Live Music
2015
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Sat18Apr2015
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Sun19Apr2015
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Sat25Apr2015
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Sun26Apr2015
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Sat02May2015
The Crabs with Animal Johnson
7pm -
Sun07Jun2015
Backwood Creatures
5pm -
Mon08Jun2015
Van Walker, Cal Walker and Shane Reilly
4pm -
Sat13Jun2015
Harvey Cartel
7pm -
Sun14Jun2015
Warner Brothers Band
5pm -
Fri19Jun2015
The New Savages
7.30pm -
Sat20Jun2015
Frank Sultana and the Sinister Kids
7pm -
Sun21Jun2015
Large No 12's
5pm -
Sat27Jun2015
Tourist Dollars, BJ Morriszonkle & Did You Eat Me
7pm -
Sun28Jun2015
Unsealed Road
5pm -
Sat04Jul2015
Spencer P Jones & the Escape Committee
7pmSpencer P. Jones THE EMOTIONAL RETARDS, CUBAN HEELS, THE NORTH 2 ALASKANS , THE JOHNNYS. Spencer is more widely know as a founding member / guitarist with THE BEASTS OF BOURBON.. His current band is The Escape Committee
Spencer P Jones & The Escape Committee ( Helen Cattanach, Dave Nicholls, Michael Hubbard)
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Sun05Jul2015
Eaten By Dogs
5pmMelbourne is full of the world’s best alt-country songwriters and bands. Eaten By Dogs is one of our favourites. Their songs are honest, rich and spacious – they’ve managed to make a record that sounds great in the sun with a beer as well as late at night with a whiskey. Chris Lichti’s baritone drawl steadily leads us down some dark and melancholy paths, and then with a lyrical wink he can lift you up out again. He’s the kind of guy who likes to write songs that make depression seem recreational and make relationships seem desolate.
Check em out on Soundcloud, Facebook on their website here.
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Sat11Jul2015
Van Walker's Heartbrokers
7pmFEATURING : VAN WALKER, CAL WALKER, JEFF LANG & ASH DAVIES
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Sun12Jul2015
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Thu16Jul2015
LIAM GERNER WITH MATT GREEN AND JEB CARDWELL
8PMLIAM GERNER WITH MATT GREEN AND JEB CARDWELL ARE PLAYING DAVID HEARD'S (PBS ACID COUNTRY) TOP 10 SONGS FROM MELBOURNE SONG WRITERS.
“Liam is an extraordinary musician. Both as a songwriter and performer Liam is a force to be reckoned with.” Ryan Bingham
Steeped in blues and country music, Liam Gerner left his rural family life in Adelaide hills to seek his fortune in London. Almost immediately he was treated as a “hot new talent” and experienced the music business at its most corporate. Breaking free, he headed to the US, joined Texan country rocker Ryan Bingham’s band on guitar and experienced frontline American roots music. Returning to Australia in early-2013 Liam had his guitar, songs and Land Of No Roads, an album cut with LA’s finest.
Liam is now based in Melbourne where he plays with his band The Alan Ladds and with Vika and Linda Bull. Land of No Roads was released in July 2013.
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Sat18Jul2015
SIME NUGENT AND THE CAPES
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Sun19Jul2015
Zevon & the Werewolves of Melbourne
5pmBorn in the smokey city of Melbourne.
Zevon was born with blues running thru his veins.
Learning from a young age the juke joint riffs and howling vocals from the likes of Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters & Freddie King to the new breed, Derek Trucks & Robert Randolph. Zevon & his brand new band ‘the Werewolves of Melbourne’ plan to bring this contemporary blues to a festival near you! -
Sat25Jul2015
MICK DOG'S BONEYARD
7pmMick Dog’s Bone Yard is the old blues from the swamp and hot nights of the deep South.
Full of conjure and deep back beat, The Boneyard bring the hot Summer reverb up from the bubbling head waters of the funky old blues, the skins and reverb of the great 50’s styles where everything was getting ready to bust loose all over the World.
Formed in 2013, The Bone Yard with Mick Dog (the Wild man shaker and channeller of the Holy Ghost) and Dan Watson (The Sainted Mayor of Tom Tom City), have played across the land, hot nights in suburban Clubs full of cash and rolling eyes, five set break outs in remote Juke Joints, Festivals where they’ve jammed will V8 motors and rolling Buicks, crowd surfing cafes full of incredulous backpackers, sweat boxes full of over weight whisky drinkers and back block gigs under distant boogaloo Suns. -
Sun26Jul2015
Bakersfield Glee Club
5pmBand Members : Seamus O'Sullivan, Greg Field, Darren Maxfield, Justin Rudge and Simon Edwards.
Members of redfish bluegrass, red hot poker dots, maurice frawley’s yardhands, Austin Floyd and Ruby Fruit Jungle and the remains try their hand at traditional country. A masterful combination of fiddle, pedal steel guitar, telecaster, rich harmonies, bass and drums brings these old sounds back to life. Bakersfield, California, a place where townsfolk seemingly had a high threshold for treble frequencies, 10 to 50khz. A place where telecaster, pedal steel and fiddle reigned supreme behind a rock solid rhythm section. Watch the Bakersfield glee club attempt to chicken pick, pluck and slick slide their way thru some of country music’s treasure chest whilst maintaining the same humourless expressions as their heroes.
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Sat01Aug2015
Glorious North
7pmBand Members : Patrick Devery, Cameron Peterson, Darren Vlah
Genre : Slacker Country
The Glorious North is a band from Melbourne's inner northern suburbs that is glorious.
We describe our sound as slacker country - J Mascis meets Dwight Yoakam at the bar and gets hammered while listening to The Clash. -
Sun02Aug2015
BOB STARKIE BAND
5pmSkyhooks legend and ARIA hall of fame inductee:
In 1998 the guitarist from the engine room of the legendary ‘Skyhooks’ Bob was inducted into the Aria Hall Of Fame recognizing the significant contribution he and his fellow Skyhooks made to Australian live music.
