Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar

Soho

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Time Out says

Sat Jan 5 2013

Taking its name from a musical revue that tracked the history of the genre, this blue-painted (natch) venue benefits from a late licence (3am on Fridays and Saturdays) and a specialist music policy, which in actual fact gives it a wide remit stretching from bar room honky-tonk through the west coast/Chicago sound to roots reggae, even. An unpretentious place with a reliably entertaining vibe, Ain't Nothin'… presents live music 7/7, with week nights often a better option, as they are far less busy. In short, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

7

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Venue details

MAP

Address:
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St
W1B 5PZ

Venue phone:
020 7287 0514
Venue website:
www.aintnothinbut.co.uk
Transport:
Tube: Oxford Circus
Map
1. Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar
  - 20 Kingly St
    W1B 5PZ
  - 020 7287 0514
  - www.aintnothinbut.co.uk
  - 51.512983,-0.139533

What's on at Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar

Barry Jackson & Bob Morgan

Blues

Free

Casual blues, folk and boogie woogie blend from the guitar and piano duo.

Tue Jun 25
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ

The Bluematics

Categories, Music

Free

Chicago blues and '60s R&B.

Fri Jun 21
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, Piccadilly, W1B 5PZ

The Bluematics

Categories, Music

Free

Chicago blues and '60s R&B.

Fri Jun 28
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, Piccadilly, W1B 5PZ

Blues & Burlesque Extravaganza

Blues, Burlesque

Free

Professional teases Miss Giddy Heights and Miss Ruby DeShabille grind to live R&B on the first Sunday of every month.

Sun Jul 7
– Mon Jul 8
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ

Blues Jam

World, Blues, Folk

Free

All musicians are welcome at this friendly blues jam session.

Mon Jun 24
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, Piccadilly, W1B 5PZ

Blues Jam

World, Blues, Folk

Free

All musicians are welcome at this friendly blues jam session.

Mon Jul 1
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, Piccadilly, W1B 5PZ

BluesMix

World, Blues, Folk

Funky, soulful blues with a touch of jazz.

Wed Jun 26
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ
£6 adv

Bridie King & Owen Houlston

Blues

Free

Top Australian rockin' blues and boogie pianist King teams up with guitarist Houlston.

Wed Jun 26
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ

The Dirty Gentlemen

World, Blues, Folk

Free

Nine-strong New Orleans-style party band led by one George Elliot (actually a man), who spent time in the Louisiana swamps before relocating to London and bringing the rhythms of the bayou with him.

Sat Jun 22
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ

Dove & Boweevil

Blues

Free

Smoky East Anglian blues originals from the male-female duo.

Thu Jun 20
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ

Dust Me Down Blues Band

Blues

Free

Blues combo apparently taking their name from the Ben Harper track.

Fri Jun 21
– Tue Jun 25
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ

Franck Ash Band

World, Blues, roots and country, Folk

Free

Ash is a former guitar player for Screamin' Jay Hawkins and plays passionate and energetic blues with his band in the headline slot.

Wed Jul 3
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ

Lewis Cohen/The Absentees

World, Folk

Free

Solo americana acoustic bluesman, later joined by organ, mandolin and double bass for a busy bluegrass feel.

Fri Jul 12
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ

Little Freddie King

Blues

Critics' choice

New Orleans bluesman King, a cousin of Lightnin' Hopkins and a '70s touring partner of John Lee Hooker, specialises in minimal, electric rural Mississippi blues. He's over in the UK especially for these three London dates.

Fri Jun 28
– Sun Jun 30
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ
£5, free before 8.30pm

Miss King's Rhythm & Blues Revue

Blues

Top, Aussie rockin' blues and boogie pianist Bridie King leads her band in good-time soul and funk.

Wed Jun 26
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ
£5

Niall Kelly And Friends

Blues

Free

Derry singer-songwriter Kelly plays acoustic blues and roots, with a hint of Van Morrison about the vocal, and invites some guests too.

Thu Jun 27
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ

Niall Kelly Blues & Roots Band

Blues

Free

Acoustic blues and roots with a hint of Van Morrison about the vocal from Derry singer-songwriter Kelly.

