My goodness me, where does the best part of two decades go? I refer, of course, to the 18th annual Brisbane Blues Festival that takes place at the Jubilee Hotel at 470St Pauls Terrace on Saturday March 13.
Readers might not think it to look at me, but of all music genres, blues gets into this writer's sole more than most. Both soles actually, because if anyone had seen me at the event at the same venue last year, the old hushpuppies were well and truly tapping away midway through the event and halfway through my third Pimms dakota. What can I say? Sometimes I just let my hairs down.
The event is the brain child of a very good friend of mine, Rob Hudson, who as it also turns out is a really nice chap even though he hails originally from the United States west coast. Hey, dude!
Rob has put on another cracker lineup for the event, and the artists include fellow Yank, New Jersy born Doc Span, pictured above.
Rob tells me that from his days of working in Chicago's Cook County Jail, sometimes in the same section that once housed Al Capone and John Derringer to his learning of the trade in clubs around the globe, Doc Span is the real deal. His authenticity is born of hard work and a musically open mind and he will bring that real presence to the Brisbane Blues Festival stage. Joining him on the day will be long-time musical partner Ross Williams. What a shameless plug but there you go.
The line-up will also include The Trophy Brides Jimi Beavis & the 385s, Asa Broomhall (solo), Doug Wilshire & the Tailspinners, Bluesville Station, The Mojo Webb Band and The Hipshooters. Doors will open at 3pm with the first band from 4pm.
Tickets will be available at the door on the day and all-day admission is only $20. More info at: www.brisbanebluesfestival.com
Ric's revival revs up!
Look, they both remain very close friends of mine, so I hope former owner Steve Fitzgerald will not be too upset when I say what a bang-up job Les Pullos has done since he took over those famous Valley mall venues, Fat Boys and Ric's.
Especially with what Les is doing to one of my favourite watering holes, the first-floor bar at Ric's. The exact number of nights I've enjoyed there in the company of Mr Fitzgerald have been blurred somewhat by the passing of time and one too many PDs, but it's a grand place to stand out on the little balcony and observe the heaving masses from a safe distance.
As part of the Ric's revival, Les has taken away the little bar that soaked up too much space, and rebuit a proper, plumbed bar at the back where an office used to be.
With the help of Shaun Costa from Valley-based interior designers, Urban Interiors, the revamped bar will also boast new flooring and wall coverings, a new sound system, new light fittings and a complete makeover of the toilets.
And just this morning, Les proudly showed off the wallpaper designs that will soon grace both levels at Ric's - and they come from the creative mind of the Oscar-award winning Catherine Martin, Baz Luhrmann's better half.
Good news for patrons is that the top bar remains open for business while the renovations take place. The work is expected to be finished by the end of March. If Les has a little bit of an opening party - and he does like a party - I'm bound to see you there!
Air guitar championships loom
I mean, really, have you heard of anything more ridiculous! The Jubilee Hotel in St Pauls Terrace in the Valley is hosting the Queensland Air Guitar finals on March 27 and the pub's marketing guru Lizzie Crowe is calling on would-be contestants to tease their hair, get into those extra tight jeans and practice the moves.
Registration is at 7pm on the night for an 8pm start, with limited places available. The winner will travel to Canberra to compete in the Australian final, with the major prize being a trip to Finland to compete in the world Air Guitar Finals with a $20,000 prize pool.
Look, I really have no objection to silly young things getting on stage and gyratting around pretending to play famous riffs, but can you just imagine the embarrassment if half way through a routine, one or more of their air guitar strings broke!
