XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES

XANDER & THE PEACE PIRATES
RETURN TO BARNOLDSWICK MUSIC & ARTS CENTRE

There are some bands whose story is every bit as compelling as their music. Xander & The Peace Pirates are one of those rare acts.

Returning to Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, the Liverpool-based brothers Keith and Stuart Xander have spent more than a decade building a reputation as one of Britain's most exciting, uplifting and genuinely original blues-rock bands. Their remarkable journey has taken them from the clubs of Merseyside to major international stages alongside some of the biggest names in rock, blues and roots music, earning admiration from critics, audiences and musical legends alike.

The story begins in Liverpool, where the brothers immersed themselves in the city's rich musical heritage. Long before festival appearances, international tours and magazine accolades, the band spent five years as the resident house band at the legendary Cavern Club, performing hundreds of shows in the venue forever associated with The Beatles. Those years forged the band's reputation as an electrifying live act and helped develop the chemistry and stagecraft that would later become their trademark.

What makes the band's story even more extraordinary is frontman Keith Xander himself. Born without a right arm below the elbow, Keith plays guitar using a specially adapted prosthesis fitted with a plectrum. Yet while many initially focus on the mechanics, it takes only a few moments of watching him perform to realise they are witnessing something far greater. Keith is not admired simply because he overcomes adversity; he is admired because he is a genuinely world-class guitarist, vocalist and songwriter whose passion, feel and technical ability stand comfortably alongside the finest musicians on the contemporary blues and rock scene.

Their breakthrough came when videos of the band caught the attention of former Gibson Brands CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. What followed was a whirlwind period that saw Xander & The Peace Pirates performing at major Gibson events across the globe, from Los Angeles to Dubai, placing them in front of some of the most influential figures in the music industry. Along the way they attracted the support of legendary producer Eddie Kramer, whose résumé includes Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Kiss and The Rolling Stones, as well as Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen.

The band's growing reputation soon led to high-profile support slots with an astonishing roll call of artists including Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani, Robben Ford, Eric Bibb, Vintage Trouble, The Temperance Movement, Bernie Marsden, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and even Bon Jovi at Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium. As Classic Rock Magazine's Fraser Lewry observed:

"Despite being a new name to many, they've already shared space onstage with rock and blues glitterati like Buddy Guy, Bon Jovi, Vintage Trouble, The Temperance Movement, Eric Bibb, Robben Ford, Manfred Mann, Joe Bonamassa, Ritchie Kotzen, Bernie Marsden and The Fabulous Thunderbirds."

In 2016 the band released their debut album 11:11, recorded at the world-famous Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands. The record announced the arrival of a band capable of blending blues, soul, country, Americana and classic rock into a sound that felt both timeless and fresh. Critical praise followed immediately.

Classic Rock Magazine noted:

"The novelty of frontman Keith Xander's guitar approach is soon overshadowed by this band's convincing splice of soul, blues and country."

Meanwhile, legendary BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Bob Harris became one of the band's most vocal supporters, declaring:

"This band are just awesome and take me right back to my OGWT days."

As word spread, the endorsements from fellow musicians became increasingly impressive.

Steve Lukather of Toto simply said:

"Very cool. The guy plays and sings great! Hard to believe these guys are from the UK. I like it!"

Rick Allen of Def Leppard remarked:

"This guy is not only inspiring but lovely too!"

And acclaimed blues-rock star Joanne Shaw Taylor added:

"They're a great band with a big future for sure."

Perhaps one of the most telling endorsements comes from Manfred Mann, who has not only shared stages with the band but worked with them extensively in Germany:

"Xander and the Peace Pirates have done a number of concerts with us in Germany now and it has been a musical and personal pleasure to work with them. They are really very unusual but most importantly, they are very good."

Following years of touring and growing international recognition, the band returned with their much-anticipated second album, Order Out Of Chaos, released in 2022. The album showcased a more mature songwriting approach while retaining the soulful melodies, soaring guitar work and uplifting spirit that had become their hallmark. It attracted praise from Guitar World, Blues Rock Review, Total Rock and numerous international media outlets while expanding the band's audience across Europe and North America.

Today, Xander & The Peace Pirates stand as one of the UK's most distinctive live acts. Their music effortlessly combines blues, rock, soul, Americana and roots influences into something uniquely their own. Their concerts move from intimate moments of beauty to soaring guitar-led crescendos, all delivered with infectious energy, warmth and authenticity.

What truly separates them from many of their contemporaries is the emotional connection they create with an audience. There is no gimmick, no artifice and no manufactured image. Instead, there is simply great songwriting, exceptional musicianship and an overwhelming passion for making music that uplifts and inspires.

Whether performing in a packed theatre, a major festival arena or an intimate listening room such as Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, the result is always the same: standing ovations, smiling faces and audiences discovering one of Britain's best-kept musical secrets.

With haunting riffs, soaring melodies, world-class guitar playing and a message rooted firmly in peace, love and humanity, Xander & The Peace Pirates continue to win hearts wherever they go.

Don't miss the chance to experience them in the intimate surroundings of Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, where every note can be felt, every lyric heard and every ounce of their remarkable musicianship appreciated up close and personal.

"Not only is he immensely talented on the guitar and vocals, he burns with an unbelievable passion for the music, pouring every ounce of energy into his performance."
— Richard Rosenthal, Screamer Magazine, Los Angeles

"This band are just awesome and take me right back to my OGWT days."
— Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

"They are really very unusual, but most importantly, they are very good."
— Manfred Mann

"Very cool. The guy plays and sings great!"
— Steve Lukather, Toto

"They're a great band with a big future for sure."
— Joanne Shaw Taylor