ALTHOUGH she sings the blues, ANNI PIPER has plenty to smile about.
The Wollongong-based musician, who has been performing since she was 15, is off to the studio next week to record her debut album Jailbreak. ``I've done several demos before but this will be my first proper studio album,'' Piper said.
``I am so excited about it because it shouldn't be too much longer until I actually have the album in my hands.'' She will present her first show in Newcastle at the MARQUIS O'LORNE HOTEL on Saturday night.
It will be the last time Piper performs as ANNI BEE AND THE KEEPERS with guitarist ALLAN VANDER LINDEN and drummer ANDREW `JACKO' JACKSON but the line-up will basically stay the same. Piper said the name change is all about gaining recognition.
'`Basically the line up will be the same, but because I'm the leader of the band and I write most of the songs, I thought I'd rather play under my own name.'' It will be the first time Piper has performed under her own name since she began playing in bands as a teen growing up in Sydney.
Piper earned a BA in Contemporary Music by the age of 19 and has since played in numerous bands such as SILVER BEAVER and at events such as the AUSTRALIAN BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL in Goulburn.
`When I did my degree, that's when I really found that blues was what I was going to play.
`It was something that I picked up myself. I listened to STEVIE RAY VAUGHN and ROBERT CRAY so I got into the modern music before discovering the early greats later on.'' Anni Bee and the Keepers will play originals and blues standards at the Marquis O'Lorne on Saturday night.
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