Blues Caravan - Adelaide, 18th May 2012
Words: Jo Taylor
This is the first of the Blues Caravan tours to grace our shores, which has been set up to help showcase domestic and international blues musicians to the Australian blues music community and to support this art. Indeed it is an art, not everyone can play the guitar like these gentlemen! Each is given an individual set before being let loose for a group jam together at the end. A brilliant concept and one surely to be embraced. And embraced it was, by a large supportive crowd on a cold Friday night in Adelaide. It was great to see young and old come together for an evening of great live music.
First to take stage was Canadian Matt Anderson. Playing since the age of 14 years old, he featured songs from his new album Coal Mining Blues and with a total of seven album releases spanning ten years, it is a fine effort for a man in his early thirties! He immediately set a high standard for what the crowd could expect from the night. His vocals are smooth and he sings with honesty and integrity. His mastering of the slide guitar warmed up the audience and soon you canʼt take your eyes off the quiet man and the way he works the guitar. He mixes it up between heartbreaking songs of hardship to more upbeat grooves like I Donʼt Wanna Give In that make it impossible to keep still.
Next was Sydneyʼs Ray Beadle. Gracing the stage in his suit, vest and tie, you know this man means business. Starting the set with energetic One Thing On My Mind from his album Spellbound quickly had the crowd in his hands. Switching between delicate acoustic tunes and the slow and sexy electric grooves such as his Ray Charles cover Georgia On My Mind, his performance was captivating. With dynamic performances at Byron Bay Bluesfest, Beadle is proving he is one of this countries finest blues musicians and someone to keep an eye out for. Unfortunately, his set was interrupted by hissing noises from the monitors, but this did little to stop his enthusiasm. He has a natural talent that makes it look easy. If only!
First to take stage was Canadian Matt Anderson. Playing since the age of 14 years old, he featured songs from his new album Coal Mining Blues and with a total of seven album releases spanning ten years, it is a fine effort for a man in his early thirties! He immediately set a high standard for what the crowd could expect from the night. His vocals are smooth and he sings with honesty and integrity. His mastering of the slide guitar warmed up the audience and soon you canʼt take your eyes off the quiet man and the way he works the guitar. He mixes it up between heartbreaking songs of hardship to more upbeat grooves like I Donʼt Wanna Give In that make it impossible to keep still.
Next was Sydneyʼs Ray Beadle. Gracing the stage in his suit, vest and tie, you know this man means business. Starting the set with energetic One Thing On My Mind from his album Spellbound quickly had the crowd in his hands. Switching between delicate acoustic tunes and the slow and sexy electric grooves such as his Ray Charles cover Georgia On My Mind, his performance was captivating. With dynamic performances at Byron Bay Bluesfest, Beadle is proving he is one of this countries finest blues musicians and someone to keep an eye out for. Unfortunately, his set was interrupted by hissing noises from the monitors, but this did little to stop his enthusiasm. He has a natural talent that makes it look easy. If only!
The enigmatic Eugene ʻHideawayʼ Bridges took the stage next. Immediately oozing charm and charisma “Iʼm an old fashioned guy” he informed the crowd with a sly smile before winning everyone over with opening song Mom and Daddyʼs Place from his latest album Rock and a Hard Place. The lush love song Dance With You with itʼs sweet groove and the politically driven rock n roll blues How Long also featured in his set which was filled with the southern sound he is known for. But it wasnʼt until his cover of Sam Cookes ballad Cupid that the audience finally got on their feet for some dancing and the energy really went up a notch. He ended his solo set with the melodic blues of Baby Your Love.
Transitioning smoothly into Ben E Kingʼs epic Stand By Me, Eugene was joined by Matt and Ray to conclude the night with a half hour set that really got the energy in the room buzzing. Led by Bridges on electric guitar and Anderson and Beadle providing amazing acoustic layering, they fed off each others playing and you got the impression the enthusiasm was that of three teenagers jamming in their basement. These guys know their craft and it was mesmerizing to watch. Matt Anderson got a chance to really let loose on the vocals, and can the man sing! Using the guitar to keep beat for the brilliant cover of BB King's blues howling Call It Stormy Monday was highlight of the night.
With the International Guitar Festival coming up in August, this is a great way to give crowds a tasting of the phenomenal talent endlessly traveling the globe and opening up opportunities for blues musicians in-between the big festivals.
Transitioning smoothly into Ben E Kingʼs epic Stand By Me, Eugene was joined by Matt and Ray to conclude the night with a half hour set that really got the energy in the room buzzing. Led by Bridges on electric guitar and Anderson and Beadle providing amazing acoustic layering, they fed off each others playing and you got the impression the enthusiasm was that of three teenagers jamming in their basement. These guys know their craft and it was mesmerizing to watch. Matt Anderson got a chance to really let loose on the vocals, and can the man sing! Using the guitar to keep beat for the brilliant cover of BB King's blues howling Call It Stormy Monday was highlight of the night.
With the International Guitar Festival coming up in August, this is a great way to give crowds a tasting of the phenomenal talent endlessly traveling the globe and opening up opportunities for blues musicians in-between the big festivals.