Foreday Riders

The Foreday Riders were formed in 1967 by a group of school friends
who were all interested in the same music. Influenced by English bands
such as The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and Manfred Mann, the young
Foreday Riders were in turn led to seek the influences of their idols.
After numerous line-up changes, the Riders settled into a 5 piece format
with the two remaining original members, Ron and Jeff King, as the core
of the band. Though there have been more line up changes since then,
the size of the band has remained stable, although other musicians have
been known to guest with the band for a gig or two. The Foreday Riders
have become known as “The University of the Blues” because of their
development of guitar players especially over the years.

Chase The Sun

New arrivals on the blues and roots scene; Chase The Sun have spent
no time garnering widespread critical acclaim for their soul-tinged song
writing, blues sensibilities and the powerhouse live delivery of guitar
star-on-the-rise Jan Rynsaardt. Combining elements of old-school acoustic
blues, Stevie Ray Vaughn boogie, hillbilly finger picking and Hendrix flash;
three-piece Chase The Sun crank out a new take on a classic sound.

Mal Eastick Band

Mal Eastick, one of Australia's finest blues rock guitarists, has a
passionate, explosive and soulful style that has been featured with
some of Australia's biggest recording and performing acts for over 30
years. Mal Eastick is widely considered to be Australia’s finest musical
protagonist of the blues. Playing guitar since his mid-teens, Mal has
achieved a standard of playing that is, at once, both envied and admired.
He has played with Robert Cray, Los Lobos, Buddy Guy, George
Thorogood & The Destroyers, Tommy Emmanuel, Jimmy Barnes and
Kevin Borich, just to name a few. Mal Eastick sure knows the blues,
but his musical ascendancy and versatility make his live shows, as
they ever were, the stuff of legend.

Mark Easton

Mark Easton Limousine burst onto the blues scene with the release of
their 'Coast to Coast' EP in 2002. A collection of no holds barred blues
rock tracks with blistering slide guitar workouts and a rockabilly edge.
Australia soon caught on to the eclectic mix that makes up this trio with
the release of 'Greener' in 2004. Mark says about the album "We kept
things fairly minimal, even retaining some of the guide guitar parts for
the final product, and we didn't get too anal with trying to get it’s
absolutely perfect, which gives the CD a more earthy feel, if anything its
a little loose!" picked up by Triple J, DIG Radio and community radio
Australia-wide, plus the USA and Europe. He has never followed any
trends, or jumped on any Bandwagon - hence the title of the latest CD.

Darren Jack

Darren Jack has been playing the live scene for 15 years and keeps
getting stronger with every gig. He has appeared at just about every
major Blues Festival in Australia and has played along side some of his
most important influences. He writes his own music and plays guitar
with serious intensity and has a strong warm vocal that makes for a full
sound that you could easily forget comes out of a 3 piece band. Darren
has just released his brand new live album "Live at the Bridge Hotel"
which captures the honesty and raw energy of what Jacko does best.

Fats Wah Wah

After forming in 2003 and experiencing a few line-up changes, the
final version of Fats Wah Wah has been together since 2006. RRR
presenter and drummer of Daddy Cool Gary Young described the
Fats sound as “tough but sensitive” combining as it does elements
of delta blues, reggae, country, and free flowing improvisation, all
with an unerring ear for a hook. Many of the songs are characterized
by a killer riff, some have weird chord structures and time signatures.
Others are heavy on the harmony chorus and hypnotic vocal chants.
All are uniquely Fats with the rasping bluesy lead vocals of Luke Spekes
sometimes giving way to a more Dylan-esque whine or sometimes
a whispered plea.

Gail Page

Gail’s earth shattering vocals and bubbly personality in combination
with the extreme musical talents of Parris Macleod on piano and
hammond organ draws immediate attention when performing live
and leaves the audience with the feeling they have witnessed something
very special. Gail's career started in 1993 when she first met Parris at
the Beachcomber Hotel and asked if she could jump up with his band
at the time ("The Mix"). Parris was so impressed that after one song
he asked her to join the band as the lead singer.

Hat Fitz & Itchy

The ‘wild man’ of Australian blues, Fitz hails from Queensland. Backed
by his longtime drummer, Itchy, Fitz plays guitar (usually a metal-bodied
resonator), stomps his foot and sings the blues with a physical presence
and power that reminds listeners of past blues greats like Son House
and Charley Patton. In many ways, he is Australia’s counterpart to R.L.
Burnside or T-Model Ford, playing gritty blues of mesmerising,
deceptive simplicity.The essence of every Hat Fitz and Itchy performance
is control of mayhem. A single metal bodied resonator guitar hammers
out modern tributes to masters long gone, all the while driven along
relentlessly by the thunderous drumming of Itchy ridin shotgun

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

Jimi Hocking & Band

Jimi Hocking is a songwriter, singer and guitarist of the highest calibre,
the electric love child of T-Bone Walker, BB King and Jimi Hendrix.
He struts the stage with his band, playing his ‘showy’ guitar style
while pulling all the classic stunts ... behind the head ... the duck walk
... even the splits!

2005 was a remarkable year for Jimi. He was crowned winner of the
Solo/Duo section of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis,
USA. After much solo success in Thredbo, Jimi brings a band with him
for the first time this year.

