Blues News #671
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Blues News #671

One of the truisms about Geelong life is the common perception by the Yarra River dwellers that it’s a shorter trip from Geelong to Melbourne, than it is from Melbourne to Geelong, so we can just come up to Melbourne to hear any Melbourne bands.

One of the exceptions to this is, very well-known down here, is Paul Madden. Paul is, of course, a Sleepy Hollow member known as “that bloke who organises the jam session players” and he does a sterling job of that.

He’s not content with organising, and is frequently on stage himself, clutching his Tele, and switching to a gravel voice and belting out a few numbers.

Paul is also a member of the Dollar 20 Blues Band.

The band hails from Pascoe Vale, up the road in Melbourne, sandwiched between the cemetery and Essendon Airport and they are coming down.

The band members are Graham Barr (drums), Paul Madden (guitar/vocals), Stuart McElvenny (bass/vocals), Martin Coogan (keyboards/vocals) and Bill Featherstone (harmonica, guitar/vocals).

The Dollar 20 Blues Band is a five piece blues band playing a wide variety of up-tempo blues to go crazy to, from down and dirty to deep southern blues.

They feature a mix of original, Australian and American material which is guaranteed to keep you up and boogieing for the whole night.

Drummer Graham Barr said the five-member band has been together for five years and appeared at hotels and clubs across the state.

“We love playing, we are not doing it for the money,” Barr said.

“It’s just really good to get people who come along to listen and then want to come back.” Blues to make you want to get up and boogie, vocals to make you want to sing, stomp and clap your hands, and a rhythm section to make you want to shake a tail feather.

Check them out on ReverbNation at www.reverbnation.com/dollar20bluesband. Don’t miss the opportunity to catch a great band and have a dancing good time!

The other mention I must make concerns two of our better known items down here, Bluestone Blues Festival and Sweet Felicia!

Bluestone is, of course, the annual festival run over New Year’s Eve/Day out at Murgheboluc. (By the way, plans are well advanced for the coming New Year, put it in your diary now!)

Every year about nine great local and outside bands get together for a great session of blues music. New Year’s Day (aka Recovery Day) is greatly facilitated by a mobile espresso van!

Last year, Sweet Felicia and the Tradies (JP, Troy Love and Ben Wicks) put it together on New Year’s Eve, and they have put together a CD of the set, which will be launched at Pistol Pete’s on the 8th of September.

It was a great line-up, and an excellent set, this will definitely be a good investment.

So two “must see” events – Dollar 20 Blues Band at Sleepy Hollow from 3pm on August 27, and make a booking for Sweet Felicia’s Bluestone CD launch at Pistol Pete’s on September 8.

By John Lamp

Image Sourced via Dollar 20 Blues Band socials