Oli Brown

Event information

Securing support slots in 2008 with artist such as Jon Cleary, Johnny Winter, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robben Ford, Walter Trout and Devon Allman. Check him out!

"one of the best and brightest guitar heroes performing in the world today" Classic Rock magazine

Up until 2002, Oli Brown had never picked up a guitar, yet by 2006 (at just 16) he had toured in America, TWICE, opening for  Blues royalty such as Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Taj Mahal, shared UK stages with Walter Trout, Paul Jones, Buddy Whittington and even the Godfather of British Blues, John Mayall.

Such hallowed connections only serve to reaffirm the belief, that for many, Oli is the most promising Blues man to emerge from Britain in a long time. Not only a guitar prodigy but also a singer, songwriter and consummate performer. This is a  young man who shows total dedication to the genre he loves.

In late 2006, whilst playing at jam sessions, Oli met Simon Dring, a superb drummer and Fred Hollis, a highly talented bass player. It was during these sessions, finding that not only did they get on well musically, but also as friends,  that Oli asked both Fred and Simon to join him in The Oli Brown Band. March 2007 was the start of their live gigs.

Paul Jones saw and heard the potential and invited The Oli Brown Band, to do a live session for his BBC Radio 2 show. The session was aired May 14 2007 and received rave reviews.

Oli went back to play in the States during July and August of 2007 (guesting with the American Blues band, Blinddog Smokin') there he hit the Mid West with his young British Blues and built up his reputation even more.

In November 2007, The Oli Brown Band was selected by "Blues in Britain" to perform at the 24th International Blues Convention in Memphis, Tennessee. Oli and his band were the ONLY UK act to be chosen to represent Britain at this prestigious event !! 

In February 2008, Oli  was invited to record at Ardent Studios, Memphis, by John Fry himself, not only to cut a couple of tracks, but also to have The Oli Brown Band  record a live session for their "Ardent Session" (a weekly radio transmission). An honour indeed and not taken for granted. It is worth pointing out that The Oli Brown Band live session had over 1.4 million hits (YES ! 1.4 million !) in three weeks !

Oli signed to the major Blues label, Ruf Records, in January 2008  and went into the studio (with Fred and Simon) in March 2008 to cut  the tracks for his first official album "OPEN ROAD"(consisting of 8 original tracks and 3 great covers), it was released in  June 2008 and has received excellent reviews.

Here are just a few of the UK reviews for "Open Road"

"has the Blues under his fingernails" Classic Rock
"a debut that lives up to expectations" Mojo
"the future of the Blues is evidently bright" Guitarist
"definitely one for the present as well as the future" Guitar and Bass
"a sparkling debut" Sunday Express

2008 had The Oli Brown Band gigging extensively and included supporting artists such as Johnny Winter, Robben Ford, Walter Trout, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Devon Allman's Honeytribe, Jon Cleary and Buddy Whittington.

Oli spent the month of August gigging in America, alongside Sherman Robertson, Miss Blues, Billy Branch and Blinddog Smokin'.

In 2008 Oli secured endorsements from Hofner, Fender, Vanquish and Ernie Ball.

Ecstatic reviews here, Europe  and in America, only go to show that this young British singer, songwriter and musician has a great future ahead of him.

Haven't seen Oli perform ? Here are some comments from people that have,

"a great talent" John Mayall
"Oli is MY hero" Walter Trout
"one of the best and brightest guitar heroes performing in the world today" Classic Rock
"a great band, the BEST we have worked with" Devon Allman (son of Greg Allman)
"East Anglian whiz kid not to be missed" Paul Jones (Manfred Mann, The Blues Band, BBC Radio 2 )
"Blues prodigy set to shake the British scene out of its slumber" Classic Rock
"Oli is the most promising Blues man to emerge from Britain for a long time" Blues Matters magazine
"a lot of fire and passion" Aynsley Lister
"he PLAYS the Blues" Otis Grand
"more soulful and rhythmically creative than a Zulu war drummer !" Elmore (American music magazine.)
"the real deal" Blues in Britain magazine
"we would like Oli for future shows with Johnny Winter" Paul Nelson, Johnny Winter's manager.
"let's do it again !" The Fabulous Thunderbirds