'Living Blues legend' Watermelon Slim to appear in Barry (From Penarth Times)

'Living Blues legend' Watermelon Slim to appear in Barry

4:10pm Wednesday 14th March 2012 in News

DESCRIBED as a 'living blues legend' by Bonnie Raitt at one of her shows in 2009, Bill Homans - aka Watermelon Slim - plays The West End Club, Barry on Friday, March 23, as part of his first UK tour for five years.

Record-equalling W C Handy award nominee (the Oscars of blues music), alongside B B King and Robert Cray, his music covers all roots genres.

A Vietnam vet who is an outspoken anti-war campaigner and was arrested outside the White House in 2009, he used to attend sit-ins, peace rallies and rabble-roused musically where he first met Bonnie Raitt.

Fluent in three languages, he quotes Shakespeare on stage, is a former member of Mensa, is a truck driver – having written a lot of his early songs on the road – and a watermelon farmer, hence the name.

From his sizzling slide guitar and gritty harp-blowing. Slim delivers acutely personal workingman blues, with both hands on the wheel of life, a bottle of hooch in his pocket and the Bible on the passenger seat – all delivered with the cry of a true bluesman!

Tickets £10 in advance, £12 on the door, also available from the bar or contact Mike on 07882 227537.