Moving to South America he picked up a Chuck Berry record in Brazil and learnt anew what he thought he had covered in the ‘Hooks - how to play solid 50’s/ 60’s guitar! With reinvented Chuck Berry-esque guitar stylings he is now re-emerging as a guitarist, in his shows Bob will be playing what he knows best——’roots 50′s-60′s and hits from the ‘Hooks! -
Sat08Aug2015
COLLARDS, GREENS & GRAVY
7pmAcclaimed for their gritty, driving, down home-home sound, Collard Greens and Gravy play a mostly original repertoire of foot stomping country blues that would sound right at home in a Mississippi Juke Joint. Featuring Ian Collard (vocals, harmonica and guitar) James Bridges (guitar and fiddle) and Anthony Shortte (Drums), Collard Greens and Gravy have been together since 1995.
The trio have received many awards including second place at the 2001 International Blues challenge in Memphis. In the same year the band’s second CD More Gravy won an Aria award for Best Blues and Roots Album. Their third CD Silver Bird won the Best Self-Produced CD Award at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in February 2005. Their latest CD Devil In The Woodpile has won numerous awards including Best Album 2008 and Best Band 2008 at the Australian Blues Awards and Best Album 2008 and Best Band 2008 at the Vic/Tas Blues Awards.
“Eerie, haunting blues...it reminded me of a dark night on the Delta.”
Bruce Iglauer, President Alligator Records
“Collard has dug deep into some wellspring of blues... and dug out a sound similar in trance-like rhythms to north Mississippi hill country blues.”
Jeremy Loome, The Edmonton Sun (Canada)
“They do what the Brits did in the 1960s, absorb the work of Delta Blues masters and synthesize those influences into their own sound, while still upholding the tradition”
Eric Thom- Blues Revue (U.S.A) Feb 2008 -
Sun09Aug2015
The Lawnton Bowls Club
5pmThe Lawnton Bowls club are a 2 piece Bushranger Rock ‘n’ Bluesabilly band with Jeff bangin’ the skins and Ed singing and strumming his Firebird.
We’ve just recorded our debut single “She Holds Me Tight”, recorded in North Melbourne’s Barber Bar in 3 hours with Rohan (Oh Mercy) on recording and producing duties and Dave Briggs (Australian Crawl’s “Boys Night Out” producer) doing the Mastering. The Bsides are crowd favourites “Don’t Go to Heaven (cos you’re better of dead)” and a recent addition “She’s Standing on Her Own” . She Holds Me Tight is available now as a download from our bandcamp page
Inspired by the Brothers Grimm and the Blue Murders, The Snowdropers, Graveyard train and old school blues, our live show sounds like so much more than drums and guitar and in our 2 years together we’ve taken the LBC circus to Brunswick, Carlton, Collingwood, North Melbourne, Camperdown, Ocean Grove and Tasmania. -
Sat15Aug2015
The Three Kings
7pmAlready being described as a Melbourne blues super group, Three Kings brings together a trio of this country’s most dedicated, authentic blues artists, with down and dirty, totally inspiring results.
Officially formed in 2011 by Ian Collard (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Benny Peters (vocals and guitar), and Jason Liu Soon (drums), Three Kings’ self titled debut album took out the award for best blues CD in The Age Victorian music awards only a fortnight after release. The album entered the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Chart at number two before shooting up to first place.
Three Kings’ hard-hitting, greasy blues style takes you on a dangerous joy ride through the back roads and juke joints of American music history, combining the sounds of artists like Kid Thomas, John Lee Hooker, Slim Harpo and Jerry McCain with their own original spin.
Collard and Peters are well known for their own combos, Collard Greens and Gravy and Benny and the Fly By Niters, as well as other line-ups and both have played to appreciative USA and European audiences. Liu Soon has supplied the beats for Chris Wilson and The Detonators. Together the tight knit trio rocks hard and blue.
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Sun16Aug2015
WAYNE JURY BAND
5pmWHEN WAYNE JURY returned to live in home town Geelong, life suddenly got a lot simpler. After 30 years based in Sydney doing the big city hustle, more time to write and play guitar afforded him an avenue to express the troubles and emotions he’d been holding on to for years. With the doors flung open both new songs and old were written and completed. The resulting album 'Doors and Bridges' recorded with musical luminary Dave Steel was released in July 2012.
Wayne’s initiation into the world of music began in Geelong supporting Australia’s finest touring bands (AC/DC, Ayres Rock, Little River band, Buffalo, Cold Chisel, Dragon, Hush,TMG, etc.) Moving to Melbourne to join a ‘Glam Rock’ cover band was not a brilliant idea and living in boarding houses and being robbed at knifepoint told him maybe Melbourne was not the right place to be right now. Travelling to Sydney regularly to perform helped him meet up with likeminded musicians and after an altercation with his band (at 18, no place to stay and with $8 in his pocket) he took his bag off the bus and planted himself in Sydney.
Since then he has played thousands of gigs all over Australia including opening for blues greats Robert Cray, Albert Collins, Canned Heat and Buddy Guy with his band Black Cat Moan.
He has performed consistently over the years with various groups and in1993 he teamed up with guitarist/producer John Brewster (the Angels) to write and record a solo album.
1996 saw Wayne begin touring nationally (on vocals and guitar) for 7 years with young guitar prodigy Nathan Cavaleri (including opening for the great B.B. King.) In Sydney apart from his solo gigs he also performed with Black Cat Moan, Bridie King (legendary residency at the Bridge Hotel), Jenny Marie Lang Band, Alison Penney and Ron and Jeff King (Foreday Riders). He was House songwriter at J. Albert and son for 3 years. In 2003 he formed 7 piece funk and soul band Drybones.
Apart from teaching singing and facilitating ‘Blues Boot Camps’, he now performs solo and with The Wayne Jury Three, at festivals, locally and around Australia, and plays in a duo with Rory Millar (harmonica). Occasionally he ventures back to Sydney to perform with Drybones and pianist Alison Penney. In July he teams with Dave Steel, Sandy Brady and John Parry to perform songs from the new album 'Doors and Bridges'.
'Wayne Jury is one of the best blues singers in this country.' .... according to Michael Smith, Drum Media Sydney.
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Sat22Aug2015
The Three Kings
7pmAlready being described as a Melbourne blues super group, Three Kings brings together a trio of this country’s most dedicated, authentic blues artists, with down and dirty, totally inspiring results.
Officially formed in 2011 by Ian Collard (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Benny Peters (vocals and guitar), and Jason Liu Soon (drums), Three Kings’ self titled debut album took out the award for best blues CD in The Age Victorian music awards only a fortnight after release. The album entered the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Chart at number two before shooting up to first place.
