SIMON KINNY-LEWIS BIO 2024

Australian singer, guitarist and producer SIMON KINNY-LEWIS has performed recorded with the cream of the blues crop including Robben Ford, Chris Cain, Josh Smith, Kirk Fletcher, Ray Beadle and many more. Not only recognised as virtuoso guitarist hut also as an impressive singer and songwriter, Simon’s approach has been described as a musical intersection in which tradition, modern tendencies and personal style are enriched by pure emotional release.

Blues Rock Review – “Simon Kinny-Lewis (SKL) is the full package. His guitarist playing is up them with the best guitarists of today”

He has produced four #1 albums on The Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Charts. King Biscuit (2021) mixed by the legendary Guitarist Robben Ford and Grammy Award-winning engineer Casey Wasner which received international recognition in the highest rank of the blues scene.

Blues Blast Magazine USA 2022 – “Kinny-Lewis is a virtuoso guitarist Blistering speakers with chromatic runs. modal flights of fancy and arpeggiated passing chords SKI has a deep trick bag”
“A great accomplishment for both Robben Ford and Simon Kinny-Lewis”

Leading US Blues Guitarist Kirk Fletcher – “Simon has a great command on the guitar and vocals along with wonderful songs, teaming up with my friend Robben Ford to make a great, contemporary blues record”

Three tours to the USA in 2018 to 2020 saw his collaboration with members of the Ford Bothers Blues Band, Andy Just, Dewayne Pate and member of Herbie Hancock’s Monster Band Nate Ginsberg along with Australian drummer Tony Boyd and local side Guitarist Walter Jebe. A group put together by Blues master Chris Cain. They released two albums “A Day In San Jose” and “Another Day In San Jose” both filmed live at Reeds Recording, San Jose CA.

Leading US Blues Guitarist Josh Smith – “Absolutely wonderful playing, you can hear the smiles on their faces as they bust through this set Great on all fronts” (On the album “A Day In San Jose”)

Earlier works include his collaboration with the great Harmonica player Chris Wilson, regarded as Blues Royalty on his #1 solo acoustic album “Catfish” followed by his work with John Farnham’s Guitarist Brett Garsed on “Bad Whiskey” and his Australian Band.

5 time Grammy winner guitarist Steve Lukather (Toto, Michael Jackson) also credits Simon on the title track of his debut vocal, guitar album “Street Blues” ( 2016 ) ” Great man, Your voice has a little Bonamassa in it…which is cook. Love the tune too. KILLER solo”

His latest album (2024) “Pouring Water On A Drowning Man” showcases Simon’s slide playing, Robben Ford influences, songwriting in a power three piece setting featuring Anton Davidyants – Bass and Tony Boyd – Drums.

Australian manager Warren Rose (2024)

THE BELLHOPS
The Bellhops are an award winning 6 piece Blues. Jump’n’Jive and Swing band from Sydney and the 2003 Australian Blues Awards Band of Year. Their album No Reservations was voted 2003 Australian Blues Album of the Year while their debut release Room Service was 1999 Runner Up for Blues Album of Year.

In 2010 they released their first live recording, The Great Con Job, recorded at the Goulburn Conservatorium of Music as part of the Australian Blues Music Festival.

The Bellhops can be compared to Canada’s Powder Blues Band or the USA’s Roomful Of Blues with their main musical influences being the Swing and Jive era of the late 40’s. the Rock’n’Roll of the 50’s, the Soul and R&B of the 60’s and the Blues music legacy of so many great blues artists.

The Bellhops pay tribute to these influences in their recorded work and in their live performances, recordings and original songs. with material drawn from, and inspired by artists such as Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, BB King, Chuck Berry, Albert King, Ray Charles, Howling Wolf and Wilson Pickett.

The Bellhops can be found regularly playing around the Greater Sydney Region, Wollongong and the Illawarra Region, Newcastle and the Central Coast Lakes Region, Goulburn and the Southern Highlands Region. They have even been spotted as far south as Victoria (especially those Ski Field gigs) and as far north as Byron Bay (especially those resort gigs), as far west as Wagga Wagga or Mudgee (especially those Winery gigs).

