Blues n the Davs evolved out of Fremantle's busiest and most dynamic original party band Dilip n the Davs, who play infectious grooves blending Blues, rock, funk and reggae rhythms. With their up-tempo, high-octane music they aim to create one of the most Dynamic Blues shows you ever likely to see.

The band comprises Rowan Parekh, Rob Ferarri, Andrew Pring (Aka Blew Drew), Dilip Parekh, Jon Brittain, and Edo Ekic.

Blues Power Express is made up of experienced and talented musicians: Michael Powers, John Wilson, Reg Zar, Mike De Velta, Tim Chitty, Mark Paxton, Rob Arthur and Mark Constable. They can be heard playing regularly in Freo at Davilak Hotel, Clancy's, and The Swan Hotel.

As a professional musician for the past 30 years, Michael Powers has earned himself a reputation as being a truly versatile performer, playing in venues such as the Fremantle Prison, The Quokka Arms, Manhattan Lounge and Langtree's to name a few.

Now residing in Fremantle WA, Michael Powers' music has aged and developed as his life's journey continues to unfold, facing the many different challenges and experiences.?

Bob Corbett has received nine 1233 ABC Music Awards in the past 4 years, released the critically acclaimed album Storyboard. reached the national finals in both the MusicOz and Australian Songwriters Awards last year and received a touring grant from the Australian Government's Contemporary Music Touring Program that will see him and his band tour the country from coast to coast in 2009. In early 2009, he also signed a publishing deal with ABC Music.

The Bob Corbett Band has a rich four-piece acoustic sound with fiddles, banjos, mandolins, lots of guitars and amazing harmonies. It's like a mix of Alison Krauss' Union Station band, meeting up with Paul Kelly and Earl Scruggs, and inviting The New Grass Revival, Jackson Browne, John Butler and Bob Marley to sit in.

The hybrid that ensues is quite unforgettable. The show visits the genres of blues/roots, alt-country, looping, bluegrass, beat-boxing and folk-pop. Many of these styles would not usually appear in the same sentence if it were not for the amazing contributions from band members, Dave Carter (banjo/bass), Sue Carson (fiddle/mandolin) and Mikey Stove (Guitars). The band seamlessly weaves Corbett's musical vision together.

In early December 2008, Bob was announced as a MusicOz Awards finalist. This exciting news came only days after having drained the prize pool at the 1233 ABC Music Awards. Bob won six categories on the night, which was a new record for the Awards night including the prestigious, ‘APRA & ABC Music Publishing Songwriter Recognition Award'. Best Folk song, Blues & Roots song, Pop song, the ‘Hunter Broadcasters Choice Award', and as a final cherry on the cake, the inaugural ‘1233 Tour Support Prize', which saw him gain invaluable assistance from publicity guru, Paula Jones (Midnight Oil, John Butler, Silverchair).

Six of Bob's songs were also short-listed in the 2008 Australian Songwriting Contest (ASA Awards), with his bluegrass song Share Crop Gone reaching No.6 out of 3000 entries.

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"Share Crop Gone" (live) - The Bob Corbett Band

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Bob Malone is a pianist and singer-songwriter born in New Jersey. The man contains multitudes. Multitudes of rhythm, soul, jazz, blues, smoke and magic.

He's an astounding piano man, a deeply soulful singer and a tremendously gifted songwriter whose music merges strains of honky-tonk New Orleans, Memphis soul, Chicago blues, East Coast rock ‘n' roll, the California sound and more, all rendered in a voice that marries the spirit of Dr. John with Elton John. He's "the train that never stops," as one writer put it - a musician forever on the road who has amassed a vast network of fans around the globe, all hungry for his newest musical offering.

Bob Malone grew up in the wilds of New Jersey, where he started piano lessons at nine - within a year he could play anything put in front of him - and dreamed of being a classical musician. For years he listened only to classical music, but hearing Billy Joel in a Sears store was a revelation for him, and within a few years he was writing his own songs, and playing with rock bands.

He studied music at Berklee in Boston (though he was already gigging regularly both solo and with bands, as he has ever since), after which he moved to Hollywood, and embarked, not unlike Bob Dylan, on an endless tour, playing an average of 100 shows a year.

He recorded his first CD in 1996 and started raking in a multitude of accolades and awards, including Artist of the Year and Singer/Songwriter Album of the Year at the Just Plain Folks 2006 Music Awards, Songwriter of the Year at the 2007 South Bay Music Awards, and the ASCAP Plus Award.

I Know He's Your Husband

Live at WVIA HD Theatre, 2008

And now comes Ain't What You Know, the eagerly anticipated new album, produced and created with producer-guitarist Bob DeMarco. It's Malone's seventh album, and the first to be released both on vinyl and CD. It's a new phase for Malone, an evolution of his expression both as a songwriter and performer. It's both edgier and more intimate than his previous records, both sorrowful and celebratory because, like his fellow Jersey native Bruce Springsteen, Malone writes songs that cover the full gamut of human experience, from deeply blue to vividly exultant.

"This couldn't have come at a better time," Malone said about his collaboration with DeMarco. He'd written a handful of new songs, but felt like he needed a new direction. He and DeMarco had worked many times on TV songs and cues, and DeMarco became a fan of both Malone's recorded and live music. But felt the records didn't show the whole picture. "I thought it would be great to bring out some of the most classic rock elements in his music," said DeMarco. "So we made a record that we'd both like to hear. We tapped into some edgier music and tried some different stuff, but it's still essentially Bob. It's real music, as honest as anyone I've ever worked with."

So together they embarked on a journey to make a new kind of Bob Malone album, one in which the rocker in him is as unchained as it is in live shows. "It was a natural progression," Malone said. "It's a bigger sound, more produced, more rocking - but not worlds away from what I've done before."

Malone also got something he'd never had before while making an album -- the freedom to record with no budgetary or time-constraints. Since DeMarco owns his own state-of-the art recording studio in Camarillo, California, no one had to watch the clock. "In the past," Malone said, "I'd get what I could as quickly as possible - and the results were good. But this time around [DeMarco] didn't settle for good, he wanted everything to be awesome. If it was usable but not genius, we would do it again."

To reach that level, DeMarco enlisted legendary friends, including Mike Baird (Hall & Oates, Kenny Loggins), Marty Rifkin (Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen) and Lee Sklar (Jackson Browne, James Taylor).

"Working with musicians of this caliber," DeMarco said, "elevated us all." And Malone loved the new blood infused into his music: "It was great. It kicked me out of my comfort zone somewhat. People knew me as this character, the raconteur, guy in the hat, New Orleans thing. And I suppressed a lot of genuine emotions by playing that part."

Like Tom Waits and others who defined their onstage roles so thoroughly that the public became unable to imagine them outside of it, Malone knew it was time to jettison the old persona to embrace new possibilities. What came out surprised him.

"Suddenly I felt free to write whatever songs I wanted to. Some I felt I would never do in front of anyone. I didn't want to do anything that revealing, like `No One Can Hurt You.' That guy is a prick in that song. But people respond strongly to it. When you really put yourself out there, people respond."

Over a period of two months, they cut all the tracks. When Malone was on the road (as he is most of the time, touring with acts such as The Neville Brothers, Rev. Al Green, Boz Scaggs, Manhattan Transfer, Leon Russell, Subdudes, and Vonda Shepard), DeMarco recorded all the guitar tracks himself. "I'd never relinquished control like that before," Malone said, "but doing guitar parts is sort of like making sausage - it's not something you need to watch."

Stay with Me

Live at WVIA HD Theatre, PA - 2008?

DeMarco had some ideas for outside songs Malone could cover, such as the Faces' standard, "Stay With Me," a song Malone loved, but never considered performing: "It's a great song, and turning it into kind of an R&B thing with horns, seemed like a good idea. We were going for a kind of '70s vibe - but good '70s." Another slice of that "good '70s" sound is Malone's cover of The Band's classic "Cripple Creek": "It's a song I have always loved, and I made it mine. I came up with a new groove for it, and it was comfortable for me. And also, there haven't been a million versions of it."

Music in the ‘70s came on vinyl, of course, and Malone's music has long deserved to be rendered with the same dimensional warmth that vinyl affords. "I always wanted to make vinyl," Malone said, "when I was a kid dreaming of playing music, I always had the idea that I would make a big record album, but as I started in the CD age, there didn't seem to be any call for it. Having this on vinyl has been great -- some people will listen to vinyl who won't listen to CDs. It sets you apart from the pack a little bit."

All the other songs on the record are originals, including "Why Not Me," which the two men wrote together: "Both of us love a good pop song," said Malone, "and are unafraid to say it. And it's the hardest thing in the world to write - something that is lasting that also has some content to it. I don't care about being cool, because I'm not very cool. I have always wanted to write a song that matters, something that will still be around when I'm not."

The title song, "Ain't What You Know," was sparked by a phrase Malone picked up from a club-owner in Queensland, Australia. "She said to me, `It ain't what you know, it ain't who you know, it's what you know about who you know.'" He stashed the line in the back of his mind, as songwriters do, and the next day he wrote the entire lyric during a bus drive through the Australian outback as kangaroos and other indigenous wildlife bounced by.