Three Kings’ hard-hitting, greasy blues style takes you on a dangerous joy ride through the back roads and juke joints of American music history, combining the sounds of artists like Kid Thomas, John Lee Hooker, Slim Harpo and Jerry McCain with their own original spin.
Collard and Peters are well known for their own combos, Collard Greens and Gravy and Benny and the Fly By Niters, as well as other line-ups and both have played to appreciative USA and European audiences. Liu Soon has supplied the beats for Chris Wilson and The Detonators. Together the tight knit trio rocks hard and blue.
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Sun23Aug2015
Mick Daley's Corporate Raiders
5pmMick Daley's Corporate Raiders are pulling a smash and grab at the Labor in Vain on Sunday afternoon August 23 from 5-7pm. Just back from Darwin, the band grapples with country as much as rock and roll, though frontman Mick Daley claims to be veering away from the rarefied country rock and roll of his other outfit The Re-Mains. Either way, it's a guaranteed evening of gritty dirt-track dirges and Abbott-baiting.Best known as frontman and songwriter for hard-travelling band The Re-mains, and after twenty years on the road through Australia, Canada and Europe, Mick Daley has taken a turn for the verse with a swag of new solo picking songs. Reared on Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Townes Van Zandt and Nick Cave, these songs bear their lyrical and musical hallmarks, by turns tender and savage.
In 2014 he recorded an album, ‘Courage and Shuffle the Cards’ with The Corporate Raiders at Sydney’s Megaphon studios. In April 2015 he worked with Melbourne’s singer songwriting multi-instrumentalist legend Matt Walker on a proper acoustic solo album, to be released in June.
With these ballads and dirges he delivers a rich history as a genuine Australian folksinger.
Coming on top of the eight albums of original material released with The Re-Mains and played on national radio and television and in Europe and Canada, this represents a significant body of work –enough for Jeff Glorfeld of The Melbourne Age to call The Re-mains “arguably Australia’s best country rock band”.
Mick’s new solo work, which returns to his folksy, hitching-around-Australia-thinking-he-was-Bob-Dylan roots, kickstarted at the 2014 Majors Creek festival and in pubs and clubs around NSW and Victoria. Hauling the personal kicking and screaming into the political arenas, he’s fond of stark tales from the interesting times we live in. As well as rock and roll.
Mick will be touring these two albums, solo and with the Corporate Raiders throughout 2015. There’ll be rock, there’ll be folky rock, there’ll be country rock n roll, if Jones is squiffy, there’ll be bossanova.
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Sat29Aug2015
The Harvey Cartel
7pmGenre Blues/Rock n' Roll
Drawing from such bad-assery as razor blades, guns, and the desert, The Harvey Cartel provide the kind of slick, moody soundtrack of blues, R&B and rock n roll suited to any Tarantino flick.
Formed in early 2013, The Harvey Cartel squeeze fresh juice out of old limes, zesting up familiar and not-so-familiar tunes with smooth n' sassy chanteuse Miss Esther Stephens, (Esther Stephens & The Means, Homebrew, Tama Waipara) ferocious vocalist Matt Ledingham, (Dr. Colossus, Live Live Cinema) bassist Ben Wicks, guitarist Todd Beeby and drummer Darren Seknow.
The Harvey Cartel punch through a jukebox of river crossings, dodgy back alleys and sketchy plane rides to deliver the goods to get you hopped up. The songs you know, you've never heard like this before. And the songs you don't, you'll want to hear again. -
Sun30Aug2015
The Blown Cones
5pmDescending ungainly from the ruins of a shredded Jensen p12r speaker, erstwhile smoke still adrift, the collective spent coils that are the Blown Cones transpire. This Melbourne four-piece has a passion for drinking and tone that is only surpassed by their persistent squabbling.At times the quadro’s pyroclastic harmonious (or otherwise) enthusiasm ventures to the boundaries of their five-watt amps’ capacities, in a sonic standing that prompts the drummer to resort to sticks to defend himself. Fans, weirdoes and hipsters alike will relish the three-minute pop songs as they are stalked by 20-minute wig-outs.The lounge room-based band formed/climbed off the primordial couch, in 2012, led by Michael Hager (ex-Idle Hoes, Que Paso) and Andrew Bailey (ex-publican, compulsive collector of amps and overalls). In its most recent amalgam (and there have been a few along the way), the Cones are complemented by drummer Sean McMahon (away from his natural habitat as a singer-guitarist of Downhills Home, Western Union and the Clifton Hillbillies) and bassist Jeff Samin (Webster, Musket, Nick Murphy’s Shylo).What do they sound like? Attempting to describe the Blown Cones’ style is as pointless as the use of the word style is questionable. If you can understand that last sentence, you should like the band.Live, the Cones are an exciting, if unpredictable proposition. They have been known to bring their own coffee tables to gigs, recreating the lounge womb of their inception. Their occasional penchant for rewriting songs on the fly can result in mercurial triumph, or an outro that withers and frays like old men’s underpants.All members remain astonished that they managed to pin a couple of the suckers down long enough to actually record them, with Richard Stolz at Melbourne’s Woodstock Studios. Another saga in itself, but let them tell you about that. Preferably over beer. -
Sat05Sep2015
Van Walker's Heartbrokers
7pmLast summer singer-songwriter Van Walker got together in a backyard studio with guitar extraordinaire Jeff Lang, piano hotrod Ezra Lee, skin monster Ash Davies, and bass burglar Cal Walker to record an album of full-tilt bogan power boogie something akin to Little Richard sitting in with AC/DC. Recorded live on a 40 plus degree day, the beer and sweat soaked songs turned into an album and eponymous live band, whom perform very rarely, but when they do it's absolutely nuts. For those who love heartfelt roaring original Aussie rocknroll, this is not to be missed, Saturday September 5th at The Labour In Vain Hotel Brunswick Street Fitzroy, 7 - 9 Free!
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Sun06Sep2015
Backwood Creatures
5pmBackwood Creatures is a Melbourne-based swamp-blues act that boast a loving local following, and a live show not to be missed.
Spearheaded by Jeb Cardwell, the energetic trio harks back to the glory days when guitar-driven rock and rich vocals were king. When these guys get going, musicianship, charisma and impossibly slick fingerwork leave crowds transfixed.
