Robin Trower, Maxi Priest & Livingstone Brown

On paper, Ed Sheeran’s record producer, a 70s arena rock guitarist and a Grammy award-winning reggae singer aren’t the likeliest of combinations you’d put together, but it’s happened.

What’s more Robin Trower, Maxi Priest and Livingstone Brown have got an album coming out and they’re also going on tour.

It all came about through a chance meeting at Livingstone Brown’s recording studio in Brixton. Brown has worked with the likes of the aforementioned Sheeran, Chronixx, Corrine Bailey Rae, The Waterboys and Bill Withers among others. Those others notably including Robin Trower, having previously played drums in his band and more recently co-produced the legendary guitarist’s 20^th Century Blues Album.

It transpired Maxi Priest, the reggae fusion artist who’s scored hits singles internationally, was at the studio the same time as Trower, and the unlikely duo hit it off. Both are directly influenced by soul and gospel music and still share a mutual passion for the genre. Livingstone half-jokingly suggested, “Why don’t we write a song together?” The pair looked at each other and said, “Why not?”

Ironically, Trower and Priest were both born in Lewisham hospital. From those humble beginnings, both went on to enjoy glittering careers both at home and in the USA. Priest and his hits, including his well-known USA Billboard No. 1 single ‘Close to You’ from the album Bonafide. Trower’s album Bridge Of Sighs went Gold selling millions of albums, while Bridge of Sighs influenced millions of budding guitarists to pick up a guitar for the very first time.

For multi-million selling award-winning artists who’ve been there and very much done it, trying something totally different sounded interesting. In fact it went even further as they struck up a highly productive joint song-writing partnership that quickly developed over a dozen new songs. Each song is said to have captured Priest’s silky soulful vocal tone, Trower’s soulful guitar playing and what’s become Livingstone’s Midas touch.

The album is called United States Of Mind and will be released later in the year. Robin Trower, Maxi Priest and Livingstone Brown will also be going out on tour throughout the UK in October. They are avi

ROBIN TROWER, MAXI PRIEST & LIVINGSTONE – OCTOBER 2019 UK TOUR

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh   Friday 25 October

Boiler Shop, Newcastle   Sunday 27 October

Town Hall, Birmingham   Monday 28 October

Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London   Tuesday 29 October

TICKETS: www.thegigcartel.com and from the 24 HR Ticket Hotline – 0844 478 0898.