It’s that time again… it’s Mardi Gras time!
The second annual Mardi Gras Street Music Festival will be held on Sunday 3rd March 2019, from midday till 8pm.
This New Orleans inspired Mardi Gras Festival is a family friendly community based free event held in Lt Malop St (West End) between Shorts Place and Denny’s Place.
It will come to no surprise to regular readers to find that Pete Raimundo is the moving force behind this. Last year was great fun, and this year should build on that.
The musical line up this year includes the international act, Ben Waters and Derek Nash (UK), who are headlining the festival. Ben was voted Europe’s #1 Boogie Woogie piano player in 2016. He has played with the best of the best in the music industry including The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Shakin’ Stevens, Jools Holland, Ray Davies, Leo Sayer, PJ Harvey and many others. Derek Nash has been a member of the Jools Holland Orchestra since 2004. Derek has led Sax Appeal for over 30 years and is a member of Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion.
Melbourne and local acts, Steve Boyd’s Rum Reverie, Hoodoo Mayhem Brass Band, Jules Boult Trio, Harmaniax and NOfonk! will be delivering the sounds of New Orleans, with loads of Brass, Cajun and Zydeco, Blues, Jazz and Funk!
Steve Boyd and Jules Bolt are well known to local blues aficionados. Hoodoo Mayhem Brass Band features ten of Melbourne’s hottest brass players and stick technicians who have been heavily seduced by New Orleans funk and brass. The Harmaniax are returning to Geelong with a unique blend of Cajun, Zydeco and Blues inspired music. NOfonk! Has been formed by Wayne Jury especially for this festival! They will be playing New Orleans funk featuring songs by The Meters, Neville Brothers & loads more.
With the wonderful variety of food and beverages available in the precinct festival goers will have plenty of tasty options available to them. And as they say, “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” (Let the good times roll!)
There’s a new venue in town. The Green Room is on Pakington St, up where George Camorra’s cocktail bar used to be. This one is more wine and whiskey than cocktails, but that sits better with me – YMMV!
The good news is that they are hosting gigs. Buddy Knox is a funky blues man … armed with his 335 Gibson, a lifetime of guitar touring experiences, and a deep passion for the blues, Buddy presents his blues with great respect to the genre. Buddy has been influenced by Freddie King, Albert King, Albert Collins, Robert Johnson, Delbert McLinton and BB King. His amazing history means he is no stranger to performing with national and international touring experiences, as lead guitarist for many artists.
“Go hard or go home”, Buddy says, and every performance is delivered with a real and faithful passion. Buddy Knox is at the Green Room on 31st March.
I certainly won’t be missing the Mardi Gras, and Buddy Knox is an unarguable reason to check out the Green Room.
Written by John Lamp