A return to Castlemaine’s The Taproom next week marks another milestone in a hectic year for Bendigo blues stalwarts Sons Of The Blues.
The duo, comprising Patrick Byrne (lead vocals, guitar, stompbox) and John Phillips (lead guitar), are thrilled to again strut their stuff at one of their favourite venues.
“We absolutely love playing at The Taproom,” says Byrne. “The patrons are always fantastic. It offers some of the best live music around, and has earned a great reputation as a venue of high and consistent quality.”
The duo are inspired by blues legends such as Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, and modern-day guitar maestro Jimi Hendrix, but say they are always seeking out new ways of exploring the tradition-steeped genre. Byrne says punters can expect a high-energy show full of “bluesy sincerity and self – deprecating japes in equal measures”.
It has been an eventful year for the long-time veterans of the Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival, who have just been accepted into their eighth consecutive edition of the much-anticipated November fixture on the city’s calendar.
This year also marked Sons Of The Blues’ successful debut at Melbourne’s blues-loving CBD venue Beneath Driver Lane, and a performance at the inaugural Castlemaine Blues Club – along with Mandy Connell and Skyscraper Stan.
They will also partner with drummer Jerry Speiser (Men At Work) for double-header shows with Ben J. Carter, and Jess Parker and The Troubled Waters, later in the year.
Sons Of The Blues will round out a busy 2019 with a performance at the annual Strawberry Fields festival, held on the banks of the Murray River at Tocumwal, NSW, in late November.
See Sons Of The Blues at The Taproom on Friday, September 6. From 8pm; free entry.
In other events around town during the next fortnight:
Self-described “ragtime blueshounds” Alawishus Jones and The Outright Lies will raise the roof at Rocks Underground (Rocks On Rosalind) on Friday, August 30. From 7pm; free entry; dining packages available from opentable.com.au
Singer-songwriter Jim Martens brings his Melodius Acoustica tour to the Golden Vine on Friday, August 30. Support from Old World Sparrow and Steph Bitter. From 9pm; $5 entry.
Local vocalist-guitarist Rhyley McGrath will sing the blues at the Axedale Tavern on Sunday, September 1. From 1pm; free entry.
English pop purveyors Herman’s Hermits have been plying their trade on these shores since 1966. Catch their Six O’Clock Hop tour at The Capital on Wednesday, September 4. From 6pm; tickets from bendigoregion.com.au
Castlemaine indie rock/alt-country trio Blue Lucas make their Bendigo debut at Handle Bar on Saturday, September 7. Support from Harry Andrew. From 8pm; free entry.
Melbourne-based Tasmanian expats and self-described “raucous” alt-rockers Verticoli bring their big riffs to the Golden Vine on Saturday, September 7. Support from indie punk rockers Lazy Sidekick and Bendigo’s own Trevor Petrie. From 9pm; $5 entry.
Written by Lynette Walker. Contact: [email protected]
