BLUES fans will be living on cloud nine tomorrow as leading US bands perform in Keighley.

The Hitman Blues Band are performing with the New York City Horns at Keighley Blues Club as part of their latest visit to the UK.

Charismatic guitarist and vocalist Russell ‘Hitman’ Alexander and the rest of the band are all ‘real deal’ New Yorkers.

A spokesman said: “They know how to entertain, putting on a show of music so good that they will make you glad that music exists in the first place.”

Formed in 1986, the Hitman Blues Band has played its own searing brand of blues/rock all over the USA, UK and Europe.

Russ has shared a stage with Johnny Copeland, LaVette Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, The Coasters, The Ink Spots and Whitney Houston in venues as diverse as after hours dives in the Alphabet City section of Manhattan to the Royal Ball for the Prince of Malta.

The spokesman added: “With influences ranging from Elmore James to The Beatles we could end up anywhere on the night – if we can fit them all on stage that is!”

Support band the Backyard Burners hail from Leeds and have a raw country/bluegrass sound.

Anyone who goes to the concert can buy cut-price tickets to see Harry Manx at The Octagon, Sandbeds, on Sunday.

A free nine-song Hitman CD can be downloaded from the Gig Guide section of the website keighleybluesclub.net.

Keighley Blues Club is at the Cougar Park Hall Of Fame. Email bbj21@btinternet.com or call 01535 600310 for further information.