Thu 19th July, 2018
8:00 pm - 10:30 pm (Doors: 7:30pm)
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Bookings are closed for this event.
The Cafe is open this evening, last orders at 6.30pm
It’s a romantic cliché to find an escape in music and the blues, but living that life is a different matter. Ask Dave about growing up in a broken home, with fundamental Christianity on one side, and crippling drug-addiction on the other, and you can see in his eyes that this is no easy ride, and that at times music really was his only friend.
After High School, Arkansas Dave played in bands, funding his music with a succession of jobs where he had to find his feet quickly – from bus boy to assembly-worker in a trash-bag factory. His wake up call came at the edge of a breakdown with a cataclysmic weekend epiphany. He headed home for a rare visit, and was persuaded to play a few songs to his family. The response he got from his grandfather sent his mind racing, only for him to find out the next week that his grandfather had died 24 hours later.
Determined to clean himself up, and sort his life, Arkansas Dave enrolled on an audio engineering course at Media Tech in Austin Texas, driving into town with a trailer loaded with all his possessions, ‘like something out of the Beverly Hillbillies’. And that’s where everything changed – the college was housed at that time in the famous Arlyn Studios, home to sessions from Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Ray Charles. Dave with his musical co-horts took the night shift at the studios – laying down tracks and learning the ropes.
A succession of bands followed, picking up a strong local following around Austin. The final part of his musical education saw Dave touring North America as a member of old bluesman Guitar Shorty’s band, where he learned ‘what it took to be a professional musician’
Fast forward to 2016 and Dave has written the album he’s always wanted to create – a wide ranging blues-rock based record that tells the story of his life, but resonates with all of us. The project just needed one more ingredient, so enter the Swampers, the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. In a blistering eight-day recording session at Fame Studios the band laid down the backing tracks, and Dave returned to Arlyn to complete the vocals.
So the next chapter of Dave’s life is about to be written as he pulls his band together and takes his album out on the road – this time on a road that he’s
building….
“Honest Americana, Blues and Rock n Roll that reflects the spirit of the South.”
Arkansas Dave was born and raised in the piney swamps of South Arkansas. Bred on blues and rock n roll, Dave cut his teeth playing in dive bars and the best honky tonks Arkansas and Texas has to offer. A self taught musician, Dave’s songs are interestingly original, blended with the humble sounds of the South. From the blues to gospel to rock n roll, his work comes full circle showcasing his raw talent.
Listen to his new single “Bad At Being Good” here…
Liston to 5-track promo here…
Listo to “On My Way” here…
Reviews
‘You definitely want to be able to turn around to all your mates in 6 months and tell them you were the one who discovered him first.’ Music-News
‘Occasionally an artist comes along and wears their heart so firmly on their sleeve that you can’t help but be moved.’ Unfashionable Male
‘…Not only tugs at your heartstrings but punches you in the gut when you listen intently to his words… this is an album you too NEED TO OWN!’ Rocking Magpie
‘Expert instrumentation and a heartfelt message of living your best you’ Essentially Pop
‘You are now his loyal follower and will sing with all your might as you scream and tell all your friends about this compelling, genre defying and frankly, absolutely awesome artist.’ Subba Cultcha
‘One of the finest bodies of work you’ll hear in a long time!’ Yorkshire Times
‘A great collection of songs, without a doubt… Nothing but pure goodness.’ PopDose
‘A great. This album is timeless and has so much talent in all aspects from music, lyrics, vocals to production and beyond and is one I intend to be playing for years to come.’ Building Our Own Nashville
‘A His debut album is filled with guitar-heavy tracks, gritty vocals and raw song-writing at its best.’ Lyric Magazine
Socials
Website: arkansasdave.com
Facebook: facebook.com/thearkansasdave
Instagram: instagram.com/thearkansasdave
Twitter: twitter.com/thearkansasdave