Malone's last two albums, the live "Malone Alone" and the 2006 studio effort "Born Too Late" earned Top 20 spots on the Living Blues, Roots Music Report and Earshot (Canada) radio charts, steady play on over 300 non-com and A3 radio stations, including Sirius and XM Satellite Radio, and high-profile play on syndicated shows such as Car Talk, Acoustic Caf?, and the Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour. Additionally, Malone's songs have been heard on television shows including Jag, Felicity, Cupid, One Life To Live, The Young and the Restless, All My Children and films Hollywood Palms, Jaded, P.S. I Love You and One Eyed Horse.

Bob was named the Acoustic Caf? "One To Watch" artist, and was featured on a Performing Songwriter Magazine Editors Choice compilation CD, as well as being voted one of the Best Unsigned Artists in LA five years in a row by Music Connection Magazine. He twice received the ASCAP Plus award. He won the 2006 Just Plain Folks Music Organization Award for (Male Singer Songwriter Album). In November 2007 he won "Songwriter of the Year" at the South Bay Music Awards.

A review in American Songwriter magazine said of Malone's work:

"Blazing and beautiful. Burning and elegant. Subtle and expansive. Unique and timeless. Malone contains multitudes of rhythm, soul, jazz, blues, smoke and magic. He's a pianist's pianist; it sounds as if he's slept inside a baby grand for years, so intimate is he with the alphabet of the ivories." Blues Review said: "Take Tom Waits, Steely Dan, Dr. John, Louis Armstrong, and Harry Connick Jr., put ‘em in a drink shaker, add sweetener, and pour out Bob Malone...."

Bob Malone is married to musician Karen Nash. He lives in California.

The Band

His band currently consists of any conglomeration of the members depending on where he's playing and the size of the stage.

• Dr. Larry Goldman - tenor saxophone and clarinet
• Steve Stassi - trumpet
• Lynn Keller- electric bass
• Karen Nash - vocals
• Renee Safier - vocals
• Debra Dobkin - percussion/vocals
• Kelly Fitzgerald - vocals
• Jeff Dellasanti

Bob's performance at the Perth Blues Club will be in a trio format.

Double WAMI award winner Bob Patient is WA’s representative in the elite group of the most sought after and distinguished Australian keyboard players.

This man has more credentials than can be listed here, so an overview of his talents follows.

Born and educated in New Zealand, Bob graduated from Auckland College of Music, the country’s most distinguished musical college. His extensive career started early, forming his first band when only 16. As well as achieving chart success, Bob’s first band “Classic Affair” played at a Royal Command Performance in the presence of The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. This led to supporting Tom Jones, The Four Tops and Jerry Lee Lewis. A highlight of Bob’s memories is watching Jerry smash up a grand piano on stage!

Bob had his first taste of international success when asked to play with Jazz mentor Joe Lane on his Singapore tour. But much more was yet to come.

In 1973, Bob moved to Perth, accepting an invitation to join “Fatty Lumpkin”, then the most popular rock n roll band in W.A. Since then Bob has played in numerous well-known Perth bands including Riddum Shakers, Dave Hole Band, John Meyers Blues Express, Zydecats and with many of W.A.’s most prominent musicians.

Bob has established himself as one of WA's most respected and sought-after session musicians, playing on over 40 CDs including Dave Hole, Hank Marvin, Lucky Oceans, Matt Taylor ‘s Chain, ,Indigo Duck, Steve Hogg, Lee Sappho, and DM3. In fact, check out your CD collection, you will probably find his name on more than a few- ..as said he has more credentials than can be listed here.

Accompanying Dave Hole, Perth legendary blues musician on world tours for eight years, Bob appeared on the same bill with artists such as Taj Mahal, John Mayall, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Luther Allison, Charlie Musselwhite, and Lttle Feat on several occasions, playing to audiences of 20,000 plus.

As a sought after versatile and dependable player, Bob is the first call when international musicians come to visit. He has performed with a number of musicians including Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges, Johnnie Johnson, and Charlie Musslewhite .

Deciding to take time off the international touring circuit and put some things down on “vinyl” Bob Patient built his own recording studio (literally from the ground up). The past few years have seen him producing albums for the likes of Ashley Arbuckle from The London Plilharmonic Orchestra, Gerard Manuick (I’m too sexy for my hair), renowned Rock n Roller Cindy Stevens, and sweet singing sensation Sue Bluck. Hey.. did we forget to mention Bob Patient has also recorded his own CD including 9 original songs and a few outrageous covers??? Oh yeah.. we did.. so “Lets Get Into Trouble”.....It started with Clint Gibson showing up at his house with a mobile studio saying "Let’s do it”.

Over the next five days a host of Perth’s most prominent musicians showed up wanting to be a part of the project. This included Richie Pavledis, Kent Hughes (Beast), Russel Smith, Gandharva, Sue Bluck, Gerard Manuick, Lindsay Wells, Robbie Bresland, Geoff Maxwell, The Ripping Horns and Dave Hole. (it was a wild few days!)

Quotes about Bob...

“Ya’ll a BAD boy” Taj Mahal
“Has this guy got credentials or what?” Gary de Wall, Sydney Blues Society
“...one of the most sought after players...” Vic Mally, Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society.

Double WAMI award winner Bob Patient is W.A.’s representative in the elite group of the most sought after and distinguished Australian keyboard players.

This man has more credentials than can be listed here, so an overview of his talents follow.

Born and educated in New Zealand, Bob graduated from Auckland College of Music, the country’s most distinguished musical college. His extensive career started early, forming his first band when only 16. As well as achieving chart success, Bob’s first band “Classic Affair” played at a Royal Command Performance in the presence of The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. This led to supporting Tom Jones, The Four Tops and Jerry Lee Lewis. A highlight of Bob’s memories is watching Jerry smash up a grand piano on stage!

Bob had his first taste of international success when asked to play with Jazz mentor Joe Lane on his Singapore tour. But much more was yet to come.

In 1973, Bob moved to Perth, accepting an invitation to join “Fatty Lumpkin”, then the most popular rock n roll band in W.A. Since then Bob has played in numerous well-known Perth bands including Riddum Shakers, Dave Hole Band, John Meyers Blues Express, Zydecats and with many of W.A.’s most prominent musicians.

Bob has established himself as one of WA's most respected and sought-after session musicians, playing on over 40 CDs including Dave Hole, Hank Marvin, Lucky Oceans, Matt Taylor ‘s Chain, ,Indigo Duck, Steve Hogg, Lee Sappho, and DM3. In fact, check out your CD collection, you will probably find his name on more than a few- ..as said he has more credentials than can be listed here.

Accompanying Dave Hole, Perth legendary blues musician on world tours for eight years, Bob appeared on the same bill with artists such as Taj Mahal, John Mayall, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Luther Allison, Charlie Musselwhite, and Lttle Feat on several occasions, playing to audiences of 20,000 plus.

As a sought after versatile and dependable player, Bob is the first call when international musicians come to visit. He has performed with a number of musicians including Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges, Johnnie Johnson, and Charlie Musslewhite .

Deciding to take time off the international touring circuit and put some things down on “vinyl” Bob Patient built his own recording studio (literally from the ground up). The past few years have seen him producing albums for the likes of Ashley Arbuckle from The London Plilharmonic Orchestra, Gerard Manuick (I’m too sexy for my hair), renowned Rock n Roller Cindy Stevens, and sweet singing sensation Sue Bluck. Hey.. did we forget to mention Bob Patient has also recorded his own CD including 9 original songs and a few outrageous covers??? Oh yeah.. we did.. so “Lets Get Into Trouble”.....It started with Clint Gibson showing up at his house with a mobile studio saying "Let’s do it”. Over the next five days a host of Perth’s most prominent musicians showed up wanting to be a part of the project. This included Richie Pavledis, Kent Hughes (Beast), Russel Smith, Gandharva, Sue Bluck, Gerard Manuick, Lindsay Wells, Robbie Bresland, Geoff Maxwell, The Ripping Horns and Dave Hole. (it was a wild few days!) Quotes about Bob... “Ya’ll a BAD boy” Taj Mahal “Has this guy got credentials or what?” Gary de Wall, Sydney Blues Society “...one of the most sought after players...” Vic Mally, Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society.

The current band features Dave Brewer (Guitar), Roy Daniel (Bass) and Ric Eastman (Drums).

Dave Brewer is one of Perth's most prolific guitarists, and with a successful career throughout Australia he is well known as one of the great guitar Bluesmen of Australia.

Dave began playing with Perth Blues band 'The Elks' and, after they shifted base to Sydney, later joined the Soul/R&B band 'The Dynamic Hepnotics'.

Throughout the 1990s, Dave's primary focus was the 'Mighty Reapers', where they would go on to release five CDs for the Rufus Records label, as well as many performances throughout the East Coast. Dave was a founding member of 'The Catholics' performing with this outfit on numerous Australian national tours, two tours to Canada and one throughout Europe, where the band performed at both the Montreal and North Sea Jazz Festivals.

Dave moved back to his hometown of Perth in 2000 and has since been playing regularly with ' "Diamond" Dave and the DooDaddies', Lucky Oceans, Jonathon Cope, Supremely Motown and the Sue Bluck Quintet, as well as various local blues outfits.

