About

Hugh Budden & the Blue Chords make their Crawdaddy Club debut on Friday March 20th but are well known to the Swanage Blues Festival fans.   7.30pm at the Turk’s Head, Twickenham.

Hugh is widely regarded as one of the South’s finest harmonica players, known for his versatility, musicality and a highly individual style that flows effortlessly through blues, swing, jazz, funk and rock. Inspired by the great bands and songwriters of the seventies and later by the raw energy of British R and B.  Hugh’s playing is expressive, powerful and always rooted in feel. His career has taken him across the UK, Europe and beyond, performing at major festivals and intimate clubs alike, and sharing stages with artists connected to Queen, Deep Purple, Manfred Mann, Ray Charles, The Yardbirds, Van Morrison, Fleetwood Mac, Taj Mahal and many more.

Fronting The Blue Chords, Hugh is joined by an outstanding band of musicians who all appeared with him at The Ealing Blues Festival. On guitar is Joe Curtis, who has played alongside Hugh since the age of seventeen and went on to study music at university in London. On bass is Harvey Hark, a seasoned professional whose career spans decades, with a wide range of original and cover bands, as well as connections to veterans of the punk scene including Menace. On drums is Steve Faithfull, another hugely experienced player who has worked extensively across Europe, toured the Far East and recorded at Abbey Road Studios.

Together, Hugh Budden and the Blue Chords deliver music with depth, soul and plenty of fire, combining seasoned musicianship with the joy and spontaneity that live blues is all about. Expect top level playing and the kind of atmosphere the Crawdaddy Club is famous for. 

We have a dance floor, an in-room bar, plenty of chairs, easy parking after 5pm, close to St. Margaret’s Station, H37 bus, pub does great food and has a garden area.