues Club, tags: BJ'S Blues Club, Lucas campbell, The Mark Thornley Band
It was an auspicious evening at BJ’s, a full house with standing room only and the news that musical legend Les Paul had just passed away on that same day. It reminded us all once again that mortality comes without any form of guarantee and even great musical icons are bound by the law of man and must pass into the great beyond. Was it then an ironic symbol of the Les Paul legacy to see a man standing on the edge stage holding a guitar bearing his name? Slighly uncanny also to see the Gibson SG model at the side of the stage which was the instrument he declined to endorse as a Les Paul model. Coincidences aside, there was an air of excitement and anticipation as The Mark Thornley Band took the stage and promptly set off into their first musical foray. This band creates some of the finest Blues Rock sounds your ever likely to hear. The songs are hinged to the heart of the blues using the dynamics of rock to great effect elevating each musical offering as a sounboard for three gifted musicians to work their magic. Their material was well chosen and included ’covers’ like “Texas Flood” and “Stormy Monday” interspersed with strong original numbers which all fllowed well, delivered with an intensity that held the audience transfixed within the power of the performance. The drum work of session man Mick McDonald was ’spot on’ complementing Bass player Paul Randall who made up a skin tight rhythm section for guitarist Mark Thornley to work with. Mark Thornley also handles the vocals but it is his guitar playing that is simply breathtaking. There is something very compelling about this mans’ guitar technique and his musical mastery that raises this band into one of the highest echelons of musical entertainment. The band also had good verbal raport with the raptuous audience who were invited to sing along on an inpromptu version of “Rock Me Baby” augmented by guest harmonica man “Tim” who blew up a storm on his ‘blues harp’! It was (after the encores) the perfect end to an evening of musical magic. The Mark Thornley band have now proven themselves to be a musical ‘tour de force’. The world is their oyster, but the music will always be their pearl. Enough said.......
Manchester born songstress, Sonia Clarke aka INDIGO is a talented and versatile performer and a vocal force to be reckoned with. Her artistic career started around the age of 7 when she began instruction in classical piano and began writing songs and performing in church, school and at The Oldham Lyceum. Her performances are characterised by a passion and vocal range that seduces her audience. She is as at home with jazz, as soul, reggae, pop or any other genre you care to throw her way. Her authentic style is born out of her profound and longstanding love of music. Indigo’s first real introduction to singing was at church, where she helped establish an acapella group singing gospel music, and performed at various churches, venues and events. She also took up the role of choir director and keyboardist during her mid teens. Indigo has spent the last few years making waves in the Birmingham Music scene, performing with the City’s top bands including Gabbidon (Glastonbury, The Jam House); Bassing Music (Symphony Hall, The Drum) and Alvin Davis (Professional Footballers’ Awards). Now concentrating on her career as an independent artist and writer collaborating with some of the City’s finest musicians to complete her debut album ‘Full Circle’ a fusion of jazz, neo-soul and broken beat.
'My Influences are many and varied and I hope my music pays tribute to some of the many talents who have moved me in some way over the years.
