Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges will bring the contemporary sounds of New Orleans to central Victoria as part of the Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival’s main event concert on Saturday, November 5.

Described as a nomadic musician whose home is wherever his next performance is, Bridges will take up residence on the stage in MacGillivray Hall at Bendigo TAFE’s McCrae Street campus for one night only.

Joining Bridges in the ‘Direct from the USA’ show is Travis Bowlin, a rising blues star from Nashville, and Melbourne’s own Ian Collard, ensuring a night of diverse stylings and complementary artistry.

With only 220 seats available in the hall, punters will want to get in quick for what is sure to be a highlight – and one of the most popular events – of the festival.

Fresh from a European tour, Bridges will perform songs from his extensive catalogue, which includes his 2015 album Hold on a Little Bit Longer. The album was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the world-renowned Blues Foundation Memphis’ 37th Blues Music Awards.

Bridges’ talents as a songwriter and performer transcend genre, meaning excursions into anything from gospel music to straight rock will keep music fans of all kinds thoroughly entertained.

Bowlin, an accomplished vocalist and blues guitarist from Aurora, Indiana, grew up on the banks of the Ohio River in a family that loved music.

“It

[was] always Southern-rooted music. That’s where I felt like all the influences were,” Bowlin has said of the impact his upbringing had on his songwriting. Like Bridges, Bowlin is a man of the road, and will appear solo at this year’s festival, performing tracks such as Travelin’ Man that speak of his journey through life.

Collard, a harmonica player, vocalist and guitarist, was a member of ARIA-award winning blues trio Collard Greens and Gravy. He will open the evening with a solo performance that showcases his “authentic down-home blues sound”.

Tickets are $49 and available via the festival’s official website, with thanks to the box office team at Capital Venues & Events.

This is one Blues Festival show not to miss.

Now in its sixth year, the Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival continues to go from strength to strength, still solely run by a dedicated group of local volunteers. With a line-up of local, national and international artists, there is always plenty to see and hear, from talented newcomers to genre stalwarts who have been refining their sound for many years.