Eli swaggers into Manchester

BEATS Gig of the week Eli “Paperboy” Reed Academy 3, tomorrow

THIS soul sensation is taking America by storm with his smooth-talking style and swagger.

His new album “Come and Get It” came out yesterday and follows his independently released offerings “Sings Walkin’ and Talkin’ and Other Smash Hits” and “Roll With You”.

He started his musical career playing in various bands while at school in Boston and it wasn’t long before he was signed to Capitol Records and singing to sell-out crowds across the States.

From a very young age, Reed was fascinated by acts such as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and The Coasters before moving on to the country radio hits of the day and Ray Charles. In the US, Rolling Stone magazine praised Reed for his “howling grooves and dirty down home R&B” and in the UK, Reed received a nomination at the 2009 MOJO Awards for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.