The SOUTHWEST BLUES CLUB is kicking of the New Year not with a bang but with a TORNADO! The original, the one and only, the iconic Australian blues band the band that put OZ BLUES on the MAP – for one EXCLUSIVE SHOW ONLY FEBRUARY 12 – don’t be the one to say “I should have gone to that” be the one to say “I was there!”
Artist Description
Since forming in 1968 Chain have continually set the standard for original blues in Australia. Since the late sixties and early seventies, Chain has been the most influential blues/rock band in Australia. They have put an indelible stamp of an Australian style on blues music that no other act has done. Although they individually and collectively learnt the music of the American greats and were influenced by the British blues of the sixties, they interpreted blues in a way no-one had done before… and they were different in other ways too!
Their chart success in 1971 was generated by their following, not a record company push. They became known for their dedication to original music and were, in a sense, a reaction to the mindless copying of overseas acts that so many Australian bands indulged in at the time. (There were a few very notable exceptions of course) They also became an iconic symbol for the working class, performed songs that represented the feelings of the anti-Vietnam War movement, and were more suited to the alternative life-style people of the late sixties / early seventies than the mainstream pop world.
Chain formed in late 1968 in Melbourne, Australia with members of the ‘Beat’n’Tracks’ adding
Wendy Saddington as singer. The band immediately captured the imagination of the vibrant underground music scene of the day with their musicianship and cohesion, the result of dedicated rehearsal and an original attitude.
The lineup changed over a period of time until by 1970 original member Phil Manning (guitar and vocals), bassist Barry Sullivan and Drummer Barry Harvey were a loud brash trio and living in Brisbane. With the joining of Matt Taylor (Phil had worked with Matt previously in the Bay City Union) on vocals and harmonica the band took on a tougher, bluesier edge and returned to Melbourne, on the way stopping in Sydney and recording what today has become one of the classic songs in Australian rock music history. ‘Black’n Blue’ smashed the charts and went to number one in Melbourne as Chain created incredible interest with their totally original take on blues/rock.
Another single ‘Judgment’ (no 2 on the charts) and a gold album were unprecedented for any blues-based band at the time, yet the lineup lasted only 11 months before changing yet again. Matt Taylor recorded an album of his songs with the members of Chain and had a huge hit with ‘I Remember When I Was Young’, another classic song from that era.
Although there have been a number of members pass through the band, the ‘Black’n Blue’ lineup is the one their audience hold most dear, as well as being the most commercially successful. For more than the past decade the lineup of Matt Taylor, Phil Manning, Barry Harvey and Dirk Dubois (bass) has been a constant one. Matt Taylor continues to front Chain in his entertaining laconic style, and collectively the band has the relaxed cohesion that comes from a lifetime of playing. They are still as original as ever and are credited with establishing ‘Oz Blues’ as a bonafide stylistic variation of its American father.
Chain is honoured at each year’s ‘Australian Blues Festival’ (Goulburn, New South Wales) with the presenting of ‘Chain Awards’ to the various winning performers, albums and producers.
‘Toward the Blues’ is still on general release and probably the longest permanently available rock/blues album in Australia. Recent albums are ‘The First Thirty Years’, a live recording, and ’Sweet Honey’ which is another totally original offering. They are a great live act and the experience of seeing and hearing Chain is something anyone interested in the roots of blues in Australia should have…. In fact, it is really a ‘must’!
