About Us
The band
Brought together to perform five songs at a one-off gig in November 2022, the Southern Slamdoor Band found playing together was such fun they decided to carry on.
Four musicians from diverse music backgrounds, all with a great deal of experience from playing in many different bands, the Southern Slamdoor Band bring a new twist to the blues and rhythm & blues genres with their upbeat rhythm & blues, boogie and boogaloo!
stuart mckay – vocals and Harmonicas
Long time member of the Brighton blues and jazz music scene, and harmonica player with The Uncontrollables (punk blues), Sumerian Kyngs (psychedelic groove) and Column 258 (experimental music collective). Also co-founder of the international harmonica festival, Harpin' by the Sea, and of Brighton's Real Music Club.
louise maggs – guitar
Louise has enjoyed playing in a wide variety of musical settings over the years – jazz, ska, funk and chicken pickin’ country bands. She is currently one half of a jazz duo with saxophonist Beccy Rork, as well as the guitarist with a big band.
Lou was a member of the blues band, Ruby and the Revelators, who supported many well-known acts, including the Blockheads, Geno Washington, Lil' Jimmy Reed (at the 100 Club), Chris Farlowe and the Norman Beaker Band. The band released two albums and had a good reception on blues radio stations.
She has played at the London Jazz Festival (with Deidre Cartwright), Cambridge Rock Festival, Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival, Upton Blues Festival and the Broadstairs Blues Bash, to name but a few.
andy power – Bass
Member of Noir Mates (wonderful darkness) and long-time Sumerian Kyngs (psychedelic groove) comrade. Previous bands include the Brighton-based Fibroid Nebulae (psych motorik) and That Legendary Wooden Lion (prog) and, in West Berlin when the wall was high, The Red Snappers (post-punk).
ryan bollard – drums
Drumming for a long time within the Brighton improv, alternative and noise scene, Ryan is currently a member of Minor Dents (experimental motorik). Previously with the Hastings outfit, Column 258 (experimental music collective) as well as numerous bands in and around Brighton, including The Creaking Chair (nu-folk), Reds Collective (improvised drone & kosmiche), Kosmos 954 (improv psych) and Seadog (indie psych).