PRESIDENTIAL MUSINGS

Headlining this month’s message is the news that Kerry Sattler (K2) has announced her retirement from her role as events coordinator for the Canberra Blues Society as of March 2025. Kerry is the person who liaises with artists and the HGC, books our events, does the preparation of posters, the advertising, the newsletter and the gig guide, organizes the raffles and so much more. This means we urgently need to find a person or persons to pick up these roles and learn how they are done before March or then reduce our activities to a manageable level for the remaining committee and volunteers.

Please respond to committee@canberrabluessociety.com.au if you are interested or if you know of someone who might be interested in any of these roles.

We continue to have a good response to our reminders about membership renewals. If anyone has any questions or concerns about their membership renewal please contact our membership officer, Anne Bailey, at membership@canberrabluessociety.com.au.

The July Jam Workshop had a very good attendance. Always good to see lots of participants and new faces. The Pro Jam last month featured The Monica Moore & the LCB. Once again, I missed this event but heard great reports. The Frank Sultana Blues Band and Tomcat Playground show went off well on the 21st June and was well attended.

Chase the Sun plays on Saturday 20th July, not to be missed. Charlie Musselwhite and his band play on Tuesday 24th September. Fiona Boyes has been announced as the special guest support. Tickets to this event are still selling well. Don’t wait too long if you want tickets to this premier show.

New to the Canberra Blues Society, The Bald and the Beautiful are hosting this month’s Pro Jam on Sunday 21st .

We need VOLUNTEERS for International Blues Music Day on Saturday 3rd August. So far we don’t have enough. I sent a message to all members and there were few responses. Please check that e-mail for further details about volunteering. We will be giving discounted tickets to those who volunteer for 3 hours or more on the day. If you are interested, please let me know by email at president@canberrabluessociety.com.au, so I can prepare a roster as early as possible. Including your contact details and any limitations on your time would be very helpful.

We have an excellent line-up for this year’s International Blues Music Day. See full program attached to this email.

Don’t forget to check out the events page and the gig guide on the website for more details and lots more local gigs in our vibrant local scene.

Meanwhile…

“Don't start me to talkin' I'll tell her everything I know.” - Rice Miller

Regards

Your President

Steve Hartnett

You may have noticed the first reminders for membership renewal have gone out via e-mail. We have had a good early response so far. If anyone has any questions or concerns about their membership renewal please contact our membership officer, Anne Bailey, at membership@canberrabluessociety.com.au.

The June Jam Workshop had a good attendance despite the very wet weather. Always good to see lots of participants and new faces. Some of the regular participants are putting together a showcase set for the next Pro Jam.

The Pro Jam this month featured The JW House Band. This band was put together specially for this jam, and I humbly submit the performance was memorable. Unfortunately, numbers were down for this jam, so the house band filled in frequently with the jammers. Lots of regular attendees for this event were in Queensland at the Broadbeach Festival and there were many other events on around Canberra as well.

Mitch Grainger’s solo show in the Keller on 1st June was well attended and many who’d seen him up at Broadbeach attended. Mitch entertained and amazed with his fulsome guitar, rack mounted harp, great vocals and skillful audience engagement.

I will miss the next Jam which will be hosted by Monica Moore &The LCB on the 16th June. This distresses me muchly. I will also miss Frank Sultana &Tomcat Playground on the 21st June because of other commitments. Having seen all these acts before I can recommend both events to all.

Chase the Sun will play in July, and to top off the year, in a fabulous coup for the society, the incredible Charlie Musselwhite and his band in September. Tickets to this event are still selling well. Please don’t leave it till the last minute to purchase your tickets or you may miss out.

International Blues Music Day is on August 3 this year and preparations are gearing up. We need volunteers for the day and will be giving discounted tickets to those who volunteer for 3 hours or more on the day. If you are interested please complete the form attached and send email to president@canberrabluessociety.com.au so I can prepare a roster as early as possible. Including all your contact details and clearly indicating any limitations on your time would be very helpful to me.

Our IBMD poster is attached with the Blues News. Would be greatly appreciated if you could share with family and friends, print a copy and put up at your workplace & invite your work colleagues. (see page 14 for the program).

Don’t forget to check out the CBS events page and the gig guide on the website for more details and lots more local gigs in our vibrant local scene.

Meanwhile…

“Then one day, he got lost. Jumped on a alligator, thought it was a horse.” Lightnin’ Hopkins

Regards

Your President

Steve Hartnett

The May Jam Workshop showed me how enthusiasm and persistence pay off when you are keen to develop your skills. The songs (Sugar Sweet, She’s a Sweet One and Bring It On Home) clearly gave the participants great enjoyment. A special thanks to those who helped pack up.

The April Pro Jam featured Key Grip. So sorry I had to miss one of my favorite Canberra Bands. I also missed Julian James (Vic) & Laszlo Szakacs (Hungary) who popped in to join in the jam sets. Despite lots of blues competition during the week I’m told there was a good roll up.

I also heard good reports on 8 Ball Aitken’s Show. It was a bad month for me to be out of town.

