TIJUANA CARTEL
+ Special Guests Sonori & Leotrix (DJ set)
Fri 28th Oct 2016 Venue: HOTEL GEARIN, 273 Great Western Hwy, Katoomba, Blue Mountains NSW 2780
Tijuana Cartel serve up a tasty mix of world music and club beats. These Gold-Coast based tour addicts are renowned for their live shows and tight production.
As the corner stone of Australia’s ‘east meets west’ electronic scene, Tijuana Cartel have a knack for blending layers of rich, intricate atmospheric soundscapes with laid back rhythms and luscious vocals to form an electronic beats tapestry that will cut through to your very soul.
Simply, there isn’t another band doing what they do. Having spent the last decade mixing in influences that haven’t been fused in the past, their penchant is for Middle Eastern scales, beats that get a floor moving and a general Psychedelic approach in song structure and ethos.
Not married to one genre or another, they happily change direction in search of new flavours and inspiration, whenever the moment takes them there.
Sonori is an electro-acoustic four piece consisting of vocals, cello, guitar, keyboards, drum machines and electronics.
Rich with thick layers of sound and pulsing beats, they have been described as “Cinematic orchestral experimental journey music. Post rock you can dance to”.
Inspiration comes from the likes of Hans Zimmer, Philip Glass, Sigur Ros, Nathan Fake, Hardfloor and Laurent Garnier.
Lulu Levins-Skehill – Vocals, Bass
Andre Matkovic – Guitar, Keys, Bass, Voice, Trumpet
Tim Mahony – Cello
Jasper Russell – Drum machines, Electronics, Lights
DJ Leotrix is a 17 year old electronic musician and DJ from the Lower Blue Mountains in Winmalee. His style comes from different tastes of electronic dance music including Dubstep, Trap, Bass House and Future Bass.
Venue: HOTEL GEARIN
273 Great Western Hwy, Katoomba
Blue Mountains NSW 2780. *Please note that Hotel Gearin shows are over 18’s only.
Doors Open 8:30pm. Leotirx DJ Set from 8:30pm.
General Admission. Room configuration is a mix of cabaret seating and standing/dancing.
Tickets DISCOUNT Early Bird pre-sale $20 available from:
KATOOMBA MUSIC, 140 Katoomba St, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (Tues-Sat. Cash Only) or the Hotel Gearin front Bar during open hours.
Hotel Blue, Upstairs “Live At The Attic” Katoomba, Blue Mountains
Sunday 15th May 2016, 6:30pm. Doors Open 6pm.
Accompanied by his trusty five-string banjo, foot stomps and hollers, his memorable melodies, poetic sense and easy charisma appeal to anyone searching for new growth from old roots.
Old Man Luedecke is the real thing, a modern-day people’s poet, travelling bard and balladeer.
From the music rich maritime province of Nova Scotia on the East coast of Canada, this two-time Juno Award-winning banjo songster is a rare type of musician. Rarer still is a singer-songwriter of such hopeful goodness.
In the tradition of solo banjo men and women of days gone by like Doc Boggs, Old Man Luedecke sings his songs accompanied only by his loving five string, foot stomps and the occasional yodel. This is a bizarre type of music Doc Boggs might have made if he’d studied poetry.
His jaunty frailing style banjo playing lends uplifting buoyancy to sometimes quite melancholy and highly unique lyrical ideas, and slots beautifully into a young market hungry for new growth from old roots.
His music has received wide acclaim across the genres in Canada, from Feist to Buck 65 who co-opted him to play banjo on one of his most famous early tracks ‘Indestructible Sam’.
His songs are melodic gems blending old time sensibilities with an unusual vision and poetic sense.
His music belies someone more than slightly ill at ease with modern life and he performs with a gentle and endearing charisma, stories littered with a canny oblique humour. He is a sly entertainer with almost a hint of contemporary vaudeville about him and he plays a mean claw hammer banjo clearly derivative of the old time and Appalachia. He’s a revelation!
THE EAST POINTERS (Canada)
+ THE MAE TRIO (Melbourne)
Fri 8th April 2016 Venue: HOTEL GEARIN, 273 Great Western Hwy, Katoomba, Blue Mountains NSW 2780
Ontario guitarist Jake Charron and 7th generation Prince Edward Island musicians Tim (fiddle) and Koady Chaisson (banjo) make traditional music seem ridiculously hip.
An adrenalised, roof-rattling, performance monster, the trio’s excellent new release Secret Victory, penned mostly in Australia in early 2015, features the beautiful songs, free-wheeling, feisty instrumental jigs, stomps and reels and heart-breaking harmonies that have made them torchbearers for a new wave in traditional music.
