The Artists

Mallee Roots draw their inspiration from early-1900s blues, paying homage to the passions of Lead Belly, Charlie Patton and Gus Cannon’s Jug Stompers.

Formed in the late 1900s, Mallee Roots is made up of Sugar Ray Byrne on National bottleneck guitar, Bluey G. Hohner on harmonica, jug, kazoo, bush bass, and the very handy washboard, and Sam Phillips on his home-made percussion kit of pots, potties, hubcaps and assorted crashabilia.

Together they brew up a life-experience brand of authentic Mallee dustbowl blues. One that is as infectious as it is soul stirring, and one that bears the marks of distant travelled paths and time forgotten crossroads. Along the way they have individually and collectively soiled the stage with the likes of Bob Brozman, Muddy Puddles, Salty Dog, Hatz Jug Slouchers and Queenscliff’s own Blues Train favorites Chubby Rae and the Elevators.