BAR Vol. 4
The Hottest Aussie Blues & Roots 2007

Artist: Andy Cowan
Track: "Never Look Back" / Album: "Sweet Release", DVD / ABC/Warner Music Australia / www.andycowan.com.au
"He feels like black coffee and milk" / "He sounds like sandpaper and silk" / Andy Cowan is one of Australia's most experienced and talented singer / songwriter / pianists in the Soul-Blues-RnB idiom. Andy has been described justifiably as the "King of the Keys". He ripples, rolls and rocks through original compositions with passionate and soulful vocals, wrapping the audience in his energy and weaving an emotional and spellbinding magic. Andy has evolved into a refined and sophisticated songwriter / performer, arriving at his music after a long and winding journey - the resulting confidence, maturity and tastea re well earned and deeply embedded.

Artist: The Others
Track: "Smiling Johnny" / Album: "The Devil Made Me Do It" / Independant / www.theothers.com.au
Forming The Others, back in Adelaide in 1963, were Ian Nancarrow and the late Terry Radford. Influencing many bands back then such as The Masters Apprentices, who credited Ian for giving them the idea for the bands name. The band have survived countless long road trips (with the associated incidents, smashes and, of course, a few serious parties!) let downs, break ups, personal tragedies, impossible schedules - in fact all the traumas and dramas every band may experience. Despite these setbacks, the music has remained the driving force of Australian Rock Blues. Ian Nancarrow is still rockin' this boat with guitar and harmonica joined by Jeff Gurr on bass, Jeff Bateman on drums and Steven Korovljev' on guitar and newest member David Skull keeping the vocals powerful and honest. When you have heard every blues band - then it is time to hear The Others.

Artist: Toby
Track: "Satisfaction" / Album: "Renaissance" / Ident / www.tobymusic.com.au
Bridges and many other big names. This roots / blues / rock group are a must see for everyone and anyone. Their live show is filled with passion, with never a dull moment on stage. Whilst on tour recently in Queensland, the girls were joined on stage by the Violent Femmes. Director's Comment - "I recently got to catch this girl band and was captivated by each girl's amazing talent and on stage performance." Watch Out World - Toby is here.

Artist: Dutch Tilders
Track: "Step A Little Lighter" / Album: "Mine & Some I Adopted" / Independent / www.dutchtilders.com.au
If you love traditional blues, then this album is for you. Dutch is the Grand Daddy of Australian Blues and is one of the founders of the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. Dutch has worked solo and toured with John Mayall, Taj Mahal, Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry. In 1976, having only heard Dutch, B. B. King assumed that he was black. Brownie and Dutch became best mates simply because Browney believed that the Dutchman was a genuine bluesman, regardless of his racial origins.

Artist: On The Level
Track: "Baby Gone Left Me" / Album: "Blues In E" / Independent / www.onthelevel.cjb.net
This CD has a real texture! Deep kick, snappy snare, heart starting bass lines, electric rhythm & distorted wailing harmonica. Combine this with the mixing talents of Tom Thorpe, at Bonzai recording studios, you have a rich sounding cd that you just can't sit still to. Front man Dave Gillam's strong husky vibrative vocals suits this rockin boogie outfit. Hot Texan boogie lickin guitarist Dave "Tex" Bates will keep you electrified, and with Steve Connolly as dedicated harp player, Now with the inclusion of Jim Awran on Bass & Ian Bones Ironside on Drums, the band now has the solid backline which evident on this CD.

Artist: Andrea Marr
Track: "He Only Rocks On Stage" / Album: "Watch Me Work It" / Independent / www.andreamarr.com / www.myspace.com/andreamarrband
"Watch Me Work It" is the title song of Andrea Marr's latest album of raunchy Soul / Blues. Without pretension, "Watch Me Work It" encompasses the full emotional range of what it is to be a woman: fearless and unapologetic at times. Andrea Marr takes her gospel-influenced vocals from the likes of Etta James. Her emotionally gutsy phrasing is reminiscent of KoKo Taylor. However, "Watch Me Work It" is distinctly Australian Soul / Blues and features Lloyd Spiegel on guitar. Critically acclaimed vocalist and songwriter, Andrea Marr lives in Melbourne, Australia, and has made a huge impact on the Australian Blues community. She won Female Blues Artist of the year in 2002 and in 2005, won the coveted "Blues Performer of the Year Award" representing Australia in the
International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee. If you like Sassy, Soulful Blues, with Raw Passion and great delivery that makes you a part of every song then you aregoing to love Andrea Marr.

Artist: Nick Charles
Track: "Waitin' On The Blues" / Album: "New Kind Of Feeling" / Independent / www.charlesguitar.com
Nick Charles has been a standout artist on the blues, folk and jazz scene in Australia for over 20 years. His dazzling guitar skills have taken him in recent times to numerous tours of the UK and the USA where he has recently signed with the world's foremost acoustic guitar label. In 2006 he was the MBAS "Blues Performer of the Year", "Solo Artist of the Year" and "Male Blues Artist of 2006", coinciding with his 4th album on Australia's Blackmarket Music and over 250 shows around the world. Nick's influences are the great ragtime and Piedmont fingerstyle acoustic guitarists of the 1920's and 30's with more than a dash of Doc Watson and Merle Travis. A unique and melodic approach to acoustic roots music.

Artist: Diamond Dave and the Doodaddies
Track: "Much To Much" / Album: "Lonely Part Of Town" / Indie / www.doodaddies.com.au
Hailing from Perth, Western Australia, the "Doodaddies" are a four piece Chicago style blues band featuring the red hot guitar chops of Dave Brewer and the sensational harmonica playing of 'Diamond' Dave Billing. The 'Doodaddies' cover a solid selection of uplifting grooves including swinging shuffles, soul, boogaloo, cry in your beer' blues and more. With a number of live shows and two CD releases including the recently released (Jan 2006) "Lonely Part of Town", the 'Doodaddies' prove not only that the roots of the blues are strong and far reaching but that the future of the blues is bright!

