The James Hunter Six – Live in Leeds 2026 – “one for the dancers and lovers”

Brudenell Social Club, Leeds 29^th January 2026

James Hunter manages to bring the sixties values of soul and rock and roll to life without being a nostalgia act. Embracing the styles of the past with his sharp suit and a band with organ, double bass, drums and two saxes, only two of the songs were covers. Strutting and smiling at the front, Hunter focuses our attention on that warm soul voice and then on his expressive guitar playing. Guitar solos are succinct, clear and perfectly complement the songs.

The audience are there to step quietly to the beats, ranging from 4-4 to the blue beat of ‘Carina’ to bossa nova to blues shuffle to one that sounds a lot like Desmond and Brubeck’s ‘Take Five’. It takes a polished band to do that and the unflashy drums are spot-on, keeping everyone on track, while the warm keys and saxes add melodic flourishes. The primacy of the beat is underlined by everyone getting a solo apart from the bass and drums. The stage is set with the opener, ‘Gun Shy’, which boogies hard and the next ninety minutes flow naturally from faster songs to ballads, unified in a clean sound and heart-on-the-sleeve sentiments.

James is a natural showman, dropping in barrow boy chat and jokes. He introduces ‘Brother Or Other’ as his “first political song since 1974’s ‘Don’t Vote For Edward Heath’”. Most of us are old enough to get the reference and the song is apposite to today’s blaming of the ‘other’ for any troubles we have. Charity doesn’t begin at home, he says – “everyone needs a helping hand”. ‘Ain’t That A Trip’ shows that Van Morrison wasn’t needed on the recording, choogling along very nicely. ‘Two Birds, One Stone’ and ‘Off The Fence’ are dancing highlights of the new material but there is a healthy mix of older songs.

Hunter seems most alive in his two covers. ‘Baby Don’t Do it’ by The “5” Royales gets a blistering rendition with sweat appearing on the brow and hips swivelling, while Clarence Gatemouth Brown’s ‘Okie Dokie Stomp’ is a pure old-school rock and roller. A grin fixed on his face, James revels in these songs from the fifties; clearly old favourites.

The whole show is packed with energy, groove, jazzy smoothness, soul and blues. A polished set, one for the dancers and lovers.