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Blues

Big Jay McNeely

Cecil James ("Big Jay") McNeely (born on April 29, 1927, in Los Angeles, California) is an American rhythm and blues tenor saxophonist. He grew up in the community of Watts, California, where he occasionally observed Simon Rodia constructing the Watts Towers. McNeely is known for his intense playing and his energetic and acrobatic stage performances. For example, at a 1949 concert in the old Wrigley Field baseball stadium in Los Angeles, he played while walking through the stands and then while crawling from home plate to first base on his back.

Seasick Steve

Steve Wold, more commonly known as Seasick Steve, is an American bluesman, although he rather would be called "a song and dance man." He plays guitars (mostly personalised), and sings. When asked about his nickname, Steve said: "because it's just true: I always get seasick." He is a 21st Century blues man, who reaches back to the old traditions but also has a punk sensibility, and a gravelly, soulful voice.

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Susan Tedeschi

She formed the Susan Tedeschi Band in 1994, featuring Tom Hambridge and Adrienne Hayes. In 1995 she began playing guitar and honed her skills and in December the band released Better Days to regional audiences. Record contracts were difficult to keep together; however, recording sessions from 1997 were acquired by Richard Rosenblatt, and the band was signed to Tone-Cool Records and Just Won't Burn was released in February 1998 to rave reviews from blues publications.

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Nick Charles

Known internationally as "Australia's virtuoso of acoustic roots and blues" Nick has released more than 20 albums worldwide. He's toured the US 13 times and received every conceivable accolade and award in this country

NICK CHARLES MUSIC·SUNDAY, 15 MARCH 2020·
With dazzling melodic fingerpicking on six and twelve string guitars, stinging bottleneck slide and a lifetime’s stories and songs gathered or written on the world’s musical highways it’s no surprise that Nick Charles has long been labelled internationally as “Australia’s virtuoso of acoustic roots and blues”.
During his extensive and acclaimed career, Nick has released sixteen albums on major Australian and US roots music labels. His recordings have garnered world-wide recognition beginning with “My Place” and now his most recent release “The River Flows”.
This recognition has succeeded in having Nick signed to the Grammy Award winning label, Solid Air Records USA (“Home of the World’s Finest Guitarists”). The only other Australian recognized by the label being Tommy Emmanuel.
He has toured with and supported artists including John Hammond, Guy Clarke, Ralph McTell, Robyn Ford, Junior Wells, Taj Mahal and BB King and toured the US thirteen times performing more than 300 shows stateside in recent years.
Consistently averaging 150 shows a year in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, his music encompasses a delightful and eclectic mix of acoustic roots including blues, folk, country and early ragtime jazz. Along the way there are stylish nods to the “Great American Songbook” and the finest contemporary players and composers from Chet Atkins to Lennon and McCartney to Leo Kottke.
A SMALL SAMPLE OF RECENT AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
“AGE Music Awards - Blues Album of the Year 2016”
“Port Fairy Folk Festival Artist of the Year 2014” (Australia’s highest folk accolade)
“Twice winner of the Australian Song Contest”
“Song of the Year 2013 and 2014” – Australian Blues Awards
“Album of the Year” (MBAS) Multiple times
“Song of the Year” (MBAS) Multiple times
“Solo Performer of the Year” Multiple times
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT NICK’S MUSIC AND PERFORMANCES
“An awesome talent” – Australian Guitar Magazine
“Plays guitar like an angel” – Sydney Morning Herald
“A world class musician and composer” – The Black Rose Acoustic Society, Colorado
“Dazzling guitar, muscular vocals and clever literate song-writing” – Little Rock AR Folk Society
“Amazingly expressive” – Herald Sun
“His mastery of country blues is striking!” – Rhythms Magazine
Latest album “The River Flows” – four and half stars in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian newspapers. Reached number 2 on the Australian Public Radio Network.
SIGNIFICANT PERFORMANCES IN RECENT TIMES
Port Fairy Folk Festival 2005-2020; Walnut Valley Festival (USA) 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017
The Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival 2017
National Folk Festival 2010, 2008; Fairbridge Folk Festival 2008, 2014; Blue Mountains Music Festival 2015; Wangaratta Jazz Festival 2014; Maldon Folk Festival 2015, 2019 ;Cobargo Folk Festival 2015.
Lord of the Strings Concert Series, California; 13 US tours since 2003; Edinburgh Festival 1995
Other festival performances include Byron Bay, Adelaide festival, Sydney Festival, Melbourne Guitar Show etc.
DISCOGRAPHY
USA AND INTERNATIONAL RELEASES – Solid Air Records www.solidairrecords.com
“The Collection” (SACD 2054)
“Travelling Fingerpicker” (US edition) (SACD 2055)
“Return of the Travelling Fingerpicker” (US edition) (SACD 2096)
“De Lovely Guitar” (SACD 2062)
“Poppin’ Guitars” (SACD 2086)
“Acoustic Guitar Highlights” (SACD 2050)
“Everybody’s Pickin’ on Lieber and Stoller” (SACD 2100)
AUSTRALIAN RELEASES – Blackmarket Music www.blackmarketmusic.com.au
“My Place” (BMM 232.2)
“Grace Notes” (BMM 250.2)
“Travelling Fingerpicker” (BMM 276.2)
“New Kind of Feeling” (BMM 306.2)
“Closer to Home” (BMM 328.2)
“Return of the Travelling Fingerpicker” (BMM 353.2)
“Into the Blues”
“All about Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee” (with Doc Span)
LATEST SOLO RELEASE -“The River Flows”
Earlier albums include – The Road More Travelled; Cordially Yours; Anywhere Anytime (with Alex Burns)
Other projects - Currently also a member of the iconic Australian country rock band Stars (touring and recording)

