Nashville folk legend Otis Gibbs heads to Newcastle for Jumpin' Hot Club Relaunch
The organisers of Newcastle's celebrated live events collective Jumpin' Hot Club has revealed that East Nashville songsmith, poet, painter and part-time bear wrestler Otis Gibbs will head to Tyneside in November as part of its re-launch celebrations.
Taking place at Gosforth Civic Centre on Saturday 3 November, the long-standing friend of the organisation will make his welcome return to Newcastle as part of his forthcoming UK tour alongside local singer-songwriter Sam Gibson.
Jumpin' Hot Club is renowned for bringing Americana, singer-songwriters, country, blues, reggae and world music to the North East for almost 40 years and unearthing household names such as KT Tunstall, Seasick Steve, Ryan Adams and roots stars such as Candi Staton, Prince Buster and Elvis Presley’s original guitarist Scotty Moore.
It is set to unveil its new websites and live promotional ventures on the evening and will also showcase an archival photography exhibition featuring some of its most memorable live musical achievements spanning the decades in business which has included live performances from the likes of Tom Waits' backing band “Wicked Grin”, Honeyboy Edwards (the cousin of blues legend Robert Johnson), the American author, musician and songwriter Willy Vaultin and Jamaica's iconic mento swingers, The Jolly Boys.
Speaking ahead of the re-launch event, Jumpin' Hot Club's Graham Anderson, who co-founded the club with Adam Collerton in Newcastle in 1985, said: “Otis Gibbs is what Jumpin' Hot Club wholly represents. He is a long-term visitor to Jumpin' Hot Club and is so unique in many many ways.
“As well as being singer-songwriter - who we gave his first ever UK date to - he’s also a storyteller, painter, photographer and the planter of 7,176 trees.
“He once wrestled a bear and lost and has been described as “The best unknown songwriter in music today,” by Rolling Stone magazine. If you ask him, he’ll simply say he’s a folk singer but we'd say he’s way more than that and is certainly an honourable Geordie too, he loves the city and performing here.
“We have lots of new things to tell to the public, so having a re-launch now is perfect timing. We have completely redeveloped the company structure over the last couple of years including two new websites and have new live programming in place all of the way from Acklington to Amsterdam.”
Otis Gibbs was raised in Wanamaker, Indiana, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Indianapolis and is renowned for being one of the most authentic writers in the world.
His gritty subject matter and command of the stage make him one of the best storytellers on the global circuit and has been compared to the likes of Utah Phillips, Woody Guthrie and Billy Bragg, who he once toured with.
Otis Gibbs also hosts a podcast called Thanks For Giving Damn where he tells stories about the history of country music to his 2 million subscribers and is looking forward to returning to Tyneside.
Otis Gibbs, said: “It's always great to get to visit Newcastle and see some old dear friends. I have a lot of great memories. My friend, Graham Anderson was the first European promoter to reach out to me and make it possible for me to tour the UK.
“He booked me into my first ever European gig. I opened for Guy Clark in front of a big crowd and everyone treated me like a king. I also have fond memories of my friend Ian taking me to my first ever football match at St. James Park. It might be the best live sporting event I've ever attended. I love walking across the Tyne Bridge and forgetting the troubles of the world. When I was touring with Ian Hunter, he invited me up on stage to sing All The Young Dudes with him for the first time in Newcastle and every night after. That's a memory that will stay with me forever.”
Graham Anderson, adds: “An evening with Otis will be the most entertaining American folk songwriter evening you’ll ever attend.
“We are nearly 33 years old now so just keeping programming and promoting live music in the North East independently is a remarkable achievement in itself.
“I doubt if any other UK specialist music promoters are still going from 1985 till the now! We're very proud of that and we have many great memories.”
Otis Gibbs will be available for media interviews in Newcastle on Friday 2 November.
Tickets for the Jumpin' Hot Club re-launch event are on sale now priced £14.00 – subject to booking fee – via this link: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/44450