Fri 13th January, 2017
8:00 pm - 10:30 pm (Doors: 7:30pm)
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Pete Aves released his sixth studio album See How in March 2016 to great critical acclaim. Q magazine gave it four stars and praised its ‘impossibly catchy tunes’, adding that ‘catharsis has never sounded so sweet.’ Record Collector was equally enthusiastic, declaring it ‘transcendent’ and ‘compelling’ and declaring it a ‘charmingly idiosyncratic roots flavoured record.’ Mojo gave it four stars and Uncut drew a parallel between Aves’ guitar playing and the work of folk master Richard Thompson. Praise indeed.
Pete Aves is a difficult artist to pigeonhole. He refuses to cling to a single genre, and as far back as 2001 set out an eclectic agenda in his debut release Fidelity. Prior to this he was recruited as a guitarist by cult favourites the High Llamas in 1999, and in 2002 he became musical director and guitarist for legendary producer and songwriter Lee Hazlewood on the great man’s final European tour. In the same year Aves released Bystanding, following it up in 2003 with the jazz flavoured Down Beat. Recorded live in two days it was a defiant return to the work ethic of previous decades, inspired by late night conversations over Chivas Regal with Lee. Cherry Red records signed Aves for the 2005 release A Family Tree, a project initiated by a chance meeting with Gilbert O’Sullivan at his studio on Jersey, where much of this mellow, acoustic flavoured album was recorded. Aves released the dazzling You, me & Bill Withers on his own Thrift Horse label in 2006 before taking time out to raise the twins who emerged in the same year. In the ten years that elapsed before the release of See How, Aves worked with Petula Clark, Nick Lowe, Jarvis Cocker, Richard Hawley, The Lost Ladies Of Folk, Shirley Collins, Harry Hill, Turin Brakes and the Undertones among others. He also worked on a building site.
See How is Aves’ best and most truthful work to date. It contains music derived from often bitter personal experience. It’s the sound of falling through the cracks in the road of life, but sung through a smile, every note and word full of the certainty that there is a path back and one which leads to a better place.
Pete Aves will be accompanied by his band The Manuals. Dan Moore (keyboards) has worked with Pee Wee Ellis, Andy Sheppard and Beth Orton among others, and Mark Whitlam plays drums with the renowned Bristol outfit Michelson Morley and a variety of other jazz names.
http://www.peteaves.co.uk/