Step right up and accept our invitation to the blues as Temperance veterans Stuart Maxwell (vocals/harmonica/organ/piano), Chris Johnson (vocals/guitars), Nick Johnson (vocals/guitars/piano/harmonium) and Alex Davies (double bass) present an eclectic selection of Tom Waits’ brilliant songs in the debut performance of their new show.

Join us on a journey from Waits’ folky 70s singer-songwriter origins through tender ballads, twisted blues, black comedy, smoky jazz, spoken word, graveyard gospel, haunted lullabies and Faustian cabaret.

Tom Waits is a true original with such an idiosyncratic vocal style he can’t be copied and each of his albums inhabits its own sonic world. A prolific songwriter, his diverse catalogue has been covered by artists including Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, John Hammond, The Ramones, Pearl Jam, Johnny Cash, The Eagles, Norah Jones, Blind Boys of Alabama, Scarlett Johansson and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss.

This is not a tribute show to Tom Waits' stage persona - no hats, no attempts at imitation - but it is a celebration of some of the best songs of the past 50 years. Even if you’re not a die-hard Waits fan, you probably know more than you think….

This show will have two sets with an interval and may involve use of a loudhailer.

The musicians:

Stuart Maxwell has been singing the blues for over 40 years, fronting European and UK touring favourites Storm Warning, three years fronting Mick Ralphs’ Blues Band, plus his own Shufflepack, Barnstormers, Big River Blues and Blues Raiders.

Chris Johnson, Nick Johnson and Alex Davis are all members of Everything Under The Sun, the collective that has performed classic albums including Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here at cathedrals round the country - including a four night sold out run of Dark Side of the Moon at Temperance in 2023 and two sold out shows at Coventry Cathedral in 2024 and 2025.

Chris and Nick also perform their own material under the Chris & Nick Johnson name, playing venues from folk clubs to festivals, headlining and also supporting the likes of Steve Knightley (Show of Hands), Seth Lakeman and The Dunwells.

Nick was a member of the reformed Thunderclap Newman and has toured with Big Country drummer and session legend Mark Brzezicki as well as playing guitar in Stuart Maxwell’s Big River Blues.

folk @ temperance | "Step Right Up" The Songs of Tom Waits