A not-for-profit community-minded organisation run by volunteers Email via web site: www.southwestbluesclub.org / Phone: (08) 9795 5593 (a/h) For further details visit our website at www.southwestbluesclub.org
West Coast Blues Club website
Rockingham Hotel
Kent St, Rockingham
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West Coast Blues Club
Dates to mark the Calendar
K-Town Blues & Roots Concert - 19 February 2010
- Stalking Dave
- Loaded Denim
- Tom Richardson
- Mia Joy & Blue Cargo
Venue: Koorliny Arts Centre, Sulphur Rd, Parmelia
Time: Doors 5.30pm, Concert 6.30pm - Midnight
Tickets $15 Adult $10 Members & Students $5 Children 5-15yrs
Bookings: 9439 0290
JAM NIGHTS Entry $8.00 / Muso’s and Members $5.00
TBA
ROCKINGHAM HOTEL for all Club events
Kent Street, Rockingham
Doors open 7:30pm - 12pm
Supported by the evenings House Band Loaded Denim To Book your spot contact: Des on 0418 954 840
"The Hips"
Vdelli
Dave Gillam Band
Humble Crumble
Sister Mojo
Greg Hastings
Toodyay Bushfire Appeal Benefit Sun 7th Feb 11am – 6pm Presented by Wizard Entertainment-Peel Manor House Bar Promotions & Chella Floral Design Venue : Peel Manor Estate Baldivis / Karnup (www.peelmanorhouse.com.au.)
We have had some fantastic donations and in kind support coming in.
Ever generous, people from Rockingham are rallying to the cause to help the residents of Toodyay.
Wizard Entertainment and Peel Manor House are organising a 'Family Day Concert' with Bar Promotions stepping in to coordinate the music, Selena Davey Media & Marketing Promotions Officer and Chella Floral Designs coordinating the Silent Auction.
· Boondy Bus Service will be running a shuttle bus for a small donation between Warnbro Bus Station and the Peel Manor House Lv from the Warnbro Bus Station 11am- 2pm- Rtn 2.30pm-6.30pm.
· PSI Audio Sound Production from Mandurah will be giving you the finest quality vibes in the South.
If you are a Business, Musician or a Stall Holder, Toodyay Bushfire Appeal Benefit would appreciate hearing from you to make this event a success.
Please contact Wizard Entertainment
Logistics & Project Officer Fiona Read Mob: 0408-904-806
Donation Entry: $10 at the gate $5 –children 12 and under & Family $25 Time 11am – 6pm Pack a picnic & blanket Stalls, children’s entertainment and much more. Plenty of parking No BYO - FULLY LICENSED
Gasoline Inc
Baby Jane
Blackwater Station
The Bronze
Toodyay Bushfire Appeal Benefit Sat 6th - 8pm till midnight.
Civic Hotel, 981 Beaufort Street, Inglewood
Tickets: $10 available at the door
Once again our fellow Australians face adversity & once again we pull together to do what we can. This time, not surprisingly, it’s the Perth music community doing their bit to ease the burden. In the days following the Toodyay bushfire, the word went out for some of Perth’s best rock bands to join forces for the benefit of our devastated countrymen. Bella Stivey from Rock House Sound, along with Trashpictures & AV Photography, with a little help from their friends, started putting together a fundraising gig to be held at The Civic Hotel, Saturday 6 Feb.
Meolodic guitar pop rockers The Bronze open the show, followed by Baby Jane. These boys know how to rock old school style. Self confessed “Stoner rock” band Blackwater Station do their thing strait after & power rock band Gasoline Inc. will finalise proceedings.
All funds raised on the night will go to the Toodyay Community. Heaps of prizes & give aways & one lucky punter will walk away with an autographed, brand spankin’ new Stratocaster courtesy of The Rock Inn Mt Lawley.
Don’t miss your chance to help the victims of Toodyay, get yourself of fist full of local original rock & maybe walk out of the gig looking like a rock star with a new guitar!
K-Town Blues & Roots Concert
K-Town Blues & Roots Concert - 19 February 2010
- Stalking Dave
- Loaded Denim
- Tom Richardson
- Mia Joy & Blue Cargo
Venue: Koorliny Arts Centre, Sulphur Rd, Parmelia
Time: Doors 5.30pm, Concert 6.30pm - Midnight
Tickets $15 Adult $10 Members & Students $5 Children 5-15yrs
Bookings: 9439 0290
Musical Theatre Karaoke
Next Event: Thu 4th February
Do you and your friends usually end up turning off dance music at parties and putting on Wicked instead? Do you drive along belting the big numbers? Do you lock yourself in your room to choreograph dance routines to your favourite songs?
