From Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock and as a solo artist with no less than 26 ARIA Top 40 hits to his credit as a singer, songwriter and producer, Ross Wilson is one of Australia’s most awarded, respected and well-known artists! From the legendary band Daddy Cool whose number one anthem Eagle Rock and debut album “Daddy Who?” smashed all previous sales records in Australia an astounding 50 years ago in 1971, to the 1977 formation of Mondo Rock, delivering 80’s hits ‘Cool World’, ‘State of The Heart’, ‘Chemistry’, ‘No Time’, and ‘Come Said The Boy’ and into the 21st century as a solo performer, Wilson has never been out of the limelight. Twice inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, Wilson’s live performances are legendary. Ross Wilson is probably the only person in Australian rock music who can’t make a comeback simply because he’s never been away. With a career that spans well over 50 years, Ross remains one of this country’s most respected artists. From Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock, as a solo artist, or as songwriter of A-grade classics such as Eagle Rock, Cool World and A Touch of Paradise, or producer of the legendary Skyhooks, Jo Jo Zep, The Johnnys, & The Screaming Jets, Ross’s involvement with success has continued unabated. He fronted Daddy Cool & exploded out of the 70s playing rootsy 50s sounds. Then formed Mondo Rock who surfed the contemporary scene with chart topping singles & albums from the mid 70s to the late 80s. As a solo performer and major songwriter he continued to achieve success & make his mark during the 90s & beyond with his songs being recorded by artists as diverse as Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, DEF-FX, Custard, Jennifer Rush (EU), Troy Cassar-Daley, Leslie Avril, Hey Gringo, You Am I, Uncle Bill, Keke (Spain), Renee Geyer, Christine Anu, Duane Jarvis (US), Elkie Brooks (UK), Ann Kirkpatrick & Lee Kernaghan, Sovereign, Pleasantville, Beccy Cole, Sonic Jihad, and The Wiggles! On trips to Europe & the USA he collaborated with O/S writers & concluded the millenium as a special guest performer on John Farnham’s “I Can’t Believe I’m 50” tour & live CD/DVD. His Latest release in 2023 She’s Stuck On Facebook All The Time is a modern day tragicomedy in the blues genre.
This award-winning quartet has well and truly established themselves into Australia’s musical heart since forming in 1989. Rarely has an Australian band received as much consistent and widespread acclaim from critics and music fans alike as the Bondi Cigars. With ten albums under their belt and over thirty years of constant touring, this award-winning quartet have well and truly worked their way into Australia’s musical heart. The Bondi’s have consistently delivered the goods; with Down In The Valley nominated in the 2003 ARIA awards for Best Blues & Roots Album, 1995’s After Closing Time awarded Best Blues Album at the 1996 Lithgow Blues Festival, and two of their songs, Lead Me Not Into Temptation and Intensive Care, chosen to feature on the popular ABC Seachange album. In 2015, the band released their 10th album, “Child in the Desert” and it has been well received by fans and critics. The band has been invited to perform at festivals such as The Melbourne International Music & Blues Festival, Great Southern Blues & Rockabilly Festival, Moomba Festival, Queenscliff Festival, The Byron Bay East Coast Festival and The Kangaroo Point Festival. The band are also regular guests at leading Australian venues such as The Governor Hindmarsh in Adelaide, The Basement in Sydney, The Healer in Brisbane, The Charles Hotel in Perth and The Corner Hotel in Melbourne. With their fantastic mix of blues, soul, funk and R & B, they have maintained their status as one of this country’s most in-demand touring acts, with shows numbering over a hundred and fifty each year. Over a decade later, many original fans are still supporting the band. The Bondi Cigars have also built a solid reputation as one of the best live acts in the country. As with all great bands, the sum of the whole exceeds the sum of the parts and The Bondi Cigars are no exception: Shane Pacey (vocals and guitar) the principle songwriter and vocalist, came to the Cigars after playing with bands such as Sydney’s Earls Of Duke. His songwriting and dynamic vocals, teamed with the fluid rhythms of Alan, have largely defined the sound and direction of The Bondi Cigars. Alan Britton (bass and vocals) brings to the band his many years experience playing with some of this country’s foremost roots outfits including the Mangrove Boogie Kings, the legendary Dynamic Hepnotics and the Foreday Riders. His instinctive feel for a groove and ability to ride the rhythm lay the base for those great Bondi tunes. Eben Hale (guitar and vocals) was a driving force behind the successful Blue Mountain Blues Club, playing in the house band at the Club’s meetings as well as taking a behind-the-scenes role booking acts and ensuring their events ran smoothly. Eben’s burgeoning songwriting talents and effusive guitar lines add an extra dimension to the already vibrant sound of the Bondi Cigars. Frank Corby (drums) From Boston, Massachusetts, USA, now a resident in Australia who cut his teeth in various Drum Corp, Swing and Funk bands before playing in various original rock, R&B and funk bands touring all over the USA. Since arriving in Australia he has lent his awesome skills to acts such as Gangajang, Floyd Vincent and the Childbrides, Guy LeClaire and Latin big band Babalu. He was the resident drummer with the Blue Mountains blues jam band where he played regularly with soon-to-be Cigar, Eben Hale.
