EMILY DRUCE

Emily Druce has released two solo albums (The Guilt Trip released in 2000 and New Day in 2002) which have gained her the reputation of being the Queen of British blues and a song writer of note. Both albums received extensive airplay, from the likes of Bob Harris, Mike Harding and Paul Jones.
Emily has opened shows for Odetta, Lonnie Donnegan, Mary Coughlin and The Groundhogs.
She grew up playing musical instruments from the age of five and began song writing and gigging in her teens.


Since teaming up with Steve Jones in 2001, Emily has continued to broaden the scope of her styles in song writing and performance and has also returned to her first instrument, the violin, as well as playing some fine blues guitar. Their joint album, Songs from the Silver Band Room was released in 2004.

Between 2002 and 2006 Emily worked with Steve Jones and formed the duo Druce + Jones (see below for more info ) and since the end of 2006 together they have fronted The Why and Wherefores .Emily has always been recognised for being more than just a blues woman and The Why and Wherefores sees her using her powerful vocals and talents as a song writer to drive and float through the boundaries of blues and jazz to somewhere new.

Emily has also recently been singing with the new gypsy jazz group, Dizzy Fingers. She also currently works delivering songwriting workshops in schools and is musical co director of Huddersfield based gospel choir True Colours.

To hear Emily's interview on Radio 4's Woman's Hour,including Emily and Steve playing a track from their album click here.

"Outstanding young blues singer" The Guardian

"acoustic blues played to a fantastically high standard" Mike Harding Radio 2

"What makes Songs from the Silver Band Room so impressive is that Druce has assimilated the vocabulary of the blues, imparting her own special blend of wit and observation " Maverick

STEVE JONES

Steve Jones has been making and playing guitars since his teens. He has played in a duo with his twin brother, and in Leeds based roots band The Pants. Steve has also worked on music for television, including a highly praised documentary for Channel 4 called 'Love me Tender'.

Steve teamed up with Emily in 2001 to form Druce + Jones. They met at The Burnley blues festival when Emily commissioned Steve to build a resophonic guitar.

Steve’s talents as a guitarist, songwriter and arranger are evident on Songs from the Silver Band Room and The Why & Wherefores’ live shows. He combines various blues and swing guitar styles to create his own distinctive sound. Since the release of “Songs from the Silver Band Room “ Steve has been compared to Ry Cooder and received many accolades for his guitar playing, which powers it’s way with an ordered chaos through the Why & Wherefores’ new songs.

Steve is also a career luthier who has made commissions for guitar players from around the world. He currently works with Colin Kendall and co-runs Jones Kendall guitars. They make a range of instruments in their cosy workshop in Bury, Lancashire, specialising in reproductions of small bodied, pre-war American guitars. www.jones-guitars.co.uk

"Steve is a gifted guitarist,exceptional on this album" Sunday Journal, Northern Ireland
"Steve Jones' guitar playing is very, very impressive and varied" Folk on Tap

DRUCE + JONES

" Excellent young roots duo " The Observer

Emily and Steve combined forces in 2002 to become Druce + Jones and continue to develop their songwriting and performing together.
Since the release of Songs from the Silver Band Room in 2004, Emily and Steve have toured extensively in the UK and in Europe. They performed live at The Butter Market in Shrewsbury at Radio 2's annual celebration on British Blues. Also appearing were Eric Bibb and Traffika.

THE WHY & WHEREFORES

The end of 2006 saw Druce + Jones expand into a dynamic 5 piece band called The Why & Wherefores. They've been gigging their own brand of cool contemporary blues since the new year and will be touring nationwide in 2008 with their new album (scheduled for release in autumn 2007 )

THE REST OF THE BAND...

MARTIN WYDELL: TUBA
Martin joined the Why and Wherefores in 2006 .He began playing the tuba at school, which involved the character building task of getting it to school in a pushchair !
Martin spent over ten years playing with the Queen’s Lancashire regimental band, and played for several years with Sellar’s Engineering Band in Huddersfield.
He currently also plays with various Dixie bands.

MARC LAYTON-BENNETT: DRUMS + PERCUSSION
Marc began playing drums at 7 and began gigging and recording at 12. He studied music technology at Huddersfield technical college, before moving to London to join The Star seeds .
As a session drummer Marc has appeared on the National Lottery show, Channel 4’s The Drop Dead show and various pilots for the BBC. Recent sessions include Darren Brown’s Russian roulette and séance programmes and Monkey Magic.Recent touring bands include percussionist with Cellorythmics and drummer with blues band Joshua Blue. Pop appearances include Meeker and Bliss and also hip hop/rock band Bushnut.Marc’s theatre credits include working with Gecko theatre co on The Tailor’s Dummy and with Cartoon De Salvo on Pied Piper of Hamlyn and he is currently performing Ramayana.

JOHN BARKER: LAP STEEL
Since 2004 John has made a number of appearances with Druce + Jones and more recently with The Why and Wherefores.
A blues player in his own right he has appeared at various festivals including Burnley , Colne and Sidmouth . John also currently plays with the roots, blues and rock band Slider who recently backed US country singer songwriter Tommy Womack on his UK tour.

We also have the pleasure of playing with..

ROY WHYKE : DRUMS
Having bashed everything he could get his hands on from the age of about six, Roy took up the drums as a teenager. His interest has always been in roots music. He spent 12 years playing with the Jon Strong Band and has played regularly with Charlie Speed and Stu Page. Recording credits include work with Jon Strong, Charlie Speed and Michael Chapman. As well as his work with The Why & Wherefores, Roy currently works with Stu Page and is European drummer for Californian country singer , Heather Myles, who is currently signed to Rounder Records.