8 Ball & his brother Dillion James are keen to come back again next year, so, if you missed them this time, make sure you see them when they return in 2025.

Coming up this month The JW House Band will host the Jam on the 19^th May. The basis of the band has been hosting the jam workshops throughout the years. Now is their chance to show some chops to the rest of the world.

Mitch Granger will be doing a solo show for the Keller sessions on 1^st June. An Aussie export to the States for many years and former member of the Bondi Cigars, Mitch is sure to entertain and amaze.

The next Jam Workshop is on Wednesday 5^th June. Song charts will be going out soon. I wonder what great tunes they’ll have for us this time.

Looking further ahead, we will be presenting Frank Sultana & Tomcat Playground later in June, Chase the Sun in July, International Blues Music Day in August, and to top off the year in a fabulous coup for the society, the incredible US artist Charlie Musselwhite and his band in September. Thanks K2 for your great work on this one.

I’ve seen Charlie play 4 or 5 times over the years and I have never been disappointed. The last time I saw him he played here in Canberra with Ben Harper. Charlie’s tickets are selling fast so it would be wise to purchase early.

Don’t forget to check out the events page and the gig guide on the website for more details and lots more local gigs in our vibrant local scene.

Meanwhile…

“Yeah, everybody they ought to change sometime” Taj Mahal

Regards

Your President

Steve Hartnett

Last month Bek Jensen (featuring Lachy Doley) and supported by The Barren Spinsters went off like a bomb .

Blues Piano Night featuring Carolyn “Pinecone” Packer, John Black, Ali Penney and Leo Joseph on the 17^th November also drew a crowd.

Last month’s Jam was hosted by the reformed Bluetone Specials in their new 5 piece lineup (Matt Fitzgerald, John Van Buuren, Steve Hartnett, Doug Curry, Dave McCrae). We had a ball. Unfortunately, numbers were down a little probably due to the surfeit of blues related and other events around town at the moment.

Our Xmas Party Jam is coming up this Sunday 10^th December at 2pm and will be hosted by the fabulous Continental Robert Susz & his Blues Party. In Robert’s own words “It will be a BoOgALoOin', in The Alley, BLUES Kinda Feelin!! Our Marymead Giving Tree is ready to receive unwrapped presents or Xmas food items for those less fortunate; or you can donate directly (donation slips will be on the tables). K2 has put together some great raffle prizes and the Harmonie German Club has kindly donated a dinner for two (to the value of $100) at Knuckles Restaurant and a $50 bar tab card for our Xmas Hamper 1^st prize. Also, there’ll be a CBS members LUCKY DOOR PRIZE (must be present to claim this prize.)

Great news from the Cooma Busking Championships. The Blues Kids (Bryn & Charlie Child) won their section, Manchild & The Blues Kids won the Best Band Award, and Typical Drew was given a Special Judges Award. Congratulations guys!

On a more serious note, Rick Bamford, stalwart of the Jam Workshops for so many years, has decided to finish up and concentrate on his gigs down the south coast.  He will be missed by all of us especially the workshoppers. His last workshop will be this Wednesday 6^th December.

Thank you Rick for all you’ve put into that programme and all the best for the future with your performances and (I’m told) your recording plans.

So don’t forget, even though there are no jams in January, Bucky’s Big Birthday Bash Charity Gig is on the 13^th January (full lineup just announced – see page 4 for details) and Walter Trout (USA) with guest support James Southwell is on the 30^th January.

On behalf of myself and the CBS Committee I’d like to wish all our members a safe and Happy Festive Season.

Meanwhile…

“Gonna move up to the country paint my mailbox blue” (Taj Mahal)

Regards

Your President

Steve Hartnett

Woke up one morning in July and looked at the CBS blues programme.

Auspiciously the first gig was Karen Lee Andrews. I couldn’t be there but the plaudits were unanimous.

July Blues Jam was hosted by the Roger Bone Band. They bluesed themselves up and came out and delivered a fabulous set that had everyone fixated or dancing -sometimes both.

And just when you though the month couldn’t get any better we had the International Blues Music Day show. A highlight of every year this was no exception. Both stages were well attended and the music was fabulous.

I want to thank the Committee, the volunteers and particularly K2 for a fabulous and smooth event.

Coming up next month is the AGM and, without this meeting every year there is no committee and no CBS.

This year the committee has reviewed our aging constitution and will be putting our recommended changes to the membership.

All positions are up for election (President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Officer Musician’s Representative, Digital Media Officer, and the new position of Volunteer Coordinator. The Committee will have some General Committee positions as well.

The proposed changes to the constitution, the AGM agenda and other documents will be circulated soon.

We have a request for volunteers from the Harmonie German Club for their upcoming Oktoberfest celebration on the weekend of 27-29 October. (see page 11 for details)

Hope to see you all at this month’s Jam which will be hosted by the fabulous Ali Penney and the Canberra Treasury.

Members: please take note of your discount code for all our upcoming events – MEMBER24

Meanwhile…

“Bright lights, big city, went to my baby’s head” (Jimmy Reed)Regards

Your President

Steve Hartnett