Black-hearted boogie!

The 44s are taking their black-hearted boogie on the road this summer.

The 44s are a guitar, bass and drums combo from Leicester, UK, who draw their music from the raw elements of Mississippi mud. This is delta blues, amplified, ramshackle, nailed on to a brutally primitive beat that is as infectious as swine fever.

For two years “2bad” Jim and Mr Paul Williams have been touring as a two piece, playing festivals in Leicester and Nottingham, supporting visiting Mississippi blues royalty T-Model Ford and Kenny Brown and receiving rave reviews in Blues Matters Magazine. But this year the addition of Mark Kennedy on bass has added a muscular pulse to the 44s’ sound.  Around this Mr Paul plays anything from snare to tea tray to maracas, and between them they concoct a red-blooded rhythm that propels the 44s’ delta blues, bluegrass and country flavoured songs.

“2bad”Jim’s trademark red Gibson guitars, delta fingerstyle and slide riffs give the songs both the authentic roots feel of RL Burnside, and the 70s stylings of Tony “TS” McFee. The compelling result is a raucous, simple brand of blues that includes fast and furious covers by their hero, RL Burnside, modern blues-country songs from Seasick Steve, Nick Cave, and the White Stripes, as well as old time and country artists like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. They may be different from the average blues band, but there’s no doubt the 44s love blues.

And now the 44s are making a noise on the blues circuit.  They each have years of professional experience in Britain, Spain and Australia that gives them the skill to bring this dark and dangerous backwoods hoodoo to life on stage. recreating the ‘Saturday-night’ atmosphere of juke joints and honky tonks in deep southern United States. The original delta blues singers were paid to get the party started. And, that’s exactly what the 44s are going to do. So if you’re a fan of “O Brother Where Art Thou?”, John Lee Hooker, RL Burnside, Jon Spencer or “Black Snake Moan”, grab your rusty pick-up, put your Stetson on your head, and set off for the 44s. Inspired by blues and country, inspired by songs of violence, deceit, and revenge, and inspired by Mississippi, the 44s will give you the devil’s music from the deep south. And as everyone knows, everything's hotter down south.

Email: info@thefortyfours.co.uk tel: 07941 837714