The Blues Preachers Bio
Last year, with the release of their second record, Dry Long So, the Sydney based Blues Preachers in my opinion, put out one of the best blues records of the decade.
Samuel Fell / Rhythms Magazine May 2010.
The Blues Preachers will take you to another place and time, somewhere between 1920 and 1940. Their music paints a landscape of pre-war struggle and determination with sounds reminiscent of the Deep South. The Blues Preachers perform a fusion of good old blues, rags, gospel and hillbilly folk. The powerful simplicity of driving finger-style and slide-guitar combined with the sounds of tasteful harmonica and old-school vocal harmonies create a traditional and untarnished sound that will have you on the edge of your seats. The Blues Preachers will make you want to get up and dance with their joyful country and ragtime blues, and send a shiver down your spine with their atmospheric feels, echoing and paying homage to the sacred sounds of early artists such as Blind Willie Johnson. Their 2008 album 'Next Stop Beulah Land' and their highly regarded 2009 release 'Dry Long So' showcase the talents of the Preachers:-
Brother John on guitar, banjo and vocals, and Captain Bluetongue on harmonica, mountain dulcimer and vocals.
Their latest release 'Dead Catz Can Bounce' goes one step further. It contains many original songs about the big issues of today: the global financial crisis, greed, relationships, global warming, materialism, life and death and the search for truth and meaning in the great age of misinformation. After highly acclaimed performances at The Woodford Folk Festival, The Australian Blues Festival (Goulburn), The Blue Mountains Folk Festival, The West Coast Blues Festival and The East Coast Blues Festival, The Blues Preachers have secured a reputation as one of the best acoustic blues and roots acts in the country.
Recent Achievements:
5th. overall in the Australian Songwriting Awards 2009 for
"Divine Justice Coming Down".
Nominated top 5 position in the Sing Out For Social Action category of The Independent Music Awards 2009 for "Divine Justice Coming Down".
"Divine Justice Coming Down" is currently featured on juke box playlists across the USA along with C.W. Stoneking and Cephas and Wiggins.
"Divine Justice Coming Down" was chosen by Yoko Ono as runner-up in the John Lennon 70th. birthday anniversary song contest 2010.
Nominated top 5 position in the Acoustic category of The Independent Music Awards 2011 for "The Free Train Agreement"
"The Free Train Agreement" was selected to be on a Canadian compilation due for release in May 2011 called "Protest Songs For A Better World".
Recent Gigs:
The Woodford Folk Festival
The Blue Mountains Folk Festival
The Australian Blues Festival
The Sunshine Coast Blues Festival
The East Coast Blues and Roots Festival
The West Coast Blues and Roots Festival
The Cairns Blues Festival
The Gympie Muster
Sell Out shows at the Vanguard and Raval
Successful tours of WA, QLD and VIC.
Discography
"Next Stop Beulah Land" 2008
"Dry Long So" 2009
"Dead Catz Can Bounce" 2010
Available through:
www.onlybluesmusic.com
or order online at:
www.bluespreachers.com
or as a digital download from iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/dead-catz-can-bounce/id367229720