Thomas Heppell gig review - Bath's Arts Centre

In the dynamic world of blues music, Thomas Heppell is strumming his way to prominence not just by preserving the genre’s rich legacy but also reshaping it with his own fresh perspectives.

Echoing the timeless tales of blues legends and infusing them with contemporary flair, Heppell’s self-titled debut album captures the soul of a genre beloved by both vintage aficionados and a new wave of enthusiasts. Evidence of his meteoric rise was seen at Bath’s Chapel Arts Centre when he supported Belfast’s Dom Martin.

The gig showed he is redefining the blues for a new era. Blending the soul of Blues, the raw energy of Rock & Roll, and the finesse of Jazz. He started life as a policeman for three years before going into teaching children music and then decided to move to being a full-time musician.

His 2023 self-titled debut album, Thomas Heppell, gained national airplay on BBC Introducing, Planet Rock, and top independent Blues stations, hitting the Top 30 in the Independent Charts.

The legacy of blues, with its rich history and timeless appeal, is captured. Each song is a chapter from Thomas's life, a reflection of personal trials, tribulations, and triumphs. The narratives, from tales of love and heartbreak to stories of resilience and longing, offer a mirror to many. The songs span a spectrum, from the raw, visceral energy of blues and the sophistication of jazz to the earthy tones of country and the age-old tales of folk.

With three consecutive years of nominations for top national awards, Thomas is a 2025 finalist in three categories at The UK Blues Federation Awards, a testament to his undeniable impact on the genre.

He opens with his own “Good Ol’ Doney” and “Don’t Get My Blues” and immediately the crowd is mesmerized by his guitar skills. To recognise the great blues player Robert Johnson, he next plays “Rollin’ & Tumblin’’ before the first of audience participation songs with ‘Victims of Circumstance’ maintained the rapid pace with its great blues style and raunchy vocals.

He follows with “John the Revelator’” by Blind Willie Johnson, a sightless Texas preacher, about John of Patmos in his role as the author of the Book of Revelation and made famous by the Blues Brothers film in 1980.

Wearing his trademark fedora, solo but playing a mixture of acoustic and electric guitars and particularly strong on slide, most of the set was originals in the blues idiom, but ‘Hey Victoria’, the second single from the album, was totally different, an original folk/country tune with a hint of blues, is about coming to terms with reality, even if your heart painfully feels different.

Another new song was ‘What Causes a Man to Break’ which was about his emotions after a roller-coaster year. This has a slower tempo with a more mellow expressive sound and vocals with echoey guitar.

He finished with the BB King classic ‘Every Day I Got the Blues’ which included a medley of other songs and guitar styles with a raunchy finish.

The second record, “Live At The Sound Lounge”, soared to 11th in the charts - solidifying his place as a rising star in the Blues scene.

His music, steeped in tradition yet uniquely his own, shines a beacon of love and unity in a world that often feels divided. Thomas has emerged as an electrifying force, his slide guitar techniques and influences are deeply rooted in the blues tradition, yet he creatively infuses elements from various genres, resulting in a unique blend that is both innovative and respectably traditional.