Threadbo Blues Festival 2008 Performer Profiles

JEFF LANG
Singer-songwriter Jeff Lang has built up a reputation for startlingly
original performances, working without a set list, allowing the
unique energy of each night to shape the songs. Jeff Lang is critically
acclaimed as a truly great guitar player. The unusual thing is that the
guitar playing never gets in the way of the music, nor overshadows
his gift for hauntingly poetic songwriting. As a live performer Lang is
only satisfied when something truly inspired takes place. This restless
striving for the sublime pays great dividends for audiences that join
him for the ride.
"Australia's best roots-music artisan." – Jeff Apter, Rolling Stone
BOB BROZMAN
Redefining musical diversity worldwide, Bob Brozman is a remarkably
prolific artist whose wit, energy, and musical technique combine
powerfully to create an unforgettable live performance. A master
of slide, fingerstyle, and percussive guitar, Bob's exhilarating show
spans the global and musical spectrum, and keeps audiences
enthralled, begging for more of his endearing, infectious energy.
Bob's familiarity with diverse world music cultures produces a novel
blending of rhythmic and timbral influences, unparalleled in today's
musical environment.
DALLAS FRASCA
Solo blues powerhouse, Dallas Frasca, didn’t start singing until she
was 19 years old. Ten years on, Frasca’s mighty soul-voice resonates
through venues, stereos, and radio stations across Australia. Frasca
has sung in an array of bands from metal to funk. Her passion and
the natural gutsy tone in her voice always lead her back to the blues.
Frasca’s distinctive, gutsy, heart-felt vocal style is of uncommon
strength and her finger pickin/slide guitar grooves are earning her
respect from fellow musicians and wowing crowds all over Australia.
ANDY COWAN
One of Australia’s most experienced and talented singer, songwriter
and pianists in the Soul-Blues idiom, Andy has been described
justifiably as the “King of the Keys”. He ripples, rolls and rocks
through original compositions with passionate and soulful vocals,
wrapping the audience in his energy and weaving an emotional
and spellbinding magic.
“A terrific little prize, swampy vocals on a foundation
of virtuosic piano playing.” Gary Tippett – The Age
JIMI HOCKING
Jimi Hocking is a songwriter, singer and guitarist of the highest
calibre. He struts the stage playing his ‘showy’ guitar style while
pulling all the classic stunts... behind the head... the duck walk...
even the splits! Always working on multiple recording projects,
including a new blues album, 2006 chimed in for Jimi with the
release of ‘The Ultimate Bootleg (vs2)’. Jimi’s 10th album is a
re-make of his first independent acoustic album, featuring all
new recordings of original songs and bonus tracks.
RAY BEADLE AND HIS BAND
Ray Beadle and his band are regulars on the Australian Blues Festival
Circuit and have played at premier venues such as The Basement
in Sydney. Ray incorporates his own style of jump/blues with many
popular swing tunes. Chris Cain has said, “Ray is unquestionably one
of the finest musicians I have come across. His song writing has a
harmonic and emotional depth that many strive for but few capture.
Ray’s guitar works well, lets just say this cat is VERY dangerous.”
WARD’S EXPRESS
The idea for the band WARD’S EXPRESS was first conceived during the
1995 East Coast Blues Festival, when a number of Byron Bay musicians
were drafted to form the backing band for the Bentley/Reed Blues
Review. After subsequent festival appearances as lead guitarist for
the Blues Review, Ross Ward formed Ward’s Express. The players:
Ross Ward, Guitar,vocals, Greg Lyon, Bass Guitar, Steve Russell,
Keyboards, Dave sanders, Drums.
THE OTHERS
In the world of Rock’n Roll, surviving 10 years is unusual, 20 years is
a massive feat, but to keep going for as long as The Others have is
staggering, to say the least! Ahead of their time, The Others were
strutting their original stuff while most of their contemporaries were
simply mimicking whatever style was in vogue at the time. For more
than 40 years the band have played all around the country, in cities
and towns, stadiums, pubs, clubs and dives with a consistent
enthusiasm and obvious passion for their craft. The Others have
always done things their way and this independence and self belief
still shines through.
HARRY BRUS BAND
Harry Brus, the phenomenal bass player who has shared the
stage with the likes of Jeff St John, Blackfeather, Kevin Borich,
Australian Crawl, Matt Taylor, Russel Morris, Leo Sayer, Renee
Geyer, Chain and the Foreday riders to name but a few returns
again to Thredbo this year with his own band.
JAN PRESTON
Jan Preston is recognized as one of Australia’s leading female
blues artists.
