All events start at 7.30pm
Doors at 7pm
Events
Paul spent his youth playing classical guitar, rugby, soccer, cricket, the field and looking at maps. He played a solo recital in Westminster Abbey at the age of sixteen and subsequently took up folk music.
From the age of 12, Paul's best friend was Steve Knightley; then at 16, they met Phil Beer. However, despite these drawbacks, Paul was reasonably well-balanced until, after giving up a promising academic career, he went on the road as a professional muso. "Was it the women or the curry houses?", Paul was once heard to rhetoricise.
A few years touring as Downes and Beer, all around Europe and the UK, playing sessions on hundreds of albums, four records of their own and two solo sets for Paul... and they met Bill Zorn and formed the now legendary Arizona Smoke Revue. A meteoric rise into TV, radio, major European festivals, world tours and four albums... that was enough! Paul was asked to stand in on a Joyce Gang gig (their first!) and the rest, as they say, is mystery.
Paul Downes now still gigs extensively in the UK and USA as a solo artist, made his third album, enjoys shopping and cooking, supporting Exeter Rugby Club and getting a suntan.
2021 (Maybe)
Thur 27th May Show of Hands
Sat 26th June Steve Tilston
Sat 4th Sept Pete Coe
Sat 23rd Oct Fairport Convention
Sat 20th Nov Martyn Joseph
Sat 11th Dec All on A Winter’s Night with Johnny Coppin
2022
Sat 22nd Jan Sarah McQuaid
Sat 12th Feb Paul Cowley
Sat 5th March Track Dogs
Sat April 2nd Over The Moon
Sat 23rd April MEGSON
Sat 7th May An Evening with
Rick Kemp
You could be forgiven for thinking at first listen that Sunjay is older than his 26 years. With a relaxed and confident manner, vocal style and mastery of his instrument he walks onto a stage and addresses the audience as though he is sitting down to play music with a group of close friends; a completely natural approach for a young man who picked up the guitar when he was just 4 years old and hasn’t put it down since.
Sunjay’s style has that natural drift between folk and blues and both camps have recognised his obvious flair. There have been a clutch of award nominations, including winning the Wath Festival Young Performers Award. He also made the final selection for the BBC’s Young Folk Award in 2012, had three nominations at the Exposure Music Awards 2014 and was also recognised by the 2014 British Blues Awards.
Drawing from a rich, musical and cultural background it is hardly surprising that Sunjay has quickly become recognised as one of the UK’s rising stars. His performances have been described as “mature and confident”, while his guitar playing has been hailed as “superb, brilliant, experienced, intricate & faultless”. Sunjay clocked over a hundred tour dates in 2013 supporting the likes of Steeleye Span, Martin Simpson, Passenger, and Terry Reid.
"Already creating a stir with talents way beyond his years. A really soothing, natural sound and most definitely destined for bigger things." - Maverick Magazine
“For such a young performer, Sunjay shows real confidence, maturity and ease on
stage that it seems like he has been doing nothing else all of his life.” - Folk All Magazine
"Sunjay is very much the man of the moment. Not so much the flavour of the month as the
flavour of the year." – Living Tradition