Twice named SA guitarist of the year, Jeb Cardwell is a live performance veteran. In the 20-odd years he’s been behind the axe, Jeb has toured Australia and over seas opening for artists such as Tony Joe White, Steve Earle & The Punch Brothers. Most recently Jeb recorded and toured nationally with Aria award winners Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson for their latest album release, ‘Wreck & Ruin’. An accomplished songwriter, Jeb has previously taken out the American BMI songwriting competition, and has been described by ABC Music as “a mean guitarist who plays like he just walked out of Austin, Texas.”
Bassist Grant Cummerford is hailed as one of Australia’s best blues-and-roots bass players. Throughout his many years thumping the strings, Grant has played alongside Jeff Lang, Chris Whitley, Xavier Rudd, Mia Dyson, The Audreys, Kevin Borich, Chain and Ash Grunwald. Onstage, he can be sprung giving his bandmates the occasional grin before getting down to business.
A sight to see in full flight, Tim Burnham is one of Melbourne’s most entertaining drummers. For over 10 years Tim has toured and recorded with Aussie greats such as Chris Wilson, Jimi Hocking and Lloyd Spiegel.
Backwood Creatures combine entertainment with musical ability. It’s their solid swamp-blues sound, plus the guarantee of some of the most impressive jams out of Melbourne, that keep audiences swilling beer until long after the final encore. -
Sat12Sep2015
Tenderlions
7pmBAND MEMBERS
Michael "Dingo" Denovan - vocals/guitar.
Michael "MJ" Jenkins - vocals/guitar/harp.
Stu "Balls" Hazelman - vocals/drums.
Simon "Essay" Edwards - bass/vocals.Supported by:
Ruth Lindsey
Inspired by her upbringing in Melbourne's leafy outskirts, and by wanderings amidst the glaciers of Alaska, redwoods of Oregon, and the Californian coast, Ruth's lyrics create evocative imagery that is enriched by her strong, distinctive voice.
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Sun13Sep2015
Michael Meeking and the Lost Souls
5pmWith the rasp of Rod Stewart, musical sensibility of Bruce Springsteen and the forlorn heart and whimsy of Hank Williams, it’s no wonder Michael has wowed audiences at Tamworth and Whittlesea Country music festivals, and was nominated for an Australian Songwriting Award in 2012.
The acclaimed singer-songwriter previously spent six years in the UK sharing the stage with Tim Rogers, Mick Thomas and Nick Barker, and played support gigs for British artists such as the Men They Couldn’t Hang and Glen Tilbrook.
His band The Lost Souls comprise five highly regarded Melbourne musicians, who have their finger in a myriad of musical pies; Dave Kleyjnans (The Wellingtons et al.), Julian Chick (Mick Thomas and the Roving Commission), Chris Gates (Ground Swell), Cate de Carteret (The Migrations and The Fujiyama Mamas) and Maryanne Smart (The Fujiyama Mamas).
Recent signing with U.K. label “At The Helm Records” and successful U.K. tour and a glut of gigs around Melbourne is a sure sign that if you have not already heard of Michael Meeking and the Lost Souls, you certainly soon will.
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Sun20Sep2015
JOHN DOWLER VANITY PROJECT
5pmJohn Dowler the legendary frontman of the Zimmermen and Young Modern plays a rare show at the Labor in Vain on Sunday 21st. Playing songs from his 30 year career, John will be backed up by his new band the Vanity Project. Expect a great afternoon of power pop tunes and a few suprises
Members: John Dowler with Mark McCartney - guitar Julien Chick - bass, backing vocals Michael Stranges - drums Justin Bowd - guitar
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Sat26Sep2015
MICK DOG'S BONE YARD
7pmMick Dog’s Bone Yard is the old blues from the swamp and hot nights of the deep South.
Full of conjure and deep back beat, The Boneyard bring the hot Summer reverb up from the bubbling head waters of the funky old blues, the skins and reverb of the great 50’s styles where everything was getting ready to bust loose all over the World.
Formed in 2013, The Bone Yard with Mick Dog (the Wild man shaker and channeller of the Holy Ghost) and Dan Watson (The Sainted Mayor of Tom Tom City), have played across the land, hot nights in suburban Clubs full of cash and rolling eyes, five set break outs in remote Juke Joints, Festivals where they’ve jammed will V8 motors and rolling Buicks, crowd surfing cafes full of incredulous backpackers, sweat boxes full of over weight whisky drinkers and back block gigs under distant boogaloo Suns.
Gearing up for another year of hot and shimmering blues, The BoneYard have just recorded a new CD up in Turkey Shot Studios in Jung, Victoria to be released in 2015 and will head out on the road to get the floor throbbing and the old blues alive and shouting. -
Sun27Sep2015
JIMI BEAVIS
5pmAs Prime Minister Tony Abbott continues to dig a deeper hole for himself, seemingly oblivious to its depth, bluesman Jimi Beavis prepares to release a pair of one-off singles, largely inspired by the lengthening list of idiot things our fearless leader says in public.
The Double A side tracks – ‘Python Squeeze, Cobra Strike’ and companion single ‘The Butcher’ – steer slightly from Beavis’ releases No Need To Deny It[2011], Stripped [2013] and Gentleman Giant[2013/2014], instead selected from a cache of material deemed “not blues enough” for the previous records.Casting off musical shackles – though still firmly rooted in blues – and picking up old time American folk influences, in particular blues banjo player Dock Boggs and an old folk anthology by Harry Smith, as well as Mavis Staples and The Rolling Stones, Jimi found inspiration in the doom laden, struggling against the elements, Old Testament and Revelations-inspired poetry, with its flashes of humour.
Lyrically trying to avoid the light misogyny of the sex-boasting, woman-done-me-wrong songs that have become blues standards, but driven by a strong, and perfectly natural, dislike for Tony Abbott, Beavis found a way to bring the two lyrical elements together in a seriously inverse irony.
Handpicking some of our PM’s earlier verbal blunders as key points for the lyrics, the result has been a Double A Side of stonking blues, with funk beats, Rolling Stones-inspired guitar and soul horns, cleverly weaving in the “most ridiculous” moments when Tony was “spewing vile at worst or those lucid times when he was merely condescending.”
