Roman Candle is thrilled to welcome blues and gospel legend Robert Finley to St Mary's Creative Space, Chester, on Monday, 4th May. Special guests Tom Blackwell and Janileigh Cohen.

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Tickets are £20 in advance from Grey n Pink Records or See Tickets.

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ROBERT FINLEY

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After a lifetime of hard work, Robert Finley has established himself as one of today’s preeminent spokesmen of the blues. Born and raised in the small town of Bernice, LA, Finley spent decades playing music as a street performer and leader of the gospel group Brother Finley and the Gospel Sisters before making his long overdue recording debut at the young age of 62 with 2016’s Age Don’t Mean A Thing. The album captured the attention of Easy Eye Sound founder Dan Auerbach, beginning a long collaborative relationship that has included 2017’s Goin’ Platinum, 2021’s autobiographical Sharecropper’s Son, and 2023’s critically acclaimed Black Bayou. An 11-track tour de force that coalesces southern soul, jazz, folk, blues, rock ‘n’ roll and more into a raw, thundering tribute to Finley’s home state of Louisiana, the latter album was met by ecstatic applause from leading publications around the world spanning SPIN, TheFADER, No Depression, American Songwriter, Paste, Uncut,and more with MOJO simply declaring in a five-starred rave, “Black Bayou is surely the album Finley was put on Earth to create, filled with stories only he could tell.”

 

An electrifying performer known for his soulful swagger and gritty vocal power, Finley has since proven a hugely popular international live act with sold-out headline tours, countless festival appearances, shows alongside The Black Keys, and a leading role in Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound Revue. Finley has also made a number of high-profile network TV appearances, including the 2019 season of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” – where he eventually made it to the semi-finals – and CBS Saturday Morning. Having overcome great adversity – including losing his sight in his 60s – Robert Finley is now justly recognized the world over as a singular storyteller and one of the last great bluesmen of the modern era, a true living legend with still more magic to come.

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TOM BLACKWELL

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Now landed on Teesside after a meandering journey across all corners of England, Tom Blackwell emerged from the Manchester folk club circuit, where he discovered the country, blues and gospel music that would become the foundations of his work.

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A prolific writer with a visceral and dynamic performance style, Blackwell has been playing across the UK and beyond for the last 15 years. He has shared the stage with artists such as legendary Love guitarist Johnny Echols, and supported many other illustrious names including Terry Reid, Hurray For The Riff Raff and Joshua Ray Walker.

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JANILEIGH COHEN

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Janileigh Cohen is a young and promising folk singer-songwriter from Bolton, UK. She began her music journey in a shed at her grandmother's garden and has since honed her craft through busking and recording. Her debut album, "As a Child," is set to be released on March 11, 2026, and features contributions from acclaimed folk musicians.

Janileigh's music is characterized by its emotional depth and personal storytelling, drawing inspiration from artists like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Leonard Cohen. She has also been featured on TV shows and is actively performing across the UK, including a tour with Eric Bibb. Janileigh's music is a reflection of her personal journey and her desire to connect with audiences through her art.