Even before releasing Secret Victory, The East Pointers knew they were onto something, having accepted the 2015 Music P.E.I. New Artist of the Year, and Roots Traditional Recording of the Year awards. They were also nominated for Traditional Instrumental Recording of the Year at the 2015 East Coast Music Awards.
For a band barely together 18 months, they are in demand live, returning to the UK and Australia in late 2015 for a run of festival dates including Woodford Folk Festival, Cygnet, Illawarra, Cobargo, Nannup, Port Fairy and the National and then back again in early 2016 after extensive touring in Canada.
Timber and Steel included ‘Secret Victory’ in their Top 25 Albums of 2015!
Multi-award-winning, Melbourne-based contemporary folk trio, The Mae Trio perform insightful original songs with superb 3 part vocal harmonies.
It has been a magical two years since The Mae Trio released their award-winning debut album Housewarming and hit international stages from Celtic Connections (Glasgow) to Cambridge Folk Festival and Americana Festival (Nashville), not to mention national Australian tours where they won the hearts of critics and fans alike. Winners of the Maton Class Act Award and the National Film & Sound Archive Award for Folk Recording of the Year, The Mae Trio is renowned for their sophisticated instrumentation and stellar three-part harmonies. Their latest EP ‘September’ features an array of originals and new interpretations of some of the songs that have helped shape the band’s musical lives so far.
Join Anita Hillman (cello, bass and vocals), Maggie Rigby (banjo, ukulele, guitar, marimba and vocals) and Elsie Rigby (violin, ukulele and vocals) for an evening of contemporary folk that will leave you breathless.
It is a rare treat to experience such unique instrumentation and spine-tingling harmonies, and The Mae Trio promises bucket loads of both.
“a delightful Australian girl group whom it is hard to fault…theirs is an innocent, clear-skinned sound that’s long on banjo, fiddle and ukulele” – Metro (Glasgow)
“The Mae Trio has made a meteoric mark on the national acoustic music scene” – Rhythms
“they belied their apparent youth with some fine songs and dry wit” – Americana UK
“The Mae Trio were easily the break-out act at Folk Alliance” – The Bluegrass Situation
“A favourite on the Aussie folk scene… definitely a trio to keep an eye and an ear (or two) out for” – Songlines UK
SCOTT COOK (Canada) in Concert
+ Special Guests Chris Gillespie and Cameron James Henderson
Hotel Blue, Upstairs “Live At The Attic” Katoomba, Blue Mountains
Sunday 6th March 2016, 6:30pm. Doors Open 6pm.
A roots balladeer with a rare personal warmth, Edmonton’s Scott Cook has managed to distil the stories collected over a decade of near-incessant touring across Canada, the USA, Europe, Asia, and Australia into straight-talking, keenly observant verse.
His 2013 release, One More Time Around, was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award, and its opening track ‘Pass It Along’ won the Folk and Acoustic category in the 2013 UK Songwriting Contest, with UK magazine Maverick Country naming him “one of Canada’s most inspiring and imaginative storytellers”.
He released his fifth DIY album, ‘Go Long’, in the summer of 2015, embarking on another around-the-world tour in support of it.
All the hard miles notwithstanding, he still believes that songs can change your life, and your life can change the world.
This will be Scott’s third Australian tour and he is here to perform at Woodford Folk Festival along with a number of other summer festivals.
“One of Canada’s most inspiring and imaginative storytellers… beautifully written lyrics, intricate chordal patterns and a refreshing plain-spoken vocal clarity… there isn’t a bad song on here. 4 stars.” – Emily Saxton, Maverick Country, UK
“Scott Cook has distilled his travels down into songs powered by a sharp eye for imagery, a healthy dose of humanity, and that unforgettable voice, that at the same time intones the rigors of the road and the most comfortable couch you have ever slept on.” – David Francey, 3x Juno-winning songwriter
“Lyrically I think he’s up there with the likes of Prine or Smither as well as contemporaries like Adam Carroll and (fellow Canadian) Old Man Luedecke… It has the feeling of someone retelling their favourite stories… Remember that Prine fella I was talking about? Yeah, that one.” – No Depression
“As hard-working a DIY songwriter as any in the game… A Scott Cook song contains the extra work done by a carpenter who cares. Work the carpenter doesn’t have to do. Work only other carpenters will likely even notice… One of the best songwriters this country has. A working artist who’s taken enormous risks in order to make something which offers strength to anyone who takes the time to listen… I believe that over the years this album will prove to be a benchmark in Canadian folk music, as well as a signpost pointing the way for younger artists. I believe that young songwriters will write better songs because of it.” – Corin Raymond, Raymond Unrushed
“4 stars. Rich in plainspoken, poetic expression… Unapologetically honest words and music crafted from a keen observer’s perspective” – Donald Teplyske, Lonesome Road Review
“There’s nothing flash about Canada’s Cook. He sings his heart and soul, and in doing so lets light flood into your own… He has a good eye for imagery, a gentle human touch, a wry sense of humour, a whole lot of integrity, a warm, rugged voice and a bunch of memorable lines… Truly one of Woody Guthrie’s children.” – David Burke, R2 Magazine, UK
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Guests will be in for a real treat with a performance from local Australian Folk artist Chris Gillespie from 5-6:15pm in the lounge as well!