This is a great opportunity to show off your all your hard work to many other musical theatre lovers.
If you have a show coming up, why not bring the cast down for a promo? sing your favourite number and get your audience!
If you have rehearsals, come after.
If you have a show, bring the cast and come after.
If you work late, come after.
Tell all your broadway geek friends, and come along for a fun night.
Fun "Musical Theatre" Cocktails will be available on the night too!
Ferrara Karaoke Bar, 67 Milligan St, Perth (near Fast Eddy's)
Time: 8pm - 1am
1st Thursday of every month.
Enquiries: Cassie Vagliviello email
Facebook event click here
Diamond NOT August Night
Saturday 13 February 2010
This is one of the BIG nights of the year where we put on a quality show and meal. There are tables available for booking and if you book for 10 people or more,
you will receive a 10% discount!.
Individual Ticket price is $55 pre booked which includes the Show and a quality meal.
Folks you just cant get this sort of value anywhere in Perth!
A quality meal a show at a great location and fantastic bar pricing.
All this and a romantic singer on Valentine’s day eve.
Do your partner a treat and take them to a night out to remember!
Those of you who attended the Jerry Lee Lewis review know
just how good these shows are.
Ticket bookings phone 93303370
Venue- Melville Bowling Club (inc) 592 Canning Hwy ALFRED COVE.
Dinner starts 7pm
Show starts 8pm
"RAW Comedy"
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Venue
Heats:
The Comedy Lounge
Charles Hotel
509 Charles St, North Perth
WA State Final - His Majestys Theatre
825 Hay St, Perth
Performance Dates 2010:
Heats: Every Thursday
Jan 7, 14, 21, 28, Feb 4, 11
Semi Finals Feb 18, 25
Wildcard Mar 4
WA Final Mar 6
Times:
All Shows at 8pm
Tickets:
Heats: $18/$15
State Final: tba
Bookings:
Heats:
Ph: 9309 1139
State Final: BOCS 9484 1133
Melbourne International Comedy Festival presents
"RAW Comedy"
RAW Comedy is Australia's biggest and most prestigious open mic comedy competition. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has been running it since 1996, and past RAW winners and finalists include Chris Lilley, Josh Thomas, Hannah Gadsby, Wil Anderson, Peter Helliar, Claire Hooper, Mike McLeish (Keating the Musical!) and Tim Minchin. RAW runs nationally every year between January and April.
What is RAW Comedy?
RAW happens in every capital city in Australia and in some regional centres.
You enter your details and your preferred heat date here.
You go and do a 5 minute spot of new, original comedy material at the heat.
Heats are compered by a professional comedian and are open to the public.
The best acts from the heats go on to State semifinals, then to a State Final.
The best acts from all the State Finals go into a National Final.
The National Grand Final is held in the Melbourne Town Hall as a feature event of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and recorded for broadcast by ABC television
The ultimate National RAW Comedy winner jets off to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - the world's largest and most awesome annual comedy fun time!
WA PERTH HEATS:
Every Thursday at The Comedy Lounge
with the State Final at His Majesty's Theatre - March 6
by Justin Fleming
directed by Andrew & Alice Warwick
Paris, 1989. Karen Idlewild must meet Sam Beckett - for the most unusual of reasons. On a visit to Paris, and against the instinctive warnings of her father, Karen takes her nine-year-old son, Jonah, on a bizarre quest to meet Beckett - no easy mission, as the man is vigorously protected by his wife, Suzanne, and others. Buried in the adventure is Karen's need to explain a mysterious, dreadful and tragic moment in her past and that of her young son.
