Texan Bluesman Eugene 'Hideaway' Bridges has been confirmed as the headline act for the inaugural Perth Blues Club Mardi Gras celebration taking place on Saturday 24 January 2009.

Born in 1963, Eugene has been playing guitar for 40 years. At five he was accompanying his father ‘Hideaway Slim’ to gigs around Louisiana. Eugene lives his life on the road. Every year his touring takes in the USA, through Europe to Singapore and Australia, with many other stops in between. Playing major festivals to club dates he is equally at home leading his big band in front of thousands, or sitting alone on stage with his guitar. After four CDs recorded with his full band, for this release Eugene has gone into the studio with friends and fellow musicians he has met on the road. Lucky Oceans, co-founder of the Western Swing band ‘Asleep at the Wheel’, plays some fine Pedal Steel on three tracks. Australian Ian Moss is on Guitar on another, Clayton Doley joins in on Hammond on two more and Texan legend Ray Wylie Hubbard lays down some fine Slide Guitar on ‘I Can’t Wait’… We can’t wait.

Other acts so far confirmed are:

• The Zydacats
• Bambun Blues Band
• Jim Fisher Band
• Simon cox Band
• Paul Gioia 

.... with more to come - watch this space.