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blues

Julie O’Hara

Australian singer, Julie O'Hara is a freelance performing and recording artist from Melbourne.

Julie O’Hara, is a veteran of the Melbourne music scene, performing since the late 80’s.

Julie began her professional jazz singing career as a teenager with residencies enabling her to work with some of the county’s finest jazz musicians. The desire to evolve musically to communicate with her peers began in those early years, inspired by the musicianship around her.

Now an established musician, songwriter and recording artist, Julie has regularly toured Europe, Asia and Australia, playing at jazz and music festivals or performing as a guest vocalist, (The Cat Empire, Hoodangers, The Pearly Shells, Mistaken Identity). Although Julie performs predominantly jazz music, she also writes for pop, bluegrass, hip hop, R&B, neo soul, country and EDM.

Julie writes songs across various genres, having freelanced in different musical scenes for almost thirty years. Julie features on over thirty recordings, including Aria award winning album,

‘Cities’ by The Cat Empire and ‘Midnight Sun’ with George Washingmachine (nominated for a Bell Award for best jazz vocal album). Julie has won numerous song writing awards for jazz, contemporary pop and EDM.

Julie works as a music educator, lecturing in jazz and contemporary voice and improvisation at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music at Monash University and teaches song writing at Melbourne Graduate School and Monash University.

Julie has a background in Speech Pathology and voice science. Julie has taught singing, song writing and improvisation at NMIT, VCA, Melbourne Conservatoire, Melbourne Polytechnic, Victoria University and RMIT.

Julie is currently studying Estill Voice Mechanics and music production.

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Andy Baylor

Andy contributions to Australian music have been acknowledged and championed by many diverse artists, critics, journalists and music fans over the years. He pioneered “roots” music styles with his bands The Honeydrippers, Banana Oil, the Cajun Combo and the Charcoal Club and has collaborated with a who’s- who of Australian music .
Andy has brought together an all star band with good rockin’ Sharkey Ramos on drums and sophisticated guitar stylist, Sam Lemann ( guitarist to the stars), Steve Grant (accordion genius), The ukulele queen of the Bellarine, Sarah Carroll, the Soulful Kerri Simpson ( Opelousas) with her Cajun New Orleans groove and the sweet strings of the Banksia Band ,Sophia Dunn and Kate Connor…

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Deadnecks

Deadnecks are a Grateful Dead Tribute band from Melbourne, Australia.
With soaring guitar solos, three part vocal harmonies and tight improvisation. Deadnecks specialise in their own style of psychedelic folk country blues jams.

Dan Dinnen & Shorty

Award winning blues artist Dan Dinnen teams up with Anthony “Shorty” Shortte, one of the Australian Blues Scene’s most well-loved, exciting and original drummer/percussionists. 

Shorty is best known for his work with ARIA award winning blues act Collard Greens and Gravy. His unique approach to the drum-kit helped to create a rolling, rollicking, juke-joint sound that captivated audiences at gigs and festivals around the country for 20 years. As well as teaming up with Dan Dinnen, Shorty is currently playing drums for blues roots trio Opelousas with Alison Ferrier and Kerri Simpson.

Shorty’s dynamic drum work fits Dan’s style like a well-worn glove. Dan lays down his hypnotic finger-picking guitar grooves, Shorty picks up on the feel and drives it along, adding textures and rhythmic layers. This is a musical conversation that cooks, and the result is a bluesy gumbo of rootsy goodness, seasoned with a touch of delta swamp, a spoonful of hill country, and very much its own unique flavour.

James Grim Woodcutters

James Grim fronted Brothers Grim and the Blue Murders – and lived to tell the tale. Just.

Over 11 years, Melbourne’s premier exponents of malevolent, punked-up blues/rockabilly, Brothers Grim and the Blue Murders, earned a reputation for their relentless touring and explosive live shows – and for playing as hard offstage as they did on it.

After literally working themselves into the ground, in 2016 the band’s firebrand frontman, James Grim, decided enough was enough. He pulled the pin on the band – and the lifestyle – that was killing him.

Now band-less and sober, Grim resolved he’d never play in a band again, but return to music for music’s sake. He took his hard-earned life lessons and experiences to his friend, award-winning country music songwriter Dan Waters, and began crafting new songs, cut from his signature raw lyrical honesty.

“Grim is once again pursuing songs of depth and sincerity (with) a bevy of dark-country tunes that feature some of the most evocative lyrics you’ll be hearing for some time”
— Adam Norris (BEAT Mag)
What emerged from those sessions became the template for a suite of dark country ballads that explored the awkward moments that lie within, and between, flawed humans. Grim explored these themes further with other songwriters he loves and respects, including Jamie Messenger and Frank Sultana.

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