"Justin Fleming's BURNT PIANO is an enquiring psychological drama played out in the world of ideas while dealing more immediately with a family grappling with tragedy and fate. It is a complex, intelligent and humorous work.......The banter is intoxicating.....Burnt Piano is a very fine play." (Bryce Hallett, Sydney Morning Herald, 12 March 1999.)
"Burnt Piano is a beautifully constructed, elegiac piece of work... Fleming deftly moves between the genius oracle-figure of Karen's imagination and the reality of an old aching man...A lovely piece of theatre, well written and wonderfully performed." (Inpress, 1 September, 1999)
"While taking you on a journey of the mind, Burnt Piano blazes a path to the heart." (Uta Hagen, HB Playwrights Foundation, New York City, March 3, 2001.
Matinee performance on the 7th Feb starts at 2pm. All other shows commence at 8pm. Please turn up 30 to 15 minutes before the above times to ensure your seats.
Harbour Theatre’s first production for 2010 in their new premises is Deckchairs.
Written by a woman, to be performed by women, “Deckchairs” is full of life and vitality that will appeal to everyone. Set by the seaside these four plays take a humourous, poignant and often compassionate look, at the many facets of modern life and relationships. The well defined, interesting characters are colourful, animated but above all truthful.
Performed by four extremely talented actresses Sue Lynch of Bullcreek, Ann Speicher of Mosman Park, Nicola Bond and Joan Scafe both of Applecross, Deckchairs is a production that will touch your emotions and should not be missed.
Follow the adventures of Marion and Deborah as they discuss their unusual sisterhood, Pascaline and Maggie as they compete in a theatrical battle of wits, Miss Westlake and Julia as they discuss their shared past and finally, Beryl and Doris on their absolutely hilarious work’s outing.
Award winning director Peter Kirkwood says “these plays, delicately observing life, are full of colourful and animated characters – sometimes humorous, sometimes touching.”
Kirkwood adds: “I have chosen a cast of four well-known and talented actors to portray the eight characters needed. They have the challenge of not just portraying a different character in each play but to make each character totally believeable. They are succeeding admirably.”
“Members of Harbour Theatre have spent most of the Festive season relocating the theatre. Creating an intimate theatre space inside a cinema is no mean feat and this has been completed successfully by the hard work of many Harbour Theatre volunteers. I am honoured to have been selected to present the first play at these new premises”
* NEW VENUE:
Harbour Theatre is in the Port Cineaste Building, 70 Adelaide Street, Fremantle (opposite Woolworths). There is plenty of parking nearby.
· For more information, contact the director
For a really great night out, have a meal at Clancy’s Fish Pub before the show (it’s just a short walk across the park from the theatre).
Ask for your Harbour Theatre Meal Deal to receive a discount – good times, great food and a fantastic show all add up to a top night out in Fremantle!
"Men of Stone"
Stage Left Theatre Troupe Goldfields Inc
Written by:
Seth Rozin
Directed by
Kevin Blair
Venue
Stage Left Theatre
61b Burt St, Boulder
(entry off Lane Street)
Performance Dates 2010:
Feb 5, 6, 11, 12, 13
Times:
All Shows at 8pm
Doors open 30 min
prior to curtain
Tickets:
$20 Full $15 Concession ** OPENING NIGHT SPECIAL
2 Tickets for the price of 1
A farcical play by Seth Rozin
Directed by Kevin Blair
What happens when your greatest work of art comes to LIFE.... as the wrong person??!!!
The great Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo (aka Mickey) is nearing the completion of his magnificent statue of Moses, commissioned by Pope Julius II.
But when Moses comes to life in the blue-collar persona of Mickey’s model, the local butcher Mo, Mickey’s life begins to crumble.
He frantically tries to undo his inadvertent miracle as the butcher, the imperious Pope and a ravenous Florentine Countess all stake their claim in a work of art that truly does imitate life!
