This month we’re casting our sights forward to March 2019, when we will be celebrating the 25th birthday of the Blues Train. We’re excited to announce the line-up of performers that will be rockin’ the train in to it’s 26th year of operation, taking the silver jubilee.
For those who rode the train in the earlier years, there have been considerable changes in its operation, food offerings and frequency, though one thing has remained the same—the good times had, celebrating some of Australia’s finest blues musicians.
THE MARCH LINE-UP
The line up features some good old train favourites; Wayne Jury, George Kamikawa, John McNamara and Anna Scionti Trio. You can also catch some newer, less frequent and reappearing faces such as Rhythm X Revival, Kelly Auty Duo, The Montgomery Brothers, Damon Smith Duo and Mick Trembath.
Performing old time piano blues and New Orleans grooves, Damon Smith Duo are two fifths of the critically acclaimed cabaret show Sun Rising, The Songs that Made Memphis—and they are certainly two fifths worth seeing! Adam and Damon have been performing together for more than a decade and it shows in their effortless ability to read each other on stage.
In 2014 Mick Trembath became part of the band, The Boneyard with Mick Dog and Dan Watson. The band has played across the country, with sets at Chopped Festival, Camperdown Rockabilly Weekend, The World Sideshow festival, The Spotted Mallard and closer to home at Pistol Pete’s in Geelong. As a soloist, Mick is the gritty funky old blues of the South that rumbles through the sticky hot nights of summer. Hot or cold, Mick will get you up on the dance floor.
The Kelly Auty Duo is a new name to the Blues Train experience but hardly a novice in the blues. Kelly Auty has been performing for more than 40 years across a variety of genres including blues, gospel, R&B and soul. In that time she has released nine independent albums, won MBAS BAND Blues Performer of the Year in 2017 (Kelly Auty Band) and established herself as a powerful vocalist and inspiring singer.
While Bill Barber has played the train before, and will again on November 30, January 26 and February 23, he is an exciting addition to the Blues Train experience and has been heralded by many as the next big thing for the future of Australian blues.
See the line up for yourself below:
Saturday, March 2: George Kamikawa, Wayne Jury, Tiana Martel, Rhythm X Revival
Saturday, March 9: Mick Trembath, John McNamara, Nathan Beretta Band, Safari Motel
Saturday, March 16: Kelly Auty Duo, Brian Fraser, The Montgomery Brothers, Sammy Owen Blues Band
Saturday, March 23: Diamonds & The Blues, John McNamara, Anna Scionti Trio, Electric Blues Collective
Saturday, March 30: Damon Smith Duo, Bill Barber, Sammy Owen Blues Band, Doc Halibut
