Special Christmas Charity Event

The December Jam Sunday will be a special Charity event this year.

Our host band, The Canberra Blues Society All Stars, is a specially formed group comprising of some of the best Blues Musicians from the region.

The 2011 Canberra Blues Society All Stars are (left to right):

Baz Cooper (keyboards), Tom Fell (horns), Michael-John Stratford (drums), Max Williams (horns), Deejay Gosper (harp and vocals), Judy Pearce (vocals), Paul Leeder (bass), Steve Harnett (harp and vocals), Michael Hardy (guitar)

The Society intends using the All Star concept as a vehicle for future special events. The membership might change from event to event but high quality Blues will be constant

The show will be a fun-filled family orientated event that will allow Blues fans to celebrate the festive season in a memorable and unique way, but, more importantly, this is a charity event, where the Society will support the local charity, Marymead.

Marymead is currently working with hundreds of families with children throughout Canberra in their on-site residential programs and foster care families.

The Society will be erecting a Giving Tree on the day and are looking for people to donate unwrapped gifts with values up to $20 (or more if you so wish).

The Society is aware that, generally young children are well catered for in terms of gifts but older children and teenagers often miss out so the Society is suggesting that gift cards from department, video and music stores will ensure that all the members of these disadvantaged families will have a Happy Christmas.

When: Sunday 18th December, 2011 at 1.00pm till 4.00pm
Where: Statesman Hotel, Curtin
Entry fee: Members $3.00, Non Members $5.00

Come and enjoy a unique afternoon of Blues, meet your friends for a catch up before year’s end and help make some disadvantaged young people’s Christmas a bit happier.

The December Gig Guide is now available for your perusal.
Read more here

Welcome to the website of the Canberra Blues Society. You’ll find all manner of information here relating to our monthly jam, special concerts, merchandising, affiliations, newsletter, membership and gigs in and around Canberra featuring local, interstate and international blues performers.
The Society is working toward increasing membership benefits, developing fresh concepts for its monthly jam and special concerts, raising its profile in the Australian Capital Territory and beyond and increasing the promotion of the Blues in its many forms.

You’re invited to experience the expansion of the Society, perhaps as a member, a musician, a Blues music fan or any combination of these. Enjoy what our website has to offer and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have a band or performer to recommend, some Blues news, a blazing new guitar lick to share or perhaps a web link to a remarkable Blues tune, gig or festival.

We look forward to you visiting our website again. If you’re not a Canberra Blues Society member, then we’d be delighted to have you join the Society and share in the experience of the Blues.

Mitch Preston

President, Canberra Blues Society

Guitar, the Australian Journey

by Chris Johnson is now available

Here is the fascinating story of the guitar in Australia. The author describes luthiers, artists, collectors and guitar lovers. He ranges across all guitar styles and blends history, interviews and wonderful stories about artists and their performances.

The first performers at next year’s Australian Blues Music Festival held in Goulburn have just been announced, with US Bluesman Eugene ‘Hideway’ Bridges heading the line-up. Aussie acts Claude Hay, Chase the Sun, Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson, Dreamboogie, P.J.O’Brien, Diana Wolfe and the Black Sheep, The Resonators, Shaun Kirk, Tabasco Tom & Doc White, Dan Hannaford and Rory Ellis.

Th festival will run between Thursday, 8th February and Sunday, 12th February with both free and ticketed events. For more information and ticket sales go to www.australianbluesfestival.com.au

The 2012 International Blues Challenge will be held in Memphis, Tennessee from 31st January – 4th February 2012.
The Australian Blues scene will have a strong presence, with Dreamboogie representing the MBAS, Mojo Webb representing the Brisbane and South East Queensland Blues Society (BASEQ) and Buddy Knox representing the Sydney Blues Society (SBS). Sydney also has an entrant in the Solo/Duo section. This is the excellent Dr Don’s Double Dose featuring Don Hopkins (piano/vocals) and Rob Grosser (drums/washboard).
There is anticipated to be in excess of 250 acts competing in the challenge, both in the band and solo/duo divisions. The IBC winner is guaranteed of bookings at major Blues festivals and exposure in the USA.

The first Tathra Summer Music Festival will be held at the Tathra Hotel from Tuesday, 3rd to Thursday, 5th January 2012. While it classifies itself as a music festival, it has a distinctly Blues flavour and the monster line-up so far is very impressive:

Jeff Lang, Tim Freedman, Dallas Frasca, Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Chris Wilson, Chase The Sun, Collards Greens and Gravy, Jim Conways Big Wheel, Ray Beadle Band, Heath Cullen & The 45, Daniel Champagne, Robert Susz Continental Blues Party, Andrew Winton, Hatz Fitz and Cara Robinson, Melanie Horsnell, Ashleigh Mannix, Lucie Thorne and Hamish Stuart.

Holidaying down the South Coast over the Christmas/New Year period just got a whole lot better!!

Early bird tickets:
1 day pass, Adult $60 12-18yrs $30
3 day pass, Adult $140 12-18yrs $70
Under 12yrs free

http://www.tathrahotel.com.au/Festival/

Canberra Blues Society now has its own Facebook page.

Why not become a Facebook Friend of the CBS. ( Click Here )

With the weather warming up and an early spring on the cards, ‘Blues Fever’ is in the air and its time to start putting a few festival dates in your diary.

The Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival is on from 28th ~ 30th October. The Blues program features: Sweet Felicia & The Honeytones, Jimmy D Lane, Paul Williamson’s Hammond Blues Review, Jules Boult, Andy Balour, Jim Conway’s Big Wheel, Blue Heat, Heather Stewart and Collard, Greens & Gravy. For more info go to www.wangarattajazz.com – the home page features our own Glen Terry in full flight.

Also on the same weekend is the Sydney Blues & Roots Festival with a monstor line-up featuring: Chain, Deisel, Jeff Lang, Baby Animals, Marshall & the Fro, Ash Grunwald, Chase the Sun, Ray Beadle Band, Hat Fitz, Claude Hay, Mississippi Shakedown and plenty more. Go to www.sydneybluesfestival.com.au

The 2012 year kicks off as always with Thredbo in January, the Australian Blues Music Festival in Goulburn in the second weekend in February, closely followed a week later with the Bruthen Blues & Arts Festival and the next week by a new festival – the Black Stump Blues Festival in Orange from 24th ~ 26th February.  The line-up has already been announced and its pretty impressive – Chase the Sun, Brian Fraser, Anni Piper Band, Phil Manning, Ray Beadle Band, Mal Eastick Band, Bondi Cigars and Canberra’s own Deejay Gosper Band. Unfortunately the Black Stump Blues Festival has been cancelled. for more info go to Black Stump Blues Festival