Jools Holland OBE DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer and broadcaster. He was an original member of the band Squeeze and his work has seen him involved with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, Lulu, David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, George Harrison, Kylie Minogue, Magazine, The Who and Bono.

In 1987, Jools formed The Jools Holland Big Band with Gilson Lavis. This has gradually metamorphosed into the current 19-piece Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, which consists of pianist, organist, drummer, three female vocals, guitar, bass guitar, two tenor saxophones, two alto saxophones, baritone saxophone, three trumpets, and three trombones. As well as formidable live performances, Jools has maintained a prolific recording career since signing to Warner Music in 1996.

Over nearly two decades Jools released many albums including the multimillion-selling series Jools Holland and Friends, Tom Jones & Jools Holland, Informer, The Golden Age Of Song, Jools & Ruby, Piano, As You See Me Now with Jose Feliciano and A Lovely Life To Live with Marc Almond

As well as hosting the BBC TWO TV show “Later with…Jools Holland” Jools has also hosted for two decades his own BBC Radio 2 show: Jools Holland which won a Sony Radio Academy Silver Award.

Special Guests joining Jools and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra will be…

Marc Almond

Marc’ Almond, OBE, is an English singer-songwriter and musician, his career spans over four decades. Having sold over 30 million records worldwide he began his career performing and recording in the duo Soft Cell but has also had a diverse career as a solo artist.

Ruby Turner

Ruby Turner, MBE, is a British Jamaican R&B and soul singer, songwriter and actor. Her music career spans more than 30 years from touring with Culture Club, working as a session backing vocalist for artists such as Bryan Ferry, UB40, Steve, Winwood, and Mick Jagger to touring and recording as a solo artist and her long-standing writing, recording and touring relationship with Jools Holland.

Gilson Lavis

Gilson was a member and original drummer in the hugely successful band Squeeze, along with founding member Jools Holland. He is one of Britain's most experienced and versatile drummers and in his 50-year career he has provided the beat for some of the biggest names in music, including Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Smokey Robinson and Amy Winehouse. He still performs and tours as the heartbeat of Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. He is also a portrait artist and has displayed his work in quite a few exhibitions.

Sister Sledge was an American disco music group, formed in 1971. A multi-faceted, multi-lead-vocal group, Sister Sledge consisted of sisters Debbie, Joni, Kim and Kathy Sledge, who together, achieved international success at the height of the 1970’s disco-dancing era! Their artistic triumphs encompass chart-topping hits, platinum albums and successful forays into several genres of popular music.

In 1989, one of the Sledge sisters, Kathy Sledge, embarked on a solo career and since has had several international musical hits of her own. To this day, Kathy continues to tour worldwide and spread the manta of Sister Sledge, “Nothing is greater than love!” Headlining at Smoked & Uncut 2019 at Lime Wood, Kathy Sledge will be performing Sister Sledge’s greatest disco hits that have inspired countless generations and uplifting all!

Sister Sledge’s breakthrough album, We Are Family, produced by Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards of the band Chic, debuted in 1979 and featured the much-loved tunes, “He’s the Greatest Dancer” and “We Are Family”. The album was a huge success for the sisters and peaked at number three on the US Album Chart. Performing jazz, soul, disco and R&B, the sisters flourished both in-studio and onstage, building an outstanding reputation by dazzling audiences and singing from the soul!

Dubbed ‘the hardest working man in showbiz’ by music industry peers, Barry has worked in music all his adult life. An Ibiza original who had his life changed by acid house, he started running club-nights in London and had soon formed a band, Deja Vu, who arrived during the Flowered Up/Happy Mondays ‘baggy’ era.

When Deja Vu split, Barry started DJing and the Dub Pistols formed out of some of these madcap DJ sessions. Releasing the first Dub Pistols album, ‘Point Blank’ in 1998, the last two decades have been a riot of storming shows, missed opportunities, big bad basslines, calamities and triumphs — with scarcely a dull moment in between.

Fast forward to 2022, and Barry Ashworth’s merry gang of outlaw reprobates are busier than ever and remain an unstoppable force in the UK’s alternative music scene. With a new album ‘Addict’ released in 2020 in the autumn (on Sunday Best), the premiere of a brand new band documentary and much more!

The Cinelli Brothers is a project born out of a common passion for the electric Chicago and Texas blues from the 60s and 70s, when brothers Marco (guitarist and lead singer) and Alessandro (drummer) decided to form an explosive team showcasing original repertoire in the style of Chess, Stax and Motown.

Joining the two brothers on stage, Tom Julian-Jones on harmonica, guitar and vocals and Stephen Giry on bass, guitar and vocals.

Their debut album Babe Please Set Your Alarm was recorded at the Soup Studio in London and the full live and analog recording was released in May 2018 on vinyl and digital format.
The record went number 2 in the IBBA (Independent Blues Broadcasters' Association) in June 2018.
The band is been featured in Blues in Britain, Blues Matters, Classic Rock and other magazines.
This album comprises nine tasty original compositions and three finely crafted covers. ‘Chain of Fools’ by Don Covay (an Aretha hit), ‘Back Door Man’ – which stays true to Willie Dixon’s number - and Prince’s ‘Kiss’, in a remarkable shuffle rhythm.

