ONE of Australia's finest blues- rock guitarists Mal Eastick returns to Newcastle after illness has kept him away from the music scene for the past four years.
Eastick has developed respect from audiences and players alike over the past 30 years with his distinctive sound and heartfelt dynamic playing style.
His professional music career now spans over 30 years commencing back in the '70s with the landmark Australian band Stars with the late Andrew Durant. Since then, Eastick has played with Hoodoo Gurus, Jimmy Barnes, Renee Geyer, Glen Shorrock, Max Merritt and Matt Taylor's Chain. Mal then went on to form the original Mal Eastick Band and released the critically acclaimed album The Southern Line in 1995.
Later, after several years of constant touring, the band line-up went through change and culminated in the independent release of Spirit in 2000, which featured once again some of Australia's finest musicians such as John Makey, Rudy Miranda and Ian Lees. The last four years have sent great personal hardship his way, but like all great blues musicians, Eastick is now looking to the future with optimism and is relishing the opportunity to cement himself back into the top of the Australian blues scene.
Eastick has more recently made guest appearances with The Kevin Borich Express and returns to Newcastle as guest guitarist with blues piano player and vocalist Jan Preston at the Premier Hotel, Broadmeadow on Saturday, April 23, from 8pm.
ql * Michael Maher hosts bifBluesnight on 2NUR-FM 103.7 every Friday from 8pm-11pm.
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