Chris Gillespie is an independent artist from the Blue Mountains of NSW. His songs are beautiful, bursting with observational yearning. “A fingerpickin’, harmonica playing troubadour…
“Sydney’s answer to Bob Dylan” (Dave Regos – FBi Radio). Gillespie is renowned by his audience and peers for his songwriting craft, especially his lyrics – “Chris Gillespie is definitely one of those timeless songsmiths” – Joe Gould, (The Crooked Fiddle Band).
You can expect beautiful instrumentation coupled with meaningful and thought provoking words and “…harmonies [that] are downright gorgeous” (Tom Ballard Triple J).
The music is very Australian, highly original and delivered with refreshing honesty and integrity.
Chris Gillespie enjoyed a very busy and abundantly successful 2012 with the release of his debut album ‘Unnatural Light’. The title track spent months in the top 20 of the Triple J Unearthed charts. The song was used as the soundtrack to a short film, which was aired on Channel 9. Chris also performed live on Foxtel and was the opening act for Triple J favourite and Australian Idol finalist Lisa Mitchell.
“It’s difficult for any independent acoustic artist to make a name for themselves in the shadow of the likes of Josh Pyke and John Butler. Yet somehow Chris Gillespie pulls this off with an earthy, unadorned and folksy panache… [He] creates an intoxicatingly addictive blend of country-infused folk rock that is at once familiar and unique” (Peter Walsh Rave Magazine, Brisbane).
Chris will be accompanied by Cameron James Henderson (on bass)
Cameron is an original blues/folk songwriter/guitar player from Sydney. His dynamic tunes have deep respect for the old, yet his lyrics and arrangements are fresh and raw.
Cameron refined his sound playing sideman in various bands for years as well as studying classical guitar and doing composing and session work in professional orchestras, theatre and television. Cameron is also the guitar player from Dubious Blues Trio and Vanessa Raspa and the Zombie Cats.
Hotel Blue, Upstairs “Live At The Attic” Katoomba, Blue Mountains
Sunday 22nd November 2015, 6:30pm. Doors Open 6pm.
US-Based world-renowned blues harmonica player & Australian roots-music troubadour previously of The Beefs, Bondi Cigars & Papa Lips. Mitch returns to Australia in 2015, on tour to follow up his award winning album ‘The Blues’.
A master of the blues harp, singer and guitarist, Grainger cut his teeth with Harry Vanda, Alex Lloyd, Bondi Cigars and Papa Lips before re-locating stateside, where he plays harp on sessions from LA to Nashville. In this hi-tech world Mitch Grainger is now collaborating with artists from Hollywood to Botswana, while teaching people from all walks of life around the globe how to play their first ever note on the blues harp, though his wildly successful youtube channel.
After taking up the harmonica at age 14 inspired by a dream, Mitch was introduced to Little Walter and within 6 months was performing Blues ‘n’ Roots music 3 nights a week across Inner Sydney on both the Guitar and Harmonica in THE BEEFS with Australian soon to be pop star ALEX LLOYD. After THE BEEFS disbanded (despite much industry attention) Mitch was recruited by the BONDI CIGARS in 1992 and put to work playing hard hitting blues guitar and harmonica across the length and breadth of Australia’s states and territories, from Broome to Launceston. This was a formative period in Mitch’s life, what he calls his “university degree in rock n roll”. He lived almost constantly on the road, in a new town, playing in front of a new crowd.
