The first of next month is no April Fool’s Day for renowned Catfish Voodoo frontman Julian James.
That’s the date James will be releasing his second solo album, Silver Spade. And fans can hear those songs – six of which are original material – at the album launch at the Gold Dust Lounge on Thursday, April 4.
“Most of the songs are a reference to materialism and how we are always chasing the next dollar at the cost of our happiness,” James says of his new material.
Silver Spade showcases the twentysomething road veteran’s love for traditional blues, which harks back to old-time acoustic strummers. In addition to his own songs, he presents a fresh take on traditional tunes by legendary American blues stalwarts such as Muddy Waters and Ma Rainey.
“Catfish Voodoo played straight Chicago blues, so I started with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Willie Dixon,” James says. “And then when I went out solo, I just kept going back in time and discovering people like Mississippi John Hurt, Leadbelly, and Son House, and knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
Local singer/guitarist Bill Barber will also perform on the night. From 7.30pm; entry $10.
As usual, there’s plenty of live music running the genre gamut in town during the next fortnight.
Get funky with the Funk Junkies at Handle Bar on Saturday, March 30. Support from R+B chanteuse Erin Mannix. From 8pm; free entry.
Catch Kyabram rockers The Wooden Lions at the Golden Vine on Saturday, March 30, preceded by a solo acoustic set from Flora. From 9pm; entry $5.
Hargreaves Mall will host another lunchtime singer-songwriter showcase on Friday, April 5. It features a trio of up-and-coming folkies originally from Albury – guitarist Jayden Michael Dunne; multi-instrumentalist Renn Picard (The Northern Folk, The Hot Springs), and Well Into Winter (Alex Cameron). From 11am-2pm; free entry.
Folk-pop-stomp-rock collective The Northern Folk will launch their album Watermark at the Old Church On The Hill on Friday, April 5. Support from singer-songwriter Grim Fawkner. From 7pm; entry TBA.
Sons Of The Blues will bring a touch of Chicago, Mississippi and Texas blues to Handle Bar on Friday, April 5. From 6pm; free entry.
Local quartet The Ratbags meld blues, country and Americana at the Golden Vine on Friday, April 5. From 9pm; free entry.
Melodic prog metal five-piece Spacegoat will launch their debut EP 33 at the Vine on Saturday, April 6. Support from Geelong-based metal/alt-rockers FORMILES and Echuca alt-rock collective Ergasia. From 8pm; entry $5.
Brisbane thrash rockers DZ Deathrays bring their Tour With The Lot to Tap House on Thursday, April 11. Support from Canberra alt-rockers Moaning Lisa and Melbourne punk rockers Cosmic Kahuna. From 8pm; tickets $35-$40 from www.moshtix.com.au
Written by Lynette Walker. Contact: [email protected]
