Blues-Rock Crossroads

09/04/2024

Blues on Broadbeach is coming up next month so the vibe is amping up. Very pleased to see Dana Gehrman appear in the artist lineup. Her Down In Hollywood album of last year is excellent.

“STOKED”… yeah I sure am! An understatement! I’ve been dreaming about playing this festival for many many years! Thank you Blues on Broadbeach for having us on your stage this year!!

Full programme is online now!

Thanks to the for slapping my mug and my mate Kenji’s ridiculously cool car across the front page today!

Incredible photography by Chloe Ireland

04/03/2024

Looking forward to sitting in with Mal on the Blues Rock Crossroads show tomorrow night 5th March at 8pm Australian Eastern Summer Time.
Listen in live on South Coast FM 88.1, 89.1, 88.5 or streaming. On Demand replay available next day. Some ripper tracks planned - enjoy!

Storm ravaged Wildlife Shelter at Bena needs help. For listeners wishing to donate, there are the following options… Bank Transfer: Bush Beings ...

07/01/2024

Here's one for fans of Joe Bonamassa. For two weeks only you can rent his documentary video, Guitar Man, for free. The following was posted by producer Kevin 'Caveman' Shirley on his page:

We made a movie! 🎸🎶For a limited time you can rent Guitar Man for Free! Check it out here:

Experience the incredible rise of legendary guitarist Joe Bonamassa, whose hard work and determination have made him one of today’s top-selling Blues artists. Featuring interviews and live concert footage with some of music's biggest names. From average Joe by day to guitar hero at night, Guitar M...

31/12/2023

Love this for New Year's Eve. Happy New Year everyone!

22/12/2023

Okay, well, I think this should be a thing.

11/12/2023

Some very positive news for 2024. We wish Blind Pig Records every success on their relaunch.

Blind Pig is back!

05/12/2023

First artist announcement for BoB looks good. May next year.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=675720797979723&id=100066254276790&mibextid=Nif5oz

The first lineup for Blues on Broadbeach 2024 hits all the right notes! 🎶 More artists still to be announced + Twelve Bar Society memberships on sale soon.

Save the date and mark 16-19 May 2024 in your calendars NOW!

29/11/2023

Wishing the Godfather of British Blues, John Mayall, all the very best for his 90th birthday today, 29 Nov.

20/11/2023

Hound Dog Taylor (born Theodore Roosevelt Taylor) became known for his raucous slide guitar playing. He had an unique physical feature resulting from a condition called polydactylism which caused him to have six fingers on each hand. Whilst you may be forgiven for thinking the existence of an extra digit could have helped his guitar playing, the sixth digit could not be moved and was probably more a hindrance than an advantage.
BTW, in his earlier years on a drunken bender he decided to remove the extra finger from his right hand with a straight edged razor. I'm cringing just thinking about that.
Hmmm...might just be a good time to play some Hound Dog Taylor and The HouseRockers!

18/11/2023

Honestly don't know how to take this but Dolly Parton, at the tender age of 77 (she'll be 78 come January) has just released her first 'rock album'! Rockstar has 30 tracks, some original, many covers and she hasn't shied away from some of the classics either (Stairway to Heaven, Purple Rain, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Free Bird!). Is this a tongue in cheek mockery of the mainstream rock era or was it a boozy karaoke night that morphed into something that got bigger than anyone expected?
She's joined by some big names (Paul McCartney & Ringo, Pink, Ann Wilson, Sting, John Fogerty...the list goes on AND on) - did they think she was too influential to refuse?
Okay, in fairness there's actually some good material on Rockstar and money hasn't been spared on production quality. Some of the softer rockers (eg. Magic Man, Every Breath You Take, You're No Good) are better suited to the lady's voice. Mind you 'Either You' with Kid Rock has impressed as did Purple Rain. And Dibs to Dolly for including Bob Seger's Night Moves (a BRX fave classic) where she is joined by Chris Stapleton.
I'm really not too sure about her interpretation of Stairway (joined by Lizzo) but the track does rock out in great style. So, the ultimate test was saved for the final track - Free Bird where Dolly sings the vocals backed by Lynyrd Skynyrd (you know - that tribute band of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup). I'm thinking Ms Parton would have been a great addition to The Honkettes, as Ronnie Van Zant she's not but at least they've dubbed in some of his original vocals to help her out and it works well.
Okay, okay I went in a bit hard at the beginning of this commentary and as I've worked through the mega album I've started to warm to Dolly's achievement with this offering. Good on her and may we all still be rockin' when we get to her age.
What are YOUR thoughts on Rockstar?

17/11/2023

Time to wake this page up and what better way than some new music! Postie delivered the new offering from Tom Hambridge this week. Blu Ja Vu is a fine example of Tom Hambridge's work and he is helped along with guest appearances by Buddy Guy, Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, Joe Bonamassa, James Cotton, Chuck Leavell and Josh Smith. Supported also by a bunch of his regular studio musicians this is one of the best blues-rock albums of 2023. Not naming any favourite tracks because there are too many. Just do yourselves a favour and get it or stream it somewhere!

28/06/2023

Could this be blues-rock hell?!

