Kevin Dempsey & Chris Gibbons

What to Expect

Kevin Dempsey is one of the most sought-after musicians on the UK folk scene and beyond. A master performer on the guitar, an arranger, a singer, and a top-quality live entertainer. He is a master of guitar styles and will dazzle you with his dexterity, haunt you with soulful melody, or simply play you a song you will never forget.

He has played and recorded with many of the most famous names in acoustic and folk music: Dave Swarbrick, Joe Broughton, Chris Leslie, Peter Knight, Dando Shaft, Uiscedwr, Whippersnapper, Mary Black, and Jacqui McShee.

Whether in an intimate acoustic environment, or a large festival stage where he fills the air with spellbinding music, Kevin puts his audience at ease and takes them on a varied and wonderful musical journey.

Chris Gibbons grew up in the London blues boom of the late 60s and, having turned down Ian Fraser ( Free ) for his bass player, he formed a band with members of American blues man Freddie King's backing group including Lou Martin (later Rory Gallagher) and was offered a record deal, first recording with the Bee Gees arranger and orchestra at London's Olympic studios, then produced by Micky Jones (Foreigner) at Island studios with Gary Wright (Spooky Tooth, George Harrison and Dreamweaver).

With his firm foundation in American blues, soul and R&B, he was first call for many American soul acts including the showstoppers (ain't nothing but a house party), Viola Wills, Doris Troy, The Soul Survivors and Ben E King.

He toured the USA and recorded with the Original Truth label, a subsidiary of Stax records, where the band was attracting the interest of Quincy Jones who attended the rehearsals, but sadly the limited ‘green card' visa forced him to return to the UK where he continued his arranging and session work.