TWO of the best blues and country music artists in Britain are playing in Clayhidon on Friday (October 13) when they include this remote Blackdown Hills parish in their West Country tour.

The Red Dirt Skinners are the first act in history to achieve accolades at the British Blues Awards and the British Country Music Awards, and they were finalists in the Folk category of the UK Songwriting Awards.

Their current album, Behind The Wheel, was nominated Album of the Year at the International Acoustic Music Awards and voted Folk/Roots Album of the Year in several polls.

Audiences and critics on both sides of the Atlantic rave about husband and wife duo Rob and Sarah Skinner. Male and female harmonies blend as one voice, and Sarah’s soprano saxophone solo prompted one audience in Canada to give her a standing ovation for their opening number.

Anyone who likes original music that draws influences from Pink Floyd, Simon and Garfunkel, Supertramp, Crosby Stills and Nash, and David Bowie, coupled with epic storytelling, humour and heartfelt emotions, will love the Red Dirt Skinners.

Not being tied to any one genre, their music is immensely varied and yet they have their own instantly recognisable sound. They have a natural rapport with their audiences and their live shows are a wonderful experience – a musical journey to remember.

Hall chairman Gareth Weekes said: “We still don’t quite know how we manage to get artists of this calibre to play in our little hall but we are expecting a sell-out.”

Tickets are priced £10 and supper reservations, priced £5, are available from Caroline Bendle on 01823-681047 or email [email protected]

The Red Dirt Skinners are at Clayhidon Parish Hall in Battle Street (EX15 3PN) at 7.30pm – doors open 7pm.