By Andras Paul, Rock At Night London
Live Review: Robben Ford – The January Blues Festival at 229, London – January 15, 2026
I caught Robben Ford at 229 in London on January 15, 2026, and what a fantastic way to kick off the new year! This was the second night of a sold-out run (January 14-15, 2026) during his performance at the January Blues Festival, and the place was packed—standing room only, with barely any space left up front when I arrived. I squeezed my way through the crowd just to snag a spot for photos and to really soak in the show.
Ford strolled onto the stage with zero rush, casually setting up his guitar like he had all the time in the world. Right away, you could tell he’s the most laid-back, easy-going guy—no rock-star ego here. He came across as genuinely humble, humorous, and very much a team player with his band.
He brought an incredible lineup of top London session players: Ian Thomas on drums, Jonny Henderson on keys, and a killer horn section with Paul Booth (sax), Ryan Quigley (trumpet), and Trevor Mires (trombone). Those horns added such a rich, rocking layer to the evening!
No official photo pit meant I was shooting from the crowd, but the magic really happened toward the end when the band fully relaxed and hit that sweet “zone.” The blues improvisation was off the charts—tons of chemistry flowing between everyone. The audience went wild every time Robben let loose on guitar; his tone, phrasing, and sheer skill are something special, and that quiet charisma of his just draws you in.
He chatted with the crowd in the most charming way, including a fun bit about buying physical CDs instead of streaming, with the quip, “You can’t stream a cup of coffee.” Classic! There were standout moments like a requested performance of “Freedom” that felt absolutely magical, the crowd favorite “Chevrolet,” and a brand-new track called “Make My Weather” (from his upcoming album Two Shades of Blue) that had everyone buzzing. A real highlight was his heartfelt cover of “Jealous Guy” as a beautiful tribute to John Lennon—it was delivered with such soul and emotion, perfectly suiting Robben’s style and earning huge applause.
PHOTO GALLERY
Andras Paul came from a traditional art background back in Hungary. He studied drawing, painting and animation and later began his interest in photography too.
Open to any kind of gig with decent music-- let it be a big concert or the smallest darkest pub on earth.
- Fantastic Negrito Brings Soul Fire to London’s January Blues Festival - January 24, 2026
- Vanessa Collier’s UK Debut: A Sax-Driven Triumph at the January Blues Festival - January 18, 2026
- Robben Ford Lights Up London: Blues Magic at 229 - January 16, 2026
