Rochester Castle Gardens are rapidly becoming home for talented musician and songwriter Jools Holland. When he plays this summer at Castle Concerts, the performance will be the sixth that Jools and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have given there.
It was back in July 2003 that Jools Holland first played at Castle Concerts and every year he and his band’s performance has surpassed the previous year. For 2008 Jools is bringing along some great guests – Gilson Lavis, Marc Almond, Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall.
Since childhood, Jools’ love of the piano has been apparent. And his stage act now involves a fantastic blend of humour and presentation.
Jools Holland is perhaps one of the most talented musicians and songwriters of his generation, having played with many artists, including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Sting, BB King, Luther Vandross and Paul Weller.
At the age of 15, Jools met up with Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. Together they formed Squeeze. The band’s hits included Cool For Cats and Up The Junction.
In 1985, Jools sowed the seeds of The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra when he and Gilson Lavis, Squeeze's virtuoso drummer, began touring as a duo.
The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra has evolved into a disciplined 18-piece band, capable of selling out hundreds of shows a year all over Britain and Europe - from Canterbury Cathedral and Kew Gardens to the Glastonbury Festival - and filling the Albert Hall each Christmas in what has become an annual ritual.
In June 2003, Jools was recognised by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with an OBE in her annual Birthday Honours List for Services to the British music industry in his role as a musician and television presenter.
Did you know?
Jools and the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra now plays an average of 100 live shows each year, touring the UK and Europe to audiences in excess of 500,000.
In January 2005, Jools and his band performed with Eric Clapton as the headline act of the Tsunami Relief Concert in Cardiff.
Jools married Christabel McEwen in August 2005 and the following month, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Kent.
November 2006 saw the release of Moving Out to the Country, a collection of country songs with various guest artists.
In March 2007, Jools played two special charity concerts at Wells Cathedral and Rochester Cathedral, to raise funds for the upkeep of cathedrals throughout Britain and highlight the beauty of the historic buildings and the music within them.
Jools’ autobiography Barefaced Lies and Boogie-Woogie Boasts was released in October last year.
Tickets are £30.
Castle Concerts are brought to you by Medway Council.
Details on this website are correct at the time of publication. Medway Council and its partners are not responsible for changes and/or cancellations beyond their control.
