ONwards and UPwards!

Our FINAL GIG EVER is Steve Rodda (guitar), Neil Adam Richards (drums) and Mat Short bass guitar. Onwards and Upwards refers to the fact that we’ve hosted live music at Stray’s from this venue since 2007. This Sunday gig, just before the New Year, marks the final performance ever to happen at this address! Don’t panic, we’ll be doing it over the road from our new home in The Ossington, so it marks an end and a beginning.

Steve Rodda plays guitar with Stray’s house band PRS. We first met Steve when he introduced us to his long time side man John Illingworth and their guitar duo Double Take at our jazz and tapas nights back in 2010. Massively talented, Steve has been part of the bigger lineup of Nottingham-based Decent Chaps, has played too many festivals to note and has an ongoing project called Trio Des Chordes, accompanied by Double Bass and Violin, playing Gypsy Jazz.

The second half of 10-by-2 is Stray’s co-owner Mat Short on bass guitars. Mat originally played saxophone under the tutelage of hardcore avant garde proponent Jan Kopinski, followed by jazz theory studies with Trumpeter Nathan Bray. When Mat’s father passed away back in 2015, Mat decided to play the Fender Jazz bass that was left behind by his late dad – he’s since sold his saxophone and has turned to the dark side. Influences are far and wide, from Ellington and Guy Barker, through to the studio work of Hidden Orchestra and of course, the svelte sounds of Steely Dan.

Holding down the rhythm is Lincolnshire drummer Neil Adam Richards. Neil plays with Rachael Johnson, Andy Tytherleigh, Frank Birkbeck, The Josh Walter trio and more. He

No tickets needed for this one, but it’s definitely worth reserving a table if you want to watch the musicians play their final gig at our much-loved venue…