Michael Messer’s Mitra

Date: Wednesday, 1st November 2017
Time: 7:00 pm

Johnny Cash was a fan of this virtuoso slide guitarist, singer, and blues innovator, and so are we. Guaranteed to be interesting and different, we’re very excited to welcome him to Blue Sky.  Throughout his thirty year recording career, his music has remained individual and contemporary. Michael Messer’s reputation as an innovator of the blues and master of slide guitar is well known.    Being British with an international reputation for blues slide guitar is a rarity in itself, but Michael’s obsessive appetite for knowledge of his art is virtually unrivalled. His stunning slide guitar playing and superb vocals, ooze authenticity and integrity, and his use of turntables in the Second Mind Band marked him as one of the trailblazers of the 21st century blues sound.

His current band, Michael Messer’s Mitra, is once again breaking new ground, playing an exhilarating and accessible fusion of rural blues and Hindustani classical music. Their highly acclaimed debut album, Call Of The Blues, was released in February 2016.

Johnny Cash wrote the liner notes for his 1993 album Rhythm Oil, a rare honour shared only with Bob Dylan on Nashville Skyline. Rhythm Oil was awarded Import Album of the Year, by the Austin, Texas, music press. Michael’s King Guitar album reached number one in the US Living Blues chart, and the American magazine Spirit has listed Michael Messer as one of the greatest slide guitarists ever, alongside Duane Allman and Ry Cooder. Michael’s album Second Mind won Best International Guitar Album of the Year, and he is included in the Virgin Encyclopaedia of the Blues.

“…Not since the Beatles teamed up with Ravi Shankar back in the day has there been such an experimental and inspired meeting of musical cultures. I’ve no doubt this album is going to be internationally lauded for both its musicianship and Messer’s stunning vision”.  Iain Patience Music News USA

“The most exciting and creative blues innovation I have heard in years!” David Freeman Jazz FM

“Michael Messer is one of the most important bluesmen in Britain and mightily relevant throughout the blues world. He has progressed from being an excellent technician – on the National Steel especially, to being in the vanguard of the 21st century blues. Joe Cushley – Blues Matters!

Door open 7pm Gig starts at 8pm.  Tickets £10 available at the cafe directly in person, online at https://www.wegottickets.com/event/411545 (10% admin fee applies) or on the door on the night.   BAR ONLY.  NO FOOD SERVED