Infectiously charming, intimate and joyful, Ruby Tuesdays at The Pelican is a must see by all. If you want to be greeted with a smile and be made to feel at home from the very moment you step in, all while watching a group of masterful musicians play infectiously, then Ruby Tuesdays is the place to be…
Ruby Tuesdays was born from the greatest birthplace an event could ask for - an immense love for music - particularly jazz, blues and soul. The passion within the players and singers was palpable, emanating from their bright smiles in-between lyrics and their arms swaying theatrically to the rhythm. I left feeling so rejuvenated and excited to have re-discovered music on such an intimate level again.
The folk at The Pelican take your hand and put you arm in arm with music for a joyous, jazz fuelled spin.
As for the specifics… where do I even start?
My favourite thing about the event were the people. So many incredible, fun and interesting personalities all collided into the blue, pelican-shaped, neon-infused room, forming a buzzing atmosphere. Laughter to my left and my right, hugs and handshakes as musicians and listeners walked through the door, friends filming friends perform; it all felt like one big dinner party where everyone knew each other.
The folk at The Pelican take your hand and put you arm in arm with music for a joyous, jazz fuelled spin.
The night started with gravelly voiced singer and harmonica playing genius, Mark Strawbridge, who I had the pleasure of speaking to right before the gig started. With an old fashioned in hand, he described his blues background, how Ruby Tuesdays came to be, and even joked that ‘every harmonica player needs a stage name, otherwise the crowds of girls will follow them in the street… that's obviously a fabrication’. The set was no less cool than the man itself, with numbers from Tom Waits, Bill Withers, Ella Fitzgerald and more.
A short break followed, where DJ extraordinaire Dan Lacey kept the vibe flowing between the acts.
The Acoustic Set was next, performed by Tom Brogan on guitar and Ronnie Harris on vocals. Theirs was a particularly relaxing, calming one, with classics like Fast Car by Tracy Chapman and Ain’t Nobody (Loves Me Better) by Chaka Khan - a well timed breather that was no less impressive and beautiful than its predecessor.
Cat Mancini followed, a storyteller and dynamic performer, supplying us with more truly loved classics such as Sway by Dean Martin or Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra. His performance emanated so much energy and joy - a true maestro. You’ll be lucky to see him perform!
Speaking of, my jaw dropped when I heard Jeanie Barton’s voice, the next and final performer of the night. I felt truly blessed to see her warmly melodic and mature voice deliver each song with such conviction, sincerity and joy that could animate even the most sombre of souls.
Also a huge shout out to the mighty house band aka: Roger on bass, Simon on drums and Rachel on piano for jazzing up the place for the entire evening!
Please, please get yourself tickets to the next one, they happen once a month, so keep your eyes peeled. There’s a reason this event has been requested and brought back over and over due to popular demand!
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