When it comes to high-octane Rhythm & Blues, rockin' boogie-woogie piano and sweat-soaked rock 'n' roll, few performers anywhere in the world can match the explosive energy of Mike Sanchez. A singer, pianist and guitarist of extraordinary flair, Sanchez has built a reputation over four decades as one of Britain's most thrilling live performers — a piano-pounding showman whose wild, rolling boogie-woogie style and irresistible stage presence have electrified audiences across the globe.
Born Jesus Miguel Sanchez in Hackney, London on 17 February 1964, to Spanish parents, Mike's musical journey began after his family moved to Worcestershire when he was eleven. It was there that he discovered the raw excitement of 1950s American rhythm & blues, rockabilly and boogie-woogie, teaching himself piano and guitar while immersing himself in the music of pioneers like Little Willie Littlefield, Amos Milburn and the great jump-blues piano masters.
As a teenager he formed a rockabilly trio called The Rockets, but the real turning point came when Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant introduced him to Andy Silvester of Chicken Shack and Savoy Brown fame. That meeting led to the formation of The Big Town Playboys in 1984, a band dedicated to the authentic sound of post-war rhythm & blues and jump blues.
With Sanchez fronting the band on vocals and piano, the Big Town Playboys quickly gained a reputation as one of Europe's most exciting R&B outfits. Their infectious blend of honking saxes, rockabilly swagger and pounding boogie-woogie soon attracted the admiration of some serious musical heavyweights. Eric Clapton became such a fan that he invited the band to open for him during his famous Royal Albert Hall residencies, exposing them to huge audiences.
In 1993 Sanchez achieved another career highlight when Jeff Beck joined forces with the band to record the acclaimed album Crazy Legs, a tribute to Gene Vincent and his legendary guitarist Cliff Gallup. The record showcased Sanchez's fiery piano and vocals alongside Beck's razor-sharp guitar playing, cementing his reputation as one of the leading figures of the European roots-rock revival.
After leaving the Big Town Playboys in 1999 to pursue a solo career, Mike's reputation continued to soar. He was soon invited to join Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, the all-star band formed by the former Rolling Stones bassist. For four years Sanchez toured the world with the group, sharing the stage with musical luminaries including Georgie Fame, Albert Lee, Andy Fairweather-Low, Beverly Skeete and Eddie Floyd.
One of the most extraordinary moments of that period came in December 2007, when Mike appeared as a guest vocalist at the legendary Led Zeppelin reunion concert at London's O2 Arena, a tribute to Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. On a bill featuring soul icons Solomon Burke, Ben E. King, Percy Sledge and Sam Moore, Sanchez more than held his own, bringing his trademark piano-driven R&B firepower to one of the most talked-about concerts of the decade.
Along the way Mike has collaborated with an astonishing list of musical greats including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Albert Lee, Mark Knopfler and Dave Gilmour, and he has been voted "UK Keyboard Player of the Year" four years running by Blues in Britain magazine.
Whether performing with a full band complete with honking saxophones and rhythm section, or tearing up the piano in a stripped-back boogie-woogie setting, Sanchez remains a natural born entertainer — a performer who seems to channel the spirit of Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and the great jump-blues pianists every time he sits at the keys. As one admirer famously put it:
"Mike Sanchez would have invented rock 'n' roll if nobody else had bothered." – Mark Lamarr
Today Mike continues to tour internationally with various line-ups including his own rhythm & blues band featuring musicians associated with Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and Van Morrison, delivering electrifying performances that keep the golden era of rhythm & blues burning brightly for new generations of fans.
And now this world-class boogie-woogie piano pounder, rhythm & blues shouter and rock 'n' roll showman returns to the intimate Pennine listening room of Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, where audiences can experience the raw energy, humour and musical brilliance of Mike Sanchez up close and personal.
Expect pounding piano, smokin' rhythm & blues, and a night where the spirit of 1950s juke joints and jump-blues dance halls comes roaring back to life.
An evening of real rhythm & blues… the way it's meant to be played.
Need help, lost your tickets, or have any questions? Click here for help