The Animals and Friends Matinee

A Matinee show has been added due to amazing demand

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and founding Animal John Steel returns to Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre this August with Animals & Friends as part of the Blues of the World concert series — bringing with him one of the most important songbooks ever to explode out of Britain. Born from the banks of the River Tyne and forged in the same great British beat boom that gave the world The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds, The Animals were never just another hit band; they were raw electricity, working-class fire, and rhythm & blues with a snarl, a pulse and a purpose. From the moment "House of the Rising Sun" roared to Number One across the globe, they became part of music history, helping define the sound of the British Invasion and setting a standard that still echoes through rock, blues and soul to this day. With timeless, era-defining classics including "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," "Boom Boom," "Baby Let Me Take You Home" and "I Put A Spell On You," Animals & Friends continue to carry that legacy with power, authenticity and unmistakable class. Their enduring influence has been recognised for decades, with Classic Rock placing The Animals' 1964 debut among the "50 Albums That Built Blues Rock," while their live pedigree has seen them tour extensively alongside names such as Spencer Davis, Booker T & The M.G.'s, Steve Cropper, Maggie Bell and the late guitar giant Mick Green. Even Bruce Springsteen has spoken of his love for The Animals, hailing their records as some of the first songs that ever spoke to him with real class-conscious force. Now, after more than 60 years, the legend still grows — and in the intimate surroundings of Barnoldswick's magical 60-capacity room, this is a rare chance to experience a founding architect of British rhythm & blues history up close, personal, and still thrillingly alive.