By Dennis Atkins and Melanie Christiansen Every Australian blues act that has tasted success in Memphis over the years has its own story of opportunities, opened doors, and connections that led to new beginnings in recording, appearances, and other, often unimagined, options in the entertainment business. Queensland’s Lecia Louise, who won the BASEQ playoff, walked away with the opportunity to represent our organisation in Memphis next January, and she’s working overtime raising the rest of the money she’ll need to pay all the Trip To Tennessee [...]

  Review By Dennis Atkins The Cave Inn in Woolloongabba, one of Brisbane’s liveliest emerging, small music venues, was already buzzing when the doors opened on a Friday evening in mid-September.A merch table offered CDs and vinyl, while raffle tickets promised prizes ranging from tickets to British comedian Bill Bailey’s Brisbane show to a hand crafted feature mirror, with a top prize of six psychotherapy sessions for anyone feeling a little lost. But the music was the main draw, and this was no ordinary Friday night. [...]

Interviews and words kindly supplied by Dennis Atkins, photos by Rod Fletcher Photography. Midnight Sound Machine If enthusiasm for the blues was the key to an entry in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, Brisbane’s bundle of energetic ambition, the Midnight Sound Machine, should be well on their way. They may be there later this month when the band appears with our other five leading South East Queensland blues acts at Lefty’s, where they’ll compete for the right to play in Memphis, Tennessee early next year. [...]