BLUES kings from both sides of the Atlantic will unite for a gig in Keighley tomorrow.

Dave Kelly and Brooks Williams headline this month’s Keighley Blues Live show at the Octagon club in Bradford Road, Sandbeds.

A club spokesman said if there was such a thing as a British ‘blues pedigree’, Dave Kelly’s set the standard.

He said: “Kelly is a blues craftsman who has served his time with the best.

“In New York he jammed with Muddy Waters. He became a friend to Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker, who both felt the benefit of Dave’s playing in their touring bands.

“When The Blues Band was formed in 1979, the post of slide guitarist and joint vocalist was a foregone conclusion, with Dave becoming the bottle-neck guitar-playing lynch-pin from then on.

“His roots lie in Mississippi Country Blues and his first professional work was as a solo artist in this genre in the 1960s. His style and feel for the music led to him regularly being asked to perform with the American Blues greats when they toured in Europe – Son House, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker and Howlin Wolf amongst others.”

From the USA, Georgia-born Brooks Williams is described as a man at the top of his game vocally, instrumentally and as a lyricist.

The club spokesman said: “Walking the line between blues and Americana, having worked stages worldwide for more than 25 years, amassing a staggering back-catalogue of songs, recordings and tales and with nearly 20 CDs to his name, he is, according to Americana UK, ‘impossible not to like’.

“Williams’ most recent album Brooks’ Blues features a number of his favourite songs, including Robert Johnson’s From Four Until Late, Memphis Slim’s Mother Earth and Bessie Smith’s Backwater Blues.”

Visit keighleyblueslive.co.uk to book.