B & B is a blues-based duo featuring Ernie Bell on vocals, rhythm guitar and harmonica with Rich Brunton on lead guitars. The humming R & B and soul scene in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the mid-sixties provided enough gigs in pubs and clubs to keep around 350 working bands busy. Ernie worked this circuit with The Chosen Few while Rich played to the same audiences in The Epidemic. Though they shared many of the same bills they only met many years later in Somerset. Discovering a mutual love of the blues they formed B & B in October 2000.

Ernie Bell learnt to play harmonica while attending Alt College in Newcastle. Influenced by the work of blues giants like Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Terry and Sonny Boy Williamson, Ernie was soon working with some of the North East's most talented players. Ernie moved on to work with Jimi Hendrix' bass player Noel Redding in Southern Ireland playing Celtic ~ and blues with The Clonakilty Cowboys. Returning to England in the early eighties he worked around the South West as a solo performer until he met up with fellow writer Charlie Miller. Together they formed Whole Soul Connection, a ten-piece Somerset based band playing and recording a 'mix of original material, soul and R'n'B.

Rick Brunton taught himself guitar, learning from the records of the Kings (B.B, Albert and Freddie) and legends like Muddy Waters and T-Bone Walker. He moved from Newcastle to London in 1969, gigging with a blues duo and a bluesy jazz quintet. He later joined Sattva featuring Alexis Korner's daughter Sappho, playing a mix of soul, blues and jazz-rock. Richard went on to tour and record with many fine artists like Dr John, Gerry Rafferty, Greg Lake and Arthur Conley.

Whether it's influenced by Memphis, Louisiana Gutbucket, Urban Chicago or Delta blues forms, B & B play an ongoing roots music with a vibrant energy that communicates across generations and decades.