THIS WEEK AT THE STABLES: WITH DANA FUCHS, JOE MILES, AMY WADGE & PETE RILEY AND LOTS MORE!

A mammoth week at The Stables gets off to a flying start this Friday (May 15) evening with The Demon Barbers XL, an expanded line-up of players bringing you their award-winning roadshow, but his time with a modern twist on their repertoire.

Music from the current opus Disco At The Tavern will still feature, mind.

Ultimate Bowie takes care of things on Saturday night (May 15) with a wham-bam-glam show of superior proportions paying tribute to the Thin white Duke.

Go giddy with all the tracks you expect to hear - from Starman to Let's Dance and China Girl.

You could say it'll be a Bowie wowie, and you'd be right.

Across the venue in Stage 2, the snug will be occupied by Amy Wadge and Pete Riley, who since teaming up four years ago have cut loose two long-players in sound - Rivers Apart and Afterglow.

They will play from those, and who knows, may even splatter the event with solo material, after all, both are prolific artists in their own right.

You'll need to get along nice and early to this show, mind you - because support is coming from a third generation player, Joe Miles (top pic).

Just like his brother Ollie (now a record producer), Joe grew up in the wings of theatres, watching family members in the spotlight. 

His mum Melinda is a singer, and grandfather Terry Lightfoot was a British jazz legend.

The musical seeds had been sown, and even though Joe would spend a year studying at the British School of Motor Racing, his calling as a singer-songwriter took over.

He teamed up with Amy, who has spent the past 18 months or so working with, and mentoring, Joe.

He has written four EPs with her, the latest of which, Home Sound, is set for release next week, on May 21 - the date his grandfather would have turned 80 years old.

Fittingly, The Stables was a familiar 'stop off' for Terry who played the venue many times over the decades.

Digby Fairweather is a stalwart of the jazz scene, and he returns to the venue on Sunday evening (May 17) with his Half Dozen, the start of their 20th anniversary tour.

Expect swinging sounds, Latin Jazz and gorgeous selections from both the Great American and British Songbooks in the show they are calling The Swing's the Thing.

MPMG Gary Delaney

On Stage 2, funny fella Gary Delaney (above) will raise the smiles with his show, Purist.

The double Sony Award winning comedian has already sold-out the show, but chill your boots - because he will be back on Monday (May 18) with more of the same, so you have a second chance to catch his class at work.

Chortle has declared him the 'Picasso of puns' and if you want razor-sharp one-liners, Gary's your man.

Just don't rock up expecting 'narratives, themes or a voyage of self-discovery,' or you'll be disappointed.

By his own admission Purist is not a show 'for bairns or sensitive souls.' 

Everyone else, go revel in his wit.  You are in for a laugh and a half.

Ralph McTell is still sharing his beautifully crafted narrative songs, and tempting audiences with his dextrous finger-style guitar playing, traits that have served him well and entertained fans for half a century.  

Ralph is back on Monday in the Jim Marshall Auditorium, with a set sure to include that Ivor Novello winning Streets of London.

Blues-beasts Virgil & the Accelerators take over on Tuesday (May 19) with their taut playability.

Support is coming from The River Chickens.

MPMG Emily Smith

On Stage 2, Emily Smith (above) will folk things up, pulling from her current album,  Echoes.

Her fifth, the record sees the Scottish success returning to her first love of traditional song, while also marking a blod new phase in her work, which she declares 'a new Scottish sound.'

Dana Fuchs (below) wraps things up on Wednesday night.

Dana Fuchs

Some of you will have seen her at work in the 2007 Beatles musical movie, Across the Universe, in which case you'll know just what she is capable of.

She also starred as Janis Joplin in the off Broadway musical Love, Janis, and has been likened to Mick Jagger as much as Miss Joplin.

What do all three have in common? Stage presence in abundance.  Music with passion.

Get connected by calling the box office on 01908 280800 or clicking to www.stables.org