Natalie Williams (9:00pm); Tony O'malley (10:15pm); Wayne Hernandez (11:30pm)

For many years now Friday nights have been our “Groove” nights and tonight will carry on that tradition, with the one exception that we will be featuring not one but three of the finest Groove bands to perform here at the Club. The wonderful Natalie Williams has been strutting her stuff here at the Club for almost 10 years, going from a young upcoming Soul/R&B singer to established artist. With an 8 year Residency at Ronnie Scott’s leading her “Soul Family” Sundays through appearances at festivals such as Manchester, Cheltenham and Love Supreme to work abroad at festivals and venues including Montreux, Rochester (New York), Jakarta and the Blue Note Tokyo Nat has established herself as one of the finest singers on the UK scene. Another good friend of the Club, it was great to find she was available to kick start this night of Groove and R&B. The second musician featured this evening can rightly be described as a “stalwart” of the Club and one of our most popular attractions. “[Natalie Williams]...One of the UK’s hottest singers…she effortlessly moves from soul-diva to sensual and sophisticated jazz.” – Time Out

I first met Tony O’Malley in the mid 90’s when my old friend, the brilliant sax player the late Pat Crumly, booked the Club for a rehearsal. The music coming from the room was unlike anything we had really had at the Club before, and I was so struck by how good it sounded that I asked Pat to tell me who it was. He explained it was a guy called Tony O’Malley, who had first made his name with a band called Kokomo. I was surprised that I hadn’t come across Tony as a solo artist before, but Pat explained that Tony had taken a bit of a break from music and was just working his way back. I immediately suggested that he should start at the 606 Club(!), and so an association began which has endured for more than 20 years. The music that Tony performs, particularly his originals which are a mix of Ray Charles- inspired R&B combined with his unique talent for melody and harmony, has been a cornerstone of what has become a burgeoning Groove/Soul scene here at the Club. No Anniversary Festival would pass muster without Tony. “[Tony O'Malley]...the velvet gravel throated O’Malley is one of the UK’s most undersung vocal performers...the songs drenched in the deep soulful spirit that characterises everything he touches…one of the UK’s hottest properties” - Jazzwise

And closing the evening will be the great Wayne Hernandez. A singer of immense power and charisma, Wayne has been defining Soul here at the Club for over a decade. I first met him when he turned up as a guest singer, and we were all so knocked out by his talent that he has been a regular here with his own band ever since. In the true tradition of the 606 Club Wayne is a busy working musician, known for his work with the likes of Gorillaz, Billy Ocean, Kool and the Gang and Tina Turner. And just to give an idea of how much he is not only in demand but also very much part of the 606 “family”, Wayne was asked specifically by Stevie Wonder (who he had performed with before) to sing bv’s for Stevie’s recent gig in Hyde Park….but he said no because he had a show at the 606 Club that weekend and didn’t want to let us down! Great singer, great band, great guy. “...it was clear that Wayne had a very special talent, his voice, it was simply breathtaking” Livemusic.fm