The Blokes

The Blokes
Name	The Blokes
Background	group_or_band
Origin	London, United Kingdom
Years active	1999–present
Genres	Rock, Folk, Blues
Labels	Independent
Associated acts	The Rolling Stones, The Clash, Bob Dylan, Paul Weller

The Blokes The Blokes are a British rock ensemble formed in London noted for blending folk, blues, and pub rock traditions. The group emerged from a network of session musicians and indie performers, gaining attention through club residencies and festival appearances. They have collaborated with and toured alongside prominent acts, drawing influence from classic and contemporary songwriters.

History

Formed in London in 1999, the band coalesced from players who had worked with names such as The Rolling Stones, The Clash, The Who, The Kinks, The Police, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Paul Weller, Jack White, Noel Gallagher, Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Suede, Radiohead, The Smiths, Joy Division, New Order, The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, The Velvet Underground, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, Stevie Wonder, Prince, David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen, AC/DC, Dire Straits, The Jam, Roxy Music, Prefab Sprout, Squeeze, Elvis Presley, Ray Davies and Marc Bolan in various studio and live contexts. Early recordings were released on independent labels and circulated in the British pub-rock and underground scenes alongside contemporaries like Dr. Feelgood and Graham Parker. The band expanded its lineup during tours of Europe and North America, sharing bills with The Replacements, Wilco, Ryan Adams, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Pretenders and appearing at festivals including Glastonbury Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Download Festival and Reading and Leeds Festivals.

Members

Core members include a principal singer-songwriter who previously collaborated with artists such as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Sting and Eric Clapton, a lead guitarist with session credits alongside Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana and Jeff Buckley, a rhythm section whose drummers and bassists have worked with The Who, Genesis, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush, and keyboardists linked to Elton John, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. Guest contributors have included vocalists and instrumentalists associated with PJ Harvey, Björk, Sinead O'Connor, Chrissie Hynde, Sheryl Crow, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Florence Welch, Morrissey, Tracey Thorn, Annie Lennox, St. Vincent, Bon Iver and Thom Yorke. Additional touring and studio members came from ranks of Roxy Music, Duran Duran, Simple Minds, The Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Talking Heads.

Musical Style and Influences

The group's sound fuses elements traceable to Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King and Eric Clapton alongside songcraft indebted to Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits. Rock influences include The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Pink Floyd, David Bowie and Elvis Costello, while contemporary indie references draw from The Smiths, Radiohead, The Clash, The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys and Blur. Folk and roots connections bring to mind Van Morrison, Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson and Bert Jansch, and the band's arrangements have been compared with work by Ry Cooder, Mark Knopfler, John Martyn and Ryland Davies.

Discography

Studio albums and EPs were issued on independent imprints and include material produced by engineers who worked with George Martin, Brian Eno, Glyn Johns, Alan Parsons, Tony Visconti and Chris Thomas. Releases appeared on compilations alongside tracks by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Clash, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Singles received airplay on stations that also promoted artists such as John Peel, Annie Nightingale, Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 6 Music and NPR. Limited-edition vinyl pressings and reissues connected the band to collectors of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Who memorabilia.

Live Performances and Tours

The ensemble developed a reputation for energetic live sets in venues ranging from London pubs to arenas, supporting acts like The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Who, The Clash and The Kinks. They played international festivals including Glastonbury Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Newport Folk Festival, South by Southwest, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Lollapalooza. Tours included legs in Europe, North America, Australia and Japan with promoters and agents who also booked Live Nation, AEG Presents, WME, CAA-represented artists and bills featuring Coldplay, Muse, U2, Radiohead, Pearl Jam and Nirvana-era alumni.

Reception and Legacy

Critics linked the band's songwriting and live craft to influences like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and Van Morrison, while journalists compared them to The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Jam, Paul Weller and Elvis Costello. Retrospectives in music magazines that covered NME, Rolling Stone, Mojo, Uncut, Q (magazine), Pitchfork, Spin (magazine) and The Guardian assessed their role in sustaining pub-rock and roots-oriented trajectories that intersect with artists such as Dr. Feelgood, Graham Parker, Nick Lowe and John Hiatt. Archival releases and tribute projects later featured performers associated with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams.

Category:English rock music groups