Says Beavis, echoing the rest of the non-Liberal-voting public: “Tony Abbott seems to drop more sexual and sexist clangers than most Australian leaders I can think of during my lifetime.” -
Thu01Oct2015
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Sat03Oct2015
BACKWOOD CREATURES
5pmBackwood Creatures is a Melbourne-based swamp-blues act that boast a loving local following, and a live show not to be missed.
Spearheaded by Jeb Cardwell, the energetic trio harks back to the glory days when guitar-driven rock and rich vocals were king. When these guys get going, musicianship, charisma and impossibly slick fingerwork leave crowds transfixed.
Twice named SA guitarist of the year, Jeb Cardwell is a live performance veteran. In the 20-odd years he’s been behind the axe, Jeb has toured Australia and over seas opening for artists such as Tony Joe White, Steve Earle & The Punch Brothers. Most recently Jeb recorded and toured nationally with Aria award winners Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson for their latest album release, ‘Wreck & Ruin’. An accomplished songwriter, Jeb has previously taken out the American BMI songwriting competition, and has been described by ABC Music as “a mean guitarist who plays like he just walked out of Austin, Texas.”
Bassist Grant Cummerford is hailed as one of Australia’s best blues-and-roots bass players. Throughout his many years thumping the strings, Grant has played alongside Jeff Lang, Chris Whitley, Xavier Rudd, Mia Dyson, The Audreys, Kevin Borich, Chain and Ash Grunwald. Onstage, he can be sprung giving his bandmates the occasional grin before getting down to business.
A sight to see in full flight, Tim Burnham is one of Melbourne’s most entertaining drummers. For over 10 years Tim has toured and recorded with Aussie greats such as Chris Wilson, Jimi Hocking and Lloyd Spiegel.
Backwood Creatures combine entertainment with musical ability. It’s their solid swamp-blues sound, plus the guarantee of some of the most impressive jams out of Melbourne, that keep audiences swilling beer until long after the final encore.
Their self-titled debut EP is now available!
“Hands down - One of the best live bands ever! The energy of Hendrix, the rawness of Tony Joe White and the sheer force of Zeppelin all in one!” - PBS Radio, Melbourne
"Jeb Cardwell is one of my favourite all round musicians in Australia. Master of guitar, banjo, dobro and can sing his arse off!!! I love him..." - Kasey Chambers
"I love the Backwood Creatures! They always take me away when they jam out on one of their swampy songs. Hard-hitting rhythm section and Jeb Cardwell is a killer guitarist too, so what's not to like?"- Jeff Lang
“Jebs fingerwork during a guitar solo is quite literally jaw-dropping.” - Three Thousand, Melbourne
www.backwoodcreatures.com
backwoodcreatures@hotmail.com -
Sun04Oct2015
KING WOLF
5pmGRAND FINAL RECOVERY
King Wolf firmly established them selves as an explosive force to be reckoned with in 2014. This year will see them release their first recordings, as they commit their infamous ‘Animal Shaman Blues’ to wax.
This bombastic outifit features inner north veterans; Benny James (Dirty York) on Guitar, Rich Davies (Rich Davies & The Devil's Union), Ben Wicks on Bass. Delivered with a passion and swagger that has to be seen to be believed; King Wolf are the authentic spirit of blues, doused in gasoline, and set ablaze.
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Fri09Oct2015
GOATPISS GASOLINE
7pmVan Walker joins forces with Mailtand guitar prodigy Hank Elwood and Dave 'The Suit' Watkins in Goatpiss Gasoline, the bastard brothers of such acts as Three Kings and Chris Russell's Chicken Walk, houserockin electrified blues boogie with no bass and plenty of piss and vinegar. Combining the irrisitable killer slide of Elmore James and down home toothless boogie of Jimmy Reed, Goatpiss Gasoline are natural good time music who flirt with a wine stained shirt and understand simplicity is a virtue.
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Sun18Oct2015
WEREWOLVES OF MELBOURNE
5pmWerewolves of Melbourne are a thunderbolt of electric boogie blues.
Scoring a sound risen from the haze of the Mississippi delta, blues clubs of Chicago, & the musically rich streets of their hometown Melbourne -- A four piece all-original group that takes a look into the future of the blues, soulful as a preacher & powerful as a locomotive.Werewolves of Melbourne are doing a 2 week residency at the L.I.V to record their "Live at the Labour" full length bootleg album. Come at least one of the weeks (11th & 18th) to get your howl on the record. Gonna be a awoooooooo of a gig....
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Fri23Oct2015
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Sat24Oct2015
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Sun25Oct2015
HOUNDLINGS
5pmThe Houndlings are a female-fronted blues/soul band whose whisky soaked setlist erupts with greats such as Etta, Elvis, Tina, Tom, Ruth, Ray and Wanda. Featuring Michelle Brisbane on Guitar, Kate Clarke on bass, Georgie Ross on vocals and Anthony Shortte (Collard, Greens and Gravy) on drums.
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Sat31Oct2015
MISERABLE LITTLE BASTARDS
7pmThe MLB’s formed in 2008, and they perform depression-era show-tunes for the new global recession, providing an emancipation procession against emotional oppression, whilst proving that not much has changed, that nothing ever really changes, and it’d still be nice if we all had a bit more spare change. Initially conceived as a side project for drunken-pirate-convict-rock maniacs Clinkerfield - to showcase their sensitive side - the MLB’s have evolved into a host of musicians from Clinkerfield, Redfish Bluegrass, Leitchfield Hall-Stars, Tasmania, and beyond. Featuring a swirl of banjos (Andrew Alves), fiddles (Greg Field & Jason Bunn), mandos (Danny Walsh), bass (Matt Quinn) and acoustic guitars (Warwick Dunn), and a chorus of full-blown boys singing along to the rambunctious rambling of ringleader Jimmy Stewart – “a man too young to already be a Melbourne institution” (so says Chris Russell) and too slippery to yet be institutionalised (but, in fact, he has been both of these things at one time or another) – it be a bitchin whinin groanin labourious cacophonious ordeal, and no-one gets paid enough, and misery just LOVES company!