Roy Daniel started life in Glasgow, Scotland and as a young lad had the dream of being a famous guitarist planted in his head by hearing the Shadows.

Inspired by a thug guitarist who TOLD him he was now a bass player. He converted and has never looked back. He came to WA in 1963 after living in Ireland and England.

In the Blues scene, he is a much sought after session player and has toured with the likes of Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne, Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges, Johnnie Johnson, Dave Hole and Matt Taylor (to name but a few.)

With his sgnature 6-string bass guitar, Roy really adds that “feel it in your guts” sound.

Australian Session Drummer Ric Eastman can be heard on recordings by guitar legends Hank Marvin, Dave Hole, John Meyer and dual Grammy Award winning Pedal Steelist Lucky Oceans.

As a freelance player, Ric has performed with artists such as Thelma Houston, Lee Konitz, Ernie Watts and the Jazz Australia Big Band featuring Jeff and John Clayton. Ric has been a featured performer at Australia’s Ultimate Drummers Weekend, columnist for DrumScene Magazine, and has performed clinics in Australia and the Phillipines. Teaches at The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Ric lists his influences as Kevin Gilbert, Pat Metheny, Vince Mendoza, Bruce Hornsby, Yellowjackets, Little Feat, Jonatha Brooke, Miles, John Scofield, Jimmy Webb, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Porcaro, Peter Erskine, Steve Jordan, Bill Stewart, Zach Danziger (esp w/Wayne Krantz), John Beasley, Jeff Beal, James Horner, and Mike Eastman (brother).

Two legends of Aussie music, Bobby Marchini & Peter Hardinge, have been ships passing in the night for many years – each pursuing their own careers, through concerts, festivals, recording sessions, chart success, TV shows and award-winning bands. With a wealth of talent, a breadth of experience and a sheer love of entertaining, they bring it all together in a blend of jazz, pop, blues and rock in an experience not to be missed.

When the Bondi Cigars were first gigging around Sydney, late 1989, they moved in a blues/R&B circuit which, while robust enough since the 60s, had then been sparked into new life by the ‘blues revival' of the mid-80s, spearheaded by Robert Cray, Joe Louis Walker, Stevie Ray Vaughan and similar crusaders. And while many of the Sydney bands from that era have vanished, become historical footnotes or undergone major changes, the Cigars - true survivors - have battled on, without ever compromising their distinctive no nonsense style, to become a leading force in Australian R&B.

That original Cigars line-up brought together four like-minded experienced players, all veterans of Sydney inner-west blues venues, and from the word go, as the 1990 tracks demonstrate, the Cigars have been the very model of the ‘no passengers' band, a well-oiled machine plus soul: no room for slackers here. Always one of the country's hardest working outfits (on the road more than off), the Cigars have kept their music tight, hard-driving and down -to-earth: the Australian bar band par excellence.

Apart from the timeless, unpretentious nature of the music, an obvious reason for the longevity of the Cigars must be the ongoing musical team work of 2 foundation members, Shane Pacey and Al Britton, who continue to co-lead the band. This also explains the consistency of the band's sound, instantly recognisable for 17 years now, despite personnel changes and occasional stylistic variations.

Front man Shane Pacey has long been a forceful, convincing singer, and a hard-attacking, razor sharp guitarist in the modern blowtorch style of Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker, Larry McCray and other crazy stringbenders; he's also an outstanding prolific songwriter, and there's ample evidence in these tracks of his sardonic, savvy and slightly warped way with lyrics.

Bass player Al Hollywood Britton is another blues trooper, having survived the Dynamic Hepnotics and the Foreday Riders, and puts real backbone into the rhythm section - rock solid, responsive and funky; what's more, he's a dab hand in the organisational department, playing great lead telephone, according to the credits of Mercy (1998).

These dual father-figures have kept the music tough and vigorous by usually recruiting new members from Sydney's inner-west breeding grounds of exciting young R&B/roots bands. The first 2 Cigars albums had featured the original line-up, but after the departure interstate of Les Karski and Ace Follington, the next CD ‘Got The News' (appearing under the name Shane Pacey and the Cigars) included hot young Adelaideians Clayton Doley on keyboards and Matt Morrison on drums, both also associated with Robert Susz of Mighty Reapers fame. ‘Got The News', expertly produced by Sydney funky/soul boss, the late Jackie Orszaczky, and the Cigars sound was further spiced up by the precision horns of Paul Panicci and Andrew Robson.

By 1995, with the release of ‘After Closing Time', 2 fine new Cigars had been press-ganged from the youthful but punchy Balmain R&B band The Beefs: Mitch Grainger (guitar/harmonica) and Declan Kelly (drums), who have both since moved on, but remain active in Sydney's roots/funk scene.

The following album ‘Mercy' saw the introduction of drummer Andrew Vainouskas, plus on guitar and vocals Eben Hale, ‘the second-best left handed guitarist in the band' according to Shane; Eben has remained a paid-up member to this day. Since then, the only changes have been on the drum stool: Frank Corby and Joel Sutton.

This very welcome Cigars retrospective offers a good opportunity to follow a great Australian R&B band through 17 years of hard-hitting music that is readily identifiable, and continues to evolve. For the few not familiar with the muscular sound of the Cigars, this is the perfect introduction, while for veteran followers it provides a comprehensive overview, with 2 bonus tracks from the most recent line-up.

The Cigars have by now surely clocked up as many gig miles as any band in the country, and have seen more bars and clubs than even the most determined drinker; if they haven't swung by your local recently, the next best way to enjoy this enduring and gritty outfit is to slide disc one into your player right now, pour yourself a drink, settle back and press play...

32 Premium Quality Cuts is now available in all good record stores thru Only Blues Music.

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The first 2 Cigars albums had featured the original line-up, but after the departure interstate of Les Karski and Ace Follington, the next CD ‘Got The News' (appearing under the name Shane Pacey and the Cigars) included hot young Adelaideians Clayton Doley on keyboards and Matt Morrison on drums, both also associated with Robert Suez of Mighty Reapers fame. ‘Got The News', expertly produced by Sydney funky/soul boss Jackie Orszaczky, and the Cigars sound was further spiced up by the precision horns of Paul Panicci and Andrew Robson.

By 1995, with the release of ‘After Closing Time', 2 fine new Cigars had been press-ganged from the youthful but punchy Balmain R&B band The Beefs: Mitch Grainger (guitar/harmonica) and Declan Kelly (drums), who have both since moved on, but remain active in Sydney's roots/funk scene.

The following album ‘Mercy' saw the introduction of drummer Andrew Vainouskas, plus on guitar and vocals Eben Hale, ‘the second-best left handed guitarist in the band' according to Shane; Eben has remained a paid - up member to this day. Since then, the only changes have been on the drum stool: Frank Corby and Joel Sutton.

2004 saw the band release their eagerly anticipated 7th album, 12 Lies, an album hailed as their best yet. Along with the mix of rhythmic, rootsy grooves and flavours of blues, soul, funk and R&B that fans have come to expect, this album saw the band branch out even more, with some tracks having an "alt country" feel, and others more pop rock than blues and roots based. The response from fans and critics alike was fantastic, with the band winning Best Group, Best Album and Best Producer at the 2004 Australian Blues Awards.

The Cigars have consistently delivered the goods; with Down In The Valley nominated in the 2003 ARIA awards for Best Blues & Roots Album, 1995's After Closing Time awarded Best Blues Album at the 1996 Lithgow Blues Festival, and two of their songs, Lead Me Not Into Temptation and Intensive Care, chosen to feature on the popular ABC Seachange album.

As with all great bands, the sum of the whole exceeds the sum of the parts and the Bondi Cigars are no exception:

Shane Pacey (vocals and guitar)
The principal songwriter and vocalist, came to the Bondi Cigars after playing with bands such as Sydney's Earls Of Duke. His song writing and dynamic vocals, teamed with the fluid rhythms of Alan, have largely defined the sound and direction of the Bondi Cigars.

Alan Britton (bass and vocals)
Alan brings to the band his many years experience playing with some this country's foremost roots outfits, including the Mangrove Boogie Kings, the legendary Dynamic Hypnotics and the Foreday Riders. His instinctive feel for a groove and ability to find the rhythm and lay the bass for those great Bondi Cigars tunes.

Eben Hale (guitar and vocals)
Eben was a driving force behind the successful Blue Mountain Blues Club, playing in the house band at the Club's meetings as well as taking a behind the scenes role, booking acts and ensuring their events ran smoothly. Eben's burgeoning song writing talents and effusive guitar lines add an extra dimension to the already vibrant sound of the Bondi Cigars.

Frank Corby (drums)
From Boston, Massachusetts, USA, now a resident in Australia who cut his teeth in various Drum Corp, Swing and funk bands before playing in various original rock, R&B and funk bands touring all over the USA. Since arriving in Australia he has lent his awesome skills to acts such as Gangajang, Floyd Vincent and the Childbrides, Guy LeClaire and Latin big band Babalu. He was resident drummer with the Blue Mountains blues jam band where he played regularly with soon-to-be Cigar, Eben Hale.