21/06/2023

Please read and if you can help then please do. Mike and Laura and their family deserve all the support we can offer.
https://www.facebook.com/100044439759401/posts/841972643960720/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6

Hi, this is Mike and Laura Zito. Most of you know, my wife Laura was diagnosed with Stage4 Pa… MICHAEL ZITO needs your support for Laura Zito Cancer Support

01/05/2023

2023 is turning into a devastating year for our musical heritage. RIP Broderick Smith. What a wonderful contribution he made to Australian music either through Carson, The Dingoes, his Big Combo and a plethora of individual contributions. Missing him already

​Broderick Smith, one of Australia's greatest music front-men, explores the dichotomy of fame as a musician, and the entrapment of a long ago era by his fans...

20/04/2023

Grateful for this cartoon

16/04/2023

I DO NOT OWN THIS VIDEO.Lyrics:Kick out the jams motherf**kers !Yeah! I, I, I, I, I'm gonnaI'm gonna kick 'em out ! Yeah !Well i feel pretty goodAnd i guess ...

16/04/2023

It's 50 years today since Skyhooks played their first gig at St Judes Hall, Carlton (April 16th 1973). No recording exists of that show but we did find the earliest Skyhooks live recording in our Archives. A young Bongo Starkie heads to Yarra Valley Grammer (the bands 7th gig) with his tape player & records his big brothers band Skyhooks performing "Blue Jeans". Line up: Steve Hill (vocals) , Greg Macainsh (Bass), Peter Starkie (Guitar), Fred Strauks (Drums), & Peter Inglis (Guitar). Happy Anniversary guys.
Peter Green & Mark Goulding (Skyhooks Archives). *The link to hear this will be in the comments area below. Big thanks to Greg for the Live photo used.

16/04/2023

Dave Tice (Buffalo, Count Bishops, Dave Tice Trio) brought attention to a fabulous website releasing old sound desk recordings of Australian artists.
The remixed tapes are then published with original artists' consent in order to raise money in support of road crew members (past and present) who are in need of assistance. It seems there is a particularly high su***de rate amongst these guys.
A visit is highly recommended and why not purchase some of these classic and unique recordings? This stuff is gold! Be like Molly and "do yourselves a favour".

https://australianroadcrew.com.au/

11/04/2023

I thought I might share a few more pieces of trivia and info from seeing the various artists at Bluesfest Byron Bay.
>> Jackson Browne paid tribute to the recently departed David Lindley, whose lap steel guitar had been an intrinsic part of Browne's "sound", by dedicating his performance of the song 'Call It A Loan' to the man (a song he co-wrote with Lindley by the way).
>>Eric Gales, whose second performance I missed because I was viewing Jackson Browne, managed to get Marcus King, Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram AND Joe Bonamassa up on stage with him all at the same time. Fellow festival attendee Dave the Scot took great pleasure in relaying this piece of information to me as he was there to witness the event. He did say the performance was held up for several minutes whilst the stage crew wheeled in extra equipment.
>>Buddy Guy was suitably slick and well honed in his performance but handed over some of the snappier axe work to Ric Hall who's 'party trick' is to spin his guitar during a solo - something I'd seen ZZ Top do in unison.
>>Joe Bonamassa reported having been sick with possible food poisoning just a couple of days prior to leaving, so he was already off colour and then throw in an 18 hour 'commute' he was looking quite ragged. Despite that, and being ever the professional, he put in a very polished performance that finished out with Eric Gales joining him on stage for the closing number, The Ballad of John Henry. JoBo commented that the song was the closest he'd ever got to having a commercial single.
Mal will be playing music from Bluesfest artists on the show at 8pm tonight and available on demand from tomorrow at https://3mfm.com.au/ .

09/04/2023

My Christone "KINGFISH" Ingram encounter at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2023. Stick with it as it gets better and check out the eye contact at 1:06. I call this being 'Kingfished'.
This man is simply incredible with his craft and feeling privileged to have experienced this.
"That's bloody spicy mate"!

08/04/2023

Day 3 and my last at Byron Bay Bluesfest was always going to be the biggest. Samplings of Bud Rokesky and then Clarence Bekker Band before a massive second Christone "KINGFISH" Ingram experience during which he did one of his, now infamous, audience walk throughs and was playing literally a metre away from me.
Some more Vintage Trouble and then a full on evening of Jackson Browne, Buddy Guy, Beth Hart and finally Joe Bonamassa. JoBo had Eric Gales join him for the final number. What a day...what a festival!

08/04/2023

Just got Kingfished at Byron Bay Bluesfest. Simply awesome performer. Video will follow at some point.

07/04/2023

Day 2 at Byron Bay Bluesfest is a definite highlight. Double dipped on Frank Sultana and Southern Avenue. The lead vocalist of SA is a powerhouse on stage and fabulous vocal control. Then some excellent Ray Beadle before a massive dose of Christone "KINGFISH" Ingram . Mind blown. He was even better than expectations. Then Marcus King, Chain, Beck, Paolo Nutini, Lucinda Williams and then full on Vintage Trouble. Like...Wow. Awesome festival.
Chain as the granddaddies of the festival did an excellent job.

06/04/2023

Day 1 at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2023 and it's chock a block full on already. My day started with Frank Sultana and then a Southern Avenue chaser before Keb Mo, Eric Gales, Beth Hart and finished with Larkin Poe.
Phone pics attached as evidence.

15/03/2023

Ummm...groaning is permitted

07/03/2023

Yep we just love these instruments at Blues-Rock Crossroads....NOT! 😉