EASE into Saturday with a matinee performance from fantastic R&B band the Blues Spiders, who’ll be playing at the Railway Hotel, in Southend.

They’ll be playing two sets, including a smattering of swing and blues numbers.

It takes place at 4.30pm at the pub in Clifftown Road.

The Blues Spiders are Mitch Greaves – harp and vocals, Paul Henshaw – bass, Bob Clouter – drums, and Russ Cottee – guitar.

Mitch’s “medals of honour”

include supporting Buddy Whittington on his 2011 UK tour and guesting with Nine Below Zero. He also fronts a 14-piece blues showband.

Paul is a multi-talented musician who has played in a number of local acts and others further afield and can turn his hand to a variety of other instruments, including sax, percussion and keyboards.

Bob Clouter has a very impressive CV both as a band member and a recording artist with fellow Thames Delta artists, including Legend, various Mickey Jupp band line-ups, Lew Lewis, the Ugly Guys (ex-Kursaal Flyers) and Robin Trower.

Russ Cottee has been a veteran of the Essex music scene over the decades, including doing support slots to Dr Feelgood and the Blues Band in the late Seventies, the legendary Honky Tinkers in the Eighties and Nineties and most recently in London with the Midnight River Blues Band.

He plays “lead guitar and the meanest slide since Hound Dog Taylor”.

Admission to the gig is free.

What’s not to like?