AFTER fears the Long Street Blues Club in Devizes might have to fold because of falling audience numbers it rallied and is now looking forward to a new season of artists.

Getting the show on the road on Saturday evening will be Hamilton Loomis who caught the eye of promoter Ian Hopkins at the Upton Upon Severn Blues Festival last year.

He said: "We were certain we had to get him to the club. Luckily for us he is headlining our opening show of our eleventh season."

Mr Hopkins is hoping for a big crowd at Devizes Conservative Club in Long Street from 7.45pm to see the Texas man playing his version of the blues. Tickets cost £16 from Devizes Books, the Conservative Club and Sound Knowledge in Marlborough.

Hamilton was born and raised in Galveston, Texas, and at the age of sixteen he went backstage to meet Bo Diddley and before the night was over Hamilton was on stage playing alongside the legend.

Other Texas blues legends such as Johnny Copeland, Gatemouth Brown, Joe ‘Guitar’ Hughes, and Albert Collins also schooled him early on in the finer points of the music recognising the youngster’s talent and potential.

By the time he turned eighteen, Hamilton had performed in front of thousands at the Delta Blues Festival. He has received a Grammy Nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Hamilton has brought his funk-i-fied Texas music to audiences all over the U.S. and the world, recently earning two Best Artist awards in England and Wales. By deftly balancing his blues roots and penchant for experimentation and originality.