Music suggestions to suit all tastes across the region over the next seven days

What: Mud Morganfield

Where: The Apex, Bury St Edmunds

When: January 22, 7.30pm

Cost: £20

Award-winning blues star Mud Morganfield, the eldest son of the legendary Muddy Waters, didn’t seriously consider being a professional blues player until he father’s death in 1983, by which time Mud was already close to 30.

“I ran from the blues, and I ran from it and I ran from it,” he reflects. “But it caught up with me, man.”

Mud, who supported himself as a truck driver, just like his father did, when he was first starting out, has played music all his life; surrounded by many of the finest Blues musicians.

“Pops used to buy me a set of drums every Christmas. I started off as a drummer and gradually went to playing bass.”

Like his father, Mud cut his teeth in the southside Chicago clubs, where he was soon a popular draw on the blues club and festival circuit, mixing both original songs and Muddy Waters classics into his live sets.

“I started to sing to show the world that dad left me here. I love and am proud to sing his songs, just like I love and will always be proud of him. I’m not Muddy Waters and I’m certainly not trying to be Muddy Waters. I’m Mud Morganfield. But when I’m up on stage I always feel pops is there with me and it means so much that I can get on stage and keep his music alive around the world.”

Mud will be supported by blues-inspired singer-songwriter Sunjay.

What: Kerry Divine and Maija Sofia / Washing Machine

Where: Vinyl Hunter, Bury St Edmunds / The Hunter Club, Bury St Edmunds

When: January 20, noon / January 20, 6pm

Cost: Free / £5 on the door or £4 advance from www.wegottickets.com

Cambridge’s Devine, singer and guitarist with punk trio The Baby Seals; and Irish singer-songwriter Sofia play a free lunchtime gig Saturday.

They’re promoting their new split 7” single, which was released on Cambridge-based label Trapped Animal yesterday. It features Vehicle by Devine, who performs at 1.45pm; and Flowers by Sofia, who performs at noon. They will then sprint up the M1 for an evening show in Leeds.

The first Washing Machine night of 2018 is the EP launch for Ipswich and Bury-based theatrical, sci-fi obsessed prog and desert-rock riffmonsters Druids.

Support comes from indie foursome Stealing Signs and three new bands, all making their Hunter Club debut - The Glitter Shop, featuring ex members of Fortunato; The Interesting Times Gang, featuring Hannah Cutler, ex-Voter Kernel; and Grouts, formerly of The Bin Men.

You might also be interested in:

• Tickets are still on sale for In Memory of Neriah, a charity gala in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice. It has been organised by former Ipswich High School student Gemma Naylor, who lost her friend to cancer six years ago. It features performers from West End shows like Les Miserables, We Will Rock You, Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Sunset Boulevard and Evita. They will be joined by local talent including The Angela Rowe School of Dancing, The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (Ipswich), Evolution Foundation Course, stars from amateur dramatic societies such as BATS and some special guests. It’s being held at 7pm, tomorrow, at Ipswich High School, Woolverstone. Visit www.eventbrite.com for tickets.

• Holly Johnston, Sailing Barge Victor, Ipswich Waterfront, January 19; this Backwater Records act is joined by Sarah Wil for the latest Folk On A Boat concert.

• Georgina Jackson, Stoke-by-Nayland Hotel, January 19; a thoroughly entertaining jazz performer who deserves a much higher profile than she currently has.

• Steve Tilston, The Froize, Chillesford, near Woodbridge, January 2; Folk At The Froize presents a fine singer-songwriter with a string of impressive albums to his credit.

• Megson, Seagull Theatre, Pakefield, January 25; the four times BBC Folk Awards nominees, Debs and Stu Hanna, make their Lowestoft debut.

• Sultans of String, The Quay Theatre, Sudbury, January 27; part of a short tour by a Canadian band with a great name and the music to match.

• Sing Out Saturdays, Ansell Community Centre, Hadleigh, January 20; the first of choirmaster Chris Rowbury’s monthly singing get-togethers for 2018.Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary as all songs are taught by ear. Perfect if you can’t commit to a weekly choir.

• Carpenters Gold, Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe, January 20; West End singer Vikki Holland-Bowyer and singer Greg Stevenson perform hits like Goodbye to Love Yesterday Once More; recreating the look and sound of the brother and sister duo’s world performances and TV appearances.

• Message In A Bottle - A Tribute to The Police, Civic Theatre, Chelmsford, January 19; expect hits including Roxanne to Englishman in New York.

• Thank ABBA for The Music, Civic Theatre, Chelmsford, January 20; a two-hour celebration of the Swedish superstars’ finest pop.

• In The Mood - The Glenn Miller Story, Civic Theatre, Chelmsford, January 21; all of big band leader’s best-known songs. The show also features the Moonlight Serenaders, Catherine Sykes, Mark Porter and The Polka Dot Dolls.

• That’ll Be The Day, Civic Theatre, Chelmsford, January 23-24; a new line-up of hits spanning the 1950s-1980s, including the show’s trademark comic sketches performed by the cast.

• Nearly Dan, The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, January 20; with a faithful rather than reverential approach, the 10-piece band promise all the Steely Dan favourites in a two hour-plus show including Ricki Don’t Lose That Number and ‘Haitian Divorce.

• The Carducci String Quartet, Ipswich School, January 27; The Ipswich Chamber Music Society presents a concert featuring music by Haydn, Glass and Dvorak.

Don’t miss our bumper arts, culture and what’s on section in Thursday’s paper. Join our EA Going Out Facebook group and follow @Whatsonwayne for the latest entertainment news, previews and interviews.