The Band
Chickenbone Blues is one of Birmingham’s premier Acoustic Blues and Swing/Jazz outfits. We have an acoustic approach with a warm powerful sound and enjoy playing this timeless music to a wide range of audiences. Our Swing/Jazz numbers have a relaxed, authentic feel and our acoustic Blues set brings the sounds of the Mississippi Delta and Chicago blues clubs to life. We can play in a variety of combinations, from an acoustic trio to a full band with drums, keyboards and electric guitar.

Our Influences - Blues, Jazz & Swing
Our influences are wide ranging and we always aim to make music which is accessible, communicating our own love of playing. Our typical Blues set lists include numbers by Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Ry Cooder, Tom Waits, T-Bone Walker, Louis Jordan, John Lee Hooker and Eric Bibb. Our repertoire of Jazz/Swing numbers leans heavily on classic and well loved songs by composers as diverse as Rogers & Hart and Ray Charles.

Who's in the Band?

At the heart of our sound is the electric or amplified acoustic guitar of 'Chickenbone' John Wormald. The sound is big and fat, heavily influenced by the early Lightnin’ Hopkins and John Lee Hooker sound, and he is also widely acknowledged as one of the foremost slide guitar players on the circuit. John also teaches slide guitar and has studied with Kevin Brown and USA slide maestro Catfish Keith.

The legendary Dave Smith (ex 7:17 Blues), brings his soulful and sensitive harmonica playing to the band. Dave has created a tone to die for and we'll be posting details of his equipment on the site shortly.

Ken Stratford on double bass adds depth and punch and a jazzy groove to the sound of the band. Ken gets his great sound using an old bass that has been sensitively restored with the help of a couple of tins of Nitromorse, a K&K Bass Master pickup and a Gallien Krueger amp for on-stage sound.