Having been unavailable for a little while, the Cadillac Kings CD's "Highway 17" and "Lou Ann" have now been re-pressed and are available to purchase once again from this site. Click here for purchase information.

From the very outset The Cadillac Kings became firm favourites on the blues & jump-jive scenes. With stunning musicianship & an exciting stage act, this band knows how to entertain audiences across the board, from arts centres to dance-halls, & from intimate clubs to major festivals, the length & breadth of the UK, Europe & Scandinavia.

The band formed in 2000, around London, from six experienced musicians, whose cvs included James Hunter, Otis Grand, Paul Lamb & Big Joe Louis. Six months later they released their debut cd ‘Lou Ann’. It was picked up right away by radio stations across the world and earned the band a ’finalist’ status in the 2001 USA Swing awards.

Amongst the line-up is the award winning harp player Gary Potts ("a harmonica great in the making" wrote US mag Blues Revue back in 2002). Gary’s awesome tone & power regularly position him in polls for the best UK harmonica player. He was the audience choice as top harp-player for 2004, 2005 & 2006 in Nottingham’s Wychwood Brewery music awards.

The other founder member of the band is vocalist & songwriter Mike Thomas, who writes nearly all the band’s material, combining the sounds & styles of ‘40s & ‘50s r ‘n’ b with an unerring 21st century wit. “Mike’s often hilarious lyrics are right up there with Rick Estrin & Louis Jordan” wrote blues journalist Ken Peace in his northwestblues blog.

2004 saw the release of the band’s second CD ‘Highway 17’ on the UK jazz & roots label ‘33’ Records. The music critics of UK newspaper The Times included 'Highway 17', alongside albums by Morrissey, U2, the Scissor Sisters etc, in their list of the top 24 releases of the year, and chose it as best blues CD. Following wide airplay the band were invited to play live sessions for BBC radio, Norwegian TV and Dutch radio.

Since then the band continue to gig across europe in clubs & at festivals & have opened shows for acts such as Lazy Lester, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Rod Piazza, Magic Slim, Lil' Ed & His Blues Imperials, Louisiana Red, John Mayall, Larry Garner, Nappy Brown, Little Feat & Delbert McLinton to name but a few!

With the recent release of the band’s 3rd album (to rave reviews) they approach 2009 with what many consider to be their strongest line-up ever, featuring the amazing piano player Henri Herbert & the UK’s finest west coast-style guitarist, Mal Barclay. ‘DON’T MISS THEM!’ Blues in Britain

PRESS QUOTES

“Entertaining, authentic & infectious - The Cadillac Kings’ high energy swinging R&B is enough to put a foaming head on a pint of real ale! This is pure good time music that left The Darlington Arts Centre audience dizzy, long after they’d left the building.” Darrell Parsons, Blues in Britain

"The Cadillac Kings stand alongside bands like Mike Sanchez, The Big Town Playboys and King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys, but at the Molde Festival I reckon they rocked a whole lot more than all of those bands put together." Thomas Oyen, RockMag, Norway

“The CKs are experienced, talented and very tight. They set out to give the audience as much fun as they obviously have on stage, and they succeed admirably. A 6-piece touring band is a bit of a luxury in this trimmed-down age, but to see one that plays with the drive, finesse and sheer exuberance that they do, is a real pleasure!” Mike Mager, Blues in Britain

"The Cadillac Kings prove that jump blues really does exist in the UK. This band plays blues, rock 'n' roll & swing of the very first order. “ Marc Loison, Radio Caen, France

“they rate as one of the most swinging acts around. It's extremely difficult to classify them, they play r 'n' b, they swing, and they rock 'n' roll, while staying true to a very bluesy sound. One thing's for sure it's always fun to see and hear these guys play live!" Back to the Roots Mag, Belgium

"The CKs are Britain's foremost exponents of '40s & '50s jump-blues & jive. Harmonica ace Gary Potts is worth the price of a ticket on his own" Nottingham Evening Post

"Instrumentally & vocally strong, The CKs recreate US 40's & 50's R&B styles with oodles of vigour.You'd be hard pressed to guess that this lot first surfaced in Essex in the UK!". fRoots Magazine

“This sensational band have a must-bop quality that swept the 1500 strong Purbrook festival crowd onto its feet on Saturday night. And in Gary Potts, the Kings have a musician of awesome quality, who uses the harp to drive the whole sound along. This was a night to remember – marvellous music.“ Mark Acheson, Portsmouth Evening News

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