bands

LINE-UP INCLUDES:

PHIL MANNING

" Electric fingers on acoustic guitar" - Blues Deluxe

It is impossible to talk about blues music in Australia without Phil Manning being mentioned in the first sentence.

Since the late 60's Phil has been at the forefront of this genre as well as exploring other styles widely. His ability to absorb other styles and craft them to suit his personality has made him one of the truly unique performers of his time.

A founder & continuing member of the now legendary 'Chain', Phil Manning has long been regarded as the most effective blues guitarist produced in this country as well as a fine session player.

(Chain are the only blues band to ever have a number one ('Black'n'Blue'), they also had a number two ('Judgment'). 'Toward The Blues', their 1971 album went double gold).

Chain are also the only band to have blues music awards named after them - 'Chain Awards at the Australian Blues Festival at Goulburn NSW each February.

As a solo performer in the acoustic sphere, Phil has also been ahead of the game as one of the first electric gunslingers to begin working in both realms before 'unplugged' became the catch phrase.

As well as headlining his own shows he has toured with a remarkable number of artists including Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, Albert Collins, Freddie King and dozens of others to the most recent Doobie Brothers Down Under Tour this year.

Tours of Ireland, UK and New Zealand in recent years have begun to reveal his original take on blues/roots music to a much wider audience.

He has received great accolades from radio from the south of the USA to the Netherlands, Germany and to diverse regions as Russia, Israel, Portugal and Italy.

His latest CD 'The Essential Acoustic Collection' on Blackmarket Music, features titles from some of his previous albums, and is a powerful and compelling statement about the depth of his music, his songs and the quality of his guitar and vocal performance.

His solo work has gone from strength to strength with uncompromising musical integrity, & his unquestionable talents on guitar are matched by his songwriting finesse & a keen perception of stylistic purpose.

Although his music is much more than blues, those roots are evident throughout his songs.

However, in form typical of all great bluesmen, Phil Manning is best witnessed in live performance. It is here the sheer artistry of his work shines through & it is for this his audience loves him.

"...an Australian national treasure...can play the hell out of an acoustic instrument so good that it leaves you breathless..." - Folk Roots magazine, U.K.

Tamborine Music

P.O. BOX 135, SEDDON, VIC 3011, AUSTRALIA

Ph: 03 9687 8817 Mob:0419 701810 E-mail: philman_rid@bigpond.com

Website: www.philmanning.com.au

WIZARD AND OZ

Wizard and Oz is a dynamic blues duo ready to weave some magic at this year's Patonga Blues Across the Bay festival.

Andrew Farrell grew up in the southern suburbs of Melbourne and started piano lessons at the age of eight. He studied classical music for many years and then after hearing some boogie woogie thought that it might be fun to play. He then set about playing every style of music that appealed to him, which gave him a wide and varied arsenal of tunes.

David McMillan spent his early years in London and Surrey, he was given a small guitar when he was four and eventually found that not only could it be used as a cricket bat, but also to make music. He played solo guitar until he was fifteen and then someone asked if he could sing. He found that he could, and then started digesting all kinds of music.

Both Andrew and David moved to the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, where they both were playing, they met in 1986 and have been making music together ever since.

Wizard and Oz are a very busy and hard-working blues outfit with a very impressive history of gigs. Over the past few years they have played at most of Australia's and New Zealand's extensive calendar of Blues and Jazz Festivals. It seems that they leave behind them a trail of devotees wherever they perform and are universally respected by audiences and fellow musicians.

On a recent tour of New Zealand they were joined on stage by Phil Manning from legendary Australian blues band, Chain. A mutual respect for their considerable musical talents led to our request for a repeat of that team performing this year at Patonga. Phil Manning was more than happy to share the bill once more with these boys.

Please check out the Wizard and Oz website to find out more and read some great reviews of their work. www.wizardandoz.com.au

BEACHHEAD

BEACHHEAD came into being in early 1980 when it was heard that Kings Cross (Sydney) nightclub, La BASTILLE required a band for its midnight to dawn slot on Friday and Saturday nights.

The current variation has been together since around August 1996 and has played a number of venues in Sydney and surrounds.

Rod (Beachhead) Jeffrey is the band's singer and mainstay. He has been singing professionally for something in excess of 20 years and is regarded by both his fans and musical peers alike as being one of the finest blues singers in the country.

Among his many personal appearances are, MANLY JAZZ FESTIVAL (1985/86/90/97), MELBOURNE

HOMEGROWN BLUES FESTIVAL (1989/91), THREDBO JAZZ FESTIVAL (1990/95), POWERS' 'BIG RIVER' MUSIC FESTIVAL, BRISBANE (1991/92), the MAZDA MONTSALVAT JAZZ FESTIVAL (1992/93), PARKES JAZZ TRIDUUM (1987/88/92), LITHGOW BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL (1993/94/95), the EAST COAST BLUES FESTIVAL at Byron Bay (1994), the inaugural GRAFTON JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL (1994), WANGARATTA FESTIVAL of JAZZ & BLUES (1994), THREDBO BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL attract a huge following during their main residency at the, then HAROLD PARK Hotel .

After sixteen years (a time which has seen him play with among many others, ED KUEPPER and powerhouse

Texas-stylist trio THIRD DEGREE ) Raoul rejoined the ranks of BEACHHEAD , as a permanent member in 1996 and is imprinting his own distinctive presence in the overall sound of the band.

Adam (Trev) Barnard:Drums / Percussion.

Adam is the youngest of the widely admired and extremely talented Barnard clan. A family that has so much musical talent that others are left in awe!

Starting out as a rock drummer in his early teens, he honed his jazz and blues skills while working with

brother, Tony's ALL HAT JAZZ at the Unity Hall Hotel in Balmain during their five year residency (1988-1993).

Adam had been part of the 'Beachhead family' from August 1993 until February 1994 when he was replaced by Max (THUMPA) Farrell on the eve of a Victorian tour with other music commitments forcing him to resign at that time. When asked if he would like to rejoin in 1996, he returned and is now one half of a very special rhythm section. One of the finest of kind in the country! Between times he can be seen filling the drum seat, or showing his mastery of the washboard, with the likes of Mic CONWAY, Jim CONWAY, KING BISCUIT, the NEVVA-BINTA-MEMPHIS MUDSTEPPERS, Bob BARNARD.

Gary (Guitar) Dale:Guitar & Vocals.

Gary has been playing guitar with various rhythm & blues, soul and rock outfits since around 1976. In that year he became a founder member of the LAYABOUTS and played with them continuously for the next five years, rejoining the reformed band again in the early 1984 and staying with the band until the latter part of the decade. Gary was also a founding member of BEACHHEAD.

Raoul Hawkins:Bass Guitar.

Raoul was a founder member of, and played valve trombone with, KEYS (the performance group of the Keys Music Association) before joining the LAYABOUTS , with whom he initially played valve trombone, switching to the role of bassist when the original, Vicki Kennedy, left.

He was also the bassist in the original BEACHHEAD , only leaving the band around April of 1980 to live and study his craft in New York in the United States of America, the homeland of jazz and blues.

WEBSITE: www.beachblues.org

ALISON PENNY & THE MONEY MAKERS

Please stay posted for Alison's Bio.