MY SHOUT with Ivor Thurston
Queensland Festival of Blues
Jubilee Hotel St Pauls Terrace, Valley Saturday July 17 and Sunday July 18
Tickets: Saturday $35 at the door
Sunday $20 at the door
2 day prepurchased via Oztik: $30
2 day prepurchased via Juke Joint $27
Inquiries: jukejoint@live.com.au
My loyal readers would know that my greatest love – well, after a soothing Dakota pimms with citrus peel at the end or start of a long day, that is – is music. Uber-eclectic are my tastes, and many a female acquaintance has been more than impressed when shown my collection of 12 inches.
For me vinyl is still king, and I have them all: from the great musicals of Hollywood and Broadway, to the World War 11 songs of Vera Lyn, to the thumping works of probably the greatest composer of all time, John Philip Sousa. Da darrr, da darrr, da da darrr. Magic!
And then there’s the greatest genre of them all – blues. Even typing that word on my Remington 12 easyglide has gotten the old hushpuppies a-tapping. Not bad considering they’re up in an upstairs closet as I write this.
For that reason alone, I am more than happy to give a plug to the upcoming Queensland Festival of Blues at arguably one of my favourite watering holes, The Jubilee on St Pauls Terrace in the Valley. That’s where journalists used to go and drink, when they used to drink and before they took redundancy packages. I can’t promise to be there both days but make sure you set aside Saturday July 17 and Sunday July 18 and if you spot me – some people say I’m hard to miss – please say hello!
In what promises to be an awesome two days of high quality blues, the festival kicks off on the Saturday at 1.30pm and rocks through until midnight, and features some of the who’s who of Australian blues, headlined by the one and only Bondi Cigars. I’m told it’s been a while since the Cigars last appeared in Brisbane – not that they would be unfamiliar with Fortitude Valley – and I reckon it will be well worth the wait.
Pugsley Buzzard, (pictured above) and touted as Australia’s own growling, snarling, piano thumping hoodooman, makes the trek north to show Queensland blues fans what all the fuss is about. And Tasmania’s crown king of the jump blues guitar Pete Cornelius will be dropping by to showcase his amazing vintage guitar chops. And speaking of the Apple Isle, Kate Meehan and Skip Landy should have just moved into their new Tassie digs before flying up to get all Koko Taylor on us with their Wise Fools. The superb Mojo Webb keeps the vintage groove bubbling with a set from his hot 4 piece band, whilst Blind Lemon must surely now join Mojo as a “must see” live Australian blues act after another amazing weekend at Broadbeach, and a hot new CD, Drinkers Lament…
The traditional blues flame will continue to burn with sets by Brisbane’s own Natural Ball, the very good close friend of mine Blind Dog Donnie, and Natural Born Lovers. The Sunshine Coast has not been forgotten, with sets to be performed by Triple Shot and Kath Williams and the Housesitters. I’m told that’s 11 quality blues acts on two big stages, over more than 10 hours And If you can recover from that within 11 hours, then come back – or come to somewhere out the back – for the inaugural Queensland Blues Showcase on the Sunday. J
uke Joint, the festival’s organisers, have inviting a number of blues venue bookers, festival organisers, and record company managers from locally and interstate to view around 15 of our great local acts.
This commendable new event will take place over six hours from 11 am, so come along to show your support of our great local blues music talent. I might bring the spoons and join in for a set or two, but only if invited, of course.
