South West Blues Club is proud to announce in conjunction with Froth Craft Bunbrewery the inaugural Summertime Blues – one day Mini Blues Festival.
Midday until midnight, 10 fabulous blues bands:
The Bands
Matty T Wall Band
10 pm – 12 am
Matty T Wall, an extraordinary blues-rock guitar player, singer, songwriter. His playing style has been described as ‘echoes of rock from the 60’s, but with a voice that hurls us into the 21st century.’ Matty’s dazzling guitar licks and solos are ‘not of this world’. Matty is a prolific tourer both locally, nationally and has played most of Australia’s big Festivals such as Broadbeach, Bendigo, Marysville, Blue Mountains and of course WA’s own Bridgetown Blues. Matty T Wall was nominated for three of the prestigious US based Independent Blues
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The Doodaddies
8.30 pm – 9.30 pm
The Doodaddies are a four-piece Chicago-style blues band featuring the red-hot guitar chops of Dave Brewer, the sensational harmonica playing of ‘Diamond’ Dave Billing, driving bass from John Wilson and the ‘Russian on Percussion’, Yugon Chobanoff.
They released their third album “The DooDaddies” at the end of 2014 where it climbed to number one for December and January 2015 on Australia Blues and Roots Radio Airplay charts.
The Doodaddies have been to Malaysia three times for the Genting International Jazz Fest , the Miri International Jazz Fest and the Borneo International jazz Fest.
They have supported Buddy Guy, James Cotton and earlier this year Charlie Musselwhite here in Perth.
The Doodaddies are one of Western Australia’s great blues assets – definitely a band not to be missed.
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Tommy (Boss) Bosson and the Score
7.15 pm – 8.15 pm
Prepare to be entertained. This band held a 1000 strong crowd at the Bridgetown Blues Festival captivated for over an hour in 2023. Tommy is a one-man British invasion, teamed up with Glen Carpenter on guitar,
Ashley Whitworth on bass and Trevor Judd on drums, they are a show all on their own. Glenn Carpenter is a spellbinding guitarist with his own band the Cross Eyed Cats and will team tag Tommy for the entire set.
They will drag you kicking and screaming into the thirties and forties with polished examples of jump blues and rhythm n’ blues classics and a few you may never have heard. If you are an ardent Perth blues fan you will probably already follow this band around town but when Tommy and his harmonicas are on the road,
well “what happens on the tour, stays on the tour.”
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Smokin’ Joe
6.00 pm – 6.45 pm
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Smokin’ Joe is a big, in your face, five-piece South West Blues Club band. Simon McInnes has driven this band to new heights, playing extensively the local haunts and represented the South West Blues Club at this year’s State Wide Blues hosted by the Perth Blues Club.
Simon is blues to the bone and knows his way around the six stringer. His wingman is the dynamic guitarist.
Gavin McNamara, a man who uses every inch of the stage to deliver his message. Gavin’s vocals are just as dynamic as his guitar playing. Ryan Boyle keeps the big driving sound alive on bass, Damian King on drums and Richard Wilson adds the haunting blues harmonica riffs.
Energetic, solid and attention grabbing,
Smokin’ Joe will kick off the night session with an exclamation mark.
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Karski Daly Band
5.00 pm – 5.45 pm
For many years Paul Daly fronted The Shinkickers and The Heavy Hitters with Les Karski starring in a plethora of bands including the Foreday Riders, the Hippos, Bondi Cigars, Donkey and the Nervous Investors, two stellar Perth blues bands.
It was a cruel twist of fate that bought these two seasoned musicians together when both lost pivotal band mates. The result however is a duo whose time has come
and their latest album ‘Karski Daly Blues’ is a testament to the power and drive these two gentlemen have.
Paul’s absolutely pumped harmonica playing and imploring vocals wouldn’t be out of place in the Southern Delta. Les teams with Paul by overlaying fabulous guitar playing and polished vocals to create a blend like no other.
What will come as no surprise to Blues Central fans is that two of the club’s most
seasoned musicians will be playing with Paul and Les. Carl Holroyd on Bass and Jayden (JD) Williamson on the skins both have impressive CVs. Carl played with the Flaming Crows and has represented WA at the Memphis Blues Festival, JD having played for years with Home Brew.
When Karski Daly pull down the curtain on the afternoon session, you will be clamouring for their new CD, we promise you.
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Big Al and the Wolf Pack
4.00 pm – 4.45 pm
If you are a Perthy, you will be very familiar with Big Al and the Wolfpack. Of late they have been supporting the Australia Hotel Blues Sessions with Tommy Bosson. True to their blues heritage they have performed under various guises since the early 90s.
The latest incarnation sees the band playing homage to some of the great blues artists of the 1950s who came from the central and southern states of the US.
From the raw sounds of Chicago juke joints to the swamp blues out of Baton Rouge, the band covers classic songs by Muddy Waters, Slim Harpo, Jimmy Reed, Magic Sam, Little Walter, and many more.
If passionate old-style harp playing and authentic stinging guitar chops are your thing, then the Wolf Pack will deliver. Big Al constantly draws from an extensive stable of blues songs and is anchor-man to a pool of talented blues musicians. We have heard a rumour that teenage sensation and harmonica virtuoso
Elwood Birgden may be taking to the stage, so expect the unexpected.