Bonjah's tale is truly unique, it begins with a transglobal ocean journey from South Africa all the way to New Zealand nearly two decades ago.

In search of a better life for themselves and their son, Glenn Mossop's (vocals, harp, acoustic guitar) parents bundled themselves and their youngster in a small home made yacht and sailed the world's oceans for two years eventually deciding to call Tauranga home.

Here Glenn met NZ locals Regan Lethbridge (guitars, vocals) and David Morgan (bass). For ten years the trio refined their chops at the Mossop household and beautiful Lemon Tree Bay, before ultimately making the move to Melbourne. But not before recruiting Dan Chisholm (drums) a rookie corporate lawyer staring down the barrel of a life-long commitment to limited liability and hostile takeovers.

Upon arrival in Melbourne, with not a penny to their name, they snagged the last ever legal busking license for a full-piece band and took to the streets. Two years later Bonjah have sold well over 14,000 CDs (self produced), played over 450 shows including eight national tours and they have a legion of loyal fans nationwide. Remarkably, they have lived exclusively off their music since their arrival in Australia.

In early 2008, the four members of Bonjah became five upon hearing the talent of percussionist James Majernik, who instantly fell in love with their distinctive sound.

UNTIL DAWN - The Debut Album

Until Dawn paints a full picture of Bonjah's journey so far.

Songs such as the title track ‘Until Dawn' and ‘The Weight of Imagination' were written some 10 years ago and have evolved as the band has grown. Inspiration for many of the tracks has come from the last two years as the band has relentlessly toured Australia, meeting amazing people and having incredible experiences.

Armed with a collection of these old and new songs, the band culled their repertoire of forty plus tracks down to a selection of just fifteen. The goal was to choose a selection of songs that were stylistically diverse, but still had a synergy that would make for a cohesive album.

The songs were then presented to producer Tom Spender (The Offcutts, Custom Kings) and together the band and Tom worked on the songs arrangements, dynamics and vocal deliveries. To work with a producer was a first for the band and proved to be an interesting and challenging insight into the world of creating an album.

In August '08 the band hit Melbourne's own Woodstock Studios and began the process of tracking the chosen thirteen songs with ace engineer and good friend Robin Mai. This was the same studio and team that recorded John Butler's highly successful album Sunrise Over Sea. Having worked with Robin Mai and the Woodstock team in the past, Bonjah were set for a comfortable, professional environment to bring out their best.

This easeful, fluid working relationship is apparent in the finished product.

Until Dawn is a matchless, powerful mix of folk, reggae and roots. Glenn's hypnotic, soulful tones, poetic lyrics and his spine-tingling melodies provide a foundation around which the band breathes and pulsates beautifully.

As a debut album, it is a fantastic effort and Bonjah see it as a solid steppingstone in to the Australian music industry. Naturally, a positive response from both their fans and their peers will be the preferred reward for their efforts.

BOOM! BAP! POW! is their name and trashy doo-wop pop n' soul is their mission.

Nominated for three 2010 WAMI awards (best female vocalist, most promising new act, best funk act) and having just returned from the WAMI regional tour up the North coast of WA, Boom! Bap! Pow! presents “Science” from their forthcoming album A Little Bit More.

Produced by Forrester Savell (Karnivool) and Matt Giovanangelo (Voltaire Twins), A Little Bit More was recorded over three hot summer days and is a steamy, sax-fueled coming-of-age LP for B!B!P!

BOOM! BAP! POW! have supported The Four Tops, The Temptations, Martha Reves and the Vandellas, Royal Crown Revue, Steven Malkmus and the Jicks, The Miracles, Mary Wilson of the Supremes and Joan Osbourne (USA).

“Pull on those dancing shoes, this is the best night out you've had in ages.”
CAZ TRAN - Triple J

“With their old-style sexy, smooth sax and good, clean fun, the only thing
Boom! Bap! Pow! needs now is a bigger venue.”
LAURA GLITSOS - Xpress Magazine

“BBP! showed why they’ve been building such an
impressive following with a blistering set.”
AAROM WILSON - Drum Media

“The most fun, danceable band in the whole state.”
ANDREW RYAN - RTRfm

"There really isn't anything to compare this black & white loving band too;
they have created such a niche for themselves in Perth
that it isn't hard to see why so many people love them"
MARCIA CZERNIAK - Drum Media

"The beats are infectious and when the five sing in unison their performance is flung into the stratosphere. It makes for a set that’s enjoyable from start to finish,
with the saxaphone given justifiable front and centre attention."
LARRY HEATH - The AU Review

"They’re slinkier, funkier, and fresher than just about anything out there."
JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD - Xpress Magazine

You can buy the BOOM! BAP! POW!'s first album (released in May 2009) from 78 Records (Perth), iTunes and good music stores all around Australia through Firestarter Distribution.

Brad Capper is a born and bred “West Aussie” and played his first harmonica at the age of 10. The 70’s pop hit “I’ll Be Gone” by the Aussie band ‘Spectrum’ inspired Brad and no doubt countless others, to seriously get into his ‘Harp’ playing.

Completely self taught, he learnt simply by listening to great Harp players on records and tapes and attempting to copy what he heard. Inspired by the sounds of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson 2, Charlie Mussellwhite, Sonny Terry, Magic Dick of J.Geils Band, and The Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

This eclectic mix of Chicago and Country Blues, Mountain Music and Rock’ n Roll developed Brad’s ability to play a diversity of Blues Harp styles. From what Brad calls chugging ‘Chicken’ rhythms through to full blown Rock’n Blues solos.

Brad has had the privilege of being an invited guest Harp player at Perth Blues Club annual "Harp Attack” nights.

The Braxton Hicks is a hard-edged blues outfit fronted by zany vocalist Jacqui Minkey. Their sound is driven by relentless rhythms and searing slide licks.

The Braxton Hicks founding members; bassist Greg Lewis and guitarist Tim Halse with the addition of drummer John Perrella were awarded the band's title by their wives who lament that they are painful and unproductive. Their audiences see a different perspective: a labour of love, punctuated with periods of tension and release, culminating in the birth of wailing blues.

Guitarist Tim Halse has developed a unique, double-slide approach to playing lap steel. His YouTube clips were featured on the ‘Steel Guitar Forum’ and a number of other internet forums drawing interest from lap and pedal steel players around the world.  

UK-based New Zealander Brendan Power is acknowledged by many as one of the most creative, skilled & versatile harmonica players around today. Equally at ease on both the earthy Blues Harp as well as the sophisticated Chromatic Harmonica, he tunes them to his own scales to create a highly original style. He has recorded fifteen solo CDs to date, in a wide variety of musical genres.

Since he moved to Britain in 1992, Brendan’s eclectic skills and sympathetic ear have made him an in-demand session player, leading to live and recording work with artists such as Sting, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, James Galway, Paul Young, Shirley Bassey, John Williams, Mike Batt and many more. His playing is also heard on many Hollywood movie soundtracks (eg. the 2008 Oscar winning soundtrack for 'Atonement'), and BBC TV series. He’s featured on the internationally-syndicated Jools Holland Show and toured worldwide, performing in venues such as China’s Great Hall of the People and The Kremlin.

In addition to his Pop, Jazz & Blues skills, Brendan is an expert player of Irish traditional music (winning the 1993 All Ireland Title), and performed for three years as soloist in the Riverdance Show. He has recorded with well-known Irish artists such as Donal Lunny, Altan, Paul Brady, Arkady, Artie McGlynn, Mary Black and others. A respected harmonica technician & customiser, Brendan is employed by Suzuki Musical Instruments Co. of Japan as their International Harmonica Specialist.

"In Power are combined all the elements which make for a master player: remarkable technical skill, deep knowledge of the instrument, and a truly creative approach to the music." THE IRISH TIMES, Dublin.

"...Power plays both diatonic and chromatic single-reed harmonicas with extraordinary dexterity, at times enough to make you shake your head in wonder. He will harp blow your socks off." THE IRISH ECHO, New York.

"...dynamite Kiwi harp player...magic harmonica..." TIME OUT, London.

"Power's dexterity is breathtaking...he takes the harmonica along paths you never suspected it could go. World class and wide ranging music." NEW ZEALAND HERALD, Auckland.

"Brendan Power reaches astonishing heights of technical brilliance..." THE GUARDIAN, London.

Brett Hunt’s second studio album Corrugated Road reflects more of his early influences, such as Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, yet is distinctly Australian. Vikki Simpson from The Waifs says, “From the opening track to the kick-arse end, Corrugated Road is cool, cruisy and Australian. Makes me want to get back in the van and drive the endless highways.”

Born and bred in a small country town, the third of four children and the second of triplets, Brett’s family always had music. They’d sing around a century old pianola at family gatherings and listen to everything from country music to Australian folk.

“We grew up listening to all the country stuff: Hank Williams, Slim Dusty, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash … whatever the radio had on really. Our vinyl collection was full of Elvis, early Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Diamond. Then in the early 80s we seriously got into the Aussie folk scene: Redgum, who wrote ‘I was only 19’ [partly about Dad], Goanna, Judy Small … all really hard-working country touring bands. It’s these sorts of bands that inspired me early on to get into music.