Artist: Paul Yates featuring Dave Hole & Matt Taylor
Track: "PO' Boy" (Sonny Terry) / Album: "Mr Bowman"
Paul Yates - A boilermaker / welder by trade Paul travels and works in remote locations around Australia. His electrifying guitar and silky vocals instantly connect to blues lovers all over the world. " Mr Bowman", his debut CD, is a tribute to those blues masters that have travelled the road before him. Special guests on the CD are Dave Hole blues slide master and Matt Taylor, Australian Blues Legend.

Artist: Juzzie Smith
Track: "Little Journey" / Album: "Happy Daze" / Independent / www.juzziesmith.com
Juzzie Smiths' music steps into blues, folk, and country and then off into a world of its own. Embracing the slide guitar, yidaki (didgeridoo), foot percussion, along side his harmonica and vocal performance, Juzzie displays a musical dexterity that will blow you away. After fives years performing as a solo artist Juzzie has recently released his third album, Happy Daze, which is his most acomplished work to date. Over the last 18 months Juzzie has performed at some of the most prestigious festivals in Australia. Juzzie has been touted by festival organisers and audiences as one of Australia's greatest emerging talents in the Blues and Roots scene.

Artist: Mississippi Shakedown
Track: "Talkin To My Baby" / Album: "Mississippi Shakedown" / Independent / www.mississippishakedown.com.au
Mississippi Shakedown contains 12 fine blues compositions. The recording and mixing (Jeff Cripps) and mastering (Paul Bryant) is superb, the musicianship is clean, tight and hard hitting, and the vocals are clear and distinct. Through it all is the omni-present slide guitar. The songs range from straight - 8 Blues, to Mambo Blues to Rockin' Blues, to Fast Shuffle Blues and Slow Shuffle Blues. If you get a chance to go to Australia, make sure you check out Mississippi Shakedown... Jeff Cripps and the Shakedown Boys: John Gannon on Bass and Derek Smith on Drums. When you get this album make sure you heed the warning: "This Album was not created to be played quietly".

Artist: Mike Beale
Track: "Everyday Actress" / Album: "CD Single" / Independent / www.meninblues.com
Men In Blues are reinventing the genre for a modern audience. Combining modern blues with a groove-based dynamic, this three piece band are playing their songs to ever increasing audiences. With vocalist guitarist, Mike Beale up front and a truly dazzling rhythm section they are sliding, grooving and infusing their way into the worlds of audiences everywhere. At a fill in gig in late 2003, Mike struck a common cord with some local players, a love of groove based blues and roots music. Once together, they began the process of musical fusion - a coming together of ideas and styles - out of which the band Men In Blues was formed. "We take the traditional blues style and twist it, finding a groove and keeping the music up".

Artist: Toby
Track: "Tu Es Belle" / Album: "Latest Single" / Indep / www.tobymusic.com.au
In just a short couple of years, Toby have grown to be West Australia's top live performing band. It all started 'accidentally' one night when Toby played three songs at an open mic night in Fremantle. After that, everything seemed to flow into a whirlpool of gigs, recording and touring. In the past couple of years Toby have performed over 400 shows, touring extensively throughout Australia & Canada. Their highlights include supporting Paul Kelly, Pete Murray, The Choirboys and international artists such as Donavon Frankenreiter, Luka Bloom, Glenn Tillbrook, Eugene Hideaway Bridges and many other big names. This roots / blues / rock group are a must see for everyone and anyone. Their live show is filled with passion, with never a dull moment on stage. Whilst on tour recently in Queensland the girls were joined on stage by the Violent Femmes. Director's Comment - "I recently got to catch this girl band and was captivated by each girl's amazing talent and on stage performance." Watch Out World - Toby is here.

Artist: Danny Burton
Track: "Run Home To Momma" / Album: "Take A Step" / Independent / www.myspace.com/dannyburtonblues
Danny Burton was the runner up in the 2006 Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society's 'Blues Player Of The Year Competition'. Danny plays original blues and roots music and released his debut album "Take a step back" at the end of 2005. Since that time he has been building a strong presence in the Melbourne scene and has shared festival bills with the likes of Mia Dyson, Ash Grunwald, Chris Wilson, Shane Howard and Andy Cowen to name a few. The album was produced and engineered by Chris 'Darkie' Wilson and features Chris on keyboards, Les Oldman on drums, Paul Gadsby on bass and of course, Danny on acoustic and electric guitar, lapsteel and vocals. Danny is currently performing as a solo artist and working on a solo album wich will hopefully be released some time in 2007.Stay tuned and check out myspace for current gig dates.

Artist: Paul Yates
Track: "Mr Bowman" / Album: "Mr Bowman" / Independent
Paul Yates - A boilermaker / welder by trade Paul travels and works in remote locations around Australia. His electrifying guitar and silky vocals instantly connect to blues lovers all over the world. "Mr Bowman" his debut CD is a tribute to those blues masters that have travelled the road before him. Special guests on the CD are Dave Hole blues slide master and Matt Taylor, Australian Blues Legend.

Artist: Craig Sinclair
Track: "Waltzing Matilda" (Patterson / Cowan) / Album: "Stones Beneath The" / Surface Independent / www.craigsinclair.com.au
Craig Sinclair (acoustic and lap steel guitars, vocals) combines crisp finger style slide guitar playing with soulful vocals and contemporary original folk-blues songwriting. The rootsy and distinctly Australian angle on these songs is always at the forefront. Craig's playing style has been likened

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