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Howling Onshore
3.00 pm – 3.45 pm
Howling Onshore is absolute proof that you don’t need to stray far from home to hear high class, live music. Hailing from Margaret River this band is without doubt the South West’s best kept secret. It is a privilege to have them play the festival and you are in for a treat.
Luxie has the most sensational voice, you will be enthralled, but there’s way more. Steve Checker’s guitar playing is electrifying.
Lindsay Baker is band leader with extensive harmonica and saxophone playing skills that he sprinkles over the top with consummate dexterity.
John Beaty and Kane Goodwin are equal to the task. The end result is a blend
much bigger than the sum of its parts. Please don’t miss Howling Onshore because they are treat, the only downside is the paltry 45 minutes we get to enjoy of them. However, they are local and you won’t have far to go to catch them as they play the local venues.
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Something Else
2.00 pm – 2.45 pm
If you were floating around the Goldfields in the eighties, then the name Something Else will conjure up memories of hard nights of hot dancing and probably slow hungover mornings. This is a band that rattled the windows and tested the woodwork of Kalgoorlie’s public houses.
Theirs is a sound that became synonymous with the town. Gary Green leads these troubadours on a romp back in time, pumping guitar riffs, vocals and blues harp.
Ric Bogart works with Gary and Steve Bennett Hullin to crank out all our favourite tunes. Each of these characters has a fine set of vocal cords, so you will find yourself wanting to join in the chorus.
In the engine room on the pots and pans is hard man Bradley Mac. He will be giving the skins a solid workout as he keeps the beat. This South West Blues Club band has a great following and we know a few will be coming a big distance to hear these boys play.
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Deadwater Pelican
1.00 pm – 1.45 pm
The first of the three South West Blues Club bands out of the blocks is Deadwater Pelican.
Band leader Ben Deeley has a love of both guitar playing and blues music that is inspirational and alluring. He has drawn around him three other musicians that come from broadly different backgrounds.
Kiwi harp player Royce Derbyshire has a pedigree few others in the district can claim. He is a personal friend of the great Charlie Musselwhite and caught up with Charlie in Perth earlier this year. Sam Noire massages the four stringer as if it were an upright, a signature stance that will surprise those who don’t know he comes to the blues from a heavy metal background. Dana Renshaw is the relative newcomer to the band teaming with Sam.
Dana has a solid drumming style that creates real dynamism under Ben and Royce’s licks and vocals. If you’re not tapping your feet by the end of the first song, you might get someone to check your pulse.
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Big Town Players
12.00 pm – 1.45 pm
We thought we should kick the festival off the way we intended it to continue. Big Town Players are led by Howie Smallman singer, songwriter and harmonica player of great repute. He is one of ten harp players in our festival and undeniably in the top escalón of Western Australia’s players.
This is a band that will dive right into it from the get-go. Theirs is a big fat, raucous, electric bar room sound they have made their own.
Smallman and Bradley combine their creative talents to deliver a suite of original material designed to provoke and tease us. Axe to grind, Are You Keeping Secrets and Desperate Halo are a taste of what’s on the menu.
Howie Johnston on drums and Bob Greaves lock the front men on a solid track that literally throbs. When the clock strikes twelve, we unleash Big Town Players, you will know you are in for one hell of a day and you will know the day is going to be something very special.
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* The promoters reserve the right to change bands and band playing order. Band members may also differ from those advertised.
The Venue
Froth Craft Bunbrewery
South West Blues Club are thrilled to have Froth Craft Bunbrewery host this our first ever Summertime Blues mini blues festival. Froth is located in central Bunbury 12 Victoria Street.
Part brewery, part restaurant, part cultural hub, part family venue, part theatre, part beer garden, part function venue, part local meeting spot, this progressive venue takes an active part in the community and one you want to be ‘a part of’. Innovative design means Bunbury’s first brewery is like walking into an old friend’s house, but that old friend just happens to brew a huge range of artisan craft beers and cook you a delectable meal in their kitchen. A venue that is warm, rustic, inviting and hard to walk out of.
The venue is licensed to hold 300 and houses a boutique brewery, restaurant, bar with a full sound stage.
The venue is home to the South West Blues Club and the facility was the logical choice for this our first music festival. You will need a ticket to gain entry, these are obtainable from https://events.humanitix.com/summertime-blues
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South West Blues Club
The South West Blues Club is a not-for-profit that has grown in strength and numbers over the last five years, introducing new programs such as the monthly Blues Central at Froth where top WA blues bands get to strut their stuff. This is strongly supported with big crowds each month. On top of this the main stay
activity has been Jam Days also hugely supported by musicians, and music lovers alike. The SWBC monthly Jam Session is now the largest regular jam session in WA.
In cooperation with the Albany and the Perth Blues Clubs, SWBC has helped launch State Wide Blues at Perth Blues Club, a one night blues extravaganza with three top club bands drawing a huge crowd to the Charles Hotel.
The 2025 Summertime Blues Festival will be the first blues one-dayer set for January 18th. A midday to midnight showcase of ten of the states best blues bands hosted at Froth as a part of the Bunbury Summer Lovin’ Festival. South West Blues Club has avidly supported Bridgetown Blues over the years and has a stake in the ground, supporting live music, encouraging new bands and keeping the blues alive.
Summertime Blues is another step forward in our quest to bring blues music to the South West and encourage our local musicians to play alongside the best bands in the state.
Our Sponsors
The South West Blues Club is indebted to the support we receive from our sponsors
