Swingtime with King Leo

Leo Ladell aka King Leo is one of Dunedin's most respected musicians. Growing up in Virginia he developed a love of blues after seeing legend B.B. King in concert. Leo has played guitar and harmonica for some top musicians including Cajun legend Doug Kershaw, Big Bill Morganfield's (Muddy Waters' son) band, Bo Diddley and Pinetop Perkins (of the Muddy Waters band).

In collaboration with Jen Hale and her Swing Riot Dancers, King Leo and his big band will lead you through some of the great American music that has inspired his musical life. From the juke joints of the Southern States of the USA to the clubs of Chicago Leo knows his blues and he's going to tell us about it and play, play, play.

Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, BB King, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter these are the musicians he namechecks and he's going to show us some of the secrets of blues harp (harmonica) playing.

In an acoustic section Leo and John Egenes (the American roots music specialist) sit down and compare notes and talk about song writing.

Then Leo and the band and rock the house while the swing dancers riot.

This is a new style of roots music presentation and no place better than the beautiful Mayfair Theatre. Be there or be square!