IF earning your stripes in the world of music means playing with legends in the field, and racking up years of experience, then members of BLACKY'S BLUES must almost be five-star generals.
This Friday night at SJ's Hotel Blacky's Blues will support the launch of the Midnight Howlers debut CD HOWLIN'.
On Saturday night the trio will begin a Saturday night residency at the Acoustic Cafe at The Star Hotel.
The acoustic trio from Blacksmiths plays traditional blues, which means members use the traditional instruments of bluesmen including the washboard, harmonica and guitars with open tuning.
As well as blues standards by ROBERT JOHNSON and R&B legends TONY JOE WHITE and JANIS JOPLIN, the group plays originals and covers of popular contemporary tunes with a traditional 'blues treatment'.
Some of the covers given a blues treatment are by artists such as DIRE STRAITS and DAVID BOWIE. All members of Blacky's Blues hail from Blacksmiths - hence the name, inspired by the Lake Macquarie beachside suburb where they all reside.
Members of Blacky's Blues all have great achievements behind them.
Harmonica and saxophone player REX 'HONEYBOY' HILL, was a founding member of the renowned BACKSLIDERS band, a traditional touring blues outfit of some repute.
Hill has featured on two of The Backsliders' previous recordings, as recently as 1998's DOWNTIME. American-born percussionist BRETT VAN-KREIDT plays the washboard, congas and an Arabian drum called a dobruka in the band.
He is the son of renowned American jazz saxophone player DAVE VAN-KREIDT, who recorded with the great DAVE BRUBECK. Brett has also performed, toured and recorded with a Sydney-based world dance music band AFRAM for EMI.
Guitarist GRANT JENKINS provides vocals, acoustic and electric guitar for Blacky's Blues.
Jenkins spent four years in England as a musician on the club circuit, and has fronted Hunter blues groups MANDALA and DETOUR. TE
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