STOP PRESS - LOUIS VAUSE SUPPORTS CATHAL SMYTH AT WILTONS MUSIC HALL

Next week - on the 8th and 9th of October - I will be playing support to Cathal Smyth (aka. Chas Smash from Madness) as he launches his first solo album. Looking forward to glorious evenings in a building that is one of the true marvels of London. My goodness - Charlie Chaplin trod the same boards!
https://wiltons.org.uk/event.php?p=898

LEE THOMPSON SKA ORCHESTRA PLAY CAMDEN!

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra will be playing the Jazz Cafe, Parkway, Camden, London NW1 on Thursday 2nd October so come along - last time we played there people seemed to be dancing on the chairs and tables upstairs! A little dangerous but it looked spectacular from where I was standing.

HEARTLANDS FESTIVAL - THE LEE THOMPSON SKA ORCHESTRA

THE LEE THOMPSON SKA ORCHESTRA will be playing The Heartlands Festival in Cornwall supporting UB40 on Friday September 12th. A long way for some but possibly not for others. Come down if you are one of the latter. It will be good!

http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Big-names-Live-Heartlands-music-festival/story-21294580-detail/story.html

THE LEE THOMPSON SKA ORCHESTRA PLAY THE BIG FEASTIVAL

We will be playing at 3pm at Jamie Oliver and Alex James's Big Feastival on Sunday 31st August. Nearest train station is Kingham. If the weather is good this looks to be a treat. If it isn't . . . well I'm sure it will still be a treat.
http://www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival/music/

BUCKLEY'S CHANCE

I will be up in my home town of Edinburgh to play a wedding and a gig (on the 30th August) at The Cricket Club on Leith Links. This band is so good that - the last time we played in Edinburgh - four Glaswegians cancelled their last train back and slept rough so that they could see the rest of the set. Should be a joy! And only a fiver to get in!

NUTTY BOYS/ CRUNCH REFORMATION

Our first gig for six years! And then our second. Then . . . well who knows. The Nutty Boys (going out as the Lee Thompson Band) will be playing The Fiddlers Elbow on Sunday 3rd August, £10.00 on the door, doors open at 7pm. And next Friday: Boomtown Festival at Midday. Should be an event!

NEW RELEASE BY THE MEDICINE SHOW

Just released as a download and available at all the usual outlets is this great EP by The Medicine Show. I contributed piano, accordion, and Hammond organ. Go on - give it a try.

THE LEE THOMPSON SKA ORCHESTRA - JULY DATES

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra will be playing:

The Brixton Jamm - Friday July 18th 2014

and

The Whickerman Festival - Saturday 26th July 2014

Be good to see you at either (or even both for those of you bursting with enthusiastic fervour for the band) And our new single, 'Bangarang' ( featuring Dawn Penn and Sharon Shannon) has now been promoted to the B playlist on Radio 2. Fantastic news!

LIMITED EDITION PRINTS OF MY PAINTINGS FOR ART IN A BOX NOW AVAILABLE

For anyone who might be interested in purchasing signed, limited edition prints of the paintings I did for the Art in a Box project, here is a link. These can be obtained either framed or unframed. All proceeds to the charity Upbeat. http://eazl.co.uk/shop-art-in-a-box/louis-vause/

GLASTONBURY GIG IN ITS ENTIRETY!

Here is a link to the performance of The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra at Glastonbury. It will be available for 4 weeks. Enjoy!  http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0215zm4/glastonbury-2014-the-lee-thompson-ska-orchestra-on-the-west-holts-stage

Glastonbury News

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra will be playing the West Holt Stage at Glastonbury at 17.30 on Sunday afternoon, the 29th June. I am told that the gig will be filmed by the BBC for transmission at some point so my advice is to check the 'red button' service on your TV's some time on Sunday evening. And if you plan to be there? - Come and say 'hello' and have a dance.

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra - Radio session news

This Friday - the 20th June 2014 - The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra will be live in session on The Robert Elms Twentieth Anniversary Show. Beamed live from Ronnie Scotts between 12 and 3pm this will also feature a performance with Linda Lewis of her hit Sideways Shuffle.  And here it is

Am I 'The Joker'?

Dennis Loren - sixties poster supremo (Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane etc) - has done this of me for the Art in a Box event poster. I fancy I look rather like 'The Joker' (or some other villain) from the Batman comics I used to read as a child. Totally thrilling!

Louis backing Bitty McClean on the Robert Elms Show 3.6.2014

LATE BOOKING FOR BBC RADIO LONDON

I was asked, last night, to back Bitty McClean on the piano on today's edition of the Robert Elms Show on BBC Radio London. So look forward to a last minute, improvised piano part which will attempt to replicate his entire band! Well . . . we'll see!

Louis on the Robert Elms Show

BIDDING OPEN FOR MY PICTURES FOR THE CHARITY UPBEAT.

Until June 20th - the date of the final auction and dinner at The Royal Academy - bids can be placed for mine - and all the other participants - paintings at http://eazl.co.uk/art-in-a-box/louis-vause/
All proceeds go to Upbeat, our mental health charity. A very good cause.

Do you have an empty wall? Could one of these pictures be the perfect antidote? . . .. These questions are entirely rhetorical. In the meantime you can enjoy them on your computer!

