[Harp-L] Oz Harp Fest

["Bill Hines" <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Went to the Sydney, Australia Harmonica Festival today. This was set up by 
the Blue Tongue Harmonica Club http://www.bluetongueharmonica.com.au. Well 
run and organized event. The first part of the day were workshops. There was 
a beginning blues harp one which i skipped to go to the country and 
bluegrass workshop by Lawrie Milson. He did a nice job discussing and 
demonstrating different techniques specific to those styles and contrasting 
them to traditional blues technique. he discussed country tuning and did 
lots of demos of styles (vamping, chordal playing, etc).

Next was a workshop by Ian Collard, seemed to be a young guy in his early 
30's or so. Showed a fantastic knowledge of harp history, especially the 
country blues style he was specifically discussing - very good knowledge of 
DeFord Bailey and Sonny Terry and demo'd their styles very effectively. This 
kid (Ian) showed he was a serious student of the old time players and has 
put in significant time in the woodshed. what an awesome young player he 
was. He played through a Sonny Jr. 410 which he raved about as the best 
custom harp amp out there (rightfully so), then he showed/demo'd a Holmes 
Harp Commander II as something good for those traveling band situations 
where you can't bring a big-ass amp. He also said that Brian Purdies's 
harpgear amps were very good.

Next Brendan Power did a seminar on world harp playing, he started by 
playing a song on diatonic that sounded very much like the australian 
aborigine didigeroo and it just blew me away how good he was at that. wow. 
then he did some sonny terry type whopping, played some 
turkish/klisma/bulgarian type music on his chromatic, showed off his 
frankenstein special 20, etc. he played so many world styles, this guy was 
so incredible.

following those seminars was the concert part of the day. robert susz from 
sydney started this off with his funk and soul style. what a great 
entertainer. very junior wells-like funky style. great version of "Rinky 
Dink". very funny stage banter, sort of an austin powers type of guy. great 
harp player and entertainer.

Ian Collard followed. Listen people, this is the most exciting young blues 
harp player *after* Jason Ricci. This kid has done his homework and knows 
his shit. He was *amazing* in everything he did - acoustic, electric, 
switching harps, diatonic to chromatic. He is australia's best kept secret. 
Kind of a Levon Helms type young guy, whiskers, ball cap, shirt untucked. 
Kicked ass up and down, took no prisoners.And the kid has a great voice.

Lawrie Minson came out next and played some excellent country harmonica. 
Influences are Charlie McCoy and it showed. Great singing and accompanying 
himself on guitar. Very melodic and fluid country chops.

Next was Jim Conway, accompanied by the house pianist of the night, Don 
Hopkins.Just the pianist and Jim playing acoustically into the SM58. Wow. 
Jim played excellent and inspired harp, it moved me. But this pianist - 
whoa. This guy knocked me out with his playing and vocals. He is truly Van 
Morrison meets Elton John in the perfect storm. He kicked ass. Jim kicked 
ass, what a great set, just two guys sychronizing so well.

Then the headliner brendan power. what else can you say. he just lit it up, 
didn't want to stop, nobody wanted him to stop. i sure the hell didn't. i 
wanted to quit my job and just play every day all day until i could play 
like him.

I was pissed that i didn't bring my recorder but i don't think they would 
have allowed it. there was an australian station there ABC that recorded the 
whole thing for rebroadcast next year. that includes the concert as well as 
ian and brendan's workshops. contact blue tongue to see if maybe we can get 
access to that in other parts of the world.

Bill Hines