Dave Barnes was born in London, as Muddy Waters was recording Gypsy Woman in Chicago; the significance of this took some years to become apparent.
Dave’s first encounter with the blues came when a schoolfriend lent him the Lightning Hopkins LP Lightning Strikes; he never looked back (or returned the record). Hearing Mississippi Fred McDowell play bottleneck blues subsequently was a revelation, and Dave was determined to learn for himself how to make these sounds. Despite the British Blues craze of the time, he couldn’t find anyone to show him, and so set about teaching himself; he remains completely self-taught.
Dave moved from the country blues of his earlier years (which remain a powerful influence) to the urban blues of Muddy Waters, Robert Junior Lockwood and others, as well as the occasional diversion into the more modern (relatively speaking!) R&B songs of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. Besides his now very accomplished slide guitar playing, Dave also blows a mean blues harmonica, and sings with strength and feeling.
Dave started playing in blues bands 30 years ago, including, Blues Movie, Chicago Sunsets, and as a mainstay of Doc K’s Blues Band for the past 25 years or so. Whilst continuing with Doc K, he has more recently also joined with other local bluesmen in Dave Barnes’ Blues Heroes, and the Low Down Dogs. Dave also plays solo as Mad Dog, focussing on traditional and heartfelt blues, from the well- known to some more obscure numbers.
Dave is a regular at St Harmonica’s Blues Club in Southgate, and has also appeared a number of times in recent years in Marigolds Blues Club, Old Harlow; The Pavilion in Crouch End; and for Blues Revolution in various venues.