“When I was 14 I saw a film called Crossroads about a harmonica player who sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads. It was really the first time I’d heard serious blues harmonica. I’d heard John Lennon and Mick Jagger play some rock stuff but this came from somewhere so real and soulful. The next day I went out and bought my first harp.

“There was a guy in town who grew up in the 60s during the English blues explosion and he made me a tape of about 30 odd blues tracks: Sonny Terry and Brownie Magee, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter, Junior Wells and a bunch of others. My triplet brother Jim was already playing some real mean 12-bar so we got together and started playing every spare second we could. The blues made so much sense to me at the time. I could just lock myself away and pour my whole self into it.

“Later on I listened to all the usual suspects: Dylan, Young, Mitchell, CSN&Y, etc where I learnt to pick up my vocal style, which was somewhere between the Welsh baritone of my granddad, the stoned meanderings of David Crosby and the emotional truth of the blues. I started writing my own stuff as soon as I got my first guitar. I learnt a few tunes but was much more interested in writing my own songs. It just felt right.”

Since then Brett’s signature sound has evolved over hundreds of shows in country town pubs, national festivals and packed houses at city venues. From early performances in NSW country halls, Brett has gone on to wow crowds in major metro venues. His proven stagecraft has seen him support music legends such as Taj Mahal, Bela Fleck, Roger McGuinn, Terry Callier, Dr John and Robben Ford.

Brett’s debut self-titled album produced by Jonathan Burnside (The Melvins, Grinspoon, The Sleepy Jackson) was named album of the year for 2003 by director John Carver of PBS Radio (Melbourne). The release was followed by a live recording of the track ‘Life’s What You Make It’, which featured on the CD compilation Night Out at the Basement Vol II, alongside artists such as John Butler, Jimmy Barnes and The Badloves.

Broderick Smith started playing folk and blues music back in 1962. Leaving school and having a variety of jobs, Broderick joined legendary Blues outfit the Adderley Smith Blues Band. In 1968 Broderick was kidnapped by the government of the day and press-ganged into the Australian Army for 2 years, in which he spent most of the time trying to stay out of trouble. Upon his eventual release after the collapse of the Liberal junta he helped form a country roots type act called Sundown. But his first commercially recorded work was in 1972 with Carson, a boogie and blues band. This was his first real taste of travelling the country and playing music. Then in 1973 he helped form The Dingoes, a legendary country rock group that is a main inspiration behind the modern country rock explosion. Funnily enough the Dingoes main aim in life was to carry on the great work done by another band called Country Radio and further explore the possibilities of blending Bush music with R'n'B. The Dingoes were signed up to American management in 1976 and went over there to live and work until the end of 1978. These two years would fill a book and in this context would sound somewhat fantastic, so we will leave it for another time. Broderick eventually came came back home and formed the Big Combo. During this time he was also a singer on the Andrew Durant Memorial concert album. He's released twelve albums to date, six under his own name, recording both here and in Canada and the US. He has recorded with Cat Stevens, Jimmy Barnes, Steve Cropper, The Memphis Horns, Buffy Saint Marie, Phil Ochs, Tommy and Phil Emmanuel. The list goes on and on.

He's held workshops on songwriting, vocals and harmonica. His workshops have taken him all over his home state, into schools, prisons, reformatories, as well as music stores. Brod's been involved in the writing of somewhere around 200 songs and his solo albums have seen him writing virtually all the lyrics. He generally starts off with the lyric in a prose form and then when the music is written, tends to change the lyrics to suit the music. Broderick believes lyrics should say something and not just be something to sing along to. Mick Ahearne (guitar, vocals), Broderick's current duo buddy lives in Harcourt Victoria where he also runs a recording studio (Harcourt Recorders). Being an obsessive compulsive, Mick can become passionate about virtually anything, given half the chance.

Broderick Smith - Chronology 1948 Born in Hertfordshire, England. 1959 - family emigrate to Australia, aged 11. Took up residence in St. Albans, Melbourne, moving to Craigieburn in the mid-sixties. 1962 - joined his first garage band, played a bit of percussion, diidn't really know what he was doing.

Bronnie Gordon Band has been together for a couple of years but the band members have all been in the game for here decades or more.

Bronnie has no inhibitions at being out front on vocals and with a voice that soars and sweeps up the soul emotions she gives the band a sizzling edge.

In 2009, BGB released their CD/DVD, BGB Live At Musicland, which gained wide exposure and recognition.

Besides a busy playing schedule they have been writing new material and are looking at returning to the recording studio later this year.
 

Over the past four years, the Brown Dog blues band have forged a pulsing blues/rock hybrid inspired by Texas & Brit blues and accented by wailing lead guitar, throaty rocking rhythm and the potent vocal stylings of lead vocalist Des McKenzie.

Brown Dog are currently howling sporadically while they prepare material for their first original releases. However, they are veterans of many WA venues including the Indi Bar, Perth Blues Club (Charles Hotel), West Coast Blues Club, Bridgetown Blues Ferstival, The Leisure Inn and many more.

Having a wide range of influences the band work from a set list featuring a mix of originals and songs from the ‘empire blues’ of Clapton, Mayall & Moore thru to the ‘fire in the belly’ styles of Hendrix, Johnny Winter & Stevie Ray Vaughan, with a dash of Floyd, Stones, Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd mixed in.

Biography

The Blues

The Blues Band

• Teangi Knox Rhythm guitarist harmonies
• Barega Knox Fender Bass
• Bareki Knox Drums/ Didge / Harmonies
• Darren Clarke Bass guitar/Drums
• Gene Knox Drums
• Fiona Peters Manager / Accordion

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Calectasia is a four-piece blues band that just happened to form quite easily over the last year to become what it is now.

Bass player Max and guitarist Adrian met at school and have been jamming and sharing musical ideas ever since. Jarrad, the singer, supported the band at a gig as a solo performer. Adrian and Max were impressed enough to ask him to join the then three-piece as lead singer. Erin, the most recent member, joined after their first drummer left. He is a rare find.

All four boys share a passion for music with differing tastes that never cause conflict - "only leaving us always having something to learn off one another".
 

Candice Lorrae is a young singer songwriter from Darwin in the Northern Territory.

A member of the Jawoyn Tribe from the vast areas of the Katherine and Roper Rivers in the NT, Candice is the great granddaughter of Dolly Bonson, known to generations of Australians as Bett Bett, the Little Black Princess; the heroine of the Aeneas Gunn biographies, We Of The Never Never and The Little Black Princess.

Candice moved to Perth in 1991 and went on to study at Abmusic, graduating in 2005 with a Certificate IV in Music. Candice has since returned to Abmusic as a teacher and mentor to the students there, particularly the young indigenous women.

In 2007, Candice released her six-track debut EP Think of Reality, recorded at Satellite Studios and produced by Djiva's Jessie Lloyd.

The widely aclaimed recording introduced Perth audiences to Candice's sultry voice, smooth R & B and soul stylings and incisive lyrics.

Candice regularly performs with her 4-piece group as well as a number of other acts related to her work with Abmusic, including Common Ground Girls dance group and female vocal ensemble Moana.

Her latest venture is with Torres Strait Island MC and Beatboxer Brian Lloyd aka Brytskee, with whom she is collaborating on a new sound in Indigenous Australian Hip Hop.

Cass Eager's sound travels the gamut from soul to blues, folk to gospel and roots to reggae. Her distinctive pipes and guitar playing have drawn comparisons to everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Jack Johnson, Nina Simone and Ben Harper . . . with a hint of Janis Joplin always thrown in. Despite these comparisons, 'soul sister Cass is no pale imitation' (NDL). She's been described as 'one of Sydney's most gifted singer-songwriters, whose refreshingly honest, raspy, almost Joplin-esque like voice is hers alone, and whose eclectic songwriting will spellbind the listener.' (Drum Media). On stage, Cass is armed with an acoustic and lap steel guitar, electric ukulele and stompbox.

Her debut album 'Beautiful Day' (MGM/littlebliss) released in Australia in April 2007, is a stunning collection of tunes which 'will have you singing along pretty much the first time you hear it' (Tracks). The album features Cass's trademark rhythmic acoustic guitar sound, husky-soaked vocals and effortless melodies. Cass has a vibrant history of performing, and that voice of hers has travelled not only several times along Australia's East Coast, Darwin and WA, but has also taken her on three US and Canadian tours, Eygpt and five visits to East Timor.

Music and surfing have always gone hand in hand, and Cass has developed close ties with the surfing community, playing benefit concerts for SurfAid International and the Surfrider Foundation. Over Easter 2007, she played at the Rip Curl Pro Surfing & Music Festival in Bells Beach, being featured on the iTunes Rip Curl giveaway for Tracks Magazine, the same magazine that gave her debut album 'Beautiful Day' a 4 star CD review earlier that year.

Band Members:

• Cass Eager - Vocals, Guitars, Lap Steel, Ukulele, Stompy

when joined by the band . . .

