Memphis Challenge Series: The Competition Entry Form
Attached here is Current Competition Entry Form, where BASEQ will support the winner to compete in next years' International Blues Challenge (the "Memphis Challenge") run by the Blues Foundation, of which BASEQ has been a long time affiliate. The local competition (to select which act will represent BASEQ) is formally known by the Blues Foundation as the "Local Affiliate Challenge". Information on how to submit the entry form, and who to make further enquiries to, are within the entry form. Click here to download >> BASEQ [...]
Australian Piano Man Finds His Own Middle C – Interview with Lachy Doley
By Dennis Atkins On a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Gold Coast’s Blues on Broadbeach Festival in 2016, an emerging blues keyboard player, Lachy Doley, took to the main stage in Surf Parade. With his bandmates, Jackie Barnes on drums and Joe Bangma on bass, Doley set the afternoon on fire with soulful music, exciting, adventurous swirls, and percussive runs. Being on the main stage meant Doley’s gig was filmed. It was a real lucky break - getting his music noticed around the world, including by some [...]
Broadbeach Fills the Bluesfest Gap
By Dennis Atkins The hard feelings, the scars, the money lost, the bitter disappointment, the empty Easter weekend, the two-timing, cheating and lying are all still there. Yet in place of Byron Bay Bluesfest appeared a somewhat spontaneous, almost organic sprouting of gigs, from Brunswick Heads to Lennox Heads, with Byron Bay at its centre. It was there where people saw a roof-raising blast of a show. At the Byron Theatre, a gig that was supposed to be a highlight of Bluesfest, once the best festival [...]
Blues Guitarman Zed Charles Is Making A Scene At Home And Away
By Dennis Atkins Early this year, South East Queensland blues artist Zed Charles, known for his relentless gigging and his Porch Blues shows in Caboolture, was quickly making a name for himself. He made it into the final rounds looking for the best original blues CD at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. And now that starter-kit of fame has grown some wings. At the IBC in January, the Blues Boy from Bowen watched his CD, Hear My Word, advance through to the third round of [...]
At 80, Van Morrison is still singing the blues
By Dennis Atkins In 1964, Belfast-born Van Morrison was a fresh-faced, ginger-headed Northern Irishman pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician, fronting his band, Them. In his mind and his heart ran a quest for the sense and sensibility of the American blues from the Deep South. Morrison’s ambitions found favour with the record label Decca, which had already signed a band with deep blues roots, the Rolling Stones. Whereas the Stones kicked off their career with a Chuck Berry song, Come On, Them’s first single, [...]
Is Byron Bluesfest a mess? If not, it will do until a mess comes along
By Dennis Atkins As Brisbane blues music fans gather at the Goodna Royal Mail this weekend for our regular jam afternoon, it’s likely that many will discuss the most significant story for our community in 2026. The recent collapse of the Byron Bay Bluesfest company, just over two weeks ago, is not only about the 36th event—scheduled to be headlined by Buddy Guy and Split Enz—not going ahead. This marks the end of the festival, and unless a wealthy benefactor comes to the rescue, there seems [...]
Buddy Guy and Sinners
By Dennis Atkins Buddy Guy didn’t take much convincing to accept a role in the Oscar-winning, Grammy-winning, and BAFTA-winning film Sinners, but he did need to understand why he should participate. The film's driving force—writer, producer, and director Ryan Coogler visited Guy, now 89 years old and touring with his new record Ain’t Done With The Blues, at his famous Chicago club, Legends, to make his case. As it turned out, it wasn't a hard sell. Guy recounted, “Well, he came in there, and I don’t [...]
Blues Arcadia – “Well, It’s Over Now … I Guess I’m Movin’ On”
Words and photographs by Dennis Atkins There’s a song that always worked its way into Blues Arcadia’s repertoire. It was a band favourite and a genuine fan favourite, a song that had been on set lists since the Brisbane blues band became an institution in South East Queensland and beyond, going back a decade. Corner Girls is a sultry, slow blues earworm that gets feet tapping and hips swaying. Primarily about bad behaviour, discoverable on a few levels, this is also very much a “time’s up” song. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Memphis Challenge Series: It Takes More than a Feeling
Story by Melanie Christiansen People often say blues music is a feeling, but a feeling is just the beginning when you aim for a spot on the stage at the annual International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee. That’s according to John Durr, the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society (MBAS) President who can claim to know more than most people about this coveted award in the annals of the world’s finest music, The Blues. John Durr has seen the IBC evolve over the last 20 years from a [...]
Memphis Challenge Series: Nick Charles was dreaming of Memphis – here’s what he found
Story by Dennis Atkins Photo from Nick Charles Instagram account ("nickcharles28") Nick Charles should have felt pretty calm and assured when he walked into the Orpheum Theatre on the corner of Beale Street and South Main, in Memphis, Tennessee. This storied venue is THE place in Memphis — it's no wonder a memento at the Elvis Museum and Mansion is a 1956 photograph of the King of Rock'n'Roll standing outside the theatre, the same year he recorded his breakthrough song, Heartbreak Hotel. Elvis, though, is one of [...]
INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE 2026 – EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
It is the intention of the Blues Association of South East Queensland to send ONE (either a band or solo/duo act), blues ambassador to the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, to be held in January 2026, exact dates yet to be announced by the Blues Foundation. This is a prestigious event with the winner gaining a wealth of experience and recognition. To enable BASEQ to organise this event, we need to know how many Blues acts are interested, available and able to compete. BASEQ has [...]
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 [...]
Notice of BASEQ AGM 2024 October 27th
All financial members of the BASEQ are encouraged to attend the AGM. With out active members there will be no BASEQ. We are specifically looking for someone to take on the role of Membership and merchandise co-ordinator - This role overseas membership and the procurement and sales of BASEQ merchandise at BASEQ events and external event such as Blues on Broad beach and Mitchell Creek. The present Membership and merchandise co-ordinator – is happy for the new person to shadow him in the role until they feel comfortable with it. We also [...]
Review: CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE– Brisbane – Sat Sept 21, 2024 – The Tivoli
Review and photographs by Robin Jones I could not help but wonder how this gig was going to turn out. Live music is still suffering the post covid effect and a lot of people are having to be careful with their spending, but it was encouraging to see a full house for a Blues gig in Brisbane. By the time Charlie came on there were only a very few seats not taken and with standing tickets also being sold there was a large and appreciative crowd. Local [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Craig Claxton talks about recording his albums “Lies and Alibis” and “Azure Blue”
Your humble editor recently bailed up Craig Claxton at his work to talk about a few things. Craig has a long history in the Brisbane music scene, and a longtime supporter of BASEQ. Craig's website is perhaps a good place to start get a better understanding of him. https://www.craigclaxton.com/ This post is one of two. I want to start by covering off the last couple of albums and future recording plans. There's a rumour that you're just about to go back into the studio. Recording. Yeah, I'm [...]
BASEQ Membership: checking if you’re current/ need to renew and how to self-service
This article covers some common questions BASEQ members have about their membership. Please remember, the main reason the BASEQ website exists is to allow members to renew by themselves via the website. For years, the BASEQ committee - humble volunteers - would drown under the weight of manually processing yearly renewals. This can all be done online, simply by going to the membership page on this BASEQ website: https://www.baseq.org.au/membership/#myaccount So, here's some scenarios and what to do: you are unsure if your membership is current (and [...]
Dezzie D and the Stingrays – So much good music to choose from.
Dezzie D and the Stingrayz at Coolie Rocks On Editor's note: For an experienced band leader and lead singer, there are literally thousands of songs they could choose to put in their setlist. So, how does one choose? What's the deciding factor? With Dezzie D and the Stingrayz playing Sunday Feb 25 at the Royal Mail, Goodna, as the feature host band for the 2024 restart of the BASEQ jams, I reached out to Dezzie D and asked her about what the criteria was for [...]
Notice of BASEQ AGM 2023 October 29th
Notice of BASEQ AGM 2023 October 29th - Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna (92 Brisbane Terrace) All financial members of the BASEQ are encouraged to attend the AGM. With out active members there will be no BASEQ Official start is 11am sharp but the committee will be there from 10:30am to talk with people about BASEQ. A rough schedule will be: 11:00am: opening and presidents report 11:10am: treasurers report 11:20am: assignment of chairperson to conduct the election of new committee 11:30am: - dissolving of current committee, - [...]
A local band to watch out for – Shade Hadie (formerly Writers Tongue)
So your humble BASEQ editor stumbled upon a group of four very young musicians who left me impressed. It wasn't their youth, it wasn't the use of vintage high powered guitar amplifiers played at a very comfortable volume but just dripping with tone. It wasn't really even the choice of material they were playing. Michael Georgas (Bass), Peter Donaghy (Drums), Oskar Thaw (Guitar), Buddy Moyes (Guitar, Vocals and Harmonica), It was the feel of that material. It was the musical communication between the members [...]
The four LP’s that introduced me to the Blues
By Robin Jones, BASEQ President In about 1972, when I was 14, an older friend, who had been to university and played harp with a uni band called Climax Chicago, started going on about “the Blues”. To give me an idea of what he was talking about he produced three LP’s from his smallish collection. When ever at his place we listened to these three records almost constantly. Although I was not that aware of it at the time these three LP’s and one other, would [...]
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING on Sunday the 25th of September 2022
Can you lend us a hand to keep our association alive and growing? The Blues Association of South East Qld warmly invites you to join us at our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING on Sunday the 25th of September 2022 at 11 am at The Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna. Have you thought of playing a more active part in promoting Blues music? It may surprise you to know that even 2 or 3 hours of your time per month can have a big impact! BASEQ is a totally [...]