An Anthology of One of Britain's Finest Blues Guitarists
Featuring a Special Tribute to Roy Buchanan
Sunday Matinee Show
Doors 12.30pm | On Stage 1.30pm
As part of the Blues of the World Programme, Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre is proud to welcome one of the UK's most compelling and dynamic blues guitarists, Innes Sibun, for a very special Sunday afternoon matinee celebrating the music and career of this remarkable musician.
For more than three decades Sibun has quietly built a reputation as one of Britain's most authentic and emotionally powerful blues guitarists. His playing combines blistering technique with deep musical feeling — the very essence of the blues tradition. Rooted firmly in the lineage of the great electric blues stylists, Sibun's performances are renowned for their intensity, soul and sheer musical authority.
Born in Bath, England, Sibun first discovered the blues as a young teenager after hearing the legendary B.B. King. That moment ignited a lifelong dedication to the guitar and to the expressive possibilities of blues music. Through years of touring, recording and performing he steadily carved out a place among the most respected blues musicians in the UK.
His extraordinary ability soon caught the attention of the wider rock world. In the early 1990s Sibun was invited to join Robert Plant's band, touring internationally with the former Led Zeppelin frontman during the Fate of Nations era. The tour took Sibun across major stages throughout the United States, Europe and South America, introducing his exceptional guitar playing to global audiences.
Throughout his career Sibun has also shared stages with many legendary artists including Johnny Winter, Taj Mahal, Walter Trout, Peter Green and The Fabulous Thunderbirds, building a reputation as a guitarist who combines technical brilliance with heartfelt musical expression.
Critics have long recognised Sibun's unique gifts. Classic Rock – The Blues Magazine described him as "the best sort of musician… overflowing with ideas and energy, drawing on a deep wellspring of feeling that's undeniable and immediately infectious." Total Guitar Magazine declared his music to be "probably the best blues you'll hear all year," while Venue Magazine famously asked: "He's toured the USA in Robert Plant's band and headlined festivals across Europe… so why isn't Innes Sibun famous?" Perhaps most tellingly, Classic Rock Magazine suggested that "national treasure status awaits."
The majority of this Barnoldswick performance will be a sweeping anthology of Innes Sibun's own music and career, taking the audience on a journey through the songs, guitar styles and influences that have shaped his life in the blues. Expect everything from deep Chicago blues grooves and soulful slow burners to fiery electric blues workouts and powerful originals.
During the afternoon Sibun will also dedicate a special section of the show to the legendary American guitarist Roy Buchanan. Though only part of the performance, this tribute will honour one of the most revered guitar stylists in blues history. Buchanan, often referred to as "The Best Unknown Guitarist in the World," was a master of the Fender Telecaster, renowned for his haunting volume swells, searing bends and deeply expressive playing. His extraordinary approach to the instrument influenced generations of guitarists including Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Danny Gatton and David Gilmour, and although he passed away in 1988 his legacy remains one of the most revered in electric blues.
Set in the intimate surroundings of Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre's celebrated listening room beneath McCullough's Irish Bar, this Sunday matinee promises an afternoon of world-class blues played exactly as it should be — close, raw, powerful and full of soul.
For lovers of authentic electric blues guitar, deep musical feeling and world-class musicianship, this will be a truly special afternoon in the Blues of the World series.
Sunday Matinee
Doors 12.30pm | On Stage 1.30pm
Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre
Where great music from around the world finds a home in the heart of the Pennines
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