We are thrilled to welcome Toby Lee and his band to perform on the festival’s outdoor performance stage at Blackmore Gardens on Monday 27 May from 2.30pm.
At just 19-years-old, Toby Lee has a musical CV that many would take a lifetime to achieve. It all started when his Grandma gave him a little yellow ukulele when he was six that he played constantly. When Toby was ten, he recorded a get well jam for his hero BB King and posted it online racking up 5 million views in a week. Sadly BB King passed away but his daughters invited Toby to Memphis where he performed at BB King’s Blues Club on Beale Street.
Toby was cast as Zack Mooneyham in the West End production of School of Rock the Musical – he did this for one year. Toby and the other 11 child musicians who played live every night, won an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.
Due to his popular Sunday online jams, Toby appeared on many TV shows around the world including TFI Friday twice, Little Big Shots USA, Spain and the UK, Comic Relief, Michael McIntyre, The X Factor, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Blue Peter and Tonight at the London Palladium where he performed with McFly.
He jammed with Ronnie Baker Brooks at the Blues Heaven Festival in Denmark and the video went viral with over 120 Million views. Toby represented the UK at the 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis and was later announced as the Young Blues Artist of the Year in the UK Blues Awards. He was also featured in a television documentary called Child Prodigies.
In 2019, he was flown to Los Angeles to appear on the Ellen Degeneres Show where he performed and was interviewed by Ellen.
Toby has shared the stage with a host of stars including Buddy Guy, Billy Gibbons, Peter Frampton, Slash, Lukas Nelson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and appeared alongside his hero, Joe Bonamassa at the Royal Albert Hall.
He appeared on This Morning with Phil and Holly promoting his album Aquarius which reached number one in the Official Jazz and Blues Charts.
In 2022, Toby released a covers album, Icons Volume 1 featuring tracks by artists who have inspired him.
A highlight of the year was performing with his band on Joe Bonamassa’s Mediterranean Cruise and showcasing alongside Joe.
Toby has been a Gibson artist since the age of ten and is endorsed by Blackstar Amplification and D’Addario strings.
Blackstar Amplification released a Toby Lee signature amp – the St James Toby Lee 50 6L6 head and cab.
Toby has recorded his first all original album ‘House on Fire’ which will be released this year.
He has a busy 2024 touring schedule with over 100 shows planned – 60 of these with the amazing Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.
