Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra

Musical virtuoso Jools Holland and his well-renowned Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have announced dates and special guests for their upcoming 2017 Autumn/Winter UK tour. Now in its 22nd year, these legendary shows are not to be missed, with the 33-date tour starting off in Southend on Thursday 26th October. Highlights include two dates at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall on Friday 24th November and Saturday 25th November, along with arena shows at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Friday 15th December and finishing off the tour at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on 22nd December.

Joining Jools on stage for the 2017 Autumn / Winter UK tour will be Grammy Award winner José Feliciano, one of the most prominent stars in Latin America and revered musicians in the world. Having worked with the likes of John Lennon and Joni Mitchell in the past, his catalogue of international hits include his covers of The Doors’ “Light My Fire” and the Bee Gees’ “And the Sun Will Shine,” along with the much-loved Christmas classic, “Feliz Navidad”. Jools and José will also be recording an album together with the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, which is scheduled to be released later this year. With his mix of Latin and pop styles and his inimitable guitar playing, it’s no question that José will go down a storm on stage.

Jools Holland says of José Feliciano: "A man whose voice and guitar I’ve idolised all my life. A unique innovator whom I am immensely looking forward to working with."

José Feliciano joins a long line of acclaimed recording artists that have joined Jools’ tour as special guests in the past. These include Solomon Burke, Lulu, KT Tunstall, former Spice Girl Melanie C, Yazoo singer Alison Moyet, 60s pop icon Sandie Shaw, along with most recently from Jools’ 2016 tour, ska pioneers Pauline Black and Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson from The Selecter.

Also featuring in the shows will be fan favourites Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Beth Rowley on vocals, along with the supreme Rhythm & Blues Orchestra with original Squeeze member Gilson Lavis on drums. Master of ceremonies for the shows, Jools, will be performing tracks spanning his entire solo career along with pieces taken from his recent instrumental album Piano, released in December 2016, as well as songs from his new collaboration with José Feliciano. With a huge collection of boogie-woogie tracks from multiple decades, a night at one of the UK’s most popular tours is for sure a memorable one!