Blues News #704

The year is drawing to an end, but paradoxically, things are getting busier as we head into our end of year celebrations.
In Geelong, the end of year blues event is the Bluestone Blues Festival, so here’s a rundown on what we can expect…
Bluestone takes place at the Murgheboluc recreation ground, just 15 minutes out of town on the Hamilton Highway. If you get to Inverleigh, hang a uie – you missed it!
The name of ‘Bluestone’ came from the walls of the Inverleigh Hotel where our first Festival was held in 1996. It was an amazing event that is still talked about today and the music from that Bluestone is still played.
Sleepy Hollow Blues Club has put together an outstanding line-up, including the two Victorian bands who are off to the International Blues Challenge. There are five bands counting down the hours to New Year’s Day.
The Dollar 20 Blues Band is kicking off the event at 6pm on New Year’s Eve. The band’s name came when a group of kids listening from a nearby park pushed a pocket full of small change through the holes in their shed’s cracked and broken walls. One dollar twenty, not a huge paying first gig, but a good sign right from the very start.
Next up is the Simon Kinny-Lewis Band. Simon was on the bill last year and is back again this year with Winston Galea (drums), Liam Kealy (keys) and Peter Neagoe (bass).
Catfish Voodoo then takes over. Their sets consist of their own material and original takes of classic blues songs such as; Mojo Workin’, Smokestack Lightnin’, and a high energy version of the John Lee Hooker classic, Boogie Chillun’.
Blue Heat is back and is definitely a highlight of the event. They don’t perform together frequently these days so don’t miss this one. Blue Heat is Barry Galbraith (drums) Graeme Galbraith (bass) Marco Goldsmith (guitar, vocals) Brad Harrison (sax, vocals) Paul Lemke (trombone, backing vocals).
Louis King and the Liars Klub will take us through to the midnight countdown. They also played last year. The band has been the featured support act for B.B King, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan and Screamin’ J Hawkins.
New Year’s Day, or Recovery Day as we prefer to call it, brings in 2019 at 11am with the Wayne Jury 4 featuring Sandy Brady, JP and Troy Love. The Wayne Jury 4 are essentially a blues band, but like the personalities in the band, the idea of being pigeon-holed is about as much fun as having a Tasmanian devil in your sleeping bag.
Rhythm X Revival is one of the Memphis bound bands. They are an energetic rockin’ country blues band formed through songwriting and the friendship of John-Luke Shelley and Johnny Tesoriero.
P J O’Brien’s blistering fretwork has been turning heads around the world. The McNaMarr Project is the second of the IBC competitors, combining the powerhouse vocals of John McNamara and Andrea Marr
Camping is available, no dogs, no fires!
You can get your tickets at the gate, or online at Trybooking.
Written by John Lamp