to the website of Blues and Americana duo, Cole & Ward.
Mark Cole (Sons of the Delta, The Jigantics) is a respected multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter and has played and recorded internationally for over forty years. His recordings, including his solo album COLE, have all garnered critical acclaim. His powerful, passionate vocals and honest uncluttered slide and rhythm guitar (plus a little mandolin and other found objects) make it hard not to enjoy his musical creations. He has played with and supported many top blues and roots artists including Pinetop Perkins, Dr. Feelgood, Richard Thompson and Alvin Lee. Cole's songwriting is instantly recognisable: quirky, funny and yet capable of poignance too.
Liam Ward (Liam Ward Band, Jake Leg Jug Band) is an official Hohner artists and has won awards for his harmonica skills. His albums which feature his inventive songwriting have received great reviews globally and he is well known harmonica tutor. He's a blues specialist but also loves playing rock, pop, country, jazz and more. An internationally recognised musician, he has performed across Europe and in the USA, Canada, Mexico and Australia. Also an in-demand session harmonica player with recording clients worldwide. Liam also plays a variety of strange instruments such as musical saw, washboard, jug, jaw harp, and comb & paper.
Together, they deliver an entertaining and diverse show of Southern American music styles and a set from these two takes a "pass-the-parcel" approach with each given a chance to share their own styles and songs, with a growing number of co-written songs from their debut album, Blues and Other Truths. If you ask for an encore, you might even hear a harp duel between the two of them!
"Catchy, diverse in style and, above all, astonishing…"
ERIC SCHUURMANS, ROOTSTIME.BE
"On my list for album of the year. Grab yourself a copy and enjoy the ride!”
PETE CLACK, BLUES IN BRITAIN MAGAZINE
"These guys are in top form. Overall, this is an excellent, very enjoyable and sometimes thought-provoking release."
NORMAN DARWEN, THE JAZZ RAG
"Two fine musicians on top of their game and they work so well together. A fantastic album and I strongly recommend you give this a spin."
GED WILSON, BLUESINTHESOUTH.COM
"Cole & Ward are having fun, experimenting with sound and we are loving it too! 9/10"
MAVERICK MAGAZINE
Our debut album Blues and Other Truths is now available and it's getting great reviews and lots of airplay! You can buy physical copies at Rawtone Records or at Green Bullet Records or use the Bandcamp widget below to hear and purchase the digital version. Thanks!
"This is a really strong album, a fine celebration of two very talented musicians."
ANDY SMYTHE, FATEA
"A very enjoyable set. Recommended."
NORMAN DARWEN, TWOJ BLUES MAGAZINE (POLAND)
"High-spirited and pleasant from the jump"
MARTY GUNTHER, CHICAGO BLUES GUIDE
"Cole & Ward understand each other. Clever puns, tongue-in-cheek stories, poetic twists and turns. An album that is truly fun!"
MARCO PIAZZALONGA, JAZZ'N'MORE MAGAZINE
The first single from the debut album
The second single from the debut album
Here are our confirmed forthcoming dates. Click on the blue information icon for more detail including a link to the venue on Google maps. We're adding dates all the time so check back regularly!
Oct 6 |
Swanage Blues Festival, The Centre, Swanage |
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Oct 9 |
Café René, Southgate Street, Gloucester |
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Feb 18 |
Roger's Supper Club, Fentham Hall, Hampton-in-Arden |
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May 6 |
with Lucy Piper - Bristol Blues Club (Black Horse), Two Mile Hill Road, Kingswood |
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"A quality and professionalism that sets them apart from so many"
ROCK 'N' REEL MAGAZINE
"Fantastic"
PAUL JONES, BBC RADIO 2
"These two are supremely talented and, when they play together, their talent is magnified."
BLUES IN BRITAIN MAGAZINE
"This is sunshine music"
BLUESDOODLES.COM
Album review on ROOTSTIME.BE -> Rootstime
Album review in FATEA magazine -> FATEA magazine
Album review on BLUESINTHESOUTH.COM #1 -> Blues in the South #1
Album review on BLUESINTHESOUTH.COM #2 -> Blues in the South #2
For a list of past gigs, click here
Click for biography (PDF)
Click for photos (ZIP)
Click for logo (PNG)
Click for gig poster (PDF)
Click for stage spec (PDF)
Bandcamp:
coleandward.bandcamp.com
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/markjcole
www.instagram.com/liamwardmusic
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/markcolemusic
www.facebook.com/liamwardmusic
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/markcolemusic
www.twitter.com/liamwardmusic
Telephone: 07947 363 441 or 07736 254 931
Email: info@coleandward.co.uk