BEN POOLE TRIO

With amps glowing hot and blues fire running through the veins of every note, the mighty Ben Poole Trio are set to return to Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre later this year for another explosive night of high-voltage British blues-rock at its absolute finest.

Over the last decade, Ben Poole has evolved from a teenage guitar prodigy tearing through the UK blues circuit into one of the most respected and internationally celebrated guitarists of his generation. What began with local club shows at the age of sixteen has exploded into a worldwide touring career spanning Europe, North America and beyond, with Ben now regarded as one of the leading lights of the modern blues-rock explosion.

But this is not simply another guitarist playing the blues. Ben Poole brings something far more dangerous to the stage.

His sound is a fierce collision of smoky soul, hard-driving blues, southern rock swagger and emotionally charged songwriting — delivered with the kind of intensity that can silence a room one minute and blow the roof off it the next. His guitar tone drips with vintage spirit while his live performances burn with contemporary firepower. Somewhere between the emotional depth of Gary Moore, the groove-heavy swagger of Joe Bonamassa, the soulfulness of John Mayer and the raw attack of classic British rock lies the unmistakable sound of Ben Poole.

And the music world has taken serious notice.

Shortly before the global pandemic halted touring across the world, Ben was nominated by Guitar World as one of the "Best Blues Guitarists in the World," mentioned alongside iconic names including Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray and Joe Bonamassa.

Before that, he had already been singled out by Total Guitar as "the guitarist to watch out for," while major European blues publications and broadcasters were beginning to hail him as one of the UK's great emerging talents.

The praise surrounding Ben reads like a roll call of rock and blues royalty:

"Truly astonishing" — Classic Rock
"F***ing amazing!" — Jeff Beck
"A REALLY good player" — Gary Moore
"So amazing!" — Beth Hart
"Killer!" — Kenny Wayne Shepherd
"Unbelievable!" — Richie Kotzen
"I'm a big fan!" — Philip Sayce

When artists of that calibre start talking about a player in those terms, you know something extraordinary is happening.

Ben's rise has been built not through hype, but through relentless touring, fearless musicianship and jaw-dropping live performances. Over the years he has stormed stages at major international festivals including Glastonbury Festival, Download Festival, Sierre Blues Festival in Switzerland and countless major European blues gatherings, earning a reputation as one of the most electrifying performers on the circuit today.

His albums have further cemented that reputation.

From the breakout force of Let's Go Upstairs through the incendiary Live at the Royal Albert Hall, the emotionally rich Time Has Come and the critically acclaimed Anytime You Need Me, Ben has consistently proven himself to be far more than simply a flashy guitarist. Royal Albert Hall became the setting for one of his defining live recordings, capturing the sheer power and soul of his stage show.

Then came Trio/// Live '19 — a record that perfectly captured the chemistry, danger and electricity of the live Ben Poole Trio experience. No studio trickery. No safety net. Just raw musicianship, towering blues grooves and a band locked together with absolute intensity.

And that is exactly why the return of the Ben Poole Trio to Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre feels so perfectly matched.

In a world of overproduced arena shows and disconnected concert experiences, BMAAC remains the kind of room where music becomes physical — where every bend of a guitar string, every vocal growl and every pulse of the bass hits you directly in the chest.

This is not background music. This is not polite blues. This is deep, gritty, emotionally charged rock 'n' roll played by musicians who mean every single note.

Expect smoky slow blues that feel like 3am heartbreak. Expect roaring riffs and soaring solos delivered at full throttle.
Expect moments of delicate soulfulness suddenly exploding into pure guitar-driven chaos.

One moment Ben Poole can whisper through a blues ballad with spine-tingling sensitivity… the next he unleashes a solo so fierce it feels like the spirit of the great electric blues pioneers has taken over the room.

At Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre — where the audience are almost close enough to touch the amps — this promises to be one of those unforgettable nights where the walls sweat, the guitars howl and the entire room becomes completely consumed by the music.

The Ben Poole Trio are coming back guns blazing… and Barnoldswick is about to feel every single note.