King Size Slim returns to Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues Bar

King Size slim is a sight to behold.

Led by frontman Toby Barelli, King Size Slim will bring their mix of ska, roots and blues music for a guaranteed good time at one of Soho’s last remaining independent Blues bars on March 25.

Barelli, born in Kent but now set up in Hastings, is an award winning guitarist and singer/songwriter having won Best Emerging Artists at the British Blues Award in 2014.

He said: “King Size Slim has been me as a solo act since 2005, just in the last few years a band formed around it. It’s a different animal now.”

Up on stage, Barelli’s bluesy voice and larger than life personality draws audiences in with ease filling small venues with people up on their feet dancing.

Barelli said: “I like playing gigs to audiences who don’t know what we do. We put on a good show.

“We have a great time with the crowd – people in their 20s love what we do, they don’t really know what it is.

“My method is very direct. All of the showbiz tricks, I want people to leave feeling better.

“I’ve always had an element of showing off and I’ve just got better at it.”

Barelli is quite good at showing off. But he has good reason to, equipped with an eye-catching steel guitar, mechanically amplified to fill small blues bars with chords and riffs that flow from his fingertips with ease.

His talent comes from experience, having first started learning guitar when he was eight-years-old.

He said: “When I started it was classical. When I was about 13 I got an electric guitar which was much more fun.

“Playing guitar, singing and performing, that’s what I’ve always done.”

Barelli has played in ska and reggae bands throughout his career, citing blues legend Chuck Berry as one of his many inspirations.

King Size Slim will be returning to Ain’t Nothing But The Blues bar in Kingly Street, Soho, for their March set starting at 5pm.

Last time Barelli performed at the bar, passers by who had wandered in to see what all the chaos was about found themselves dancing through the night in the tiny, packed room.

Barelli said: “It’s great. A proper blues bar – long and thin, nothing fancy.”

Ain’t Nothing But The Blues Bar is a bit of an institution. Live music seven days a week with free entry before 9pm and open until late.

Having built up a devoted fan base, it’s best to arrive before 7.30pm or be prepared to queue.

Three sets on a Saturday means you can hit the 4pm session and settle in for the long haul to get all the blues you need for the day.

Barelli said: “It must be one of the only places left that does free live blues music in Soho.

“It’s sad to see places closing, like when the 12 bar shut that was sad. But things move on and Ain’t Nothing But the Blues is still there.”

To see King Size Slim for yourself, head to Kingly Street in Soho for their afternoon show on March 25.

Barelli said: “We’re a great band, we put on a great show and it’s a great little bar. It will be a great day and night out and you’ll be home by 10pm.”

To find out more about King Size Slim visit: https://kingsizeslim.com/

Pictured top: Toby Barelli of King Size Slim (Picture: Sara Louise-Bowrey)