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William Elliott Whitmore

William Elliott Whitmore (born 1978) is an American blues singer and musician from Lee County, Iowa. He has recorded a number of albums released on Southern Records, and now is a member of the Anti Records family. His act consists mostly of playing the banjo or guitar while singing, though on occasion he performs a cappella. He has earned much acclaim from the folk, blues and alt-country communities

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Lisa Miller

Lisa Miller is acclaimed by critics and fans alike throughout Australia as a sublime songwriter, possessed of a blue-eyed, broken-hearted voice which is utterly distinctive. Her songs are at once perceptive and evocative, desperately sad and munificently hopeful, spare and substantial. Miller has released 6 solo albums since her 1996 debut. Her 5th album "Morning In The Bowl Of Night" was released in 2007.

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Asa Broomhall

Australia's favorite Rock/Roots larrikin; Asa Broomhall has done it again with his latest self-produced album 'Revelry Road'. Recorded live over 5 days in the farmhouse where Asa grew up on the Sunshine Coast. It builds on Asa's previous work by seamlessly combining full band tracks and solo acoustic songs showing the true depth of his songwriting and musicianship. You may say it is a Rock and Roll Record with a hint of Folk but it has elements of Blues, Country and even a bit of Calypso?

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Harry Manx

Harry Manx is a musician who blends blues, folk, and Hindustani classical music. Born on the Isle of Man and raised in Ontario, he is currently living on Saltspring Island, BC, Canada. He plays slide guitar, harmonica, six-string banjo, cigar-box guitar and the Mohan Veena (a 20-stringed guitar/sitar hybrid). He studied for five years in India with Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. Discography: * Dog My Cat (2001)
* Wise and Otherwise (2002)
* Jubilee (with Kevin Breit) (2003)
* Road Ragas Live (2003)

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Smoke Fairies

At school in rural England during the mid-late‘90s, best mates Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies hoped they’d one day escape their home town and dive headlong into the landscape and myth of America, the promised land of their dreams. Little did they know that by 2010, they’d have lived in New Orleans and Vancouver, recorded with 21st century icon Jack White and toured across continents. And now they’re releasing a debut album that fulfils the promise of their earlier singles. “Through Low Light And Trees” is an exquisitely shivery blend of alternative