TO some music fans not aware of the hidden gem that is Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre, the idea that leading musicians regularly make a beeline for the venue comes as a total surprise.
But for blues rock singer and guitarist Rob Tognoni, who will be playing his only North West date there next week as part of a UK tour, the intimate East Lancashire venue is pretty mainstream compared to some of the shows he’s got lined up.
“I’m off for a tour in Kazakhstan in November,” he said matter-of-factly. “The promoter used to put on shows in Russia but he fled the country and moved to Kazakhstan and he just rang me up.
“I’ve got to say it surprised me but I thought ‘why not?’. I’ve no idea what to expect but it should be a fun adventure.”
The phrase ‘fun adventure’ could be used as a strapline to cover Rob’s career.
The genial Tasmanian-born singer and guitarist has been gaining fans across the globe with his livewire performances, blistering guitar work and self-deprecating humour.
He’s shared stages with the likes of ZZ Top, Sting, Bo Diddley and Fleetwood Mac legend Peter Green and has played live all over the world.
“I did a two week tour of China a few years ago,” he said. “We had to criss cross the country using high speed trains as the roads were too chaotic. That was hard work but the audiences were amazing, They really love their rock and roll.
“We played in some cities where I don’t think they’d seen many Caucasian blokes like me - certainly not with grey, sorry silver, hair. They would stare at me in the street but once I smiled at them they’d smile back and it was all cool.”
Rob’s play anywhere, entertain every where approach has always been part of his make-up. He has played both the Burnley Blues Festival and Great British R&B Festival in the past and this will be his fourth visit to Barnoldswick.
“It doesn’t make any difference to me whether it’s a small venue or a large festival stage,” he said, “it’s the same energy, the same deal.
“It’s all about how you put it across. Certainly with somewhere like Barnoldswick you can’t jump around as much as you would on a large stage but the energy’s still there.
“I love the place; it has this great vibe to it. It’s really intimate and the audience are in front and at either side. You can’t escape and there’s nowhere to hide and I really like that.”
It is three years since Rob released his last studio album, Catfish Cake, and fans had been hoping that following lockdown a new release would soon follow.
“I actually used that Covid time to write a new album,” said Rob. “I recorded demos of all the songs - and then scrapped it. I just didn’t like it.
“I just listened back many times to those tracks which I’d roughly recorded and they were just not working. I’m not sure why, perhaps it was because of the time I wrote them which was a pretty dark time for everyone. Whatever reason I just abandoned them.”
But fans need not worry. New music is coming soon.
“Having scrapped those songs,, I went and wrote another 10 which will form a new album, Rebel, which I hope to have out in October or November.
And for his UK tour Rob will have more new music available. Product of a Southern Land is a five-track EP featuring a live session from the Paul Jones show on BBC radio originally recorded in 2007.
“It was something I’d forgotten about then the original recording resurfaced and I thought about it and got Paul Long, the original producer on the show to remaster it, and it’ll be available for the tour.”
Rob’s back catalogue is peppered with live recordings, something many artists steer well clear of.
“Oh, I always cringe when I put out live material,” he confides, “I can hear all the mistakes and the imperfections, but it’s rock and roll.
“And I like listening to other people’s imperfections when it comes to live recordings; I love it when it’s a bit rough around the edges so it would be a bit hypocritical if I didn’t release my own live material.
“That’s the thing with us artists; we come across as very confident on stage which we are because you have to be, but there’s always this insecure side especially when it comes to releasing new material, particularly live material.
“Ultimately you just have to put it out there and let the fans decide.”
Rob Tognoni, Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre, Tuesday, September 19. Details from www.barnoldswickmusicandartscentre.com
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