• Jan Rynsaardt - Guitars and the occasional howl
• Dave Marsalis - Drums, Percusssion and Mouth noises
• Greg Royal/Karl Willebrandt - Bass Guitar
• Paul Searles - Hammond, Rhodes, Piano
• Christian Hillier - ye ole Blues Harp

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Hear Beautiful Day via www.casseager.com

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Cass Eager Acoustic Show with Friends

Photo Slideshow

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More than 40 musicians have been a member of Chain, one of Australia's premier blues bands that has been going strong for over three decades.

Formed from the remnants of Perth band the Beaten Tracks in 1968, the Chain were named by singer Wendy Saddington after the classic soul track Chain of Fools. Saddington soon left and the band released one of Australia's first progressive blues singles, Show Me Home, in 1969. Soon after, the Chain shortened their moniker to Chain. In June 1970, Chain recorded the classic live album, Live Chain, at Caesar's Palace discotheque, and along with other Australian acts like Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Carson, and the Adderley Smith Blues Band, were considered at the forefront of the Australian blues movement.

Signing a new deal with Infinity, the blues subsidiary of Festival, Chain released the single Black and Blue, which reached number ten on the national charts in May 1971. The classic album Toward the Blues peaked at number six in 1971 and is considered one of Australia's greatest blues albums. The follow-up single, Judgement, established Chain as the nation's leading progressive blues band. Chain Live Again was released in October 1972 and Chain went on to appear at the first Sunbury Festival in January 1972.

In 1973, the band signed with the new Mushroom label and issued the Two of a Kind album. Chain's rotating lineup broke up in 1974 and Mushroom issued the retrospective History of Chain album. Six years later, interest in Chain was still strong and they played at the Mushroom Evolution Concert in January 1982 to celebrate Mushroom's tenth anniversary. They re-formed permanently in 1983 and released Child of the Street in October 1985. Their next album, Australian Rhythm and Blues, was released in April 1988, followed by Blue Metal in May 1990.

Several members undertook a tour of Australia in 1991 as Blues Power, while another member, Matt Taylor, toured as Matt Taylor's Chain, who released the album Walls 2 McGoo (Trouble in the Wind) in 1992. The original Chain again undertook a national tour in 1995.

Brendan Swift, All Music Guide

From www.answers.com ?

One spring day in 1979, a young Charlie Parr made his way down to East Side Lake in Austin, Minnesota carrying a Johnson 9.9 outboard motor and half of a gallon of gas. His pockets were stuffed with stolen cans of Blatz. The motor did him no good at the lake since he didn’t have a boat, but he was lucky and traded it to a truck driver at a nearby filling station for a beat up Gibson 12-string guitar. He kept the gas.

A confused and shy individual, Charlie Parr plays original and traditional folk and Piedmont-style blues, accompanying himself on National resonator guitars, 12-string guitar and sometimes a banjo. He’s released 6 cd’s, 3 of which are still available, the latest of which is called “Roustabout” and contains something like 14 tracks of original and traditional folk music recorded in true monophonic sound.

Charlie Parr has failed at most things in his life. Music seems to have rendered him unemployable and is the only thing he’s ever done with any confidence. A lot of folks have been saying nice things about Charlie, despite the lingering odors and indecipherable comments he makes. It says a lot about folks; they’re hanging in there with him, in spite of himself.

Chase The Sun is one Australian band with its roots in the blues scene who are letting their love of rock’n’roll fully hang out, infusing their take on the blues with loud guitar, blazing hard funk and a cranking ‘70s southern rock feel.

Rednecks & Gentlemen is Chase The Sun’s second album, and it features lashings of blues-inspired rock. It’s raw, low-down and dirty, full of effortless swagger and stagger and very, very good.

The blazing guitar solos are courtesy of enigmatic front-man, Jan Rynsaardt, arguably the most exciting young guitarist in the country today - blues, rock or otherwise.
 

Chelsea J Gibson has a blues voice the night songbird would die for. From the mellow lows to the dizzying heights Chelsea's powerful voice takes you on a journey. Throw in some wailing blues harp and your suitcase is packed.

The Green Ginger Band was formed when Chelsea and her dad Trevor, got together with some old friends to 'punch up' the sound a bit.

With Trevor Gibson on keyboard, Sam Musca on guitar, Paul Reynolds on bass and Warren Daly on drums, you're guaranteed a fun-filled night.

Sharing a bottle of Green Ginger Wine and chewing antacid tablets, this truly decadent band knows no boundaries.

"Chelsea, you can't sing that blues song at St Marys' school concert!"
"Why not Dad?"
"Well there's some high society people there and I don't think they'd appreciate a fourteen-year-old singing You gotta love me like a man."
"I'm going to do it Dad."

Well she did... and she knocked ‘em dead.

Chelsea J & her Dad, Trevor Gibson, draw on their collective talents and knock out a mixture of traditional jazz and original blues tunes.

After leaving St. Marys (Perth), Chelsea took a day job. Didn't last five minutes, the nightlife beckoned and all of a sudden she was working with The Maximum Groove Band in Taiwan. And then she reached the top 20 of the first Australian Idol production.

Her career snowballed with gigs in America, Singapore, Taiwan, China and Rottnest. She's done gigs with Air Supply, James Morrison, Cruel Sea and Jimmy Barnes - suffice to say that it's all rolling along nicely.

Chelsea possess a powerful blues voice and wails on the blues harp. She also plays piano, but not tonight,? that's the ol' mans' job.

A relic of the swinging sixties this old stager doesn't know when to lie down. After playing in hotels in the early days, Trevor headed for London and arrived in the 'Summer of Love', Beatles and all that, complete with long hair and hippy beads. (Shame about the long hair.)

He was mainly involved in songwriting during his seven-year London odyssey and upon return to Perth he formed a blues and boogie duo known as "Billy Jack & the Cat". Later, there was "Molly Duke", and now "Ruby Tuesday" is still going strong.

But for tonight it's Chelsea J & her Dad.

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Alluring and charming, Chelsea J Gibson is an exceptional WA talent with a range of vocal and musical skills that will leave you begging for more!

A Top 20 'Australian Idol' finalist in 2003, Chelsea's artistry covers a huge rang e of styles from pop, blues, jazz, rock, soul and musical theatre. As well as her extensive vocal repertoire she also plays the piano, drums and harmonica.

Chelsea can offer a wide range of shows to be tailored to your needs - from solo gigs performing some of your favourite songs to 'Norah Jones' and 'Alicia Keys' tribute shows, a Moulin Rouge inspired show and a high energy dance 'Shakira' style Latin show with back up dancers,.as well as performances with her bands - you name it and we are sure she can provide it!

With her band 'Chelsea J and the Juice Extractors', she has made her mark in the Perth Jazz scene with successful performances at Perth's premiere jazz club The Ellington, Jazz Freo and the Perth Jazz Society shows.

She is also a regular face at the Perth Blues Club, as a guest performer in a variety of PBC special shows, as well as with her blues-orientated band 'Chelsea Gibson and the Green Ginger Band'.

On top of all this Chelsea has recently launched her debut album - a huge production of choirs and orchestral arrangements with well-known producer James Hewgill. Chelsea describes her original music as 'Anthemic' - like rock anthems. She has just finished a film clip for the title track of the album 'Enjoy the Journey', which can be viewed on You Tube, and will be showcased as the in-flight song for New Zealand airlines, as well as ABC TV's music program 'Rage'.

Chelsea has worked extensively overseas in China, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia (where she recently performed her 'Norah Jones' tribute show to great acclaim) and America. Whilst in the USA she performed live on the TV show 'Fast Track to Fame' at Planet Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles to an international audience of over 40 million and also sang at the famous 'Cats Meow' in New Orleans. Add to that a performance of one of her original songs 'It's so Beautiful' for ABC TV's 'Stateline'.

She is true showmanship and everybody loves that, she's got great conviction and commitment and with those two things it doesn't matter what you do in this life, you won't go wrong. You go girl! - Marcia Hines

Contrary to the popular experience, China Blue (aka Darren Forster) did not discover his talent and passion for music as a child. He was not a musical prodigy at the age of five. He first picked up a guitar at the age of 20 when the multitude of life experiences - life, death, love, loss, despair, insight - demanded an outlet, a voice, a means of expressing and sharing and coping.

And this is what inspires the sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes eye-opening, always captivating songs of this young singer/songwriter. A blues singer not by choice but by voice, the unique vocals through which his lyrics are expressed enable this solo artist to capture an audience from the opening note and carry them along an inspiring road.

Recently returned to Perth off the back of an east coast tour (based out of Byron Bay and playing 15 shows spanning Noosa to Melbourne) China Blue has played in every state in the country. He is now in the studio, recording his first EP, to be released soon.

From alongside this process has emerged "The China Blue Experiment", a recent union of some of Perth's most exciting talent. Simon Kelly, Troy Genoe, Gordon Cant and John Brown, together with China Blue, bring with them a wealth of experience and are performing in and around Perth with great success.

With China Blue as the foundation, The Experiment offers a variable line up, from a solo act to a five piece band, a versatility that means the act always provides the best possible musical experience.

After a two-year hiatus from travelling, touring and taking his music to the masses, Chris Matthews has returned to the road.

