Michael Messer & Chaz Jankel

Event information

Their first album together, ‘Mostly We Drive’, is one of the highlights of 2024, from this master slide-guitarist and former Blockhead guitarist. Think JJ Cale or Clapton & Allman – and then bring it kicking and gently screaming into this decade.

Michael Messer is a virtuoso slide guitarist, singer, songwriter and roots & blues innovator. Throughout his forty two year career his music has remained individual and contemporary. Michael's reputation as an innovator of the blues and master of slide guitar is well known.

Being British with an international reputation for blues slide guitar is a rarity in itself, but Messer's obsessive appetite for knowledge of his art is virtually unrivalled. His stunning slide guitar playing and superb vocals ooze authenticity and integrity. His use of turntables in the Second Mind Band marked him as one of the trailblazers of the noughties blues sound and his blues-Indian trio, Michael Messer's Mitra, has once again broken new ground by playing an exhilarating and accessible fusion of rural blues and Indian classical music. Their highly acclaimed album, Call Of The Blues, was iTunes No1 blues album and has won them worldwide acclaim, receiving radio airplay in more than fifty countries.

Johnny Cash was a fan of Michael Messer's music and wrote the liner notes for his 1993 album 'Rhythm Oil', a rare honour shared only with Bob Dylan on the 'Nashville Skyline' album. 'Rhythm Oil' was awarded Import Album of the Year by the Austin, Texas, music press. Messer's 'King Guitar' album reached number one in the US Living Blues chart. 'Second Mind' won Best International Guitar Album of the Year, and the American magazine 'Spirit' listed Michael Messer as one of the greatest slide guitarists ever, alongside Duane Allman and Ry Cooder.

Messer's latest project is an album he has recorded with the renowned songwriter and musician, Chaz Jankel. A recording artist in his own right, Chaz Jankel is most widely known as the co-writer of many hit records with Ian Dury & The Blockheads. The album 'Mostly We Drive' was released in January 2024 and reached #2 in the IBBA (Independent Blues Broadcasters) chart for January. The album has been featured on numerous radio shows including - BBC Radio 2 Cerys Matthews Blues Show, Jazz FM David Freeman Blues & Boogie Show, WLTH Chicago Brothers Of The Blues Show, and shows in these countries… Ireland, Canada, Scotland, USA, Poland, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, France, Japan….and more to follow.

In 2025, WemsFest adds The Havana (3 Little London, Chichester PO19 1PH) to its quiver of venues. The Havana is an atmospheric subterranean venue in the heart of Chichester. Easily accessible by public transport using bus or train, come enjoy an evening out in Chichester's premier grassroots music venue. The Havana's licensed bar and cosy seating will ensure you are comfortable.