Sound Republic: Music News

Bluesfest Sideshows

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By Tim Hyland
28 February 2008

Ozomatli, G. Love, Jason Mraz, Michelle Shocked, Buddy Guy, KT Tunstall, O.A.R. and Galactic are among the long list of artists heading to a venue near you this March as part of the annual extravaganza of Bluesfest sideshows.

You can catch all these artists and more at the various Bluesfests around the country this Easter (see www.bluesfest.com.au for more information) or catch them at any of these great sideshow dates!

G. Love & Special Sauce, Ozomatli and O.A.R., make up a huge Bluesfest triple bill. Hailing from the streets of Philadelphia, G. Love & Special Sauce have toured with the likes of of Donavon Frankenreiter and Jack Johnson, and in the summer 2005, the band featured in an advertisement for the launch of Coca-Cola Zero, featuring their own unique version of the noted Coca-Cola advertising song I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing.

Los Angeles outfit Ozomatli have a lot to credit Carlos Santana with, having offered the band one of their early breaks as his opening act during his 1998 Supernatural tour. The nine piece outfit have since gone from strength to strength having received a Grammy Award in 2002 for 'Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album, played at the 2004 Latin Grammy Awards, featured on Sex In The City and Weeds, played at Coachella, South by Southwest, WOMAdelaide, Egypt, Nepal and most recently on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

Forming before all members had graduated from College and touring relentlessly for the duration of their 4 album releases, in 2006 O.A.R. (Of A Revolution) had gained a position on the Billboard Top 200 list, officially sold in excess of 1.2 million records and performed a sell-out show in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

This tour is guaranteed to be a blisteringly fun night of hip-hop blues, island-vibe roots rock and street-salsa funk mash-ups!

Melbourne
Wed 19 March
The Palace Theatre
formerly Metro Melbourne
Ticketek | 132 849

Sydney
Thur 20 March
Enmore Theatre
Ticketek | 132 849 Enmore Theatre
02 9550 3666

Brisbane
Sun 23 March
The Tivoli
Ticketek | 132 849

Rodrigo y Gabriela have been one of the great word of mouth success stories of recent times. They’ve been spurred on by steady touring, knock out festival spots, quality press reviews, radio support; and UK TV appearances on ‘Later With Jools Holland’ and more recently, the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage and in the US Letterman, Leno & Craig Ferguson.

Their current set includes everything from jazz standards, covers of Metallica’s ‘Orion’ and Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ plus a host of world music jaw droppers and a few surprises which feature their unique blend of Spanish guitar, Latin rhythms, heavy metal and jazz.

Sydney
Wed 26 March
Enmore Theatre
Ticketek | 132 849

Melbourne
Thu 27 March
The Forum
Ticketek | 132 849

Sparkling and irresistible Scottish songwriter KT Tunstall has announced two sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne around her performances at the 19th Annual International East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival in Byron Bay, The 4th West Coast Blues & Roots Festival in WA and Point Nepean in VIC.

With a string of international hits behind her, KT is ready to sweep Australian audiences up in her articulate, accessible, immediate brew of rootsy sass, wistful quandary and after-hours atmosphere.

Sydney
Wed 19 March
The Enmore Theatre
Ticketek | 132 849
Enmore Theatre
02 9550 3666

NEW VENUE
Melbourne
Thurs 20 March
Prince Of Wales
Ticketmaster | 136 100
Prince Bandroom
03 9536 1168

Blues legend Buddy Guy has a colossal musical resume as well as many hard-earned accolades. He’s a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a chief guitar influence to rock titans such as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, a pioneer of Chicago’s West Side sound, and a living link to that city’s halcyon days of electric blues. Guy’s club remains the most successful blues joint in Chicago, and he is without a doubt the Windy City's reigning blues artist. Clapton unabashedly calls Guy his favourite blues axeman, and so do a great many adoring fans worldwide.

An East Coast Blues & Roots festival favourite, Keb’ Mo’ (born Kevin Moore) draws heavily on the old-fashioned country blues style of Robert Johnson, but fuses it with contemporary touches of soul and folk-styled acoustic playing. Before making his own albums since 1994, Mo’ applied his acoustic, electric, and slide guitar skills to jazz and rock-oriented bands. Since then, it’s been the smooth acquisition of Grammys and a large and enthusiastic global fan base.

Sydney
Thur March 13
Enmore Theatre
Ticketek | 132 849
Enmore Theatre
02 9550 3666

Melbourne
Tue March 18
The Palais
Ticketmaster | 136 100

Keb' Mo' Solo Show
Adelaide
Wed March 19
The Gov
Venuetix| (08) 8225 8888
The Gov (08) 8340 0744

Michelle Shocked is a two-time Grammy nominee who made a big impact on the music world with a trio of acclaimed releases – her first three Mercury albums, Short Sharp Shocked (1988), Captain Swing (1989) and Arkansas Traveler (1992). As Rolling Stone says, “A decade before Ani DiFranco emerged as this generation’s hardcore female troubadour, Michelle Shocked escaped the hills of east Texas (via Amsterdam and San Francisco) to play her revolutionary folk blues, a music that is less about politics than it is a personal declaration of independence.”

Melbourne
Tues 25 March
The Prince of Wales
website | (03) 9536 1168
ticketek | 132 849

Sydney
Thursday 27 March
The Basement
website | (02) 9251 2797

After six albums, US singer-songwriter Jason Mraz is planting his troubadour roots firmly into the sands and soils of the San Diego music scene. Currently working on his third studio album at home, Mraz makes time for surfing and landscaping when he’s not playing music. An avid photographer, Mraz, who visited 16 countries in 2006, is putting together his first book of Polaroid pictures based on his travels. “What I love about instant photography is that it captures the moment. Digital photography can sometimes take you out of sync with the real moment always unfolding before you. Digital gives you the option of erasing the moment and trying to produce a better one. I’d rather sit and wait until the light is right before I snap an image. If anything, I get to sit with my subject and truly savour the moment.” Mraz's message is clear. Live in the moment. Be present.

Melbourne
Tuesday 18th March
Prince of Wales
website | 03 9536 1168
ticketek | 132 849

Brisbane
Thurs 20th March
The Tivoli
ticketek | 132 849

Sydney
Tues 25th March
The Metro
website | 02 9550 3666
ticketek | 132 849

GALACTIC
featuring Chali 2na (Jurassic 5) and Boots Riley (The Coup)
New Orleans-based GALACTIC started out over a decade ago as an instrumental act in the tradition of the Meters, the JB's, and Booker T. & the MG's – bands equally comforable recording their own material or working with vocalists. Their album From the Corner to the Block (2007) grew out of GALATIC’s experiences touring with artists like the Roots, Jurassic 5, Triple Threat DJs and Gift of Gab. Although it features cameos from a ‘wish list’ of fan-favourite MCs, this isn't a typical hip-hop album.

It’s a contemporary funk record that just happens to feature hip-hop vocalists. “We never set out to make a rap record,” explains Ellman. Adds Mercurio: “We wanted to kinda modernise the New Orleans sound.” With the release of From the Corner to the Block, the five-man group – drummer Stanton Moore, bassist Robert Mercurio, saxophonist/harmonica player Ben Ellman, keyboardist Richard Vogel and guitarist Jeff Raines – reaffirms their standing as one of the funkiest outfits around. The record exposes GALATIC’s organic grooves to an urban ear, while still maintaining their essential funk aesthetic.

Sydney
Tue 18 March
Oxford Art Factory
website
moshtix | 1300 438 849

Melbourne
Sun 23 March
East Brunswick Club
website
(03) 9388 9794