Steve Simpson

Steve Simpson 1948-2024

We're really sad to announce that Steve Simpson is no longer with us, he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 24th November. Thank you everyone for your heartfelt comments, Steve was a great musician, an all round lovely bloke and a joy to work with. We will all be coming together at the Half Moon, Putney on the 14th December and dedicating the gig to Steve, as a celebration of his life and music.

RIP Steve
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Slim Chance gigs
Slim Chance

"Slim Chance have beautifully honored their late leader’s legacy while emerging as a magical band in their own right"

Kris Needs, Record Collector

 

Founded by the great Ronnie Lane after he left the Faces, Slim Chance is still going strong, redefining rock and roll and continuing to live up to their name as the ultimate good-time band. The show features many of Ronnie’s classic songs – including Ooh la la, How Come and The Poacher plus a few surprises - a rare mix of bonhomie and fine musicianship.

The band now regularly performs as a quintet, including original members Steve Bingham and Charlie Hart with fine support from Geraint Watkins, Frank Mead and Jim Russell or Brendan O’Neill.  This year they have played The UK Americana Festival, Esher Theatre and the New Forest Folk Festival as well as regular club dates up and down the country.

The band came together (‘reformed and unrepentant’) back in 2010 following the successful 2004 Albert Hall Ronnie Lane commemoration concert.  Since that time they have played extensively round the country and released 5 albums, the latest of which was recorded in Sheffield earlier in 2024.  They are all now distributed by the Last Music Company.

 


Slim Chance – Live at the Greystones was officially released on February 23rd 2024 by The Last Music Company

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Slim Chance – Live at the Greystones

Back in May we played the second date on our Spring Tour, the Greystones in Sheffield - definitely one of our favourite gigs.  On the night, everyone felt it had been a particularly good show, and we were all delighted and astonished when the engineer, Chris Grimshaw casually announced that he had recorded it all on multitrack.

We think you’re going to enjoy the album - our fifth since we got back together (‘reformed but unrepentant!’) some 13 years ago. It’s our first live album – something that fans have been suggesting for years.  And we mean LIVE!  It’s the band caught in the act, as you would have experienced us on stage that night!

"Ronnie Lane’s old muckers on joyous form. Tangibly relishing classics including The Poacher, One For The Road, Kuschty Rye, You’re So Rude, Ooh La La and ever poignant Debris before a rousing Goodnight Irene. Thankfully the tapes were rolling to capture this magical evening."

Kris Needs, Record Collector

“Bring me fish with eyes of jewels”
Ronnie Lane | The Poacher

Press

"The whole album is drenched in the rollicking joi de vivre that Lane himself channelled so adroitly. A spirit-raising triumph from start to finish."

Viva la Rock

"Much more than a nostalgic re-treading of past glories, this is rock'n'roll played as balm for the soul by a band of brothers"

Steve Hunt | fRoots

"On The Move sounds like music made with drinks in hand and wide smiles on faces"

Mark Blake | Mojo

"Their second LP is an aged-in-the wood delight. They've all done Ronnie proud"

Q magazine

"Original Chancers Steve Bingham, Charlie Hart and Steve Simpson convincingly recreate Ronnie's uniquely ruralised, soul-and-groove brand of folk-rock"

Uncut

"Richly garnished by fiddles, bottleneck and accordion, the rejuvenated Slim Chance seem to be emerging with a rough-shod, rollicking sound of their own………..the party is already in full swing"

Record Collector