Lewis Clark & The Essentials

Lewis Clark & The Essentials

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Lewis Clark is a Wiltshire, UK based musician and writer of contemporary fiction. He has been performing live music here there and everywhere in his bid to freedom. Combining a virtuosic blend of honed lyricism with the distinct artistry of a folk and blues musician, Lewis’ music makes for a unique melange that strikes of honesty and a by-gone era.

Prior to releasing his first album, Lewis travelled the world, playing for four months in India’s well-worn shanty-cafes, from Rishikesh to Arambol (2012). Here he honed his craft performing for over 8 hours every day with musicians from all over the world. Shortly after this he undertook a two-month tour of Thailand’s Koh Chang with The Dhamma Bums (2013). This saw him fronting a three-piece folk group to great local acclaim and renown. At Mandstock Festival in Northern Italy later that year he opened as a support for The John Langan Band and This is the Kit. In the summer of 2014 he toured Calabria, Italy with the eclectic Lewis Clark Band and has since been building a solid reputation as one of Bristol’s unique singer/songwriters and live performers in his home city. His first solo album was Goodbye to All of that, released in March 2015. Lewis has since been performing over 20 gigs a month for a hard-won fan-base in the South West England and beyond.

​Lewis Clark & The Essentials is the name of Lewis’ current band project. They became a fully-fledged band in September 2015. Based around the core trio of Lewis Clark (guitar & vocals), Pasquale Votino (double bass) and Tom Gilkes (drums), the band expands to include Annalise Lam (violin), Roberto Nappi (Drums) and other on/off guest musicians in their exciting live shows. The group combines their diverse and shared interests in blues, folk and soul to create a dynamic and distinctive live sound. Their musical style draws on their love of rhythm and blues and explores an eclectic range of influences including traditional British folk, latin, American roots music and wider European traditions. To promote the release of their first album, ‘Vinyl Love’, Lewis Clark & The Essentials undertook a 20 date tour of the South Coast in September 2016. The album was reviewed by R2 National Magazine in the November 2016 edition and the band featured on BBC Introducing in Cornwall. There next album ‘II’ is being recorded in November 2019 and is due for release spring 2020. A third album ‘Live’ will follow in the summer of 2020.

​Lewis is supported by Sennheiser microphones and Shubb Capos. In 2017 he became endorsed by Pound Arts Centre in WIltshire. ​
As a writer Lewis is currently working on his first short novel ‘The Cellar Door’, a piece about a travelling Vaudeville circus that shanghais the reader to become an unwilling participant. The novel will be ready for publication at the end of 2019. There will also be a tie in musical project ‘Vaudeville’ TBA.