This year, Blues Music Victoria instituted a set of awards for blues artists. One of these awards is the Peoples’ Choice Victorian Blues Legend.
The award for 2019 and the inaugural Peoples’ Choice Victorian Blues Legend award went to Chris Wilson.
Of course, here in our region we have always known of Chris as a legend, his colleagues also knew this, and now the wider blues community of Victoria has spoken.
Speaking after the award, Sarah Carroll said, “Last night, the good people of Victorian blues bestowed this tremendous honour upon our darlin’, Chris. Kerri Simpson made the most beautiful speech and Fenn accepted on our behalf with his father’s customary thoughtful brevity.
“We couldn’t be prouder. Thank you to Blues Music Victoria for a very special ceremony.”
Meanwhile, Fenn Wilson has taken his next step in this musical dynasty.
On November 14, Fenn released his debut album Ghost Heroin, but prior to that, he released the second single from it – ‘Lost My Way’.
People are hearing Tom Waits and Jeff Buckley in his voice, but I can also hear his father, Chris, in his tone and phrasing. The first single off Ghost Heroin, ‘Eye On You’, was warmly received by the music industry, lovers, and critics alike.
As this goes to press, Fenn is premiering Ghost Heroin on the 2019 Queenscliff stages, having received the 2018 Queenscliff Music Festival’s Emerging Artist of the Year award which partly funded the release.
He’s been described as captivating audiences, holding them in the palm of his hand solely with the dynamism of his voice.
Sleepy Hollow’s headliner for their November gig on the 24 is Rod Paine and the Full Time Lovers.
Many years ago, Rod Paine (Vox/harp), Dave Birtwell (guitar) and Tony Harwood (elect/double bass) emerged from retro blues outfit The Redliners, and with the addition of Ray Tully on drums formed the smokin’ hot, Rod Paine and The Fulltime Lovers.
Their gutsy, raw blues sound smoothly transverses their acoustic, country, Chicago & folk blend blues making always for one hell of a low down dirty, smokin’ hot gig.
With one of Australia’s best blues guitarists, a killer rhythm section of twenty years’ experience playing together and the vocals and harp playing of blues veteran, Rob Paine, along with cool influences of Lazy Lester, Slim Harpo and Jimmy Reed thrown into the mix, it’s little wonder that the Fulltime Lovers ‘down and dirty’ vibe hits you in the face each time you catch their totally awesome gig.
These guys are seasoned pros and have rolled their way through the Australian blues scene for over a quarter of a century, thus migrating the right corridors while earning their ‘chops’ through the blood, sweat and tears of playing ‘the blues’.
They won the 2013 Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society Blues Challenge and went on to represent Australia at the 2014 International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee.
Expect to hear a post-war electric blues combo with dirty undertones, swinging rhythms and rumbling shuffles served up to appreciative audiences everywhere they go.
A pretty full-on fortnight there. Head down to Sleepy Hollow Blues Club on the 24th and check out Rod Paine. It should be a great session.
Written by Dr John Lamp.