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Sun01Nov2015
JOHN DOWLER VANITY PROJECT
5pmJohn Dowler the legendary frontman of the Zimmermen and Young Modern plays a rare show at the Labor in Vain on Sunday 1st. Playing songs from his 30 year career, John will be backed up by his new band the Vanity Project. Expect a great afternoon of power pop tunes and a few suprisesWhile I don’t normally spend much time dwelling on my musical past, two projects, involving the release of songs and performances of mine from the late seventies and early eighties, have served to focus my mind on events and endeavors from thirty years ago and more. The first is the imminent release (October 24) of a CD compilation, “(When The Sun Sets Over) Carlton”, a snapshot of Melbourne’s inner city music scene in the seventies, a scene in which two of my old groups had a peripheral involvement. There is more information concerning this release elsewhere on this site. The second is the proposed release of a live album by the Zimmermen. Recorded at a couple of suburban beer barns in 1984, this should see the light of day sometime in 2015.
Also, August 2014 was the 40th anniversary of my first band’s inaugural public performance, a commemoration that was seemingly forgotten by everyone, including myself. So, while I’m in a nostalgic, though unsentimental, state of mind, I thought I’d jot down a brief outline of my output thus far. Isn’t that what Facebook pages are for?
SPARE CHANGE 1974-77
Formed in Adelaide by five friends at the beginning of 1974, Bob Kretschmer, Chris Langman, Tony Murray, John Wilkinson (later replaced by Graeme Perry) and myself, played our first “gig” in support of the jazz-rock band Ayers Rock at a hotel in Henley Beach in August of that year. With a repertoire consisting of cover versions of songs by the Velvet Underground, the MC5, John Cale, the Flamin’ Groovies and Mott The Hoople, we experimented with writing our own songs so that by the time we moved to Melbourne in August 1975, we had amassed enough original material to fill our live sets.
In Melbourne, we slotted comfortably into the “Carlton Scene” and soon signed with Champagne Records to release an LP. Recording began in late 1976 with Aztecs legend Gil Matthews producing. I departed the band at the end of 1976 (it’s a long story…) with the album, now called “Lonely Suits”, only half completed. A few months later I was invited back, at what I've always assumed was the record company's insistence, to add my vocals to the instrumental backing tracks. I returned to sing the songs in one afternoon session in March 1977, leaving soon thereafter, bound for Adelaide. I began rehearsing with a new band in June of that year.
YOUNG MODERN 1977-79
The new band consisted of Vic Yates and Mike Jones (later replaced by Mark Carroll) on guitars, Andrew Richards on bass and Mark Kohler on drums. Memphis band, Big Star, were my main inspiration for Young Modern, but Vic and Andrew, who wrote most of the music for our songs, remained stubbornly in thrall to the Beatles and the Stones. This cocktail of influences, together with my insistence that we try for “light” sounding guitars, contributed to a sound that was at once unique and yet seemed part of the then fashionable new wave zeitgeist. Our first show took place in November 1977, supporting Radio Birdman at the Unley Town Hall.
Over the next twelve months we supported virtually every interstate band that came to Adelaide (thanks to Ray Dyett and his Lone Star Circuit) maintained an open ended residency at the Tivoli on Saturday nights, and thanks to some friends in the press (Dennis Atkins and Patrick Miles spring to mind) got more than our fair share of newspaper coverage. We played in Melbourne and recorded a Stephen Cummings produced single while we were there, “She’s Got The Money” b/w “Automatic”. We signed with influential management company “Dirty Pool and moved to Sydney at the beginning of 1979. They had, apparently being considering the Aliens before they finally settled on us. I wonder which group got the better deal?
There were lots of gigs in Sydney where the hard rockin’ suburban crowds were less than enthralled with our “melodic classicism”, several visits to Melbourne where our efforts garnered an altogether more sympathetic reception and one final show, our 202nd, at Rags in July 1979. I took a job on a factory assembly line and, as soon as I could afford it, moved back to Melbourne. It was December 1979 and my arrival coincided with the release of two LPs : “Lonely Suits” by Spare Change and “Play Faster” by Young Modern.
THE GLORY BOYS / TALK SHOW
With Chris Langman, Nick Seymour and John Wilkinson on board, the Glory Boys recorded four demos for Mushroom Records. The session was took place at AAV and Stephen Cummings handled the production chores. Then, with Bob Kretschmer on second guitar, we played two headlining shows at the Crystal Ballroom and Hearts respectively.
Nick and John left soon thereafter to be replaced by Dave Cahill and Graeme Perry. The new lineup adopted the moniker Talk Show, and thus began six months of intensive rehearsal. Then the band broke up, forever consigning songs with titles like “Pig Fucker” and “Irregardless” to the dustbin of history.
For the second consecutive December I found myself without a band or any concrete idea as to what would happen next. -
Tue03Nov2015
The Three Kings
2PMAlready being described as a Melbourne blues super group, Three Kings brings together a trio of this country’s most dedicated, authentic blues artists, with down and dirty, totally inspiring results.
Officially formed in 2011 by Ian Collard (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Benny Peters (vocals and guitar), and Jason Liu Soon (drums), Three Kings’ self titled debut album took out the award for best blues CD in The Age Victorian music awards only a fortnight after release. The album entered the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Chart at number two before shooting up to first place.
Three Kings’ hard-hitting, greasy blues style takes you on a dangerous joy ride through the back roads and juke joints of American music history, combining the sounds of artists like Kid Thomas, John Lee Hooker, Slim Harpo and Jerry McCain with their own original spin.
Collard and Peters are well known for their own combos, Collard Greens and Gravy and Benny and the Fly By Niters, as well as other line-ups and both have played to appreciative USA and European audiences. Liu Soon has supplied the beats for Chris Wilson and The Detonators. Together the tight knit trio rocks hard and blue.
United by their passion for the world’s greatest blues, all three members of Three Kings have traced the paths of the genre’s pioneers, riding Greyhound buses through cities such as LA, Memphis, Texas, Chicago, New Orleans and St. Louis to get to the source.
The Three Kings CD launch played to a sold out crowd at Melbourne’s Caravan Club and alt-country star, Justin Townes Earle (winner of the 2011 Americana Music Award for Song of the Year), said, “No one should have to follow these guys on stage. No one,” after witnessing their debut gig.
On stage the Three Kings sound like an old 45, you can practically hear the record crackle and the needle pop. As The Age newspaper reported, “Peters and Collard spent about a year working on getting a harmonica to sit tight with an electric guitar, Chicago-style, before calling Liu Soon to glue it all together. The qualities they were looking for – words like aggressive, frightening, dangerous, raw and trashy – come up.”
