There’s a veritable smorgasbord of musical talent hitting Bendigo over the next few weekends.
Tonight, Friday, July, 29 at the Gold Dust Lounge, beneath the Shamrock Hotel, the immense talent that is Lloyd Spiegel will grace a Bendigo stage for the first time since late last year.
He’ll be playing tracks from last year’s 25 track Double Live Set release, showcasing his extensive back catalogue. His live performances are a treat.
Sarah Carroll, the ‘Ukulele Queen of the Bellarine’, brings her unique brand of folk-pop-acid-country-rock n roll to the Goldmines Hotel this Saturday, July, 30.
Carroll was the inaugural recipient of the Ross Lipson Award at the 2014 Queenscliff Music Festival. She also toured the US that year, playing a series of festivals and club shows in Nashville, Austin and San Francisco.
She’ll be playing songs from her forthcoming album Star Parade.
“Healing Dog,” she says, “is about the power of small animals, After The Ride, about political uncertainty and the title track an ode to the long drive.”
“I love playing in Bendigo because I had a wonderful childhood there. I’m delighted to see the arts community having such an impact on the city. It’s a beautiful place and I have very dear friends there.”
Sarah Carroll certainly likes playing in Bendigo – she’ll be back on Saturday, August, 6 joining Australian blues icon Chris Wilson on the Blues Tram.
Wilson needs little introduction. The highly-regarded singer-guitarist-harmonica player has been a fixture of the Australian blues and rock scene for nearly 30 years.
Though no stranger to Bendigo, this will be Wilson’s long-awaited Blues Tram debut.
Midweek Blues are joined by Castlemaine’s Sons of the Blues for a double dose Sunday session at the Goldmines on July 31. Midweek Blues have been gradually carving out a reputation since forming in 2014. Their set now includes eight originals, including recent additions Old Dog, River of Tears, and The Man Who Has It All. They’re planning to release their first EP at the Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival in November.
Sons of the Blues is a duo – Patrick Byrne on vocals, guitar and stomp box, and John Phillips on lead guitar. Together they deliver a finely-honed blend of the blues from the full-on Crossroads Blues to the subtleties of Kind Hearted Woman.
It’s a busy time at the Goldmines. The iconic Marong Road hotel is hosting the Goldmines Bluegrass Festival on Sunday, August, 14. The line-up, so far, includes The Davidson Brothers, Bluestone Junction, The Elderberries, Southern Bluegrass Band, and Smith & Sheehan.
And for something really quite different… aspiring songwriters have a rare opportunity to fine-tune their craft at Abbie Cardwell’s songwriting workshop at the Old Church On The Hill on Saturday, August, 13.
Cardwell, a Triple J Unearthed winner with seven albums to her name, will share tips and techniques about songwriting and lyrical creativity. The session is suitable for songwriters at all levels; a great chance to learn from an artist Kasey Chambers described as “unique and memorable…a true one of a kind.”
