The year is quickly coming to an end, with less than five months until the holiday season. Even though the year might be moving at rapid speed, there’s still plenty of time to saviour the blues and jump aboard the train for a night off.
We’ve outlined a few highlights and key dates rounding out the year below.
International blues music day
Perhaps one of the biggest days to be riding the Blues Train, International Blues Music Day just so happens to fall on a Saturday and the first day back from the winter break.
Celebrate some of our region’s finest acts on August 4, with performances from Wayne Jury and Ise Hingano in carriage A, Brian Fraser in carriage B, the Nathan Beretta Band in carriage C and the Bill Barber band in carriage D.
Purchase tickets to this show here
A band to get you dancing
Performing regularly at festivals around the state, there’s a reason Safari Motel is always booked for the D carriage.
Known to get everyone up and dancing, the band’s mix of feel-good, high-energy original funk, groove, blues and soul music has put Safari Motel in high demand. Luckily at the Blues Train, the Melbourne band is a regular on our line-ups and one not to miss.
Safari Motel is performing on August 18, September 1, November 17 and December 15.
Check out Safari Motel’s full artist profile here
Two favourites become one
Two Blues Train favourites have joined forces this season with a performance that introduces you to the true sound of soulful blues.
John McNamara and Andrea Marr have teamed up to create the McNamarr Project. Both have impressive careers in the industry, with each artist hitting #1 on blues, soul and R&B charts here in Australia and the US with their respective latest albums.
The McNamarr Project will appear at two dates for the remainder of the year, on August 25 and October 20.
Check them out here
Witness a rising talent
At 19 years of age, Bill Barber is one of the most exciting young musicians to enter the blues scene. With a passion for the genre, by 14 years old Bill was already performing in venues across Melbourne with some of the industry’s best.
In 2012 Bill won the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society ‘Youth in Blues’ competition and as a result performed across several festivals in the state. Bill has since released his highly anticipated debut album and played support slots for Wolfmother, Geoff Achison, Lloyd Spiegel, James Blundell, Shaun Kirk, Claude Hay and more.
He was heralded by blues legend Lloyd Spiegel as “next in line to become one of Australia’s blues greats”.
The Bill Barber Band will perform three dates for the remainder of the year, on August 4, October 20 and November 30.
View Bill’s artist profile here
A treat for Dad
What better way to say ‘I love you dad’ on Father’s Day than with the gift of one of our region’s most exciting and unique live music experiences?
With Father’s Day set for Sunday, September 2, take Dad for a surprise weekend away, with tickets to our Saturday night show.
Your dad will be taken through a blues introduction like no other with performances by Anna Scionti ft Eddy Boyle, John McNamara, Sammy Owen Blues Band and Safari Motel.
If you’re a little bit late to the party, treat dad to a Saturday night out the weekend after on September 8, with acts Geoff Achison, Wayne Jury, Nardia Rose Band and Hurricane Hearn.
Better yet, if you can’t decide which show he’d like, give him the gift of choice with a voucher to the Blues Train.
See our full list of shows by visiting the website here
