Blues News #699

It’s getting into the festival season, and QMF has released most of their lineup, so let’s have a look at the blues and blues influenced.
Young guitarist and songwriter Omara “Bombino” Moctar was born and raised in the Tuareg town of Agadez during an era of armed struggles for Tuareg independence and violent suppression by government forces. Bombino’s electrifying jams capture the spirit of resistance and rebellion while echoing with guitar riffs reminiscent of fellow Africans Tinariwen and Ali Farka Touré not to mention rock and blues icons such as Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Page.
Dan Sultan is always worth a listen. He’s become one of the country’s most revered songwriters, who quickly became a household name and has played every Australian festival under the sun, touring for a mammoth two months to sold-out venues defined ‘living the dream’.
Inspired by the flavours of New Orleans to Fitzroy, The Horns of Leroy take brass band music to a whole new level. From humble beginnings, the band has evolved from playing the streets of Melbourne to some of the biggest festivals and stages across the country.
Jesse Redwing grew up on punk, found inspiration in the likes of Peter Green, John Mayall, Eric Burdon, Eric Clapton and the Stones, then took a step back to “the real shit”: Chess Records, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Buddy Guy and Willie Dixon. Definitely worth circling on the program.
Australian music legends The Black Sorrows and Vika & Linda join forces once again for a very special performance at this year’s Queenscliff Music Festival. What’s not to like? Another one for circling.
The Turner Brown Band is a joint Australia/USA musical collaboration between Australian slide guitarist and music producer Dom Turner (of awarded blues act ‘Backsliders’ fame) and Ohio based ‘Sacred Steel’ vocalist and lap-slide guitar sensation Nikki D Brown. They sound sensational.
We all know local musician Fenn Wilson and I have to mention him. His debut album, Tales Of The Black Dog, released in 2015, is a collection of ballads, featuring his powerful yet gentle and deep voice and strong, rhythmic guitar. Fenn spent a year writing and honing these songs and they form a snapshot of his past; brushes with heartache, depression, world-weariness and uncertainty, lightened with compassionate observation, love and redemption.
Locals The Sweethearts return to QMF this year, performing with legendary drummer Bernard ‘Pretty’ Purdie, the worlds most recorded drummer. Purdie is known for his precise musical time keeping and his signature use of triplets against a half-time backbeat: the “Purdie Shuffle”. The list of recording and live credits is simply too long to list…. but here’s a few: Aretha Franklin, James Brown, BB King, Miles Davis, Cat Stevens, Hall & Oates, Bette Midler, Joe Cocker… the list goes on. The Sweethearts comprise up to 30 members who rotate on and off the stage like a sporting team, this all female soul band, exude explosive energy with their refreshing take of soul, funk and blues.
QMF is 23-25 Nov, hit the website now – tickets are going fast!