In 1994 after 2 years and one Album (After Closing Time), Mitch left the BONDI CIGARS and formed PAPA LIPS with his sister KARA GRAINGER, DECLAN KELLY, ROWAN LANE, DANNY GUERRERO and CLAYTON DOLEY. Together they created a sensation “Greater than when Lenny Cravitz re-discovered the wah wah pedal” (Michael Smith, Drum Media, Sydney). The band recorded “Harmony” (1996) and “High Time Now” (1998), toured constantly, and played Australia’s premier music festivals, including WOODFORD and BYRON BAY BLUES & ROOTS FESTIVAL numerous times.
In 2001 at the request of Atlantic, Epic, Sony and BMG records, Mitch and Kara Grainger visited New York to play showcases. Their visit coincided with the tragic September 11 terrorist attack and brought on a deep reflective period of song-writing for both Mitch and his sister, stretching over 5 years and leading them in different musical directions.
Upon hearing Mitch Grainger’s compositions written during this period, legendary Australian producer, HARRY VANDA (Vanda/Young) encouraged Mitch to record his own debut solo album “LOVE & DEMONS”, which was released in 2006.
Since his 2006 solo debut Mitch Grainger’s voice and music has been heard in movie cinemas across Japan, America & Europe in the “DECEMBER BOYS” movie opening scene, in American and Australian NATIONAL TV SHOWS such as NASHVILLE, KILLER WOMEN, RAKE, and THE TIME OF OUR LIVES. He has recorded countless sessions, written songs, and produced music with artists such as ROSA PULLMAN, PAPA LIPS, KARA GRAINGER, RICK PRICE, THE WRIGHTS, JOHN PAUL YOUNG and acclaimed Australian thespian, JACK THOMPSON.
Forward to today and Mitch Grainger has gained an international reputation and audience for his harmonica skills. Type “Harmonica Lessons” into YouTube, and Mitch’s video is the first one on the list.
In this hi-tech world Mitch Grainger is now collaborating with artists from Hollywood, to Botswana, while teaching people from all walks of life around the globe how to play their first ever note on the blues harp.And now, in 2015, importantly ‘The Blues’ marks a signpost of artistic and personal growth that brings Mitch out of a recording hiatus and into the spotlight.
VENUE: HOTEL BLUE “LIVE AT THE ATTIC” Upstairs, 88 Lurline St, Katoomba, NSW 2780
Blue Mountains
Doors Open 6:00pm. Show Starts 6:30pm.
General Admission. Theatre Style Seating.
Tickets $15 pre-sale available from:
HOTEL BLUE (during reception hours)
88 Lurline St, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (Cash Only)
Or Card /Phone 02) 4782 6922 and Online $16.50 (Including booking fees): www.trybooking.com/IXWF
Or $15 on the Door from 6pm Sunday 22nd Nov 2015 (Unless Sold Out)
This is an intimate seating venue and tickets are strictly limited! CONTACT DETAILS: Charity Mirow 0409 042 869
For more information visit: www.fusionboutique.com.au
Hotel Blue, Upstairs “Live At The Attic” Katoomba, Blue Mountains
Thursday 24th September 2015, 6:30pm. Doors Open 6pm.
Margret RoadKnight is Australia’s finest interpretive singer.
A unique and passionate artist, renowned for her powerful vocals and wide-ranging roots-based repertoire with lyrics full of wit and wisdom, Margret RoadKnight survives and thrives outside the mainstream music scene with flair and soul.
Five decades into her career, she continues to tour extensively, singing riveting if under-exposed songs, either a-cappella or with her guitar and African thumb piano, solo or with accompanying musicians, always interspersed with informative and amusing anecdotes (and yes, she still reprises her fondly remembered mid-’70s Australiana hit “Girls In Our Town”).
Margret has recorded ten solo albums and been featured on thirty one others.
She has sung blues, jazz, gospel, folk, comedy, and social commentary songs in concert halls and cathedrals, clubs and campuses, from Broome to Hobart, Beijing to Memphis, Paris to Auckland, Edinburgh to Tel Aviv, New York to Seoul, Amsterdam to Dublin, New Orleans to London, Vancouver to Nuku’alofa.
May 12th, 2013 marked the commencement of Margret RoadKnight’s Golden Jubilee (celebrating 50 years of professional performance) and concluded in April 2014 with her Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Folk Festival.
