SNAKE DAVIS AND THE SUSPICIONS WITH GUEST JESS GILLAM
Get your dancing shoes ready for another night of Motown, Northern Soul & Atlanta Classics!
Snake Davis and the Suspicions
Snake Davis and the Suspicions are back! After selling out for several years, prepare for saxophone legend Snake Davis’ return to the Coronation Hall!
With his storming 8 piece soul band, the Suspicions. Often heralded as the best Soul band performing live in the UK today, they feature Snakes’ searing Junior Walker-inspired sax, the sumptuous vocals of Doreen Edwards and Sue Quinn, trumpet and a killer rhythm section. The line up includes some of the UKs finest musicians; current and former members of the Eurythmics, M-People, Tanita Tikaram, Simply Red and Swing Out Sister to name a few. Snake will perform Motown, Atlanta and Northern Soul classics.
Snake Davis is the most prolific session saxophonist of the last 25 years. He has had a long standing collaboration with Heather Small of M-People, toured the world with Lisa Stansfield, and has performed and recorded with James Brown, Paul McCartney, George Michael, Paul McCartney and Amy Winehouse to name but a few. As a backing band, Snake Davis and the Suspicions worked alongside Ben-E-King, Frank Wilson, Chuck Jackson, Brenda Holloway and Martha Reeves.
This will be a feel good night not to be missed- bound to get you up onto the dance floor!
Jess Gillam
In 2016, at the age of 17, Jess made history as the first saxophonist to win the Woodwind Final of BBC Young Musician of the Year. She then reached the Grand Final at London’s Barbican Hall and performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra to widespread critical acclaim.
In 2017, Jess made her BBC Proms debut at the Royal Albert Hall, where she performed as a soloist with both the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Concerto highlights include appearances with Southbank Sinfonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and a showcase performance with the Manchester Camerata as well as a concert with Sinfonia Cymru. She frequently gives recitals throughout the UK. Last year, Jess gave the premiere of a piece written for her by Jeremy Holland-Smith on BBC Four’s Choir of the Year.
Jess studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with an ABRSM Scholarship, and is mentored by John Harle. She has appeared on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 (Woman’s Hour), BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio Cumbria.
Jess has been featured as a Rising Star in BBC Music Magazine as well as being a James Naughtie interviewee. She is a Vandoren UK Artist an endorsee for Yanagisawa Saxophones. Jess is a patron for Awards for Young Musicians.