Will Wilde | Biography

 „Outstanding harp with all the gruff ferocity of a junk yard dog" (Blues In Britain)

„Pop, Big Walter and Little Walter would be proud" (Jimmy D Lane)

„I just listened to it and it knocked me out...Sounds Great!" (Charlie Musselwhite)

If there were only one music bible, its first words would be: "In the beginning was the blues." In British singer and blues harp player Will Wilde, this elemental music which is the cornerstone of our entire popular culture has found a fascinating young adept who is already a true master of is adopted instrument. Since 2010, he has been nominated the best British harmonica player five times in succession at the British Blues Awards. At just 26 years of age this "Hendrix of the harmonica", as he is also known, has long been recognised as one of the best in his field. His rough blues and soul voice (Sam Cooke is his greatest idol) is equally as magnificent as his vibrato-laden harmonica playing. His three studio albums to date - "Nothing But Trouble" (2007), "Unleashed" (2011) and "Raw Blues" (2013) - confirm his credentials as a full-blooded songwriter who cooks up a fiery mix of blues, rock, funk and soul. His first live album which he has now recorded impresses across the board once again.

"Live In Hamburg" was recorded on 13 February this year at the city's Downtown Bluesclub. The chemistry between the playing styles of excellent guitarist Danny Giles (who has just released his debut album, "More is More" with his band) and Will Wilde works is particularly outstanding. The live set is in no way limited to Chicago Blues - Wilde's favourite blues genre. "Angel Came Down" is a straight rock number with shades of "All Along The Watchtower", while "Your Days Are Numbered" even has a touch of Led Zeppelin about it. While Will Wilde, a great fan of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Buddy Guy, avoids typical blues standards in his sets, alongside his excellent self-penned compositions he does also serve up a number of covers: "A Man And The Blues" by Buddy Guy, "Philby" by Rory Gallagher, "What Makes People" by Jimmy D. Lane and a rip-roaring version of Canned Heat's "On the Road Again" (plus the classic "Suzie Q" as a bonus track on the ITunes download). On "The Girl I Love" and "Jealous Woman" Wilde dons the guitar himself. The high-octane show, featuring bassist Victoria Smith and drummer Alan Taylor as a powerful rhythm section, offers everything one might expect of a modern rock'n'roll gig steeped knee-deep in blues.

It’s a wild Will Wilde world – you just gotta love it!