POSTER FOR 'A BRUSH WIH FAME' - THE EXHIBITION - 19th TO 23rd MAY

Here is the wonderful poster by Denis Loren for next week's exhibition. I will be doing an interview about the whole project on The Robert Elms Show on BBC Radio London on Monday 19th at about 1.00 pm. Please do try and come down to see some fascinating artistic responses from our roster of celebrities to the name of our charity, UPBEAT. You may even fancy bidding for one!

LEE THOMPSON SKA ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL DATES

Should you be planning to attend any of these festivals come down and see us. This band musically are on a  roll!

A BRUSH WITH FAME - THE EXHIBITION

Have you a  forlorn and empty wall that needs filling with inspirational art? Here is your answer. And all in a great cause - all proceeds to the charity, Upbeat Music and Mental Health. Art works by:

Sir Ian Botham; Graham Coxon; Leigh Francis; Charlie Higson; Robyn Hitchcock; 

Joanna Lumley; Chris Martin; Grace Slick; Suggs; Jordan “Rizzle” Stephens; Bernie Taupin;

Louis Vause; Paul Whitehouse; Ricky Wilson.

Bidding now open. More information at www.upbeatmusic.org and www.eazl.co.uk

LOUIS VAUSE AND FRIENDS - GIG 19TH MARCH

LEE THOMPSON'S SKA ORCHESTRA - THURSDAY 13TH MARCH 2014

LATE ANNOUNCEMENT - GIG TOMORROW.

I will be playing a solo set tomorrow - Tuesday 11th March 2014 - at The Indo Bar in Whitechapel supporting The Near Jazz Experience. From about 9 pm I imagine. Fantastic pizzas, great DJ and all that jazz. A fine way to spend any Tuesday!

GIG ANNOUNCEMENT: THE RIVERHOUSE BARN - WALTON-ON-THAMES.

Louis Vause and Friends will be performing at The Riverhouse Barn on Saturday February 22nd 2014. A beautiful venue, a wonderful grand piano, and a brilliant band. If you live in the vicinity please come along - you only live once (I think). For further details here is a link: http://thelittleboxoffice.com/riverhouse/event/view/7875

AN EXTRAORDINARY REVIEW FROM RECORD COLLECTOR MAGAZINE

I never thought my life was that dramatic but on reading this, and on reflection, perhaps it is!

GIGS FOR LOUIS VAUSE AND FRIENDS - FEBRUARY 2014

We will be playing two gigs in February - The Riverhouse Barn, Walton on Thames on Saturday 22nd and the Speakeasy downstairs at Aces and Eights, Fortess Road, Tufnell Park, London NW5 on the 26th. Do come along if you can.

Here is an edited version of my interview and performance on the Rober Elms Show on BBC London on Tuesday 14th January for those who may have missed it.

Robert Elms Show 14th January 2014.

Louisvause-Robert Elms by Louis Vause

ROBERT ELMS' CHOICE FOR HIS TRACKS OF 2013.

What a thrill and a bit of a bolt from the blue: not only   has Robert Elms chosen a track from the Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra in his 'best of for 2013' but included (as an intro) my 'Midnight in Havana'. What a great way to start the New Year.

Robert Elms

Today's show was a look-back at the best of the year's tracks and live sessions. You can find the tracklist below: Title: Midnight in Havana Artist: Louis Vause Title: Dexys Artist: She Got a Wiggle Title: Joss Stone (Live) Artist: Teardrops Title: Where Are We Now? Artist: David Bowie Title: Get it Right Artist: Maddy Carty Title: No Love Dying (Live) Artist: Gregory Porter Title: The Ballad of Roza Shanina Artist: Rae and Christian Title: Handbags and Gladrags (Live) Artist: Mike D’Abo Title: The Best Jewel Thief in the World Artist: Prefab Sprout Title: Feel It All (Live) Artist: KT Tunstall Title: My Promise Artist: Earth, Wind and Fire Title: For a While Artist: Alice Russell Title: Calling Out To You (Live) Artist: Tedeschi Trucks Band Title: Keep the Faith Artist: Alexia Coley Title: Never Stop Building (That old Space Rocket) (Live) Artist: Danny and the Champions of the World Title: Brighton Beach Artist: Rod Stewart Title: Astral Travelling (Live) Artist: Lonnie Liston-Smith Title: Children Go where I Send Thee Artist: Nick Lowe Title: Come Rain or Shine Artist: Paul Carrack Title: Midnight Rider (Live) Artist: Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra Title: She (Live) Artist: Laura Mvula Title: Jericho Artist: Leslie Mendelson Title: Be Good To Me Artist: The Delegators Title: You Can’t Keep Rhythm From A Dancer Artist: Tortured Soul Title: Let’s Face the Music and Dance Artist: Willie Nelson Title: Maureen Artist: Casey K Title: When In Rome Do As The Romans Do (Live) Artist: Cecile McLorin Salvant Title: Part of Me Artist: Tedeschi Trucks Band

AWARD FOR THE LEE THOMPSON SKA ORCHESTRA

I don't know who they are; I do know they are based in Florida. A radio station? Whatever and whoever they are it is fantastic to get any recognition so a big thank you to RVI for this award. No gigs as yet for 2014 but I will post dates as soon as they are confirmed.