Friday February 14, 2020 at 11:54am
Davy Knowles is set to headline the 2020 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts in what promises to be a scintillating homecoming concert for the Island’s famous musical export. Confirmed for the Bank Holiday Monday, Davy and his current U.S. touring band will play the TT Mercury Club, bringing this year’s classic bike festival to a close in spectacular fashion.
For Isle of Man residents, Davy Knowles is an instantly recognisable name and his talent as one of the world’s leading blues artists is without question. Visitors to the Classic TT Races, meanwhile, can look forward to discovering just why this particular Manx export is seen as one of the very best guitarists around today.
Davy first burst onto the scene in 2007 with his Isle of Man based band, Back Door Slam, garnering rave reviews, national US television appearances, extensive Triple-A radio airplay, and two top 5 Billboard Blues charting albums. Relocating to Chicago – the home of electric blues – Davy has since independently released two more studio albums; 2014’s The Outsider, and 2016’s Three Miles From Avalon. As testament to Davy’s talent and fast-growing fan base, the latter release also hit the top 5 on the Billboard Blues chart, comfortably sitting alongside ‘God’ himself, Mr Eric Clapton.
Always in demand as a spectacular live performer, Davy has lost none of his love for playing his music in front of an audience. Constantly criss-crossing America, Davy has put in many thousands of hours on the road – not only playing his solo shows, but taking in guest appearances with legends of rock such as The Who, Jeff Beck, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, Joe Bonamassa, Peter Frampton and Joe Satriani. Indeed, it was Satriani who described Davy as his ‘favourite modern bluesman’. That’s some testimonial!
Despite these accomplishments, things are only looking up for Davy, having just signed to the renowned record label, Mascot which boasts the likes of Black Stone Cherry as well as blues guitar superstars, Robert Cray, Robben Ford, Joe Bonamassa and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Davy’s first international release on the label is due this year and Classic TT fans will be amongst the first to hear these tracks played live, all delivered in Davy’s trademark blistering fashion!
Davy Knowles and his band will play the TT Mercury Club on Monday 31 August 2020. Tickets for this incredible homecoming concert go on sale Friday 14 February at 9am and are available only at iomttraces.com
Image courtesy of Gary Weightman