New Brisbane blues band Blues Arcadia will release their debut EP this coming November – fans of Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and Freddie King will enjoy the band’s signature sound of Motown and Stax soul blended with the burning heat and power of the Chicago and Memphis blues.
Although the band only formed at the beginning of this year, the Blues Arcadia songwriting partnership between vocalist Alan Boyle and guitarist Chris Harvey continues to strengthen following their previous award-winning project The Bella Reunion. Along with original TBR bassist Jeremy Klysz they are joined by Parmis Rose (keys) and Steve Robin (drums).
Creatively driven by their collective influences, this recording brings a new attitude to the table. Mixed and mastered by Mike “Beachy” Wild (Jeff Lang, Katie Noonan) the self-titled EP is full of old-school soul and showcases a broad palette of colours and textures from blues to jazz. Strictly focused on pushing their own boundaries and wanting to capture the energy of their live performances saw them setting up in a converted heritage-listed wooden barn in the middle of the quiet Queensland countryside, and recording live-to-tape. It was a process the band describe as both nerve-wracking and liberating:
“It was really important to us to create something that represents where we’ve come from as musicians and songwriters, and to pay our respects to some of the incredible artists who’ve inspired us. Making this record was a joy, and we’re really proud of it.”
From the joyous horn stabs on ‘Operator Please’ and the plaintive minor key moan of opening single ‘Corner Girls’, to the inspirational piano tone on ‘Time Again’, this collection of eclectic dirty soul-infused blues lives and breathes with an energy all of its own.
Blues Arcadia EP will be available on all digital stores on Monday 14th of November 2016.
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SHOW DATES
SAT 05 NOV – Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna QLD
SAT 12 NOV – Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
FRI 18 NOV – The Walrus Club, Toowong QLD
SAT 26 NOV – Sonny’s House Of Blues, Brisbane, QLD
FRI 02 DEC – Sonny’s House Of Blues, Brisbane QLD
SAT 03 DEC – The Walrus Club, Toowong QLD
SAT 10 DEC – Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
SAT 31 DEC – The Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna QLD
