Blues in the Bar Featuring How Askew, Lyndon Anderson & Gary Grainger

HOW ASKEW is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music is rooted in the storytelling traditions of the blues. Drawing his inspiration from delta blues, traditional folk, and Americana, his sound is characterized by rich storytelling and stripped-back acoustic instrumentation. Whether performing as a solo artist, fronting a traditional blues outfit, or collaborating with the 6-piece band Kurlew, How Askew delivers authentic roots music.
After years of touring across the UK and mainland Europe, performing everywhere from Slovenia to Sweden he is now based in rural Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. How Askew is no stranger to the North East, he plays on Tyneside regularly and notably in 2024 he opened The Jumpin’ Hot Club for Guy Davis - a two-time Grammy nominee for Best Traditional Blues Artist.

How released his album Brass Neck! at the very end of 2019. The songs were conceived during that summer while he was living in a van and travelling around Europe and the UK with his wife Bev and their 2 whippets. How states, ‘From its humble beginnings, the blues has exploded all around the world, and continues to evolve in so many different directions. It's always been a great inspiration. When I started to tell my own stories in songs, I was naturally drawn to the imagery and the sounds of the blues. The 10 songs that make up Brass Neck! all take a different era or style as a starting point, but find their own rhythm and feel.’

As well as playing the occasional show with How Askew, LYNDON ANDERSON fronts his own band - The Lyndon Anderson Band are known for their electrifying mix of Chicago blues, 1950s classics, 1970s funk, and West Coast swing. A standout on the UK blues harmonica scene, Anderson has a powerful, gritty sound and is often cited as one of the leading British blues harp players. His playing is rooted in traditional blues but always comes across as fresh and exciting. He's ranked No.49 in the 100+ Harmonica Players You Need to Know About on learntheharmonica.com. There’s some mega stars ahead of Lyndon on that list, and a fair few well-known names below him too.

GARY GRAINGER took up the guitar at the tender age of 9. At that time he was listening to a lot of Duane Eddy and The Beatles and his appetite for music grew and he says he’s still hungry for more. Gary's main influences are The Grateful Dead and the classic delta blues artists. With three solo albums to his name and years of gigging experience, Gary’s live shows are notable for his skilled guitar playing and vast knowledge of the genre. Aside from his recording and live experience, Gary has worked as a consultant and performer for The Raw Guitar Company - a well respected conceptual guitar studio that blends vintage design with a modern approach to guitar making. He’s now based in Newton Aycliffe, and has appeared live from Edinburgh to London and has been invited on numerous occasions to play in the USA. Gary also hosts a multi-award-winning blues show every…