Bluefunk Rhythm and Blues club presents Willie Nile and his superstar band, from New York, at the Snow Goose Live, Mill St, Macclesfield on Friday.

Support is from Manchester legend (and Macclesfield resident) George Borowski and his Fabulous Wonderfuls.

At £10 a ticket it is a gift, from www.bluefunkclub.wix.com or snowgooselive.com or 07818 884324.

Willie Nile is an extraordinary character, as anyone who has had the privilege of seeing him perform will testify.

He affects an audience like few others can and not just die-hard fans, but people watching and hearing him for the first time.

This is the third time Willie has played in this area.

The first time he was prospecting, as he was unknown in the UK, and his expectations were audiences of teens (numbers not age), so when Bluefunk Rhythm and Blues Club put 75 people in front of him on the strength of their reputation for high quality artists he was as stunned as he was overjoyed.

That night those 75 people (who had no idea who he was) gave him three standing ovations, which he repaid with three encores.

A portion of that audience followed him on the rest of his tour, seeing him in Wales, Sheffield and Leicester.

Willie Nile does that to people. There is now even a facebook page for this global community called ‘I’m-justa Nileholic’.

It is not just Joe public who is affected in this manner but many of the world’s biggest names in rock history idolise him and particularly his songwriting wizardry.

The list  includes Bruce Springsteen (loads of youtubes playing with Nile and vice versa), Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Bono, Lou Reed. All on record singing his praises. 

His band is a who’s who of the New York Session scene, for example, Alex Alexander (drums) features on David Bowie’s latest offering, (this year’s bestselling album so far by a country mile) and has also recorded or toured with Eminem, Dido and countless others.

Similar with Johnny Pisano (bass) – Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, etc. Matt Hogan (guitar) – Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus etc, completes the line-up. Not only pedigree but dynamic live.

A major label artist from the early 80s, Nile’s early releases received critical acclaim and his career seemed set to progress nicely.

Then suddenly he shut down for 10 years. ‘Contractual difficulties’ – not an uncommon issue with artists and majors.

His career stalled and the world almost lost him for good.

With ‘difficulties’ resolved, recent years have seen a resurgence of activity as an independent artist and his career is once again in the ascendant. His third album in four years, American Ride, is due in June and eagerly awaited. To finance this album, Willie has used the ‘Pledge’ system as many other independents are choosing to do.

Briefly, an independent artist does not have the resources of a major label to fund the very expensive process of making and marketing an album, so basically they devise packages of goodies and or special treats for their fans to buy, from 10 dollars for a specially signed CD or poster to a couple of thousand for an ‘executive producer’ credit on the record/CD sleeve.

Willie was inundated with fans pledging cash and tripled the target needed in short order. What is particularly interesting regarding his appearance at the Snow Goose Live, is that one of those who followed him around after his first visit to Macclesfield has pledged 500 US dollars towards the album, and for this he will get to join Willie and his band on stage at this show to play guitar with them on a song of his choosing. This guy, Tim Vinall, from Tytherington, is so excited he probably won’t sleep until the night of the gig.   

Willie has that effect on people wherever he plays.

He is an American rock troubadour in the finest tradition and writes New York rock anthems with a punky twist like ordinary people brush their teeth.

Become a Nileholic, it’s the nicest disease you will ever catch.