Beggar Joe

www.beggarjoe.com

“Manchester meets the Mississippi Delta” The Times

Their story starts over four years ago, at Salford University, where four of them were studying music. Singer and guitarist Jon Kenzie had been a music fanatic since the age of 10. Keyboardist Justin Shearn had picked up his father’s love of the blues from an early age. Bassist Andy Brown realised, by his mid 20s, that blues inspired him and turned, almost instinctively, to the double bass.   Drummer Chris Butler is so passionate about drumming it’s all he’s ever done.  Learning from one another, building the most solid of foundations, they decided they were missing one key component.

Enter Rome Mosabbir a gifted percussionist, who has travelled the world via music, when he joined Beggar Joe, the band was complete.  After a hectic 2009, Beggar Joe continues to grow organically.

They have built up quite a local following, performing regularly on the live circuit in Manchester and, from time to time, even busking on the streets.

James Lane

www.myspace.com/james-lane

ICMP student James Lane, whose eclectic mix of blues, rock and pop has the ears a-ringing with tunes you are destined not to forget.