The Gutter Brothers, The Jam & More to Perform at Marlowe Studio, Canterbury

THE SOUNDS of skiffle, post-punk and Americana are coming to The Marlowe Studio, Canterbury, in three separate gigs.

The Gutter Brothers formed in early 1985 as a latter-day skiffle band, when singer and washboard player Tony Green arrived in London from his native New Orleans. Joining Dennis Johnson on tea chest bass, they wowed the crowds with their busking performances in Covent Garden under the name Slap And Tickle. During the following two years they added guitarists Chris Cawte and Steve Turner and drummer Jeff Walker. As a proper full-on rock band they featured in a number of TV programmes whilst writing soundtracks for others.

The band split in 1993, but following Johnson's death in 2002 they decided to reform for a few "one-off" dates. The response was so great that a national tour has been undertaken most years since. In 2007 The Gutter Brothers released El Krusho, featuring some of Johnson's previously unused lyrics, and in September 2014 they recorded a new album, Mother Primeval.

The Gutter Brothers gig, at The Marlowe Studio at 8pm on Saturday 13 June, promises to be an evening of infectious energy that is bound to get feet moving. Support is from Tom Cawte.

The Jam had amazing chart success with 18 singles and seven albums to make the top 40 in the UK from their debut in 1977 to their break up in 1982. Their last five albums were all top 10 hits and their last eight singles made it into the top 10. Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero? made the charts at number eight as an import and remains the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK.

The band comprised singer, guitarist, and songwriter Paul Weller, drummer Rick Buckler and bass player Bruce Foxton. Foxton has joined forces with Russell Hastings and Smiley, to tour as From The Jam. Hastings has worked with both Foxton and Buckler (in The Gift), and Weller. His passion and understanding of The Jam's history is second to none and he has toured the world playing to packed houses of Jam fans for years.

The Jam fans have openly accepted Hastings as the man that fills Weller's shoes admirably and respectfully!

Smiley is a sought-after drummer and over the last three decades has worked with Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Robbie Williams, Squeeze, Lily Allen, Bad Company, Alexandra Burke and Billy Bragg among others.

Foxton, Hastings and Smiley are touring as From The Jam performing acoustic renditions of The Jam's classic back catalogue.

From The Jam: That's Entertainment Acoustic is at The Marlowe Studio at 8pm on Friday 17 July.

Tim Eriksen is acclaimed for transforming American tradition with his startling interpretations of old ballads, love songs, shape-note gospel and dance tunes from New England and Southern Appalachia.

He combines hair-raising vocals with inventive accompaniment on banjo, fiddle, guitar and bajo sexto (a 12-string Mexican acoustic bass) creating a distinctive hardcore Americana sound.

Eriksen plays The Marlowe Studio at 8pm on Thursday 30 July.

For tickets prices and to book (booking fee applies) for any of the gigs, call the Box Office on 01227 787787 or go to marlowetheatre.com.

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