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Thu05Nov2015
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Sat07Nov2015
RIFLEBIRDS
7pmPsych-country-rockers Riflebirds have been travelling the land from Brunswick to Ballarat to Byron Bay in recent months promoting their new album ‘Detours & Collisions, released on Dark Highway Records in May 2015.
The album was recorded at Northcote’s Soundpark Studios by Andrew ‘Idge’ Hehir (Paul Kelly, Darling Downs) and featured on Triple R (The Australian Mood, Neil Rogers) and PBS (Acid Country, David Heard).
The five-piece band – Rowan Roebig, John Kenyon, Rod Collins, Bon Krunic and Damien Toussaint – are regulars at inner-north Melbourne venues such as The Labour In Vain and The Retreat.
Support shows for the likes of Ron Peno and The Superstitions plus a couple of festival appearances and regular pub gigs in between recording sessions has ensured a busy 12 months.
“A five-way unit… a strong, diverse live act.” Beat Magazine
“Riflebirds produced a set that was one for the ages. A grand display… We can’t wait to welcome them back!” Ridge Town Music Festival.
Say hi to the band: facebook.com/riflebirdsband
Listen to the songs: riflebirds.bandcamp.com
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Sun08Nov2015
PAULIE BIGNELL & THE THORNBURY TWO
5pmPaulie Bignell has established a reputation as one of Australia’s leading Blues/Rock songwriters, guitarists and performers with his band, The Detonators.In 2011, he took the jump and released his first solo album - Red Eye Flight (BMM 271.2) Recorded in the USA, with legendary Fabulous Thunderbirds bassist, Preston Hubbard, it was released to international critical acclaim.Now - he is releasing his sophomore effort - Lost & Dangerous (BMM 387.2).For this release, Paulie has recruited his regular band, Peter Beulke (bass/backing vocals) and Craig Hadlow on drums with special guest Ezra Lee tinkling the ivories.Paulie’s songwriting is a stand out feature again. His wry humour tackling issues such as a malfunctioning GPS, (GPS), the joys of drinking all day, (You Can’t Drink All Day If You Don’t Start In The Morning), and the attraction of retro, (Life In The Past Lane), the sister in law of the future King of England (Pippa Is A Ripper), and even a Country tinged Ballad - I Don’t Mind Anymore. The classic Elmore James track - Hurts Me Too, demonstrates Paulie’s considerable skills on the slide guitar.“Lost & Dangerous…….is Rock’n’Roll’Blues from the suburbs” - Paulie BignellThree members in the band.Paulie Bignell& The Thornbury TwoPaulie Bignell: Guitar and VocalPeter Beulke: Bass and VocalCraig Hadlow: Drum Set -
Wed11Nov2015
OLD GRAY MULE
7pmWe love the Labour! Even when we're not playing there, we stop in for a beer. This will be our last gig in Victoria for 2015, and if it's anything like the last time we played there, it's gonna be awesome. So swing by, lean on the bar, swill some beer, get Vanessa to smile, and listen to some awesome tunes courtesy of Old Gray Mule and CW Ayon - One Man BandCR Humphrey, who performs as Old Gray Mule, is a Mississippi Hill Country and Raw Electric blues wrecking machine. With seven critically-acclaimed albums in the catalogue, his music embodies the old school blues ethic: “Keep it simple, it’s for dancing yall.”
OGM has played or recorded with the best of the best of Mississippi blues including T-Model Ford, Cedric Burnside, David and Kinney Kimbrough, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Lightnin Malcolm, Kenny Brown, and Bill Abel to name a few, as well as Louisiana Zydeco legends Buckwheat Zydeco, and Rockin Dopsie Jr.
The Mule's live shows are straight up Mississippi style juke joint dance parties, with a lot of back and forth with the crowd, girls on stage dancing, and folks sweating out the bad stuff. This music is guaranteed to make booties move, and the Old Gray Mule's only goal is for you to go home happy and tired! -
Thu12Nov2015
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Sun15Nov2015
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Thu19Nov2015
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Sun22Nov2015
CATFISH VOODOO
5pmThe blues, it can be said is a matter of tradition, passed down from one generation to the next. With this passing down comes evolution whereby the younger generation takes the substance of tradition and brings it up to date...
Catfish Voodoo “are a hot young blues unit prowling around the blues scene in Melbourne declaring their influences as John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Little Walter..” *
*Geoff Forbes, MBAS Bluesletter CD review
Consisting of Aaron Gillett (harmonica and bottleneck), Julian Byrne (vocals and acoustic guitar), Ben Gerrard (drums), and Jordan Hyde (bass), Catfish Voodoo keeps their sound deeply rooted in the early 50’s Smokey Chicago-blues scene. Playing a set consisting of their own material and original takes of classic blues songs such as; Mojo workin’, Smokestack lightnin’, and a high energy, crowd pleasing version of the John Lee Hooker classic, Boogie Chillun’.
Catfish Voodoo released their 6 track EP ‘....down the road’ in 2010, and followed up with a self titled LP in August 2011, both to favorable reviews and healthy local radio play. They plan to hit the studio again in late 2012 for a second LP, to show case their evolving sound, and deeper appreciation for traditional blues.
Catfish Voodoo have a high energy, low-down boogie sound, which is sure to remind one of a Smokey 1950’s Juke-Joint. Staying true to the masters of classic Chicago blues, Catfish Voodoo’s live shows and studio work are sure to delight and impress even the most discerning blues enthusiast. -
Wed25Nov2015
THE NEW SAVAGES
8PMMelbourne duo The New Savages built their reputation by digging out long lost grooves from pre WWII era blues music, with an emphasis on creating a dark and hypnotic beat that punters can dance to. Lead singer and guitarist Milan has built a career on finding lost blues riffs and transforming them into something modern. There is a real ethos of live performance emphasized by The New Savages, all the music they create insists on being the sound of one guitar and one vocal backed up by the swinging drums of Nathan Power. Nathan developed his skills playing in numerous jazz outfits and provides the perfect backing for Milan's primitive guitar boogie style.
Rarely do the duo's songs take on more than one chord for their entirety - they come from a blues tradition older than the standard 12 bar form. Through being forgotten this music today sounds fresh and vibrant from the voice of a young poet turned bluesman, and will surely be a highlight for all the punters hoping to get up and boogie or drink an ale and tap their foot along to.
