Wilko Johnson

Following Wilko’s cancer recovery, the original Dr Feelgood guitarist has enjoyed a rousing return to the live arena recently, including playing a sold out show at The Royal Albert Hall to mark his 70th birthday.

Heavily influenced by Mick Green, Wilko employs a finger-style, chop-chord strumming action (the ‘stab’, as he describes it). This allows for chords and lead to be played at the same time, giving a fluency and a distinctive sound very unlike the cleaner swat of a pick.

With this economic sound, coupled with that black-suited, scowling look, and the yards he covered across the stage pausing only to twist the guitar lead out from under his feet, Wilko became one of the guitar heroes of the era.

Following a stint with Ian Dury & The Blockheads in the 80′s he eventually formed The Wilko Johnson Band with ex-Blockhead Norman Watt-Roy on bass. Also featuring Dylan Howe on drums, the trio have become one of the most exciting r’n’b bands in the world today.

Having played here in 2016, Wilko will duck-walk his way back to The Civic Hall to headline the second night of the Cottingham Folk Festival on Friday August 24th.