He has a pretty solid claim to being London’s top harmonica man. His tone is extraordinary, as is his taste and style, and within his chosen field – old style Chicago/West Coast harp playing- he’s right up there with anyone in the world today. Introduced to the piano at age 7 with a few boogie woogie classics, Weston quickly found a calling in music. Playing his preferred laid-back Chicago style American blues to the louder British blues. Steve Weston captures any audience with unique charisma be it as a performer within the band or it’s leader onstage. The last couple of years have seen West Weston touring extensively with Mud Morganfield [Son of Muddy Waters] and also top the album charts with Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey. Today, Weston ranks among the very best harp players in the European blues world. His work on the harp is at once deep in the tradition of harmonica masters Sonny Boy Williamson 2 and Little Walter while at the same time pushing that tradition forward.
Dom Turner’s new venture The Rural Blues Project is blues beyond the 12-bar. The band takes 20th Century rural blues music from artists such as Lead Belly, Fred McDowell and Robert Johnson, hybridising and rearranging, breathing new life for 21st century audiences. Multi award winning Australian blues artist, Dom Turner is best known as guitarist, lead vocalist, and founding member of the iconic Australian blues group, Backsliders as well as other international collaborations including R.L. Boyce with Dom Turner, The Turner Brown Band and Phil Wiggins & Dom Turner. Dom has toured the Australian festival circuit since the 1980s and regularly appears at most major, blues-related music festivals including Bluesfest, Woodford Folk Festival and Blues on Broadbeach to name but a few. He is a regular visitor to the home of the blues, the USA performing at festivals including Augusta Blues Week in West Virginia, and the RL Boyce Picnic and the Otha Turner Goat Picnic in Mississippi. Joining Dom is legendarydrummer Rosscoe Clarke (Foreday Riders, Cyril B Bunter) and accordion and keyboard master Johnny G. “Perhaps Australia’s truest of ‘true blue bluesmen’” Bluesfest 2022 “Turner is a phenomenal guitarist – slide and otherwise – and brilliant songwriter with trademark vocals” Rhythms Magazine “The man is a phenomenal blues player.” BWW Reviews
Shauna Jensen is a powerhouse vocalist from Sydney whose career has spanned an impressive five decades. Her journey began as a sought-after session singer, lending her remarkable voice to countless recordings. Over the years, she became a trusted backing vocalist for some of Australia’s most iconic rock artists including Jimmy Barnes, Noiseworks, Cold Chisel and Richard Clapton earning a reputation for her dynamic stage presence and vocal prowess. Always having her own band, Shauna recorded a self released album which saw her earn the coveted her Best Female Vocalist at the inaugural Goulburn Blues Festival in 1998. Her band have always been the best of the best players in the Sydney music scene. Jensen’s versatility and talent eventually led her to the international dance music scene, where she collaborated with legendary DJ Wayne G. Together, they toured some of the world’s most renowned dance clubs, solidifying her status as a beloved and influential figure in both rock and dance music. Throughout her career, Shauna Jensen has consistently showcased her powerful voice and enduring passion for music, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.
Clayton Doley is a giant of the Australian Blues Scene, Sydney Blues Society’s Keyboard Player of the Year for five years running and Inductee into the Hall of Fame, Clayton has played with a who’s who of international artists. His virtuosity on the hammond organ is unmatched and has seen him tour the world performing with artists such as Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, Joe Bonamassa, Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington, Harry Manx, Steve Cropper & Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn (Booker T & the M.G.’s, Blues Brothers), David Garibaldi (Tower Of Power), Jimmy Barnes, The Divinyls, Hubert Sumlin, Mojo Buford, Louisiana Red, Guitar Shorty, Renee Geyer, The Mighty Reapers, Eugene Hideaway Bridges – to name a few. The most unique and sophisticated voice in contemporary retro soul today, Clayton is a master musician, a killer boogie woogie piano player, a super funky Hammond player, and a remarkable singer/songwriter with a passion for creating new works that could have been recorded by the R&B greats from the 50’s and 60’s. His current project Clayton Doley’s Bayou Billabong, featuring Sydney Jazz and Blues royalty, captures the essence of the New Orleans Blues piano tradition while fusing contemporary Australiana and Americana with all the might and power of a 10 piece band. Quotes- “Clayton Doley understands the groove to a T – Booker T., that is”. Steve Leggett – All Music (USA) “Doley matches his rock-solid chops with sophisticated songwriting and wraps a class-act production around it”. Duane Verth – Roots Music Report (USA) Clayton Doley digs into blues, jazz and groove and he does it with a great charm and good taste. A marvelous singer and an especially fine organ player, gifted with a huge talent”. Vincent P. Zumel – La Hora Del Blues (Spain) “Clayton’s material is everything from amazing in a traditional sense to outright mind-blowing”. Bill Wilson – Reflections in Blue (USA) “Songs that will brighten your mood and leave you wishing it were a double CD”. Greg Victor – Parcbench (USA) “ If you’re a fan of the Hammond Organ, then you need to become a fan of Clayton Doley. He’s totally mastered the instrument”. Peter Lauro – Mary4Music (USA)
