Archie Baker’s guitar playing is electric. Literally.

An experienced bandleader and blues guitarist, Archie creates a modern blend of pop, blues, and soul music that is catchy, imposing, and explosive.

Born in Kingston upon Thames, Archie moved to Sheffield in 2016, where he cut his teeth in the local soul and jazz scene. His guitar playing evolved in contrast to the more dominant Sheffield rock scene, generally favouring a precise, clean playing style and a warm, bluesy tone. Slowly but surely, he found his niche as a vocalist before going on to form his nine-piece band, Archie Baker & The Blue Meanies.

Now, with The Blue Meanies by his side, Archie’s music is built around his understated vocal delivery and heartfelt guitar playing. The foundations of his songs are inspired by traditional soul and pop artists, ranging from Bill Withers to Sammy Rae & The Friends, while the three-piece horn section and Archie’s blues guitar—influenced by the likes of Robert Cray and Mark Knopfler—rest neatly on top.

In 2024, Archie released his debut album, Carbrook. Recorded live with The Blue Meanies and supported by the UK music charity Help Musicians, Carbrook uses a blend of sincere storytelling and impassioned instrumentation to explore some of the complex and difficult feelings around breakups. Having amassed over 300,000 album streams in the first six months, Carbrook marks a compelling start to a promising journey in music.

2024 Summer Soul