Thu Jun 20
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ

Rob Heron And The Tea Pad Orchestra

Blues, Country

A young, smartly turned out Newcastle six-piece band, the Tea Pad Orchestra play a congenial mix of Western swing, blues, ragtime and country songs about drink and debtors.

Thu Jun 27
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ
£10 adv

West Weston's Bluesonics

World, Blues, Folk

Blues harmonica player Steve Weston (also of the Big Joe Louis band) leads his band through classic Chicago blues in the vein of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson and Walter Horton.

Fri Jun 21
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ
£5, free before 8.30pm

Xsara

Categories, Music

Not the Citroën car make, but the alternative and drama-soaked lo-fi London songstress. She's previewing tracks from her new album 'Are There Dragons in Your Heart?', out in August.

Sun Jun 23
Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly St, W1B 5PZ

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Comments & ratings

(5 ratings)

There are plenty of places in London to listen to live music, enjoy a good drink and good company and feel like you're actually welcome. Sadly, I wasted hard earned pennies buying a mediocre drink at this place before I realised this isn't one of those venues. Instead of drinks flowing it's arrogance and contempt overflowing.

Neil About 11 days ago
Rated as: 1/5
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AVOID THIS PLACE! Totally lame joint run by the Fun Police! Terrible experience with arrogant manager & staff who need to get a grip. And the beer tastes rank. This was the first bar we visited on a Thursday evening after work. When the live music started my colleagues & I were enjoying ourselves by having a bit of a dance (we were the ONLY people dancing to live music so what does that say about the punters) and then we were refused service after just 2 drinks at 9pm for being 'too drunk'. I was shocked. The arrogant & cowardly manager hid behind his excuse of Westminster Council being so strict and that it wasn't him being strict....yet the doorman was knowingly letting the band go outside and drink on the street at the interval while he was stopping everyone else form doing the same. Yeah, and Westminster Council cares if the people drinking outside are from the band or not, right? London has plenty of good bars. This isn't one of them. Find another place to have fun if you're on a night out.

wondercloak About 11 days ago
Rated as: 1/5
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To balance the one star review I should like to say we had no problems when we went to see the amazing keyboard player Dino Baptistse. There aren't many seats - but this place is not designed for people like me - 68 and creaky. This place is great value. If I was in my twenties I'd be coming here all the time.

SimonA Sun Sep 16 2012
Rated as: 3/5
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I agree with the other comments , doorman a complete knob and the music is alright but is not worth it to queue hours outside! I will never do it again.

Lorenzo Sat Sep 15 2012
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The music is usually great but as per review below the managment needs to improve. Especially the doorman and his interpersonal skills. I'm OK with waiting in the queue to get into the club for an hour (it get's incredibly busy so I advise to get early) but this drunk and drugged wacko doorman refused to let us in as we had one beer in the queue. First one on the night just to be precise. Not pissheads.Honestly get a life. We've got the money to buy the drinks inside but if you are waiting for an hour in the queue you get thirsty. Do you know how many people come there pissed? You could at least consider serving drinks to your customers in the queue if you want to play by your strict rules. And advertise them! You put a screen outside - nice. Make some business and sell beer to those in the queue. Put a small speaker too to make the waiting more interesting. Make this place more friendly. Think about blues fans. Think about blues. Not your wacko rules!

Dave Tue Sep 11 2012
Rated as: 1/5
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Nice music, worse staff i have ever seen. I used to go to bars listen to blues and jazz for 15 years and this bar chocked me. The manager is well known as a piece of a jerk. The girl attending at the bar treates most of people very bad. Sincerelly there are plenty of bars that i could spend my money but not this one. If you would like to be treatened as a human being this is not your place.

Breno Mon Jul 2 2012
Rated as: 1/5
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This just in from my friend Paris James... "I've been inducted into The Blues Hall of Fame! To celebrate, I have a new song entitled Oak Tree featured in a music video. The story is about the life and soul of an oak tree who's about to be chopped down and feels an urgent need to pass on his two hundred years worth of wisdom. Watch, share, and enjoy! Peace, Paris" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPCOay0WUWA Paris James - Oak Tree Paris will be performing in Paris, France this summer. I would sure like to see Paris and his band make a stop in London at Ain't Nothin' But... like his good friend Big Pete Pearson did a few years ago. All the best, Steve.

Steve Capes Sun Apr 10 2011
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