Blueshound is a collaboration of well-known musicians who play a combination of great blues from the deep south with a touch of Latin a. funky spice.
The groove is infectious, the playing is virtuosic and always brings the crowd to life.

The band features:
James Kelly on guitar and vocals,
Scotty Johnston Drums,
Percussion and Vocals,
Al Britton on Bass and
Bootsie Booth, saxophone and flute.

Members have played with bands such as the,
Bondi Cigars,
Rose Tattoo,
Dynamic Hypnotics,
Galapagos Duck ect.

The band has been taking the blues scene, inner city clubs and pubs by storm here in Sydney, the Southern Highlands and Northern New South Wales.
Blueshound the happening sound around town!

The Bruce Wayne’s :
Architects of Sound
Engaging Songscapes

The Bruce Wayne’s aren’t just musicians they are architects of sound, with a foundation that’s strong and diverse. With a lifetime of experience singing, cradling guitar, caressing the ivories and percussion, the Bruce Wayne’s journey has been a journey of various influences, a melody threaded with blues, jazz, and the rich textures of R&B. Their music strikes a balance between the raw power of the Chicago Blues, the alternative Country Blues of Townes Van Zandt and the jaunty
beats of Rock and Roll.

The sounds and songs, perhaps as inspired by the soulful depth of greats such as Muddy Waters are the bricks and mortar of their own musical journeys, carrying stories from around their life experiences—from their formative years in regional NSW to a quarter of a century soaking in the vibrant culture of SE Asia. Yet, despite the global scale of their experiences, Bruce and Wayne remain down-to earth. local journeymen primed to bring original compositions to life. along with cover renditions of classics like “Rock Me Baby”. “Hoochie Coochie Man”, and “King of the Blues”.

Harmony in Music: Crafting Songs That Strike the Right Chord
The Bruce Wayne’s music reflects a dynamic blend of music, with a notable focus on energetic and engaging live performances. The Bruce Wayne’s are more than just a music act; They are an experience, setting the stage with a performance that promises to blend of passion with poise, nostalgia with innovation. Their love of live performance will engage an audience and there’s no doubt that every note they play is a step towards a future where their own music, will stand the test of time.

A chance meeting of likeminded blue souls at a local jam gave birth to the Canberra region’s funkiest, rockin’est, dancin’est blues band: The Stage Invaderz.

Taking inspiration from whatever feels like fun, The Stage Invaderz party beyond mainstream bread-and-butter Blues, stretching boundaries and exploring the raw but rich edges of the genre.
We play hard and party harder.

Beat master ‘Rowdy’ is on the sticks keeping the Invaderz in line and the denizen of cool— ‘Dizzy Dee’ drives the groove on bass, while the Vespertine Vox shakes it up out front. Rounding out the swag are ‘Big Kimmy Beats trilling the sax, the ‘Reverend’ of the Roland on the keys, and guitar slingers Axeman’ and ‘Risky’ duelling and flying fearlessly along the fret boards.

Get about and see The Stage Invaderz now: before Security catches wind of our invasion, rounds up the muscle and sends us packing… we’re workin’ hard to bring you a great time and go out with a bang!

Divine Devilles Band
Ali Penney and Dorothy-Jane come together as Divine Devilles.
Two well-travelled souls, each with a swag of awards, a suitcase full of songs, their hearts on their sleeves and a love of that sweet, swinging, shuffling, grooving place where Blues and Jazz meet.

This is a powerhouse act with award-winning songs, vocals, keys and blues-harp together with bass and drums from Rob West and Brian O’Rourke. Groovy!

“These two gorgeous gals are hilarious! With hard luck tales enough to break your heart or knock you off your chair with laughter! Oh my gosh!”
– Jocelyn Aydon, Fringe West Films NZ

Australian artist Dan Hopkins plays a punchy brand of blues and roots that cover a spectrum of the blues tradition. From funky toe tapping roots to more traditional blues, Dan and his band create an experience that could only be described as powerful and authentic, culminating in an emotionally driven journey down a sweetly plucked and sometimes dirty slide guitar borne road across the Southern blues idiom. Drawing influence from a variety of practitioners from Muddy Waters through to Marcus King, Dan and band hit hard and create one helluva show.

