Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys set to appear at The Apex

The award-winning Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys (pictured above) serve up a lively blend of original songs and fun covers, packed with foot-stomping bluegrass, down-home country and reckless rockabilly.

The Canadian combo, who are due to appear at The Apex, in Bury St Edmunds, early next month, have released four albums to date, which have brought the lads impressive airplay and multiple awards, though Gordie stresses that live performance remains his true calling.

“I’d say we consider ourselves a live band more than a recording act,” he explains. “We just love being on-stage in front of an audience. We view our albums as a souvenir of the live show, so we record live off the floor as much as possible.”

The group features all-star pickers and singers, each one a musical Swiss army knife, trading instruments and styles every song.

Gordie lives up to his nickname, “Crazy Legs”, hoofing with abandon, or sawing out a solo perched on top of the double bass. Their eclectic sound draws upon bluegrass, old time country, folk, rockabilly, swing, Celtic, and other styles in a genre-defying fashion.

Both live and on record, Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys serve up a neat balance of traditional tunes and well-crafted group originals, in both instrumental and vocal styles.

“For the traditional tunes, I try to find ones that are a little more obscure, though it’s nice to have a few that are very recognizable as well,” says Gordie.

A natural showman, his exuberant onstage dynamism and elastic-legged dancing, combined with The Rhythm Boys stellar musicianship, ensures an exhilarating live show.

Gordie and His Rhythm Boys play at The Apex, on Monday, July 3. See www.theapex.co.uk or ring 01284 758000 for more details and to book tickets.