Local blues legends CHECKERBOARD LOUNGE have recently released their new album SUN SESSIONS on Cheersquad Records & Tapes. SUN SESSIONS was recorded at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee; the very room in which maverick visionary Sam Phillips recorded not only Elvis Presley for the first time, but also the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Ike Turner, BB King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and countless other blues, rock and country artists in the ’50s.
With longtime bass player Amos Sheehan (who played on the Sun Sessions album) recently leaving the band, Checkerboard Lounge are now: Carl Pannuzzo on drums and vocal (Kylie Auldist, Mia Dyson, Paul Grabowsky, Shane Howard, Patti Labelle, Fred Smith, Deb Morrow, Bob Sedergreen and more). Tim Neal on keys (Mavis Staples, Ricky Lee Jones, Joss Stone, Archie Roach, Paul Kelly, Ernest Ranglin, Randy Crawford, Fiona Boyes and more). Shannon Bourne on guitar (Chris Wilson, Vikka Bull, The Black Sorrows, Russell Morris, Tex Perkins, Broderick Smith and more, and new bassplayer Zoë Frater (Zoë Frater Quintet and more)
Check out this clip from the Twilight Sounds gig at Heidelberg Park recently with the band playing ‘A Good Fool is Hard to Find’ featuring new bassist Zoe Frater and Shannon Bourne on fire on the Flying V.
Also just announced – Checkboard Lounge will launch SUN SESSIONS Friday April 1 at the Thornbury Theatre, with special guest Sarah Carroll. Details and tix are available here
SUN SESSIONS is out now on limited edition marbled yellow/orange vinyl, black vinyl, CD (with bonus tracks) or as a digital download and available from https://cheersquadrecordstapes.bandcamp.com/album/sun-sessions