The Mid Wales R&B Club presented the welcome return of The James Oliver Band featuring the very wonderful Mark Kemlo & Equally wonderful Norman Watt-Roy to The Muse in Brecon for our HALLOWEEN GATHERING (Sat 31st 2026) —
It was a real pleasure for me and the club to host James / Mark & Norman —
I’m such a big fan of Ian Dury & The Blockheads especially growing up — so to have founding member & bass player NORMAN WATT-ROY return to play at The Muse for me and the club alongside James & Mark re THE JAMES OLIVER BAND is such an honour for us all — to have someone of his standing to come play at my very favourite venue — not once but twice now is truly great — It was so good be in his company again — I was very stage stuck first time round this time I was far more relaxed —
I didn’t think as a 13/14 yr old that one day someone like him would come play a gig for me at 62 going on 63 with Norman being a mere 76 years young— such a lovely person too so understated—
(Norm playing his 1972 Fender Percussion Bass he used on the Ian dury records and loads of others he calls it the rhythm stick)
As usual the band were on fine form James has played for both me & the club on so many occasions over many years and I’ve never known him not to deliver the goods — So great to see Mark also so pleased he’s the permanent fixture behind the drum kit these days— Such a nice guy too they all are— here is to them all returning to play for the club in 2027…
(James playing his 1954 Fender Telecaster)
Over to Paul Keddle / Lisa Cascarini & John Powell for their thoughts on this musical adventure —
Well what can I say about the James Oliver Band?
Last Saturday at the Muse Brecon performing for the MWR&BC
it was a matter of tighten your seat belt and hang on.
I have seen James Oliver and band perform about three times over the years
and by now he has even more licks and tricks in his playing, and after his relentless touring schedules
has become a tour de force performer.
Along with Norman Watt-Roy and Mark Kemlo they gave us an evening of relentless riffs and guitar
dexterity, and James rapport with the audience and the band was something to behold.
Thoroughly entertaining band where the musicians really perform and at a lightning pace.
There’s no stopping James, he just wants to entertain!
Paul Keddle (MWR&BC) —
What an outstanding night seeing the James Oliver Band at The Muse! James, as the front man, has you mesmerised by his playing. He is an absolute genius with a Telecaster, and his passion for what he does simply oozes from him. With Mark on drums and Norman on bass, you’ve got all the ingredients for a truly entertaining night. James’s wit and banter between songs just add to the evening and had us in stitches. Great musicianship, fantastic entertainment and plenty of laughs. Highly recommended and, without doubt, one of the best gigs I’ve seen at The Muse!
Review by Lisa Cascarini Theatr B
Saturday 31st October 2026 JOB turned Brecon’s Halloween fright night into a wonderfully blistering masterclass of high-octane rock ’n’ roll, blues, and pure theatrical energy performing a wide variety of songs, as well as a selection of tracks taken from latest album ‘The Bubble Has Burst’. Playing to a packed crowd at The Muse, the powerful trio proved once again why they are regarded as one of the most phenomenal and hardest-working live acts on the circuit. From the moment front-man and vocalist James Oliver struck his first chord; the room was truly transfixed by his skillful signature lightning-fast finger work across the whole fretboard. Oliver’s three-man army seamlessly tore through a relentless setlist that bounced between rousing rockabilly, classic pub rock, instrumentals, and his own critically acclaimed material. What always makes a James Oliver gig so distinct is the balance of jaw-dropping technical skill and absolutely fun humor. He isn’t just a guitar virtuoso; he’s a natural entertainer whose witty, rapid-fire crowd banter between numbers had the audience laughing just as hard as they were cheering every song. While Oliver commanded stage left, the band’s current touring rhythm section elevated the high-energy performance into something historic, with legendary Norman Watt-Roy (of Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Wilko Johnson fame, etc) on bass is a coup for any venue. Even in his 70s, Watt-Roy still remains a mesmerizing kinetic force to watch perform, delivering his iconic, rubbery, driving bass-line’s while barely standing still for a single second. Locked perfectly in time with him was regular drummer Mark Kemlo, whose thunderous, exceptional pocket-groove technical thumping and percussive force provided the driving engine for the evening’s exemplar entertainment. Together, the trio functions as a smooth fast-moving, high-voltage freight train journeying into a land of sonic exhilaration. The MWR&BC has a fantastic reputation for bringing top-tier talent to Brecon, but this Halloween show was something truly special. By the time the band closed out their relentless action-packed set, it was clear that the JOB didn’t just play a gig — they once again completely blew the roof off The Muse. The occasion was joyous, stimulating and an absolute reminder of what live music is supposed to feel like.
Review by John Powell Brecon
Words by Paul Keddle / Lisa Cascarini / John Powell & Angus Kings (MWR&BC)
MASSIVE thanks to all those who came out that night to support live music at The Muse and to all those who worked on and behind the scenes to keep the MWR&BC alive and on the front foot it means a great deal to me to work alongside you all —
For more details on any of the above please PM me —
Images by Barry Hill (MWR&BC)
Angus Kings 0786 6000 596
https://www.facebook.com/midwalesrhythmandblues
