Bluetones frontman and folk favourite to appear at Grand

Nationally known Bluetones frontman Mark Morriss and folk-rock singer Jay Diggins will perform together at the Lancaster Grand theatre in March.
Jay Diggins performing at Lancaster CastleJay Diggins performing at Lancaster Castle
Jay Diggins performing at Lancaster Castle

After leaving the Bluetones to begin a solo career in 2011, Mark – who sang on the band’s 1996 number two hit ‘Slight Return’ – will guest star alongside Jay in Lancaster to perform tracks together.

The former band scored 13 to 40 singles and three top 10 albums in the UK charts before Mark released his solo album ‘A Flash of Darkness’ last year, which is a gentler, folk record previously released as an EP in 2006.

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The 43-year-old played at LeeStock Music Festival in 2011 in Sudbury, Suffolk, where he was the closing headline act on the Sunday, as well as playing the following year. He is also a full member of Matt Berry’s live band, The Maypoles.

Jay from Scorton released his album ‘Searching’ in 2013 and is currently working on a follow-up album for release this year, where he hopes to perform his new songs at his debut at the Grand. He describes his music as soulful and expresses values of a troubled world. One fan said: “It’s music from the heart that hits you right between the eyes.”

The Jay Diggins band also includes drummer Johnny Scott and guitarist Mark Dennis who is a member of the Chester and Wales acoustic folk community,

Johnny is also a percussionist as well as a singer and guitarist. The band recently had their video produced for single ‘Ain’t No’ by film director John Gray who has also done work for Newton Faulkner.

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The 40-year-old is a regular on Lancaster’s music scene and recently performed in concert at The Castle as part of Lancaster Music Festival in 2014.

He plays a variety of instruments including the guitar, harmonica, drums, bass and organ as well as writing his own songs.

His love for music was created at his college more than 20 years ago, before he was discovered by rock legend John Parish who discovered his voice on his album ‘Searching’.

Jay has also supported bands like The Jam, The Feud, The Milltown Brothers, X factor star Paul Akister, The Heartbreaks and The South. Talking about his upcoming gig with guest star Mark Morriss, Jay said: “The gig came about in part through a mutual friend who thought we’d be a great match together, in that we both sing and play guitar, have a love of great live music and perhaps are both of a certain age!”

The concert will be held on March 21 at 7.30pm and tickets are £12/£10 and available at the box office 01524 64695.