Kid Ledraw has been around on the British Blues scene for almost 50 years – hence the sobriquet ‘Papa’. He began with ‘skiffle’ until he met up with Long John Baldry and others, busking and playing the ‘folk scene’ in the Blues revival of the 60s. He has played and appeared with many people... These include the late and great Jo-Ann Kelly, Sammy Mitchell, Roger Hubbard, Wizz Jones, Dr. Ross, Lightnin’ Slim, Roy Book Binder, Michael Roach, Ian Briggs, and Catfish Keith to name but a few.
Mostly, Kid has been the lone Troubadour. But there have been periods when he has teamed up with others – Leo Sayer (before pop), Harmonica & Kazoo in the late 60s; Ian Winfield, piano in the early 70s, Ed Lamont, guitar, in the late 80s, the Moonshine Boys (fiddle & piano in the late 90s and Richie Robertson (double bass) in the early years of the millennium.
The venues have been many and various, and have included several performances at the Edinburgh Blues Festival, Glasgow Blues Festival, Glastonbury, Exeter Blues Festival, The Old Duke, Bristol, 12-Bar club, Soho, the first Dundee Blues Festival, Shetland, Norway, Northern France and countless Blues bars, Folk Clubs and Arts centres across the length and breadth of Britain. Kid’s recordings, under his Baptised name of Dick Wardell include Standing by the Motorway (Beechwood 1990), Street Life Blues (Fellside 1997) and Peaches (Blues Underground 2001). Another recording should be on track by the summer.
Kid’s sound – his intense, gravelly voice and guitar is original whilst sitting well within the tradition and meaning of the country blues – from the Mississippi styles to those of Georgia and Texas. As vocalist and instrumentalist, Kid performs with a skill and intensity of feeling that marries well with the wonderful performing ability of the great Fish Feathers MacTeeth.
Yes folks - Fish Feathers knows how to get people up dancing and laughing. His career, nearly as long as Kid’s, spans Acoustic Blues, Scottish Dance Music, Free Improvisation, Ethno-Techno and anything else he could play for money. As well as fronting up electric bluesers The Juke Joint Rollers, Fish Feathers has played across three continents (the others wouldn't let him in..)..he’s been unable to resist linking up with the Kid to display his virtuosity on fiddle, harmonica, vocals and various other instruments –you’ve to see it to believe it! .
Together they have been reborn. Hallelujah! Now they make up The High Steppin’ Papas who will make you laugh, cry, dance, take up religion and amaze you with their incredible love of the Blues.
Going a couple things in the pipeline, hopefully the boys and I can get up and play round your way in a couple months, definitely check you out if we are in the area.
