The Groove Archives - Page 3 of 7

2026 – Memphis Blues Challenge Successes for 8 Ball Aitken and Taya Chani Band

Words by Dennis Atkins, photographs supplied by 8 Ball Aitken, Taya Chani and Zed Charles. While proud and enthusiastic South East Queensland blues ambassadors, 8 Ball Aitken and Taya Chani, were shivering on the streets of Memphis, Tennessee, in the first weeks of this year, they wasted no time warming up for the biggest international contest showcasing the music that started it all. The International Blues Challenge, the annual global battle of the bands and the head-to-head for duo and solo acts, brings together some 150 performers [...]

By Editor|2026-09-21T23:13:09+10:00February 18th, 2026|The Groove|

Memphis Challenge Series: Mojo Webb on the lifetime memories he made in Memphis

Interview and words by Dennis Atkins, photographs by Rachel Clark Michael “Mojo” Webb is a fixture of the Brisbane blues, as all readers of these posts know. Whether you saw him decades ago at his legendary residency in the Story Bridge Hotel’s now gentrified, Bomb Shelter Bar, or at the many festivals in South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers or current venues like the Royal Mail at Goodna, the Bearded Lady in West End, Lefty’s in Petrie Terrace and the Brisbane Jazz Club — the [...]

By admin|2026-09-21T23:13:09+10:00April 25th, 2025|(default), Club Stuff|

Shakes Fear & the Skeleton Gang – Not like Everybody Else

Like any performance art, there are some blues acts that work hard to capture people's attention with shows that are very different to what else is out there. For example, in 1923 (or 24), the singer Ma Rainey devised show - a tent show, to give an idea of the planning - where a giant prop Victrola phonograph player was wheeled onto the stage. Then a chorus girl would take a giant prop record and place it on the phonograph. From inside the pho "Villain [...]

By admin|2026-09-21T23:13:09+10:00October 24th, 2024|(default)|

Vale Frazer Goodman

The sudden passing of well loved Gold Coast musician Frazer Goodman came as a shock to all. BASEQ would like to pay respect to this kind, gentle and talented musician by publishing here the thoughts of some of the people who knew him, with the acknowledgement that his passing has been felt by many more here in S-E Queensland, and indeed internationally. From Kevin Briggs I sometimes lose my faith in humanity from all the ego, greed and selfishness that I witness in this world. And [...]

By admin|2026-09-21T23:13:09+10:00September 27th, 2024|News, Reviews and Events, The Groove|

Craig Claxton talks Guitars and Amps

This post of Craig talking about his guitars and amplifiers follows a previous one talking about recording his last couple of albums (see: https://www.baseq.org.au/craig-claxton-talks-about-recording-his-albums-lies-and-alibis-and-azure-blue/) Is there any particular sound, anything, anything that that impresses you that is a signature sound for you? Any favourite guitars that you like using? Well, yeah, absolutely. Both albums [“Lies and Alibis” and “Azure Blue”] feature a couple of amps. I record in stereo and on each amp they tend to put a condenser mic, a ribbon mic, a dynamic mics [...]

By admin|2026-09-21T23:13:09+10:00June 28th, 2024|(default)|