Primo Blue
The faces of the core members of Primo Blue may already be familiar to you if you enjoyed Station House at Blues on the Farm last year, but with Primo Blue things have been turned around to provide an opportunity for talented backing vocalists/players to take on a powerful lead vocals role. An evening with Primo Blue can be a mix of funky blues, Hendrix, reggae and 70’s-soul. With a pool of fantastic musicians/vocalists to call on, their gig on Saturday evening at Blues will have its own special mix of sounds.
Sam Kelly - Drums / MD
Voted British Blues Connection “Drummer of the Year” for five years running.
A versatile, creative, energetic player, Sam can regularly be seen drumming with Geoff Achison, Papa George Band, Giles Hedley & The Aviators, Empire State, The UK Funk Allstars and Errol Linton Blues Vibe. But Sam’s main passion is his own band, Station House.
Sam recently worked with Gary Moore, playing on his new album 'Bad For You Baby' (released in 2008) and toured with him in Germany. He’s also played theatre engagements including the West End Production of 125th Street (2002-2003) The Blues Brothers 1997 UK Tour, Ain't Misbehavin, Blues In The Night, All Or Nothing At All and has TV & film credits: That’s Life, Not the Nine O’clock News and Ebony. Sam was the drums music teacher for the UK film ‘Swing’.
Sam brings the unique rhythm and drive to Primo Blue, playing as people often say ‘lead drums.’
Val Cowell
Val has been playing her own style of rock and blues since 1986 when she formed ‘Bad Influence’ with Richard Hayes (her slide playing partner). Val has toured constantly in that time, co-writing 6 albums, headlining the infamous Marquee Clubs 17 times and has been invited to do various Radio 2 shows live and in the studio.
Sam Kelly and Val have known each other for some years and it was Sam who suggested Val come along and sing with Primo Blue about 2 years ago … to “try something new" with his band in their own inimitable style! This combination has become an enjoyable regular thing with the band gigging more and more and everyone having a very good time. Val has dropped her trademark Strat for these gigs and with other members, Spy (bass) Paul Jobson (Keys) and Tony Qunta (guitar), you can expect a show of soul, blues and funk at its best.
Spy - Bass / Vocals
Spy has been playing reggae bass for more than 20 years. He has performed and toured with some of Jamaica's most prominent artists and groups such as Gregory Issacs, Desmond Dekker, Earl 16, I Roy, Mikey General, I Jah Man Levi as well as with British reggae artists such as Boy George, Mad Professor, Drumhead, Progressive Sounds Crew and Benjamin Zephaniah.
Spy provides a solid back line, but moves effortlessly from ‘solid’ to ‘explosive’ as a groove develops.
Paul Jobson - Keyboards / Vocals
Gigging since age 9 and undertaking session work since age 13, Paul Jobson is recognised as a versatile, creative and above all talented player.
2002 saw Paul join 'Tommy Allen's Trafficker' which resulted in touring with Big Joe Turner, Mojo Buford and Michael Roach. Paul left Trafficker in December 2004 to become a session musician, and since then he has played alongside Chaka Khan, LeBurn, Debbie Bond, Giles Hedley, Earl Green, Hamish Stewart, Linda Lewis and Pete French. From 2007 he toured again performing with the Dr JJ’s Blues Band, The UK Funk All Stars, Geoff Achison and the UK Soul Diggers, Bob Bowles, Collette Wilkinson, 3rd Degree LeBurn, and Sam Kelly’s Station House.
Tony Qunta - Guitar / Vocals
Tony has been a working musician for over 20 years, and in the past has worked with artists such as 'Odyssey', Mervyn Afrika, Cheryl Alleyne, Mamadi Kamara, Kabbala, Grace Kennedy and Johnny Mars, as well as working in the West End and on tour with 'Dancing In The Streets', 'Tell Me On A Sunday' and 'Soultrain'.
