A Super-Intimate Smash Hit Show, Giving An Unforgettable Soul-Filled & Fun Night Out. Stars a World Leading Singer, Musician & Entertainer

“Up Close With The Blues” will Feature New Original Songs From Giles Robson’s Acclaimed New Album “Nine Blues originals” During Summer/Autumn 2026!

Witnessing celebrated international blues star Giles Robson and his show “Up Close With The Blues” live is a dazzling, soul-filled and emotionally unforgettable experience as audiences from around the world constantly discover. He expertly and creatively interprets blues classics by the likes of Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Howlin’ Wolf, Memphis Slim, Little Walter, BB King, Albert King, Sonny Boy Williamson and will also perform powerful acclaimed original material from his NEW ALBUM 2026 album Nine Blues Originals. We are proud to present the show in the perfect venue; the incredibly intimate and atmospheric venue at Cambridge’s legendary Portland Arms.

Doors 7:00pm, Show 8:00pm - 10:30pm

2 x 45 minute Sets + Encores

Giles Robson: Vocals & Harmonica

Louis Crosland: Guitar

PRAISE FOR GILES ROBSON:

"You sound GREAT" Sir Mick Jagger

"Inspired harmonica... a master of his instrument" Living Blues Magazine (USA)

"Worth his place in blues history. A Genius" American Blues Scene (USA)

"A Blues giant. Absolute Master Of The Form" Alligator Records, Chicago, USA

"Had emerged as perhaps the finest harmonica player to come out of Great Britain" Jefferson Magazine Sweden

“A brilliant harmonica artist. One of the finest blues harmonica virtuosos in the world, an acclaimed master showman and singer " Hohner Harmonicas

"Europes top traditional blues harmonica man" Chicago Blues Guide (USA)

The Huge Success Of “Up Close With The Blues” At The Edinburgh Fringe

When the intimate & acoustic “Up Close With The Blues” show sold out 10 nights at the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival Blues Music Award Winner Giles Robson scored a significant victory in the live entertainment world. This was no small feat. The festival is the third most competitive ticket selling environment in the world after the Olympics and the World Cup, featuring over fifty one thousand performances of over three and a half thousand shows. The show became the most successful blues show in Fringe Festival history.

The well-earned rave 5-STAR REVIEW from Arts Reviews Edinburgh perhaps best describes the experience of watching the show:

“The blues is full of warmth and humour, and it is this same personal warmth and humour that Giles Robson so effortlessly brings to the stage with him to put his audience at ease and connect with them immediately. A virtuoso display of just what a range and depth of music and emotion the blues-harmonica is capable of in the right hands. Giles also is a fine blues vocalist, and for me it is always the human voice that is ultimately the defining sound of The Blues”.

5 Stars*****

And after Edinburgh, a review from “Bruce On The Fringe” blogspot of a Glasgow performance of the show:

“We definitely got our moneys worth! It was bloody excellent, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Besides playing harmonica and singing, Robson is a wonderful, engaging raconteur, so much fascinating blues detail and history. It was brilliant from beginning to end!”

More About Giles Robson - A Dreamlike Career In The Blues

The blues artistry of Giles Robson has always stood out, and decades long commitment, respect and focus towards the art of blues music has seen him build a dreamlike career. The only UK or European artist to appear on Chicago’s legendary Alligator Records who described him as “A blues giant, absolute master of the form”. He is only one of three UK blues artists alongside Eric Clapton and Peter Green to win one of the highest honours in blues - a coveted Blues Music Award in Memphis (The Grammys of the Blues). His albums are in the top of the world’s most prestigious music magazines critics polls – Mojo Magazine, Living Blues and DownBeat.

Muddy Waters' last lead guitar player and triple Grammy Award Nominee John Primer says “When me and Giles Play the blues we put hot sauce on it so you can feel it. I Love to hear him play. He’s a bad man”. Their 2024 collaborative album “Ten Chicago Blues Classics” won the prestigious USA Blues Blast Music Award for best acoustic album making Robson the only UK winner of the award in it’s 18 Year History.

He is considered across the world by legendary musicians, influential critics and adoring audiences as a rare master artist of the blues genre, able to powerfully convey the true essence, emotion and feeling of blues music. His entertaining and engaging acoustic live show “Up Close With The Blues” gives him the perfect framework to explore the deep and nuanced beauty of the blues, with a mixture of the genre’s most iconic classic songs and Robson’s own original compositions. Accompanied by a selection of world leading acoustic guitarists, the duo format perfectly showcases the fact that the blues is an evergreen

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