Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre January 2026

His first idol was Big Bill Broonzy, and those songs went straight into his bones. Nearly six decades later, Speight still plays Broonzy numbers like "Willie Mae" and "5'7" with authority earned the hard way. The repertoire has widened over the years, but the foundation never shifted: honest Blues, played straight, with nothing hidden and nothing wasted.

His recordings mark the passage of time like road signs: Blues from the Aire Delta (1982), North Country Blues (1997), Blues Around Midnight (2017), Last Chance Blues (2019), and Seam of the Blues (2021). They document a player who understands that Blues isn't about how fast the fingers move—it's about what the years put into the voice. The hands may have slowed, but the truth comes through stronger than ever. At this stage of life, it still matters—deeply—to be able to stand up and sing "Woke Up This Morning" and mean every word.

Speight has played anywhere a crowd would listen: bars, back rooms, clubs, concerts, and festivals. These days you'll find him where the atmosphere is right and the audience knows the difference—club stages and festival tents where the Blues can breathe. As the years have piled on, something else has happened: the applause lasts longer, hits harder, and carries more weight. Recognition, not nostalgia.

Inducted into the British Blues Hall of Fame in 2017, and later named a National Treasure, the honors came late—but right on time. Dave Speight is proof that the Blues doesn't fade, doesn't retire, and doesn't slow down just because the road gets longer.

Spend 48 hours with him and you'll see it clearly: little sleep, too many cigarettes, stories stacked like empty glasses, and the Blues running nonstop. Dave Speight doesn't play at being Blues. He's still out there, still showing up, still telling the truth—one song at a time.