Stage Left Theatre Troupe Goldfields WA Inc. is proud to present its first play for the 2010 season.
MEN OF STONE is a farcical comedy about human nature and the pursuit of perfection, with a contemporary spin.
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts Inc, written by Seth Rozin and directed by Kevin Blair, the play stars Michael McLeod as Mickey, James Parker as Mo, Greg Langtree as Moses, John Rees as the Pope and Lisa van Oyen as the Countess.
Five performances of MEN OF STONE will be held at the Stage Left Theatre Troupe Goldfields WA Inc. Barracks in Boulder, in February 2010.
Warning: This play may contain nudity, lingerie, cannelloni and a fig leaf !
"The Boys "
Old Mill Theatre Company
Written by:
Gordon Graham
Directed by
Dannielle Ashton
Venue
Old Mill Theatre
cnr Mends St & Mill Point Rd
South Perth
Performance Dates 2010:
Feb 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20
Times:
All Shows at 8pm
*Except Sunday @ 2pm
Doors open 30 min
prior to curtain
Controversial, confronting and chilling:
Old Mill Theatre launches 2010 season with intense drama The Boys
THE Old Mill Theatre is launching its 2010 season at the start of February with the highly-acclaimed – yet chilling and confronting – play The Boys.
Best known for the 1998 movie adaptation starring David Wenham and Toni Collette, it scored Western Australian playwright Gordon Graham an Australian Writers' Guild award in 1992.
The Boys follows the story of Brett’s return home from prison when, together with his brothers, they go on a drunken, resentment-filled rampage fuelled by the women in their lives. Brett and his two younger brothers slam out of the house and go on a wild hate-filled crime spree.
There is vile and meaningless behaviour from the three, but in contrast the female characters dominate the play with their loyal willingness to continually compromise their lives for their ‘boys’.
This is a strong ensemble piece with the actors being required to carry a difficult physical and emotional piece of theatre with the right amount of strength, aggression, empathy, intelligence and humility.
Amid considerable controversy, Graham said the characters came from his own upbringing in Perth – but the initial inspiration was from the shocking Anita Cobby case, near Blacktown, NSW, in February 1986.
Director Dannielle Ashton said she chose to direct The Boys because it was an extremely powerful piece of theatre that would challenge audiences.
“Audience members will witness vile and meaningless behaviour from the male characters in the play, who are unnervingly still so identifiable in Australian society,” she said.
“In contrast, the female characters dominate the play with their loyal willingness to continually compromise their lives for the boys.”
“The mother and girlfriends of these boys are extremely prominent and crucial in the delivery of the narrative by showing flashes of vulnerability as women and allowing the boys to treat them the way they do."
“The fact the plot is loosely based on a horrific true story creates even more power for the audience and there is a large amount of depth to play within the seven characters."
“It’s a strong ensemble piece and the actors are required to carry a difficult physical and emotional piece of theatre, with the right amount of strength, aggression, empathy, intelligence and humility.”
Ashton admits the content of the play will be confronting for audiences and is conscious of the actors falling into stereotypes.
“This play relies heavily on reality, so it is important to keep the characters genuine,” she said. “The actors have to be completely truthful in their portrayals so the audience can go on the same emotional journey of hate, anguish, fear, love and resentment.”
Ashton has been involved in theatre for more than 20 years, most recently staging Trainspotting – scoring her a best director award at the 2009 ITA State DramaFest – and an acclaimed production of A Streetcar Named Desire.
Previously, she won the 2008 ITA State DramaFest Best Overall Production Award for The Return and best production and best director awards for co-directing A One Night Stand-Off with Martin Lindsay at the 2008 South West Drama Festival.
Starring: Murray Jackson, David Gregory, David Bruce, Val Riches, Julia Hern, Leah Maher, and Krysia Wiechecki.
Filmed as Last Train to Freo this is the original play written by WA author Reg Cribb.
