As part of their recently announced Winter schedule the Edinburgh Blues Club has pulled off quite a coup by managing to bring two of the USA's foremost modern blues acts to the city for their only Scottish appearances. Sugaray Rayford will headline at The Voodoo Rooms on January 15th, while Rick Estrin & The Nightcats will appear at Stramash on the 23rd January.

Both acts are in the UK for their appearances at the 'Great British Rock and Blues Festival' in Skegness, however it's indicative of the EBC's can-do attitude that they have managed to snare the top performers for a what will be a storming start to the club's 2019 schedule.

Sugaray Rayford was nominated for four awards at the 39th annual Blues Music Awards in the categories of Soul Blues Male Artist, Instrumentalist - Vocals, B.B King Entertainer of the Year and Soul Blues Album for his recent fourth full-length record The World That We Live In. He's known for his dynamic voice and old-school style which mixes in hints of Muddy Waters, Otis Redding and  Teddy Pendergrass. Sugaray has fronted his own band since 2010 - a group filled with world class international touring musicians.

Sugaray Rayford is a big man (6'5") but it's with the grace and energy of his performance that he commands venues, delights crowds and will prove to be a hit in Scotland.

Tickets for Sugaray Rayford at The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh on 15th January 2019 can be bought HERE

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats won the 2018 Blues Music Award for Band Of The Year and it was no surprise. They're known for their fun, wild and fearless attitude to music and have created an instantly recognisable sound. Led by harmonica master, songwriter and vocalist Rick Estrin, they include guitar 'wunderkid' Chris 'Kid' Andersen, keyboard wizard Lorenzo Farrell and dynamic drummer Alex Pettersen. The band play gritty original blues and roadhouse rock & roll, with street-smart lyrics and plenty of attitude.

 'Captivating, powerful blues and roots rock with a wickedly cool and otherworldly twist on tradition...intelligently conceived and executed...hugely entertaining' was what Living Blues Magazine had to say about them.

Tickets for Rick Estrin & The Nightcats: 23rd January 2019 at Stramash, Edinburgh can be bought HERE

Author: Cameron Arndt

Cameron Arndt is a musician and freelance writer from Glasgow, Scotland. He writes for his own music review website (www.rockandrolltraffic.com) and also contributes to Music Talkers.