Music Republic Magazine nominated Marco Cinelli as Best Guitar Player of 2018.

Legendary radio and broadcaster David ‘Kid’ Jensen has played a different track from their album on six consecutive weeks of his United Djs radio show, naming them as his favourite blues outfit, and his favourite blues album in many years.

On the 30th of November 2021 the band released their second album “Villa Jukejoint” in conjuction with a SOLD OUT show at the legendary 100 Club in London.
Recorded at home with only 1 microphone, the record has a unique vintage and retro feel typical of the ‘50s and earlier ‘60s!

February album of the month for the IBBA, which broadcasted a different song each week, the records has been featured magazines in the UK, Spain, and in the Netherlands, with fantastic reviews.

In 2020, 2021 and 2022 the band has been nominated for the UK Blues Awards as “Blues Band Of the Year”.
In January this year the record “Villa Jukejoint” was nominated for the UK Blues Awards as “Blues Album Of the Year”.

The Cinelli Brothers champion a new generation of passionate musicians sharing in the love of Blues, Soul, R&B and the true authentic sounds that have made the blues a cornerstone of music history.

Jack Lukeman is an Irish singer-songwriter, performer, raconteur and a whole lot more besides. A platinum-selling, critically acclaimed artist in his homeland, in recent years Lukeman has devoted more of his time to winning a growing fanbase in the UK and abroad. In this regard, he has toured the UK as Special Guest on tours by artists as varied as Imelda May, Jools Holland, The Proclaimers and Neil Sedaka. Along with the rest of the world Jack’s touring had all been moved several times then shelved. Finally, he returns to live shows in the UK, he hasn’t been idle in lockdowns, having performed 30+ livestreams, all different shows having learnt songs by some of his favoured artists, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen and many more. A live lockdown album came from those sessions and he came close to doubling his Facebook followers.   Lukeman is a compelling, dazzling stage performer. Incorporating the theatrical and romantic sensibilities of the likes of Jacques Brel, but with genuine melodic appeal and a knack for creating his own ‘magic realist’ world that is peopled by all manner of unusual, picturesque characters - Lukeman is a rare, unusual brand of performer.

2022 is Jack’s time to really focus on the UK, he is headlining the 6,000 capacity 3Arena Dublin in November this year, so he largely won’t be performing in Ireland other than that show.

The best music artists know that the world of the recording studio and onstage are two entirely different mediums – Lukeman’s recordings are colourful, absorbing collections, but it’s in the live environment, where his stage craft and desire to inspire really take flight. Despite the many achievements he has notched up in his lengthy career, Lukeman still has the hunger and drive to take his music to new audiences. Pre-Pandemic, during 2019 he took to the road in the UK with his own headlining shows, and more special guest appearances with Caro Emerald, The Proclaimers and Jools Holland - offering yet more proof of the outstanding versatility and unique talent of Jack Lukeman. From clubs to concert halls, theatres to festivals, Lukeman has the performing power and compelling presence to win over the most demanding of crowds. One of which will be in Bonn, Germany July 10 when he is opening for Sting.

Australian/English artist Mereki makes conscious pop music. Now based in the UK, Mereki moved from Australia to the USA & serendipitously began writing and releasing music with now esteemed writers & producers Dan Nigro (Olivia Rodrigo) & Justin Raisen (Charli XCX, Sky Ferreira). East LA and it’s blossoming music community became the perfect setting for her songwriting and voice to mature as she laid the foundations for what was to come. Her talent was spotted by Grammy-nominated superstar producer Ariel Rechtshaid (HAIM, Vampire Weekend, Madonna, Adele) who signed her to his publishing company, Heavy Duty Music / Concord. Mereki’s introduction to LA’s pop songwriting academy came as a co-writer on the track ‘Golden Boy’ recorded by fellow Australian icon Kylie Minogue. Since then Mereki has scored writing credits with Phantogram, Kitten & Atrak as well as guesting and co-writing tracks with Dhani Harrison, Goldroom, Basenji, Flight Facilities and Holychild, to name but a few. Whilst fronting Goldroom, Mereki performed everywhere from middle America to NYC to Bogotá, Colombia. And, most recently, just before the world changed, she performed with Electronic act Flight Facilities as their featured vocalist on the duo’s sold out North American tour. Amidst all of her collaborations Mereki managed to release her debut solo single, ‘Blue Lake’, to critical acclaim from the
likes of Spin, Nylon and Flood Magazine.

After enduring some personal tragedy and heartbreak, she segued briefly into the catharsis of high-energy punk rock, releasing a few singles that landed her music in a Victoria’s Secrets commercial. Mereki’s last release returned to the essence of who she truly is. Whilst having a distinctly pop- feel with positive messaging, tracks like ‘Spiritual’, ‘French Kissing’ and ‘Got It All’ also hold an other-worldly quality. In 2022 Mereki is set to release her debut solo album ‘Death of a Cloud’ which follows her personal journey through loss into rebirth and self-realisation.