Photos and report by Jason Rosewarne.
The fabulous Blues Guitar Roadshow, the ultimate celebration of the guitar has become one of the most sought after tickets in town. Curated by singer, guitarist John McNamara, at the Memo Music Hall on the weekend, a pack house was treated to some incredible licks from the finest local exponents of the guitar in Blues Guitar Roadshow number 10!
The show started on a high, led by the Gilbert & Kealey Trio and didn’t let up for the next two and a half hours. George Kamikara delivered a stunning set with his energetic acoustic slide blues and smokin’ harp playing. George can often be seen busking around town and is a Blues Train fave too.
Blues Guitar Roadshow custodian John McNamara then took to the stage with Andrea Marr as the McNamarr Project, playing some tunes from their new album and well as some classic blues covers. The McNamarr Project launch their new album on Sunday July 21 at Way Out West Roots Music Club.
After a short intermission, the exceptional Jimi Hocking and Geoff Achison were up next, offering some fiery blues guitar tunes before making way for the next combination of guitar greats, Shannon Bourne, Nat Allison and Kathleen Halloran.
Too many guitars is never enough and for the last half an hour of the show, the entire cast gathered on stage for one final jam. In a memorable performance, Nat Allison implored the crowd to clap in time as she played the gritty opening chords of AC/DC’s Highway To Hell.
In a funky Geoff Achison-led Shakey Ground, George Kamikara was invited centre stage to blow some heartfelt harp, followed by some cutting Strat licks from the nimble fingers of Kathleen Halloran on Fender Stratocaster. Acho and Shannon took the opportunity to duel it out up front, to the rapturous applause of the crowd before Jimi Hocking brought the tone down a notch with some intricate jazz blues licks on his sunburst Les Paul. The whole band got their Mojo Working’ on a ten minute plus finale, in which all musicians got their moment in the spotlight. Mention must be made of the outstanding backing band which included: Dan West on keyboards, Dave Clark on drums, Chris Rourke on Bass and Sean Vagg on sax.
The Blues Guitar Roadshow heads next to Ballarat before the good folks of Wagga Wagga get their opportunity to experience this world class show.