Winner of the Australian Blues Music Festival Busking Contest in 2016, Music Oz awards finalist in 2010 and Grand finalist in the 2023 Passport to Airlie Contest. Dan has also performed alongside many notable Australian Blues artists including Kevin Borich, Frank Sultana, HatFitz & Cara, Darren Jack, Salt n Steel, Claude Hay, Blues Arcadia and Mal Eastick just to name a few. Dan and his band now tour the regions regularly with successful shows at venues including the Royal Mail in Goodna, The Stag and Hunter in Newcastle and Ms Celies in Ashfield.

One of their most recent highlights include a blistering set at 2023’s Wingham Music Festival headlined by Tex Perkins, Wendy Matthews and Ray Beadle. Danis smooth rich vocal tone, his subtle and dynamic approach to the blues guitar and dexterity on the slide guitar mixed with poignant lyrics create a highly versatile performer not to be missed.

With uplifting appraisals from Eleanor Rigden (Festival of Small Halls 2018); Tess Jenner (Rolling-stone Live Music Photography 2020); Khris Mazinski (Jeff Lang); Paul Gommersall (Kate Bush; Paul Weller; Sinead O’Connor) and Richard Cartwright (Platinum Entertainment) Dan and his crew are a roots act continuing to rise.

In 2020 Dan released his first album ‘Different Economy,’ to critical acclaim in his self-built solar powered shipping container studio, ‘The Blues Den.’ He had previously recorded the E.P Golden Girl at Sound-shed Studios in 2010 and has released a single dedicated to the plight of Asylum Seekers called ‘Think Twice’ with Drummer/Producer Syd Green (Mantissa; 19Twenty; Kasey Chambers) which has received both JJJ and national airplay. Dan and his ‘few’ have just released their debut single, ‘Practitioner (of the Blues),’ with the full album being prepared for release later in 2024. The songs often resonate from a place deep down but nothing short of a very entertaining delivery is what you can expect from Dan Hopkins and the Generous Few.

With a live sound contributed to by Rod Ward on Bass, ‘Benny Bear’ Ben Wehlow on drums, the band is currently immersing themselves with local shows and regional tour dates. Keep a lookout for the Dan and the band this year for upcoming shows near you.

The Marvellous Hearts Trio presents an intimate musical experience featuring Capt Bluetongue’s original songs, beautifully stripped back to acoustic guitar, violin, and double bass.

Capt Bluetongue’s gritty, heartfelt vocals and lyrics lead the way, while Carlyn Chen’s violin adds depth and emotion, weaving through the stories told in the songs.
Si Costello’s double bass provides a steady, resonant heartbeat, grounding the music with soulful rhythms.

Their performances invite you on a journey through themes of joy, hope, human connection, and the complexities of life. This trio has earned acclaim from folk peers and festival audiences, with recent highlights including performances at:
The Verandah Music Festival in Tasmania,
The Northern Beaches Music Festival,
Southern Sydney Folk Club,
Tablelands Folk Festival in Queensland and Bundanoon Folk Festival.

Don’t miss the chance to experience their enchanting blend of music and storytelling live.

Midnight Mojo
Growing up in Goulburn, surrounded by the magic of the Goulburn Blues Festival, Midnight Mojo found their heart and soul in the blues. Inspired by the incredible musicians who made the festival unforgettable, the band felt a deep connection to keep that spirit alive. Just over a year since their formation, they are already making waves with their original music, determined to carry the torch and ensure the festival’s legacy lives on for future generations.

The band, united by their passion for music and their connection with the Hume Conservatorium, came together just three weeks before the Battle of the Bands. They were voted People’s Choice and went on to win the competition the following year.

Eliott sings with soul, digging deep to deliver a gritty honesty tailor-made for the blues. Callum brings infectious energy, grooving with uncontainable joy, in sharp contrast to Austin, who shreds the guitar with the cool, serious demeanor of a supreme court judge. Holding it all together is Josh, the powerhouse drummer, whose versatility and electrifying presence deliver beats that feel like second nature.

You can expect to hear blues classics that you know and love as the band pays homage to legends like B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, and ZZ Top, along with some surprise “bluesified” numbers and a few originals.

Midnight Mojo is here to keep the blues alive and thriving for generations to come.