Taking a pinch of blues, a decent sprinkling of country, generous proportions of good foot stompin' rock and roll and topping it all off with sheer brute force and passion, Chris' live shows are becoming legendary for their astonishing guitar work, intelligent songwriting and entertaining off-the-cuff stage banter.
 

Chris Mawer is one of the premier talents in modern day blues music. He has performed at major events and festivals around the world, has shuffled through cities and remote areas, promoting his unique blend of blues, jump and swing.

Chris has had an interesting and colourful music career spanning well over a decade, and has performed, recorded and toured extensively with many Australian and International blues acts. Independently released, One-way Ticket is his second album and features some new up tempo blues and swing tunes as well as some blues favourites.

Chris' music has been influenced by such greats as Albert King, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, Ray Charles and other greats of the style and you can catch him turning his hand to many different instruments, having played professionally on drums, guitars, as a vocalist and most at home on upright and electric basses. This allows him great scope as a band leader and arranger/producer. Chris' band features Joel Sutton, Jacob Cook, Alex Ferrandino, Roscoe Clarke, Alison Penney, among others.

In recent years, he's also spent some time producing works for some other top line Australian talents, and recently founded his own record label for the projects.

"Blues music has been a huge part of my life, it's been a great job from the start, it's a straight up style, takes no mess" says Chris. "It's awesome to be able to travel and tell the story and meet the folk, hear the joke."

If you're a fan of blues be sure to check out the hip shakin' rhythms of the Chris Mawer Band.

"Music to put you in the mood – for anything." - Spirit FM

"Excellent Night, Awesome performance" - Bidgee Blues Club

"Undoubtedly one of the great singer bass players" - Harry Brus

“Chris Mawer is one of my new blues heroes. it might as well be from deep down in Mississippi” - Sun Media (Canada)

"Cleverly crafted... it will get them all moving” - Blues Matters (UK)

"It was one of the best nights we have had for near on a year with the place just humming" - Lonnie's Blues Club

Cindy Stevens is known for her high energy performance on stage.

She has performed with several bands nationally whilst gathering her own ideas and developing her own style of writing and playing.

Music has been embedded into the soul of this Vixon since a very young age. This lady is determined to finish her yet to come long journey on Earth dedicated passionately to writing songs from experience. She wants to continue on the road less travelled. Dancing to her heartbeat filled with rock n roll.

She is more than willing to live the lifestyle so that she can reach out to like minded people all around and everywhere, and hopefully leave a legacy of words of experience. 

Cindy's first self-penned CD Live Wire was recorded at Anarchy Studio between 2010 and 2011 by Bob Patient. The songs were demo’d by Cindy and members of her band in 2009 with John Calabrese at “Solo Recording Studio”.

She then wanted to record the whole album again, but this time with all instruments being played live. This is where Bob came onto the scene, and into Cindy's musical world.

The re-worked album has some of Australia’s finest musicians playing on it, and that's what make's it the album it is.

All of the lead vocals have been performed by Cindy Stevens, with Bob on keyboards. The guitar tracks were performed by Mark Turton and most of the drum tracks were performed by Ace Follington. Last but not least, most of the bass tracks were done by Roy Daniels.

Cindy was also very fortunate to have a number of special guest artists appearing on the album, such as Gerard Maunick with backing vocals, Ivan Zar on harmonica, Ashley Arbuckle (former 1st violinist of the London Symphony Orchestra), Samual Coyne on bass and last but definately not least the extra drums are the sound of Ric Eastman.

The songs from the album have been written from Cindy’s real life experiences and stroll through hard rocking numbers such as ‘LIVE WIRE’ the title track to a silky ballad “Fools Paradise”. The album finishes with ”Red Wines Bride” a real cool country rock good fun song!

Her new single UrU & ImI was released in August 2012 and she's already working on her second album. So stay tuned - it’s going to be a great journey!

Clarke's Gray Vest combines three of Australia's outstanding acoustic musicians - Dave Clarke, who sings and plays mandolin, fiddle and harmonica; cellist Peter Grayling; and fingerpicking guitar specialist Rod Vervest. With this blend of talent and instrumentation, CGV weaves a rich tapestry of acoustic tones covering a range of styles from swinging jazz to hard bitten blues and stylish ballads. With numerous festival appearances and other performances to their credit, the band revels in live performance with bold improvisations balanced with tight and clever arrangements.

Three is the name of the band's ragtime and blues-based debut CD released in 2007. Most of the songs and tunes are originals, drawing on the band’s wry sense of humour and happy take on the blues. Grammy Award Winner Lucky Oceans guests on pedal steel on one track, the whimsically titled Nullarbor Mountain Boys.

Content from ABC and Kulcha

Hailing from the Blue Mountains, Australian Blues Music award-winner, Claude Hay builds his own instruments, fusing slide guitar, sitar, bass and electronic percussion in a loop-driven performance that invokes the best of stomping traditional blues with a booty-shaking funk edge.

His new release, Deep Fried Satisfied, showcases Claude as the ultimate DIY musician, honing his craft with hook-laden songwriting and undeniable talent.
 

Cliff “Lightning” Lynton has toured extensively throughout Australia, Europe & The UK. During his stay in London in the 70’s, he had the privilege of performing at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s club and graced the pleasure of recording at the famous Pye Studios, where Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Jimi Page, The Who & Chuck Berry all recorded. Anecdotally, among many gigs while in London, Cliff was asked to join Fleetwood Mac, but had to decline due to a recording contract at the time.

With countless tours across Australia, Cliff has been the preferred guitarist for domestic and international artists alike, with singers from Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Canada, including Jerry Lewis, John Farnham & Normie Rowe to mention a few, which has kept Cliff pretty busy.

As a regularly in demand session guitarist, Cliff has recorded and performed on numerous albums, TV shows and radio jingles, like fusion band Manteca, who Cliff as guitarist recorded a live-to-air 10 part series for the ABC, performed on the popular Surfing the Menu TV series and won ‘Best Movie Score’ for an award winning animated short film in ’06.

Cliff has met and interviewed many well known guitarists over the years including Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Steve Morse Band), Larry Carlton & Tommy Emanuel and provided guitar clinics for major music brands like Fender, Gibson, PRS, Boss, Ibanez & TC Electronics.

Cliff says his father was a guitar player, as was his uncle, and so the blues has always been the foundation for playing ever since his early days, and as Santana once told him “If you can’t play the blues, you’re just skating”. Cliff continues to teach the essence of the blues and has taught many well-known guitarists who have graced the stage at the Perth Blues Club.

Cliff currently performs new original compositions as well as his own arrangements of classic blues songs.

The band:

Bill Blissett - Keyboards
Bob Hawker - Bass
Gary Howard - Drums
 

Clint Bracknell began gigging in bands at age 14 and in 1999 moved to the city where he joined locally acclaimed rock-groovers Longbo Tom. Making the finals of the Next Big Thing and National Campus Bands Comps the following year, Longbo Tom played gigs all around the state, supported Magic Dirt, The Titanics and David Bridie and released two recordings, the debut single Dynamite and a self titled demo, selling all 100 copies at its launch.

Clint left Australia for the mountains of Japan in 2002 and returned as a solo act in 2005.

Inspired by jamming with artists like Kev Carmody, Clint draws on pre-rock influences - the primal stomp of John Lee Hooker and the sophisticated virtuosity of Robert Johnson - in forging his own distinctive sound and songs about love, death, identity, sex and servos.

Clint produced the five-track EP You'll Want More In Time in 2006 and has since supported Archie Roach, Birds of Tokyo, Mick Hart and Stiff Gins. Indigenous to the south-west of WA, Clint has worked as a music educator in the Swan area since 2006.

Collard Greens and Gravy Formed in 1995. The Melbourne-based trio have established themselves as one of Australias leading blues bands with their lhypnotic, foot stomping country blues.

Collard Greens and Gravy's Silver Bird album won the Best Self-Produced CD award at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in February 2005. The band's third album, it builds on the success of More Gravy, which won an ARIA Award in 2001.

In 2001 they placed overall runner-up at the IBC then successfully toured the United States. The IBC is an annual competition held by The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee to unearth outstanding independent blues musicians.

Collard Greens and Gravy is Ian Collard (harmonica, vocals, diddley bow and guitar), James Bridges (guitar) and Anthony "Shortie" Shortte (drums and percussion). Legends like Muddy Waters, Jessie Mae Hemphill , R.L. Burnside, T-Model Ford and Fred McDowell inspire their guitar, harp and percussion combination.

Collard, a gifted blues vocalist, won the Australian Harmonica Championships in 1996. A Hohner Harmonica endorsee, he has featured on many other recordings including Baz Luhrmans UK number one hit, Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen).

Bridges' playing stands out among today's legion of blues guitarists; with taste and economy he creates an eerie style and feel that harks back to names such as Blind Willie Johnson, Son House and Robert Johnson.

Shortte completes the trio on drums. His technique is all his own; he plays intensely and dynamically on a one-of-a kind modified drum kit.

?

