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Music

in The Bar at Shrewsbury House, Bushmoor Crescent, PLUMSTEAD SE18 3EG

Friday 4th July 2025

(7pm to 10.30pm with live music from 8pm)

A Journey through the Black American Songbook with 

MICHAEL ROACH

Michael Roach w

Michael Roach, one of thirteen children born to Ted and Sadie Roach of Washington, D.C., USA, sings and plays guitar in an East Coast style of blues that dates back to the 1920s. After spending several years learning directly from such well known figures as John Jackson, John Cephas and Jerry Ricks, Michael Roach has developed his own style and is an exceptional performer. He interacts with his audience and entertains as he plays. Michael performs traditional songs and those by other artists, but has also written and recorded many of his own compositions on the six albums that he has released over the years.  Besides performing, Michael has lectured for the Smithsonian Institute (USA), Oxford University (UK) and the University of Metz (France).

 'A breath of fresh air' - America's premier Blues magazine, Living Blues

Michael Roach with John Cephas Jerry Ricks and Honeyboy Edwards
Michael Roach with John Cephas Jerry Ricks and Honeyboy Edwards
Michael Roach with John Jackson and John Cephas
Michael Roach with John Jackson and John Cephas

SADIE ROACH

Sadie Roach w

Sadie Roach sings and plays piano with soulful understanding well beyond her years. From tear-jerking performances of jazz ballads like 'Here's To Life' by Shirley Horn to gritty, upbeat blues and soul, Sadie's talent has no limit. Nor does her vocal range, as her unique tones allow deep low notes to the high notes of Minnie Riperton. Once referred to as Nina Simone reincarnated, her sound is reminiscent of the late Nancy Wilson, and Dinah Washington, who performed and recorded with Sadie's grandmother's first cousin, Brook Benton.

Growing up hearing her father, Michael Roach, play the blues in the house everyday on his guitar, and attending his gigs around the world since she was a baby, Sadie has internalised all the sounds of African American musical heritage. She has performed internationally, in the Hoogeven Blues Festival in The Netherlands, Knutsford Music Festival in the UK, the Tinner Hill Blues Festival in Virginia, USA to name but a few. She attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington D.C., U.S.A., when she was 15 years old to study classical piano and then went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, U.K., in 2018 to study jazz piano.

She recorded her first EP, 'Hooked On Love' at 18 years old, with the title track being featured on BBC Radio 2 by Paul Jones. More recently, she recorded with her father on his most recent album, 'Tryin' Times', featuring her original song, 'A Vote for Me'. Her version of Lead Belly's 'Take This Hammer' was played on BBC Radio 6 by Cerys Matthews, and it has received raving reviews.

This year Sadie's two most recent recordings, namely cover version's of 'Little Child Runnin Wild' (Superfly) and 'Brothers Gonna Work It Out' (The Mack) have been released as a 7 inch vinyl single.

TICKETS for this event are £12 in advance with no commission at BOOKINGS

If any remain then they will be £15 on the night (cash only please)

Art's Music Lounge dates for Autumn 2025

Friday 26th September - An evening of Mississippi Hill Country Blues and Boogie with THE TOO BAD JIMS

Tickets: £10 in advance with no commission at BOOKINGS

(If any remain or there are returns then they will be available on the night at £12 cash only)

Left to Right: SON JACK JR vocals/guitar, NICK SIMONON drums & LITTLE VICTOR vocals/guitar

The Too Bad Jims got their name from the seminal Fat Possum album "Too Bad Jim" by the hugely influential blues musician RL Burnside. The band plays a gritty high-octane mix of North Mississippi Hill Country blues and boogie.

It all initially started as a casual collaboration between two veteran and multiple award-winning musicians, Little Victor and Son Jack Jr. and they shortly after rounded out the trio with the one and only Nick Simonon (Brother of Paul Simonon of The Clash) on drums and things really started cookin’!

Their unique and unusual combination of dual rough and ready vocals, bare-bones electric guitars, slashing bottleneck, and a heavily rhythm-oriented groove, delivers a hypnotic, raw, and earthy sound typical of a North Mississippi juke joint.

 

"...absolutely scorching..." Living Blues Magazine

"A remarkable three-piece ... they represent the real essence of blues music, unfiltered and immediate" Blues Matters Magazine

"...relentlessly upbeat..."  Blues Blast Magazine (USA)

"the Too Bad Jims give the slogan “keeping the blues alive” fresh meaning" Blues Roadhouse

"a timely reminder of how good Mississippi blues can be" Blues in Britain

Friday 17th OctoberART'S VINYL PARTY

 

Tickets: £5 in advance (£6 on the door)

Art's Vinyl Party w

Friday 28th November    DEXTER & THE WOLFTONES featuring DAWNETTE FESSEY

Tickets: £10 in advance (£12 on the door if available). If you buy a ticket for this and Friday 26th September at the same time then it's £18 for the two.

Dexter Shaw - Guitar & Vocals
Dexter Shaw - Guitar & Vocals
Francesca Nnoka Shaw - Double Bass
Francesca Nnoka Shaw - Double Bass
Loris Peverani - Drums
Loris Peverani - Drums
Dawnette Fessey - Blues vocalist
Dawnette Fessey - Blues vocalist

Seating is available for everyone.
However, please note that dancing is positively encouraged, if not actually demanded!

 

The BAR is card only and although there is no draught beers, a full range of bottle conditioned ales & beers from BEXLEY BREWERY are on offer + wines, spirits & soft drinks at very competitive prices.

HOW TO GET TO ART'S MUSIC LOUNGE

From Central London the quickest and most direct route is via the ELIZABETH LINE to Woolwich and then the 244 bus (destination Queen Elizabeth Hospital and NOT Abbey Wood, which is the wrong way) to Shrewsbury Lane at the top of Shooter's Hill and then a few minutes walk.

The other options nearby are the railway stations at WELLING (from Kent) and BLACKHEATH (from London) with the 89 bus from each taking you to the top of Shooters Hill, followed by a short walk.

If you are coming by car there is Disabled parking on site and free parking in the surrounding streets.

For details of Previous Music Lounge evenings

CLICK HERE