Jan’s unique ability lies not only in her exceptional talents as a piano
player, singer, and songwriter, but also as an entertainer with her
mastery of “boogie woogie piano” leaving audiences in raptures.
As winner of three Best Female Blues Artist awards and more
recently the 2003 Blues Performer of the Year she is needless
to say a fantastic blues artist who has to be seen to be believed.
KATE MEEHAN and SKIP LANDY
Every great blues mama needs a great piano player and when you
combine Kate Meehan’s sweet but gutsy vocals with Skip Landy’s
sensual liberation of the piano it is nothing short of a delicious
blend of lounge room blues. Kate’s pure vocals emerged from a
Jazz heritage but once she was enticed by American Blues mama’s
Koko Taylor and more recently Kathy Murray she was transformed.
Skip’s piano flair is nothing but all boogie woogie, rhythm and blues.
Both award winning musicians playing rich velvet blues in Thredbo!
PETE CORNELIUS
Pete has been writing songs and playing guitar since he was six.
At 11 he performed with the Tasmanian Festival Wind Symphony
and at 13 he released his first CD. Pete has won the best Blues/Jazz
guitarist award at the Frankston International Guitar Festival as well
as the Blues Guitar Award at the Australian Blues Festival. His song
‘All my Heroes are dead’ won the blues song of the year at the
Victorian/Tasmanian Blues awards in 2001.
KERRI SIMPSON
Kerri Simpson is one of Australia's most respected and versatile
singers. Her unique, powerful voice has traversed a huge expanse of
musical styles across a large portion of the globe, enriched through
the years by the music and musicians she has encountered. Kerri will
certainly impress Thredbo with her tremendous abilities as a singer
and leave the audience encoring for more.
DAVID CHURCHILL
David Churchill is one of Australia's leading steel string flat top
guitar makers, established over 30 years. All guitars are hand built
by David Churchill, using only aged timbers and specializing in cedar
tops with Indian rosewood back and sides. Used and played by some
of Australia's finest musicians such as Jeff Lang, Darren Jack, David
Ross Macdonald (Waifs), Hat Fitz, Adam Hole, Matt Fagan, Ray
Beadle, Don Neander, Shannon Bourne.
MARJI CURRAN BAND
The Marji Curran Trio are one of Australia’s most exciting roots and
blues acts. Marji’s exceptional song writing and clean acoustic guitar
playing combined with the musical talents of slide guitarist Adam Hole
and percussionist/drummer Phoebe Juskevics leave audiences wanting
more. Marji’s vocals are haunting, passionate and unique, Adam
literally makes the slide guitars sing with feel, and Phoebe excites
the senses with a delightfully experimental approach to percussion.
JAMES SOUTHWELL BAND
James Southwell has been playing guitar & singing since he was only
7 years old. He has played on stage with Australia's greatest blues
band Chain, The Kevin Borich Express, Phil Manning, Stevie Wright
and a host of other well known Australian artists. He currently has
a high-energy electric trio the James Southwell Band, which is
sometimes billed as 'James Southwell's JUDGEMENT'. He is committed
to his chosen career and he is now a full time professional touring
guitarist/singer/songwriter. James writes his own material as well as
playing some very well thought out covers.
MOJO WEBB BAND
Utterly fresh and unique but steeped in the tradition of real,
authentic blues, Mojo's music is truly world-class. With charisma
and a naturally captivating stage presence, thirty-two-year-old Mojo
breathes new life into roots-based sounds. Equally at home with a
band or in solo performance; in the most specialized fields of true
blues or on a pop festival stage, Mojo transcends all age and fashion
barriers. "The Burden" is Mojo's highly-anticipated debut release.
PHIL MANNING SOLO
One of Australia's best known guitarists, Phil has single handedly
turned more Australians onto the Blues than any other performer.
The grandson of a dedicated Tasmanian bandleader, Phil grew up
with music in his genes.From his earliest days backing pop artists
and throughout his long career, his musical integrity has always set
him apart. His skillful touch and great passion for the blues have
kept him musically progressive, always prepared to interest himself
in new musical ideas whilst maintaining his stylistic purpose.
STEVE EDMONDS BAND
Playing guitar professionally for two decades, Steve has gained a
reputation as one of Sydney's most exciting and fresh "axe" men.
Coming from a deep musical background, his professional playing
stints with many of the country's top live and recording artists has
secured his position as one of the more talented and reliable session
players, sidemen and performing artists to date. The Steve Edmonds
band is back and working in TRIO form and packing in more great
guitar and funky groove into the set than ever before!