Just look at the pedigree - Wayne Green and the Phantoms, AC/DC, Flake, The Boys, Rattlesnake, Dave Warner from the Suburbs, Innocent Bystanders, Pink and White Bridge, Rudy and the Aardvarks, Rave, Screaming Stewie & the Blues Cruisers, The Sentimental Blokes, Lost Highway Band, Train, Icebergs to Arabia, Checkerboard, The Venetians, Shelter, Fat City, Paradise Garage, Swamp Snake, Nine to five Band, Ragged Company, Roamin' Moronis, Blackheart Strangelove, Sport of Kings, Rattlesnake,and The Crocodills.

Members

Brett Keyser, Wayne Green, Rob Bailey, Peter Jones, Mark Dixon, and Dave Capper

Sounds Like

Six Blokes! Brett knew Wayne who knew Rob and Mark, who didn't know Anthony, but Wayne did, and Peter knew no-one and needed some company.

Craig Sinclair (acoustic and lap steel guitars, vocals) combines crisp fingerstyle slide guitar playing with soulful vocals and contemporary original folk-blues songwriting. Based in Fremantle, Western Australia, the rootsy and distinctly Australian angle on these songs is always at the forefront. Craig’s playing style has been likened to blues players like Kelly Joe Phelps and Jeff Lang. This is timeless folk-blues music, which draws on many rich traditions, but in the end answers to itself.

Craig began gigging on the Fremantle pub scene in 2003, playing folk and delta blues music. Some chance encounters with various musicians (including stumbling into a life changing Kelly Joe Phelps concert during the 2004 International Guitar Festival in Bath, England) ignited a passion for the country blues guitar style. This was the catalyst for a large volume of original blues songwriting, and Craig returned to Perth in late 2004 with a fresh sound and inspiration.

A solo act began to emerge, and from the teeth cutting process at small pubs and cafes, Craig quickly progressed to gigging regularly at major venues and events including Mojos, Kulcha, Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth Blues Club, Mundaring Folk Club, Fairbridge Folk Festival, Araluen Folk Festival, EarthDance Festival, Bridgetown Blues Festival and was a guest tutor at the acclaimed RhythmSong music workshop. A successful east coast tour in early 2007 saw him play shows between Melbourne and Byron Bay at some of Australia's proudest original music venues. Support slots for touring acts include Hat Fitz, Mike Elrington and Simon Phillips, as well as guest appearances on stage with local Perth musicians including Khin Myint, James Michael Thompson, Simon Nield and Blue Shaddy, and an impromptu "open mike" performance with international superstar Jeff Martin (The Tea Party) during his time in Fremantle in 2005.

Craig’s debut solo album, Stones Beneath The Surface, was released in May 2006 and launched in front of his home crowd in Fremantle to a packed house at Mojo's Music Bar. Since then it has been featured on RTR FM, received spot play on Triple J and extensive airplay on community radio stations around Australia. The song Downstream Blues was recently awarded "Best Blues Song" in the 2006 WA Folk Federation songwriting competition.

A new album entitled Barefoot Ballads and recorded live at the Kidogo Arthouse in May 2007, captures Craig in his element as a solo acoustic performer. The songs Rusting Armour and Lara Clare from this album have been nominated as finalists in the 2007 WAM Song of the Year Competition in the folk/world and blues/roots categories respectively.

The Cuatro Tortillas originated in Germany in the early nineties as a tribute to Texan power-trio ZZ TOP, fronted by Mario Schmack on bass & vocals. More recently here in Perth, Mario revived the band with guitarist Mark Lovich to continue the tribute. Stuart Robertson took on drumming duties and quickly demonstrated that he could shuffle like a Las Vegas card hustler. In an attempt to do the band name justice, local keyboard icon, producer and musical strumpet Kim Siragusa was successfully coerced to join forces with the band, providing some of his trademark Piano & Hammond candy.

Having a deep passion for the Texan blues style, the team set out to expand the bands horizons to cover the genre more extensively.

In 2011, they brought a set of the best of Austin Texas’ favorite son – Mr. Stevie Ray Vaughan to the Perth Blues Club. For those adventurous enough, testimony of that memorable event can be found on that wonderful source of pleasure - ‘YouTube’.

This time around, the band is back at the PBC with a set of that ‘good ol’ little band from Texas’. While there is no shortage of synthesizers when Mr. Siragusa is in town, there will be none of that 80’s commercial pop/disco excursion but the real deal, old style ZZ TOP blues and boogie.

So, don’t miss your chance to see the Cuatro Tortillas ‘take their beards off’ to ZZ TOP’s '70s era blues rock gems in exciting and entertaining fashion at the PBC.

Jazz Guitarist, Dale Boaden is one of WA’s most promising up-and-coming jazz artists, having spent the last four years attending the WA Academy of Performing Arts honing his skills both as a composer and guitarist.

Damon Carren,one of the most scintilating,electrifying guitar players your ever likely to hear. Taking the tried and true honesty of traditional blues and injecting it with a contemporary feel and sound,this is the real deal-aint no doubt about it, the boy can play.

Damon's debut CD ''MAGENTA'' is an eleven song,hour long CD consisting of six electric and five acoustic tracks. Damon covers the whole spectrum of blues/rock guitar playing,highlights which include the blistering wah-wah drenched ''THE SUN IS SMILIN'', the haunting ''DONE WITH TRYIN'', the poignant ode to his daughter ''L.B.C'' and ''PRETTY GIRL LEAVIN BLUES'', the psychedelic blues of ''HEY HEY HEY HEY'' and the industrial swamp rock of the title track ''MAGENTA''.

Damon leaves no stone unturned using an array of instruments including stratocastors, six and twelve string acoustics, dobro, bouziki and introducing the legendary ''interplanetary melobar slide guitar''. For the live show add bass master ''BOB FORTESQUE''and LEROY CLEAVER on drums,a rythm section to die for,the lineup makes for a performance not to be missed.

With his second album in tow, big things are ahead for Damon and his band.

Damon Carron has been playing the blues for nearly 20 years on the Perth music scene.

So the first question many people ask is, "Why haven't we heard of this guy?" Well "Damo" as his friends know him, likes to keep a low profile and let his music do the talking, which in these times of media hype and spin doctoring doesn't seem to get an artist too far.

Hopefully all that is about to change, following the release of his debut album at Bridgetown Blues Festival 2007!

The CD features some awesome blues playing from Damon on guitar, dobro, mandolin and 12-string.

Damon's influences include -Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Robin Trower, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Deryk Trucks. Not to be missed!

Reaching to musical depth's far beyond his years and a way with the guitar that can only be seen to be believed. Daniel Champagne often sounds closer to a three-piece band than the young singer songwriter guitarist that has established himself as a renowned performer in his homeland Australia and now around the world.

With a reputation on his instrument of choice firmly established, recent descriptions of the live show state 'A prodigy playing like no-one could possibly play unless they spent at least two lifetimes studying the art' (BW Review, NZ) and 'The best young guitarist in Australia' (IFC President). Daniel's guitar playing runs from the instruments soul to way outside of its box. His Signature explosion of 2-hand tapping, body percussion and fiery runs in a swag of different tunings can be expected. As can the jazzy finger picking and tasteful improvisation of someone that first picked up the instrument at seven years old and as it would seem...hasn't put it down since.

The same versatility can be said for his writing and choice of material. Pulling off setts from intense foot-stomping crowd pleasers, experimental compositions, bags of originals to century old Folk and Blues Songs delivered with an exciting youthful flair. As for the voice...'He sings with a wonderfully pronounced and proud Aussie twang, howling here, hushed there, always confident, fearless and knowing' (Jamie Forbes)

In all, a live show to mark as an absolute must see!

Having cut his teeth on the Australian scene with two independent EPs and two full years on the road. 2011 has marked the release of the debut album Pint of Mystery and has seen Daniel take his explosive live show to all corners of his homeland as well as Europe and Canada. He has won over crowds at world renowned Festivals including Woodford, Byron Bay Bluesfest and National Folk Festival in Australia. Vancouver Folk, Mariposa Folk and Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival in Canada and Labadoux Festival in Belgium...just to name a few.

After Sharing stages with some of the leaders in acoustic music today and being marked as a true light in its future Daniel Champagne now holds a firm reputation for dropping jaws, breaking guitars and making festivals buzz wherever he goes!

Danny Burton was the 2006 runner up in the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society 'Blues player of the year competition' with the winner being Nick Charles.

Danny released his 1st album 'Take A Step Back' at the end of 2005 which is available at musicplug.net and select leading Edge stores. The album includes 3 other great musicians being Les Oldman on drums, Paul Gadsby on Bass guitar and Chris 'darkie' Wilson on keyboards. Chris also engineered and produced the album.

Danny is currently performing as a solo act building a strong presence in the roots and blues scene. He has been sharing festival bills with the likes of Chris Wilson, Ash Grunwald, Mia Dyson, Collards Greens and Gravy and Shane Howard to name a few.

Danny blends acoustic guitar, lapsteel, stompbox and a strong vocal to produce a strong solo sound.

Several tracks off 'Take A Step Back' also received votes at the 2006 Vic/Tas blues awards held in Melbourne. The 1st track,'Run Home To Mumma' is to be featured on the current Bar Promotions compilation C.D. which will be promoted internationally to over 350 radio stations spanning from the U.S.A. to France.

Danny performs his original songs at shows as well as some favourite blues and roots tunes.