There are three young British blues players firmly on my radar right now: Zac Schulze, Toby Lee, and tonight’s headliner, Connor Selby. They’re all superb, each with their own take on the blues, but Selby’s Metronome Nottingham show proved exactly why he’s carving out his own unique space in the scene. If I had to sum up the night in one word? Authentic.
Metronome Nottingham isn’t your typical blues venue. It’s modern, almost clinical — even the toilets were spotlessly clean, which feels almost wrong for a gig space. The auditorium was seated, adding to the unusual atmosphere, but in hindsight, it worked. This wasn’t a sweaty rock ’n’ roll gig; this was pure blues. A show where you could sit back, soak it all in, and hear every instrument individually.
Connor Selby is an artist who knows that the soul of the blues guitar isn’t just about what you play — it’s about the spaces between the notes, the pauses that let the emotion sink in. Tonight, his playing was patient, expressive, and drenched in feeling.
Much of the magic came from the band dynamic. Stevie on keyboards delivered sublime Hammond organ-style runs on his Viscount, often trading phrases with Connor in a way that lifted the songs to another level. When those two locked in together, you could feel the whole room leaning forward, waiting to see where they’d take it next. Oscar on drums kept things subtle and restrained, often using brushes to create mood and texture rather than volume.
One of the night’s standout moments was Amelia, from Selby’s new album, a heartfelt song about having a friend struggling with mental illness and feeling powerless to help. It’s a subject not often tackled in blues, and Selby’s delivery gave it both weight and tenderness.
There was also a nod to the timelessness of the genre with a cover of the 1950s blues song It Hurts to Be in Love. Stripped back yet full of soul, it proved that great blues music doesn’t age — it just keeps finding new voices to carry it forward.
Throughout, Connor’s guitar solos were perfectly measured. He never played for flash or speed; instead, every bend, pause, and phrase carried meaning. It was about tone, feel, and honesty — qualities that define the very best blues musicians.
By the end of the night, it was clear: this wasn’t just another stop on a UK blues tour, it was an experience. Connor Selby showed Nottingham that he’s not only one of the brightest young names in British blues but also an artist with the maturity and authenticity of someone decades older.
Final Verdict: A masterclass in modern blues. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to see the future of the genre played with genuine heart and soul.
See our interview with Connor Here
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Connor Selby Live at Metronome Nottingham Review @RockNews