On the 19th of June 2015 they released their debut EP In My Time of Dyin’. Their debut single Smokestack Lightnin’ was released on 24th of September having been played on community radio stations across Australia, and the National broadcasters on Triple J’s Roots n All & Triple M’s Homegrown.
"These guys ... they get it. Check 'em out as soon as you are able" - Matt Frederick, PBS 106.7 The Juke Joint -
Thu26Nov2015
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Sun29Nov2015
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Sat05Dec2015
MICHAEL MEEKING
7pmLast minute gig at one of our favourite pubs which will be The Lost Souls last gig for 2015. Fresh from the studio ready to show off some sparkling new songs Michael Meeking and The Lost Souls return to The Labour In Vain for an evening of hip shaking country rock
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Sun06Dec2015
BON TON RHYTHMS
5pm'40s '50s Blues, Rhythm 'N' Blues, Early Rock 'N ' Roll, Jump, Zydeco, New Orleans, Texas, West Coast, Chicago....That's us!!!!
Jesse Lawrance - Guitar &Vocals
(Goodtime Medicine Band, Jesse & his Hucklebuckers)
Jason Liu Soon - Drums
(Three Kings, Peter Baylor, Chris Wilson)
Steve Temple - Double Bass
(Railway Gang, Peter Baylor) -
Sat12Dec2015
The Miserable Little Bastards
7pmThe MLB’s formed in 2008, and they perform depression-era show-tunes for the new global recession, providing an emancipation procession against emotional oppression, whilst proving that not much has changed, that nothing ever really changes, and it’d still be nice if we all had a bit more spare change. Initially conceived as a side project for drunken-pirate-convict-rock maniacs Clinkerfield - to showcase their sensitive side - the MLB’s have evolved into a host of musicians from Clinkerfield, Redfish Bluegrass, Leitchfield Hall-Stars, Tasmania, and beyond. Featuring a swirl of banjos (Andrew Alves), fiddles (Greg Field & Jason Bunn), mandos (Danny Walsh), bass (Matt Quinn) and acoustic guitars (Warwick Dunn), and a chorus of full-blown boys singing along to the rambunctious rambling of ringleader Jimmy Stewart – “a man too young to already be a Melbourne institution” (so says Chris Russell) and too slippery to yet be institutionalised (but, in fact, he has been both of these things at one time or another) – it be a bitchin whinin groanin labourious cacophonious ordeal, and no-one gets paid enough, and misery just LOVES company! The Miserable Little Bastards debut album “Misery Loves Company” will make YOU very happy, and is due out on 12″ vinyl sometime in the future, or when things start looking up… whichever happens first.
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Sun13Dec2015
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Sat19Dec2015
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Sun20Dec2015
BACKWOOD CREATURES
5pmBackwood Creatures is a Melbourne-based swamp-blues act that boast a loving local following, and a live show not to be missed.
Spearheaded by Jeb Cardwell, the energetic trio harks back to the glory days when guitar-driven rock and rich vocals were king. When these guys get going, musicianship, charisma and impossibly slick fingerwork leave crowds transfixed.
Twice named SA guitarist of the year, Jeb Cardwell is a live performance veteran. In the 20-odd years he’s been behind the axe, Jeb has toured Australia and over seas opening for artists such as Tony Joe White, Steve Earle & The Punch Brothers. Most recently Jeb recorded and toured nationally with Aria award winners Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson for their latest album release, ‘Wreck & Ruin’. An accomplished songwriter, Jeb has previously taken out the American BMI songwriting competition, and has been described by ABC Music as “a mean guitarist who plays like he just walked out of Austin, Texas.”
Bassist Grant Cummerford is hailed as one of Australia’s best blues-and-roots bass players. Throughout his many years thumping the strings, Grant has played alongside Jeff Lang, Chris Whitley, Xavier Rudd, Mia Dyson, The Audreys, Kevin Borich, Chain and Ash Grunwald. Onstage, he can be sprung giving his bandmates the occasional grin before getting down to business.
A sight to see in full flight, Tim Burnham is one of Melbourne’s most entertaining drummers. For over 10 years Tim has toured and recorded with Aussie greats such as Chris Wilson, Jimi Hocking and Lloyd Spiegel.
Backwood Creatures combine entertainment with musical ability. It’s their solid swamp-blues sound, plus the guarantee of some of the most impressive jams out of Melbourne, that keep audiences swilling beer until long after the final encore.
Their self-titled debut EP is now available!
“Hands down - One of the best live bands ever! The energy of Hendrix, the rawness of Tony Joe White and the sheer force of Zeppelin all in one!” - PBS Radio, Melbourne
"Jeb Cardwell is one of my favourite all round musicians in Australia. Master of guitar, banjo, dobro and can sing his arse off!!! I love him..." - Kasey Chambers
"I love the Backwood Creatures! They always take me away when they jam out on one of their swampy songs. Hard-hitting rhythm section and Jeb Cardwell is a killer guitarist too, so what's not to like?"- Jeff Lang
“Jebs fingerwork during a guitar solo is quite literally jaw-dropping.” - Three Thousand, Melbourne
www.backwoodcreatures.com
backwoodcreatures@hotmail.com -
Tue22Dec2015
BEK'S BIRTHDAY
4pmGOATPISS GASOLINE
Van Walker joins forces with Mailtand guitar prodigy Hank Elwood and Dave 'The Suit' Watkins in Goatpiss Gasoline, the bastard brothers of such acts as Three Kings and Chris Russell's Chicken Walk, houserockin electrified blues boogie with no bass and plenty of piss and vinegar. Combining the irrisitable killer slide of Elmore James and down home toothless boogie of Jimmy Reed, Goatpiss Gasoline are natural good time music who flirt with a wine stained shirt and understand simplicity is a virtue.
ALSO APPERING:
JIMMY STEWART
JOHN GUNN
PINTXO
We ❤️ Live Music
As anyone who has ever visited the Labour In Vain knows, music is pretty much baked into every fibre of the joint.
Proud supporters of live and local music, we are members of Music Victoria and long-time sponsors of community radio stations RRR and pbsFM.
Almost all our gigs (excluding a couple of special events a year) are FREE ENTRY so you’ve got NO EXCUSE NOT TO get out and be blown away by live local music.