Month: August 2023

It has taken us most of the year to rope in Howling Onshore but they are finally with us on stage at Blues Central in September and we are all real excited. Howling Onshore are one of the very best South West’s Blues bands featuring the talented lead vocalist Lindsay Baker and ‘guitarist extraordinaire’ Steve Checker. Lindsay is an accomplished sax and harmonica player freely exchanging one for the other even during one song. Steve’s silky guitar playing is legendary in the Margaret River area where these boys mainly hang.
The supporting club band is eNjoy. Yes we had them kick the year off but there has been a lot of water under the bridge since then. Neil, Jude and Leigh were the support band for Eric Bibb when he played in Bunbury earlier this year and they are possibly the club’s most active musicians with gigs almost every week. September will be another ‘not to be missed’ show, three hours of great blues.

This is the last Jam for the winter of 2023 so let’s celebrate and give the winter solstice a big send off. Just note the start time has been shifted forward to midday for a slightly earlier finish time at 4pm. This is just for the colder months. We have 3 big raffles and plenty of other reasons to be there. Grab a mate and come down for a fun afternoon of great music amongst fellow musicians and music lovers. Don’t forget to bring your membership guitar pick so you can get 10% off Froth’s great food and beverages. We’ll see ya when we’re lookin’ at ya. Midday Sunday 20th August at Froth Craft Bunbrewery.

Hi members of the South West Blues Club,

We are comfortably settling into our new venue at Froth Craft Bunbrewery. We had a good turnout for the July jam session at Froth, with some excellent music from the members. It was also a tribute to Elsie, who was watching on from some great photos displayed around the venue. It was great to see Gazza there with his “Tele” playing some of his characteristic Jazzy blues. I’m looking forward to hearing more at The Italian Club on Saturday, 5th August, when there will be an afternoon of music from 2 pm (its a BYO session with people taking a plate). Club members and some of Elsie’s extensive list of friends will be providing entertainment.

I have recently been contacted by The Shire of Capel about providing some club bands for the Capel River Motorcycle Classic on Saturday the 14th October. We have been asked to provide 5 bands for this event. It runs from 10 am until 6 pm on Saturday the 14th October. I am sure we can provide some quality entertainment for this event so I have said the club will provide 5 bands. There will be a fee paid to each band. If any band is interested in playing, or any member is interested in being “integrated” into a band for that day, please contact me and I will put together a list of bands for the day. As it is my aim to be as inclusive as possible all interested members will be considered. I feel if this event goes well other organisations may contact the club to provide bands. I expect we will have more people interested in playing at Capel than we can fit in but I think there will be more similar opportunities in the future. I will prepare a sheet of details about the event and how the day will run. The shire is providing a sheltered playing area and the PA.

We have been looking for a venue for the AGM and it is probable that it will be held in the Programmes Room at the City of Bunbury Library on Saturday 26th August, possibly from 10.30 am. All members attending will receive a $10 voucher to use for lunch at Froth after the AGM and will also be able to claim the club discount from Froth as well. Full details will be forwarded to members as soon as arrangements can be finalised.

Blues Central will be an interesting event this month. Club members Carl and Jayden will be playing with the Karsky/Daly band so I am keen to see these accomplished club members in action. Please note that the timing of the next Jam Session will be changed to 1 pm to 5 pm as Froth has changed its opening hours for the winter months.
So there’s plenty going on and we will see you no doubt at Froth.

Cheers
Dave C.
President of South West Blues Club

Hold onto your hats folks because Blues Central is only a fortnight away and this show will be a biggy. We have the dynamic amalgamation of two of the South West’s Blues giants, Les Karski and Paul Daly in the Karski Daly Blues band. Les’ legendary guitar skills and cutting vocals combine with Paul’s screaming blues harp and vocal style that has a haunting likeness to Joe Cocker. Picture that if you will, Joe Cocker on harmonica. But there is an even bigger surprise in store with this band, the rhythm section comprises our own Carl Holroyd on bass and Jayden (JD) Williamson on drums. This is a first that we all can’t wait to see and hear.

Then we will experience time travel as we jet back to the 1980s when Something’s Up gets on stage. Gary, Rick and Stevo are very familiar to jam day supporters and now joined by Stevo’s son Mike on drums. This band (minus Mike of course) was packing the Goldfield bars and nightclubs to bursting, not just on weekends but almost every night of the week. They were a sensation from Kalgoorlie to Darwin and you are about to see why. This will be a blues sensation, an unforgettable afternoon in Bunbury, of big, heavy blues. Do not miss this. 2 pm Sunday 13th of August at Froth Craft Bunbrewery, 12 Victoria Street Bunbury and it’s absolutely FREE.

This is a reminder to all South West Blues Club members that this Saturday the 5th of August at 2pm a wake and celebration of our much loved Elsie McConnell will be held at The Italian Club, 13 White Street, in Bunbury. This is a BYO event and could attendees please bring a plate with finger food to share. Please wear bright bohemian clothes, because this is an afternoon to celebrate with flowers and music a woman who many knew had a heart of gold. Bands from the South West Blues Club will be playing as a tribute to Elsie and her family, this will be an afternoon we will all remember for years to come