GuilFest 2006. The 3 Day Guildford Music Festival on 14th, 15th and 16th July 2006

About the bands
return to main menu [return]

Artist: Sammy Rat's Big Big Blues Band
Genre: Blues
Performing: 16th July 2005 /The Surrey Advertiser LiveClub Stage
Website Address: [www.sammyrat.com]
...................................................................

Sammy Rat's Big Big Blues Band are back and as energetic as they were in their formative days at the end of the 1980s when they delighted audiences across Surrey and Hampshire.

Formed in 1986, the band quickly built up a big following playing blues and R'n'B with a kick in the tail. Following in the wake of the cult of the Blues Brothers, they moulded their sound on the likes of American
artists such as Elmore James, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, but with a generous dose of British-influenced blues from the likes of Eric Clapton, the early Fleetwood Mac and Paul Jones and the Blues Band.

Early on they were regular performers at venues such as the Farnham Maltings, the West End Centre in Aldershot and the University of Surrey. They also played a number of times at Guildford Civic supporting artists such as the Supremes, the Men They Couldn't Hang, the Blues Band, and one memorable night sharing the bill with the Boogie Brothers when the place packed to the rafters.

This was in the days before bands released their own CDs, but the Rats released four of their own cassette albums containing some popular cover versions as well as their own material. Originally a five-piece, the band grew with the addition of a three-piece horn section. London dates followed and the musicians were out gigging most weekends in between their day jobs.

Original bassist Gavin George quit the band in 1989 and was replaced by Gareth Morgan. In 1990, singer David Rose left, soon to be followed by drummer Glyn Edwards. New members were recruited including Phil Rose (no relation) on lead vocals. Finally, in the mid 1990s the band called it a day after several
hundred gigs that included many nights at the band's adopted home and meeting place the White Lyon in Worplesdon.

A couple of years ago the band reformed for a one-off private concert. The line-up included David Rose back on vocals and guitar, David Collins on guitar, Neil Dewey on keyboards, Gareth Morgan on bass and
Jon Coles on drums. They had all played in Sammy Rat's at one time or another but this specific line up had never gigged together before. It went well and everyone agreed that when the time was right the "Rat
Pack" would pick up from where they left off and would hit the road once more. Timing has worked in their favour and so 2005 sees acomeback that the bluesmen have promised.