Ron & Jeff King have long worked in acoustic mode as an offshoot of the legendary Foreday Riders, to play smaller more intimate venues. They have been playing with guitarist/vocalist Graeme Druce (Doggn’It, 12 Bar Dudes) as an acoustic trio for the last 18 months and now have a great repertoire of original and traditional blues. The trio’s signature sound is enriched by the addition of vocalist Jill Tweedie (the original singer from the Foreday Riders). Her voice reminiscent of blues greats, yet distinctly her own adds a rich layer of depth. The performance is a musical feast serving up classic Chicago blues, swinging rhythms, Latin grooves and New Orlean vibes , all executed with the flawless precision that defines these musicians. Prepare for a blues experience like no other. It all adds up to 100 % blues, 100% fun! Ron King: Harmonica & Vocals Jeff King: Acoustic Guitar & Dobro Graeme Druce: Acoustic Guitar & Vocals Jill Tweedie: Vocals
Nathan Beretta has made his mark in the Australian blues scene with multiple award winning blues band Blue Eyes Cry. Touring and playing just about every Blues festival and venue in the country Nathan has earned respect from blues lover’s all over. Nathan has shared the stage with many Australian Legends such as Robert Susz ( Mighty Reapers) Shane Pacey ( Bondi Cigars), Geoff Achison , Lloyd Spiegel , and Chris Wilson just to name a few. When it comes to festivals Nathan has performed though out Australia opening up for international acts such as, Anne Popovich, Jon Cleary, and Joe Louis Walker. Growing up with Blues jazz and soul in the household, Nathan has brought his own unique style to the table. Influenced by artist such as Ronnie Earl, Albert Collins, Guy King and Jimmie Vaughn Nathan plays from the soul with an “all killer no filler” approach. Nathans first band Blue Eyes cry was signed to Australia’s premier record company Black Market Music , Nathan manage to hit no 1 on the Australian Blues and Roots Charts in the year of 2015, also winning best new Talent at the Chain awards the same year. In 2019 Nathan topped the charts again with his debut release “Where I Belong”.
Sweet Talk are renowned for their high-energy live shows readily whipping unsuspecting punters into frenzied states of boogie and unabashed song at the drop of a hat. The 6-piece band from Melbourne was founded over a bond of late nights, American music, classic song writing and improvised jams. Gaining a loyal following, Sweet Talk have been journeying across Australia with appearances at Blues On Broadbeach, Queenscliff Music Festival, Tamworth, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Out On The Weekend along with live rooms, pubs and BBQ’s across cities and states. Sweet Talk stitch together a rich tapestry of vintage influence into something altogether their own. Let the good times roll!
Paul Mason is a remarkable guitarist. Co-founder of the band Battlesnake, he is known for his versatility as well as his distinctively unique style, reminiscent of greats like Mark Knopfler and Jeff Beck. Paul has shared stages with Sting, Dominic Miller, Kiss, and The Smashing Pumpkins, and his decade-long role as Jessica Mauboy’s lead guitarist highlights his broad musical range. Paul Mason embodies the essence of modern guitar virtuosity and stands out as a uniquely powerful musical artist. https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/paul-mason
Hailing from the Victorian goldfields, Bill Barber and The Holding Cell are paving the way for a new blend of Blues, southern rock and Americana in Australia. The essence of band is the shared experience and brotherhood of four like-minded musicians who love nothing more than sharing that with as many as they can. Forming in June 2023, Bill Barber, Tommy ‘Back Beat’ Brown, Jaspar Austin Gray and Shaun Klinger were in a place musically and personally where they wanted to do something different. The Holding Cell is different – aggressive, exiting and incredibly emotive. With the hard driving rhythm section of Gray and Brown, heavily technical and soulful arrangements of Klinger and the Raw, powerful vocals and brutally honest lyrics of Bill Barber, the Holding Cell have created a distinctive blend of southern sounds that leaves nothing on the table and no musical stone unturned. The band’s first year has seen some nothing-short-of-amazing accolades. Taking out the 2023 MBAS blues performers of the year award, placing in the semi-finals at the international blues challenge in Memphis USA, playing sold out ticketed shows and being invited to play some of the biggest Blues festivals in the country, including Blues on Broadbeach, Echuca Moama Winter Blues and more. Their First single and first LP “The Muscle Shoals Sessions” was recorded live over 10 hours in the legendary FAME studios in Alabama, which has hosted some of the greatest and most influential musicians in history including Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, The Allman Brothers band, Jason Isbell, Drive By Truckers, Steven Tyler and countless others.