“…as much as for her impressive voice and choice of songs, RoadKnight is delightful because she sheds so much fresh light on the nature of the world and its people” – Oakland Tribune, San Francisco
“Margret RoadKnight’s success depends on the original way she presents other people’s material. She is alive, warm, charming, extremely funny and a stunning musician” – Melbourne Voice
“…virtually a walking, talking, singing folk festival in her own right – 6ft 4ins of musical history with a South Pacific flavor” – Globe and Mail Canada
“…magnetic and powerful” – Financial Times London
“…a magnificent voice and a vast, and often funny, repertoire” – National Times
“…RoadKnight’s driving, pounding, powerful alto burns smoulderingly” – The Australian
“…RoadKnight’s enduring presence on the folk scene is the result of a truly remarkable voice combined with the most mature and sophisticated sense of humour in the business… a unique Australian talent” – Sydney Morning Herald
“…a vastly underestimated and too seldom seen singer… after all these years she still has the power to knock you back in your seat” – Rhythms
VENUE: HOTEL BLUE “LIVE AT THE ATTIC” Upstairs, 88 Lurline St, Katoomba, NSW 2780
Blue Mountains
Doors Open 6:00pm. Show Starts 6:30pm.
General Admission. Theatre Style Seating.
Tickets $20 pre-sale available from:
HOTEL BLUE (during reception hours)
88 Lurline St, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (Cash Only)
Or Card /Phone 02) 4782 6922 and Online $21.50 (Including booking fees): www.trybooking.com/ISBV
Or on the Door from 6pm Thursday 24th Sept 2015 (Unless Sold Out) For $25.
Discount concession price $20. Pensioner/Student card required. This is an intimate seating venue and tickets are strictly limited! CONTACT DETAILS: Charity Mirow 0409 042 869
For more information visit: www.fusionboutique.com.au
Hotel Blue, Upstairs “Live At The Attic” Katoomba, Blue Mountains
Friday 11th September 2015, 6:30pm. Doors Open 6pm.
Multi-award-winning, Melbourne-based contemporary folk trio. Performing insightful original songs with superb 3 part vocal harmonies.
It has been a magical two years since The Mae Trio released their award-winning debut album Housewarming and hit international stages from Celtic Connections (Glasgow) to Cambridge Folk Festival and Americana Festival (Nashville), not to mention national Australian tours where they won the hearts of critics and fans alike. Winners of the Maton Class Act Award and the National Film & Sound Archive Award for Folk Recording of the Year, The Mae Trio is renowned for their sophisticated instrumentation and stellar three-part harmonies. The trio return to launch the September EP featuring an array of originals and new interpretations of some of the songs that have helped shape the band’s musical lives so far.
Join Anita Hillman (cello, bass and vocals), Maggie Rigby (banjo, ukuleles, guitar, marimba and vocals) and Elsie Rigby (violin, ukulele and vocals) for an evening of contemporary folk that will leave you breathless.
It is a rare treat to experience such unique instrumentation and spine-tingling harmonies, and The Mae Trio promises bucket loads of both.
“a delightful Australian girl group whom it is hard to fault…theirs is an innocent, clear-skinned sound that’s long on banjo, fiddle and ukulele” – Metro (Glasgow)
“The Mae Trio has made a meteoric mark on the national acoustic music scene” – Rhythms
“they belied their apparent youth with some fine songs and dry wit” – Americana UK
“The Mae Trio were easily the break-out act at Folk Alliance” – The Bluegrass Situation
“A favourite on the Aussie folk scene… definitely a trio to keep an eye and an ear (or two) out for” – Songlines UK
Special guest for the evening will be local artist Francesca Sidoti.
Raised on folk, country and blues (a mix designed to handicap her in the playground), Francesca has a live act that gets talked about.
Playing accordion-addicted retro pop, her debut album ‘Bright City Light Fool’ was released in August 2010, and has since had two songs shortlisted in the ASA Songwriting Awards and #3 ranking on the folk and pop charts of AMRAP.
“a dulcet voice and whimsical lyrics”, Rave Magazine, Brisbane. “smiles and laughter” Drum Media, Sydney.
VENUE: HOTEL BLUE “LIVE AT THE ATTIC” Upstairs, 88 Lurline St, Katoomba, NSW 2780
Blue Mountains
Doors Open 6:00pm. Show Starts 6:30pm.
General Admission. Theatre Style Seating.
Tickets $15 pre-sale available from:
HOTEL BLUE (during reception hours)
88 Lurline St, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (Cash Only)
Or Card /Phone 02) 4782 6922 and Online $16.50 (Including booking fees): www.trybooking.com/IPOR
Or $15 on the Door from 6pm Fri 11th September 2015 (Unless Sold Out) This is an intimate seating venue and tickets are strictly limited! CONTACT DETAILS: Charity Mirow 0409 042 869
For more information visit: www.fusionboutique.com.au