Two ex-cons board the last train to Fremantle at Midland Station on a hot summer’s night. The air-conditioning is not working and the train guards are on strike. At Bassendean a young law student , Lisa boards the train. The two, bored and out for trouble start to hassle her. The other occupants of the carriage are a middle aged woman and a writer. As the action heats up along with the temperature the focus of the action begins to change. Why is ‘the writer’ seemingly detached from the action? Why did a young girl get on the train late at night and alone? What is the other lone woman running from?
This is a taut psychological thriller with a surprise in the ending.
Reg Cribb is the author of Last Cab to Darwin among several notable plays. The Return has won several theatre awards since it’s first production in 2002.
Director Jeff Hansen admits that this play is not an easy one for actors and audiences alike but is confident that the talents of his team of actors will have you mesmerized from beginning to end. Featuring Adam Shuttleworth, Jesse Way, Annabel Maclean, Penny Searle and Tom Walding as the writer.
Note: This play is suitable for Adults only, it contains coarse language and some violence.
Featuring the talents of Adam Shuttleworth, Jesse Way, Annabel Maclean,
Penny Searle and Tom Walding.
"Malice in Wunderland"
Darlington Theatre Players
Written by:
LaVerne Kirton
Directed by
LaVerne Kirton
Venue
Marloo Theatre
Marloo Rd, Greenmount
Performance Dates 2010:
Feb 26, 27, 28,
March 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13
Times:
All Shows at 8pm
*Except Sundays @ 2pm
Doors open 30 min
prior to curtain
Tickets:
$18 Full $16 Concession/Children
$14 Members
or Family (2+2) $60
A Gothic Musical
Written and Directed by LaVerne Kirton
A Senior Youth Theatre Production
Forget the traditional stories of Alice in Wonderland!
This story tells of an Alternate Wunderland.
A teenage ‘Alice’ is drawn into another dimension:
The Magic Crystal has disappeared - enter a Black Queen and a Red Queen.
How can ‘Alice’ discover the final victor in the quest for control of
The Realm of Wunderland?
February 26 – March 13 2010
Suitable for all ages
Costumes and Sets by award-winning designers
Tickets $18 adults, $16 Conc/child, $14 members
Family 2 adults + 2 children $60
Bookings from January 11 - 9255 1783
Featuring:
Julie Ann Hourquebie, Imogen Castledine, Deb Gordon, Amber English,
Stacey Gay, Savannah Wood, Victoria Luxton, Emily Caruso,
Lleuwyn Taylor, Jessie Wood, Alex Waller, Isaac Money, Charlie Darlington,
Connor Kemp, Brett Hatfield
Principle Dancers:
Renae Papalia, Emma Foggerdy,
Odette Vonk, Teagan Lindsay,
Alana Howard, Bec Money, Sophie Tucker, Aliza Caruso, Emily Caruso, Teaka Howard
Principle Singers:
Robert Anderson, Brooke Napier, Glen Bain, Jayden Payne, Tim Presant,
Natasha Dale, Jennifer Hawker, Courtney Turner, Renae Makin,
"Lords and Ladies"
Stirling Players
Written by:
Based on Terry Pratchett's fantasy novel
Adapted for the stage by
Irana Brown and Simon James
Directed by
Christine Ellis
Venue
Stirling Theatre
Morris Place, Innaloo
Performance Dates 2010:
February 19, 20, 21*, 25, 26, 27, 28*
March 4, 5, 6
Based on Terry Pratchett’s fantasy novel
Adapted for the stage by Irana Brown and Simon James
Directed by Christine Ellis
The Stirling Players will reign in the new theatre season by presenting to audiences Simon James and Irana Brown's play adaptation of the much-loved Terry Pratchett story, Lords and Ladies.
In the mountain kingdom of Lancre, three witches return home from a broomstick tour of Discworld to find the elves are back and there is a very real threat of the entire Disc being destroyed.
