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Sunday July 20th 2008
Chicken House
The band was formed by Mark Smith in Dec 2005 for the Eltham jazz and blues festival for a supposedly one-off gig, but the enthusiastic response was good enough reason to keep it going. Since then the band have been playing blues venues around Victoria, including a regular presence at St Andrews Hotel, one of Melbourne’s foremost blues venues.
The lineup features:
Mark Smith; vocals, guitar, slide and lap steel.
Geoff Hassall; drums, vocals
Les Gough; bass guitar, vocals
Dave Adam; guitar, slide guitar
The guys have been playing in various bands with each other for decades. Mark and Dave have been collaborating as a formidable guitar duo since the mid 70’s, in bands such as Reuben Tice, Nightrain, Rhythmatics, Relax with Max, etc..
Mark, Geoff and Les were also the core backing band for Australian legends such as Normie Rowe, John Young, Marcie Jones, Denise Drysdale,
Ronnie Burns, Bobby Bright and many more for the past 15 years, as well as having their own country rock outfit The Moonlighters still playing regularly around Melbourne.
Mark Smith originally started his guitar playing career in early 70’s in Sydney, then moved to Melbourne and joined the Reuben Tice, Texas which became The Torpedoes, and has since played with many bands and artists too numerous to mention.
Geoff (Joffa) Hassall played drums with Ross Hannaford’s Lucky Dog, Kenny Lopez and other reggae, ska and latin outfits in Melbourne for the past 30 odd years
Les Gough was an original member of Russell Morris’s Somebody’s Image and has since played with Max Merritt, Phil Para, The Rip Roarers and regularly backs international country artists on their Aussie tours.
Dave Adam played guitar with the original Rhythmatics and Relax with Max whom he still is called upon for. He also currently plays with Dave Hogan’s Meltdown and plus anyone who needs his exceptional blues guitar expertise.
Chicken House play an interesting style of funky, rockin’ blues, incorporating a lot of slide guitar influenced by greats like Ry Cooder, Sonny Landreth, David Lyndley, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, BB King, etc. Their infectious rhythms guarantee to get you moving, if you want to, or just sit back and listen to some good music and playing.
Leslie Avril
Coming from a theatrical family, Leslie Avril has performed extensively throughout Australia, Europe, Scandinavia, the Pacific, Asia & North America.
Having played with the cream of Melbourne players, she has also guested with & supported artists such as :
Bill Chambers, Ross Wilson & Daddy Cool, Normie Rowe, Lee Kernaghan, John Farnham, Keith Urban, Troy Cassar-Daley, Johnny Greens’ Blues Cowboys, Phil Manning, Johnnos Blues Band, Spectrum, Greg Champion, The Bushwackers, Red Rivers, Kerryn Tolhurst, Bo Jenkins, Dutch Tilders, Andy Baylor, Chris Stockley & John Dallimore.
American artists she has shared the stage with have included : Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, The Drifters, The Righteous Brothers, Becky Hobbs & Kasey Jones, Joe Sun, Laura Brannigan, Dave Stewert & Annie Lennox & in Colorado she recorded at the legendary Carabou Ranch.
Over the years she has been invited to perform at all the major festivals throughout Australia including- by demand -18 years at the famous Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Highlights since winning a national T.V. talent show in 1980 have been peforming at the opening the new National Gallery of Victoria, being a national recipient of an Australia Council for the Arts Grant & reviving her role as Polly Garter in the Dylan Thomas play “Under Milkwood” at the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne.
The line-up appearing at the Maldon Blues Club on Sunday July 20th features
local musicians Roger Davies, Mick O’Connor, Neil Hodgson & Rob King plus Melbourne guitarist Mark Smith.
“She is sexy, bluesy & sheer dynamite live & her stunning vocals electrify an audience with power, depth & aching honesty”.
A vivacious singer & performer, she is currently working on her 4th CD & her original songs have featured on compilations & soundtracks.
All gigs are held at the Maldon Hotel.
Time : 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Meals available: 12 -2pm, 6-8pm - 5475 1332, 0407 349 104
Visit out Gallery page for pictures
of this show.
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