SoulRida Musicians

Lead Vocals

Laura Read - Laura has been singing as long as she can remember, starting out in the school Gospel choir and has always been renowned for her powerful and soulful vocals.

Coming from a musical family, Laura teamed up with her cousin Ben Welburn (drummer) creating her first band at just the age of 15 singing in various local pubs in her hometown Scarborough.

As a young child, Laura's parents would take her to gigs, watching Hamps Tramps, where she would see Lisa Pinkney play saxophone in the band, and she always wanted to be just like her.

In 2008, Laura was at a Soul Rida gig where she got a chance to get up and sing with the band and absolutely loved it; the rest is history. She has been singing with us ever since, but she did take a break for a couple of years in 2015 as she got the incredible once in a lifetime opportunity to sing with the house band on Royal Caribbean cruise liners. When she returned home, she rejoined the band, and it is like she had never been away.

Lead Vocals and Keyboards

Nick Pinkney - Scarborough born and bred, Nick’s been playing in bands for over 35 years. Nick is Soul Rida’s band leader, lead vocalist and keyboard player. He has played with many musicians over the years and has entertained thousands of music lovers in hundreds of live venues all over Yorkshire.

His musical career began in 1988 with a local covers band 'Impact' playing rock and pop covers before progressing into a rhythm and blues/soul band called 'The Rhythm Bandits' in 1994 which lasted for 10 years. 

Nick’s next band 'Halibut (it’s almost Soul)' came on the scene in 2005 and performed for 4 years before finally becoming 'Soul Rida' in 2009 with Laura Welburn joining on vocals.

Ever passionate and enthusiastic about all kinds of music, soul music will always be Nick's number 1 musical love.

Trumpet

Claire Lane -  After moving up to Yorkshire from the Midlands in her teens, Claire began to learn trumpet.  She began playing in brass bands along side E.A.S.Y. band based in Scarborough, which was run by Nigel. 

Claire has played in bands with Nick and Lisa for years including 'Rhythm Bandits'; and joined 'Soul Rida' not long after the band was formed.  

She has also played with the charity swing band 'King Willy's Big Band', since the band was formed in 2011, helping to raise money for St Catherine’s Hospice.  

Claire loves being part of the “Soul Rida” family.  

Tenor Sax

Lisa Pinkney - Lisa has been playing tenor sax since the late 80s she was inspired by incredible bands such as Wham, Spandau Ballet and any other bands which contained an over-produced, wailing sax solo.

She has played in several soul bands over the years alongside her big brother Nick (Soul Rida’s lead singer) as well as in 'King Willy's Big Band and Cloughton Rat Pack', playing big band tunes. Interestingly, she only learned to read music at the grand age of…sorry, that’s classified info ;o)

Did Lisa also play in Hamps Tramps? Yes, she did…

Baritone Sax

Rob Gay - Rob is the most recent member to have joined Soul Rida. Having grown up in a musical family, he spent much of his youth listening to a variety of music, playing guitar and singing. Heavily influenced by his local jazz scene, he took up learning the saxophone at the age of 20.

Primary school teacher by day, Rob enjoys many different genres of music. Over the last two decades, he has enjoyed playing ballads and jazz standards on tenor saxophone. In more recent years, he has played alto saxophone with a charity swing big band; helping to raise money for St Catherine’s Hospice in Scarborough.

Rob is excited to join us on baritone saxophone - he has always wanted the opportunity to 'honk' out some sexy low notes!

Guitar

Rob Smith - Rob is our amazing guitarist who has been playing guitar since he was 11 and in bands since 14.  He has actually played with other members of the group for the last 20 years.

Rob has a versatility that is incredible and means that he is able to lay down some incredible solos, funk out  driving grooves and create a really great feel to all of our tracks. 

Bass Guitar

Nigel Blenkiron - Nigel Blenkiron was born and raised in Swaldale, Yorkshire and began playing various musical instruments from ten years old. He went on to join the brass band, concert band, show band, rock band and soul band while at school. Nigel moved to London at age 18 to study music at Trinity College and was soon involved in more rock and blues bands. 

He came back to Yorkshire after four years though and taught music and ran youth bands for North Yorkshire. A highlight must have been conducting the EASY Band at the Royal Albert Hall! 

Nigel has been Soul Rida's bass player for more than ten years and has enjoyed every minute. 

Drum Kit

Daz Kenway - Having begun his drumming career playing marching snare drum in the Enfield Drum and Trumpet corps, Daz was invited to kit lessons by jazz drummer Brian Johnson.  He quickly realised a talent for the kit and a passion for music and honed his drumming skills in various youth bands and orchestras.  

He played in his first Rock band at school (Kindred Spirit) as well as playing sessions in London at 17.  Over the next 20 years Daz played sessions for various bands and artists across the UK, taught percussion for NYCC and ran a successful function band.

Daz is a new member of Soul Rida and is really enjoying getting back to gigging and playing.

Sound

Will 'Bushman' Oseland - Will has recently joined Soul Rida as the unofficial ninth member, doing sound for the group. He plays with the bells, whistles, levels and faders to make the band sound as good as possible. A task that is made easier by the quality of the band! 

When not moving knobs and faders, Will is better known for playing piano with various local bands. He spends most of his time arranging music and leading 'King Willy's Big Band' for the Cloughton Rat Pack charity shows.