Joe Galea

Growing up in Sydney’s notorious King’s Cross, Joe was influenced at
an early age by American Merchant Seamen on R & R leave, playing their
blues and soul records. Such artists as Solomon Burke, Ray Charles, Little
Milton and Muddy Waters to name a few. Joe formed several bands over
the years, each one building up a faithful following - the most successful
being “Cross The Border” working solidly every week for almost 10
years, but none have come even close to the present line up of talented
musicians that Joe has with him in “The Joe Galea Band”. Joe has the
ability to reach out to every last person in the audience and take them
on a musical experience that pleases and satisfies everyone.

Chris Mawer

Raw, emotive blues. Chris Mawer has performed at all the major festivals
around Australia, has shuffled through cities, remote areas, promoting
his unique blend of blues, and recently expanded into Asia and the UK.
Chris has had an interesting and colourful music career spanning over
a decade, and has performed and recorded with many Australian and
international blues acts. Newly released 'one way ticket' is his second
album and features some new uptempo blues and swing tunes and
blues favourites. He has been influenced by such greats as Howlin' Wolf,
Ray Charles, Tom Waits, Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters.

Michelle van der Meer’s Midnight Ramblers

The band was conceived in late 1992 around the outstanding natural
vocal talent of Michelle Van der Meer. Standout performances at the
“New Blood Blues” series of shows were followed by invitations to
perform for the newly formed Sydney Blues Society and the inaugural
Lithgow Blues Music Festival. Performances at the Great Southern Blues
& Rockabilly Festival and spots for international acts such as Canned
Heat, Chris Cain and The Fabulous Thunderbirds followed. In 1995
they were nominated alongside the Bondi Cigars and the Mal Eastick Band
for Best Australian Blues Band award at the Australian Blues Music Awards.
The fabulous Alison Penney joined the band in 1997 and in 1998
Michelle won the “Best Female Blues Artist” award at the Australian
Blues Music Awards after being nominated for the past three years.

Molten Mike

Molten Mike has received or been nominated for 18 music awards
including Best Blues Singer, Best Blues Guitar Player, Best Entertainer, and
Best Singer/Songwriter in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. He is a virtuoso
player on National Steel Guitars and performs with a 1928 TriCone,
a 1932 Duolean and a 1933 Style O National Steel Guitars. He is also
a Hot electric guitar player. His vocals are rich and the hooks are strong,
telling stories of love gained, love lost, and other everyday events.
He has a unique style that is completely his own.

Nick Charles

Nick Charles has been a performing and touring acoustic musician for over
25 years on the Australian and international acoustic music scene.
Averaging over 200 shows a year from Perth to Sydney and LA to Kansas
City - including many major guitar, folk, blues and jazz festivals - the eclectic
nature of Nick’s music continues to delight and captivate his audiences.
With three highly acclaimed solo albums to his credit and numerous awards,
Nick is in high demand. His musical influences include the seminal blues of
Big Bill Broonzy and Blind Blake, the countrified picking of Doc Watson and
Merle Travis and the infectious swing and melody of Django.

Pugsley Buzzard

Pugsley Buzzard plays the piano somewhat like Chico Marx, The lonious
Monk, Professor Longhair, Fats Waller and the Devil. He sings like
a grizzlybear and is very entertaining. These days you can see him solo
and with a trio or quartet and occasionally with a big brass band.
Pugsley writes his own material but also likes to interpret all sorts of
classic material from old parlour songs, show tunes, work songs, blues,
jazz, funk, cartoon music, film scores and more. He has composed for
film and theatre and ensembles big and small.

Rory Ellis

2006 saw the Australian release of “The Rushes” album and it received
as much attention as the man who, to quote Jeff Glorfeld of The Age "
is one of those quintessential Australian singer-songwriters with buckets
of talent, heaps of stories to tell, and impossible to pigeonhole. He’s got
blues man in him, some soul belter, red-dirt country and home-grown
folkie. Officially released on July 7th this year, Two Feathers is
a masterpiece of Alternative Country and Blues music fusing acoustic
and electric instruments into a rich sounding album, true in tone, with
a warmth that only embellishes the mood of this stunning piece of work.
It’s like a trip back to the old vinyl’s we knew and loved.

Marji Curran & Adam Hole

Since forming in 2004, The Adam Hole and Marji Curran Trio have gone
from strength to strength. This successful blues and roots trio are one of
Australia's most exciting live acts on the circuit today. Marji's exceptional
song writing, distinct vocals and guitar playing combined with the
musical talents from one of Australia's hottest slide guitarists Adam Hole
and percussionist extraordinaire Phoebe Juskevics leave audiences
wanting more after every show. With Adam Hole on vocals/slide guitars
giving a real and raw gutsy sound with foot stomping grooves the
audience are captured straight away. This foot stomping, awesome slide
guitar, driving and experimental rhythms trio have been wowing
audiences all over Australia. They deliver songs with a powerful edge
and an engaging stage chemistry that is luring crowds from everywhere.

Kate Meehan & Skipp 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 and Skip will be showcasing new songs from their
recently released collaboration with Peter Gelling, "My Sister's Shoes".
Vocalist Kate and piano playing partner Skip have been playing their
frivolous brand of "good rockin' rhythm and blues, boogies and ballads"
around the festival circuit for over five years, leaving a trail of happiness
in their wake.

Blue Meenies

The Blue Meenies are a blues/funk student band formed in 2005 to
perform at the Thredbo Blues Festival. They did so to great acclaim
and continue to perform at local events with the long term aspiration
of performing at a number of Blues Festivals in this state.
The nature of the band is that it contains school students with a high
musical standard and a hunger to perform professionally. Average age
is 16 - 17 years. Each year however will see changes in the line up as
students inevitably move on.