Uttoxeter's best-loved blues band are set to play alongside an old friend known as one of the area's top musicians.

The Vice-Bishops will appear at Doveridge Village Club for their regular Meet on the Ridge event on Friday, September 8, this time featuring singer-songwriter Kev Hand.

Kev first came to the fore in the early eighties as the front man with Uttoxeter band Yeah Jazz, who released a number of well-respected singles, before signing with Cherry Red Records.

The band then toured Britain and Germany supporting acts as diverse as The Higsons, Fields of the Nephilim and Robin Hitchcock.

They also appeared on radio sessions for Janice Long, Wendy May and Simon Mayo and, in 1986, released their first full album, Six Lane Ends, which included the single This is not Love, which stayed in the indie charts for a number of weeks.

Shortly afterwards, the band fell apart but, after a short break, decided to reform with Bishops members Dave Blant and Fred Hopwood.

The talented pair provided a much more rootsy feel, culminating in the release of two LPs in the 90s, Short Stories and Songs from Biscuit Town.

Dave Faulkner of the Vice-Bishops performing at Dovefest 2017
Dave Faulkner of the Vice-Bishops performing at Dovefest 2017

After narrowly missing being signed by a major record label, Yeah Jazz eventually split up in 1996, so Dave and Fred continued with their other project, as long-time members of top UK Cajun band R.Cajun and the Zydeco Bros.

They went on to form the Vice-Bishops blues band with guitarists Pod Malkin and Dave Faulkner, while Kev continued song writing and recording before eventually forming his own band Radio Mary.

Kev said: "Over the years I've often been asked to play some of the early Yeah Jazz songs, so I'm really looking forward to starting the evening with some of these, alongside Bishops members and ex-Radio Mary Bass player Shaun Smith.

"The Vice Bishops will then take to the stage playing one of their legendary blues sets and, to close the evening, everyone will be up on stage for a selection of some of my favourite all time up-tempo R and B songs of the 60s and 70s.

"Rhythm and blues has always been my first love. It’s the reason I learnt to play the guitar, copying the British bands like The Rolling Stones, The Animals and The Spencer Davis Group."

Doors open at 8.30pm and admission costs £3. More information is available by calling 01889 563123 or 564403, or emailing fred@smalltownmusic.co.uk