Playing together since summer 2009, Blackbeard’s Tea Party began as a busking, function and ceilidh band, but quickly grew a reputation as a formidable live act.
They soon found themselves selling out venues in their home town of York.
Word quickly spread and the band began to play gigs further afield, including a number of noteworthy festival concerts and ceilidh bookings through 2010 and 2011.
These included Sidmouth, Shrewsbury and a headline slot at Galtres, among others.
During this time, Blackbeard’s Tea Party released an EP (Heavens to Betsy, 2009) and a full length album (Tomorrow We’ll Be Sober, 2011) to excellent critical acclaim and public response.
Both were recorded in Kajunga Studios (a series of progressively bigger bedrooms) and were funded and distributed independently.
After the release of Heavens to Betsy the band’s distinct sound was picked up by the BBC’s Mike Harding, who played Blackbeard’s Tea Party on BBC Radio 2's weekly folk show.
Since the release of Tomorrow We’ll Be Sober - which R2 Magazine gave a five star rating – Blackbeard’s Tea Party have gone from strength to strength.
They were recognised as one of the best live bands in the UK in the 2011 FATEA Awards and 2012 saw a long run of festival bookings, including Cambridge and Whitby, and return visits to Sidmouth and Shrewsbury, amongst others.
In between all these shows, Blackbeard’s Tea Party can still be found busking on the streets of York, and you can also see them live at their own gigs across the country, in a local music venue, pub, folk club or living room.
They come to Telford’s Warehouse in Chester on Friday, November 22.
Call 01244 390 090 or visit www.telfordswarehouse.com.