Granny Weatherwax and her tiny coven must do battle with the elves who threaten to take control with their hypnotic glamour.
A comedic adventure of witches, wizards, romantic interludes, a royal wedding, strange crop circles, even stranger Morris dancers, and the biggest threat Discworld has ever faced . . . Elves!
With a cast of over thirty, this play with music is expected by the Stirling Players to be an impressive start to the new year.
Christine Ellis, well known for her extravagant productions with the Stirling Players, has proven once again that her directing abilities have hit the mark with Lords and Ladies.
Says Ellis of the production, "I can appreciate how many die-hard Pratchett fans there are, even in Perth, and I'm really aiming to produce a play that appeals to the general public, but also to the readers of the books.
"I was blown away by the talent at the auditions, and am thrilled that a majority of the cast are also Pratchett fans; it creates an energy you can really see in their performances on stage."
Sample & Taste the awesome Blue Shaddy sound - Click here
Melanie DeCull
TAZ Entertainment
ph: 9255 3336 email
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‘I stood at the side of the stage on the Friday night. My eyes got wider, my jaw hung slacker and my feet developed a mind of their own and danced along, outta control.’ ‘The Tent in the Tattersalls car park was pretty much reduced to smouldering rubble by the time Blue Shaddy had finished their set and I got the feeling that night that this is something this Surf-Funk Roots band does on a regular basis’- Sam Fell / Rhythms Magazine Oct 2007
****Music Oz Blues & Roots Award Winner 2007**** ***Blues at Broadbeach Awards 2007 Best Instrumentalist, Belly McClelland***
Singer/songwriter and guitarist Jim McClelland, his brother Belly (harmonica) and Sandra (bass guitarist and wife of Jim) were born and bred in WA's remote wheat belt – a harshly beautiful environment complete with dust and flies, but with not a lot else to do but focus on their shared love of music. When you listen to Blue Shaddy’s songs you get a strong sense of where these three come from and it is very much apparent that their heart still lies in their country roots. Arunachala (known simply as Arun) Satgunasingam grew up in Kuala Lumpur, immersed in the sights and sounds of cultural and religious family events, where he would soak up the South Indian rhythms and street beats in a childhood that led him to end up studying at the Conservatorium of Music in Perth, studying contemporary percussion and Latin jazz. Arun has played for artists of the calibre of Michael Franti, Jeff Martin, and acclaimed London beat maker Mark De Clive Lowe.
A chance meeting with Jim McClelland at a local music store in Perth led to Arun filling in for an absent Sandy at a few low-key acoustic gigs. A friendship started, and from this point, Jim and Arun began to craft a new sound for Blue Shaddy – one that infused world beats and contemporary percussion into the Shaddy’s existing blues/ roots sound.
Western Australian own Blue Shaddy are now well known around the country as being one of the most
energetic live bands on offer. With their Roots come Hillbilly sound Blue Shaddy always connect with
their audience.
Singer / songwriter Jim (Neil) McClelland, his brother Belly (harmonica) and Sandra (bass guitarist
and wife of (Jim) were born and bred in WA's remote wheat belt – a harshly beautiful environment
complete with dust and flies, but with not a lot else to do but focus on their shared love of music.
When
you listen to Blue Shaddy's songs you get a strong sense of where these three come from and it is very
apparent that their heart still lies in their country roots.
Arunachala (known simply as Arun) Satgunasingam grew up in Kuala Lumpur, immersed in the sights
and sounds of cultural and religious family events, where he would soak up the South Indian rhythms
and street beats in a childhood that led him to end up studying at the Conservatorium of music in Perth.
A chance meeting with Jim at a local music store brought Blue Shaddy together as they are today,
infusing world beats and contemporary percussion with the existing 'wheat belt' Shaddy sound.
With their captivating on-stage raw chemistry, Blue Shaddy gain invitations to most of the major music
festivals on offer.
