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 Swing away the blues at the Wheatsheaf Hotel Thebarton on Wednesday March 25 with Blues Avenue. Adelaide’s – possibly Australia’s - most unique swing duo Blues Avenue is teaming up with principle dancers from South Australia’s Premier Swing Dance School to present dance-specific evenings at the Wheatsheaf Hotel on the last Wednesday of the month.
Blues Avenue features the talents of Sweet Baby James Meston on guitar and Denis “The Preacher” Surmon on double bass. The band plays classic blues and swing numbers with a great “unplugged” vibe that, at times, according to The Preacher, is far greater that the sum of the parts.
“Blues Avenue is quite a physical and musical challenge,” James said. “The Preacher keeps himself reasonably busy singing while playing the upright bass and a foot operated cajon drum; and I always seem to have plenty to do playing guitar, singing and working foot-operated percussion.
“It’s a bit like a musical wrestling match with plenty of fun.” The Preacher said. “But when there‘s only two of you, you can’t err on the side of restraint. A more robust approach to the musical presentation is often the catalyst to a swinging time.”
James said that members of the Swing Sesh Dance School picked up on the band some months ago and have appeared at many Blues Avenue shows where they have entertained and excited audiences with their energetic and often spectacular routines.
“We couldn’t let pass an opportunity to get together regularly to enjoy the music and their dancing. The Swing Sesh dancers are exciting and exhilarating. No-one fails to be entertained by them.” James said. “The Wheatsheaf Hotel has offered the to clear the chairs and tables from the floor in the pub’s back room on the last Wednesday of the month so we can run our sessions. Our Swing Sesh friends are keen to get started and we are looking forward to participation from all enthusiastic dancers." About Blues Avenue: James "Sweet Baby" Meston, guitar, vocals and foot-operated percussion, was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2007 Bluestar Awards and Album & Band of the Year at the 2006 Australian Blues Music Awards and is currently considered one of Australia’s finest blues guitarists.
The other half of the duo is Denis “The Preacher” Surmon on vocals/upright bass/cajon drum. The Preacher gained prominence in cult local band Double Wammy before becoming a fixture on Adelaide’s rock and corporate music scene. Note: The Swing Sesh Dance School is Adelaide's Premier Swing Dance School with experienced, travelled and enthusiastic teachers instructing in everything from 1920’s Charleston to Lindy Hop to the Jitterbug - all the authentic Swing dances from the 20's to the end of the 40's.
http://www.theswingsesh.com And what about Thursday nights??? Thusday night (March 26) at the Kentish Arms (yes.... I said 'Kent'-ish Arms, not what you were thinking) in Stanley Street North Adelaide, John Schumann continues a series of concerts to try to put an end to boring Thursday nights. For a little while, anyway.
According to the press release: after requests from Adelaide fans, John (That's him in the photo on the left) and Kat Kraus from the Vagabond Crew along with their mates from Adelaide band Acoustic Juice including The Preacher Denis Surmon on bass will be playing a short season of intimate shows at the Kentish Arms in Stanley Street, North Adelaide. Having got the first show out of the way on March 19 ( with a very nice crowd thank you very much), Shooey, the Kat and the band are all ready for more. “We had a great time when we played at the BoyupBrook Viet Vets festival (WA) and the bushfire fundraiser at the Gov," Shooey said, "So, we thought, we can either have one more boring Thursday night in Adelaide at home – or we can play some more.”
“We’ve chosen the Kentish because it’s close, street car parking is pretty good, the venue is light and airy and can seat about 150 comfortably. We start playing about 8.30 and finish around 10.30. Songs from Redgum, Etched in Blue, Lawson and Behind the Lines,” John said. “And why are we doing this?" he asks (you're supposed to put a slighly inquisitive expression on your face now). "Because we like playing together. That’s reason enough."(Now nod your pudding-bowl; you've been told why and it all seems so bleedin' obvious.) "Anyway," Shooey said, "...what else would we do on a Thursday night?” Don't answer that! But it will cost yer. It's $25 at the door. Or you can ring the Kentish and they’ll take a booking over the phone. But make sure you turn up if you make a booking, all right? Or one of us will come around to your joint and chin yer! Providing you tell us where you live and promise you won't chin us back. OK? The Kentish Arms Hotel is at 23 Stanley Street, North Adelaide. Phone: 82671173 or email:
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And they have a website which is not as good as this one but it's ok if you like that kind of thing: : www.kentisharmshotel.com Photo below: Schumann, The Kat and Band strike a rocking pose. Well, then... What about Saturday night?  If you make it through to Saturday March 28 and you still feel like partying, then come along to the Norwood Hotel (Finn McCool's Bar) and party with pan!c, the pop 3-pce band you have just when you're needing a pop 3-piece band. Michael Hill, Paul Garner and the Preacher Denis Surmon will do their utmost to keep your feet shuffling across the floor all - or most of the - night. Don't worry about scuffing the floor polish - it's genuine hard-wearing-poly-2-pack-something and is impervious to pain caused by stomping and jumping. And shuffling. Live music starts at around 9.00 pm. And it's FRREEEEEEEEE to get in. Absolutely-fuggin'-lootley ideal admission prices for an economic crisis! And party!????? you'll party so hard you'll want to put your undies on your head and run into a pole. Of course, I can't guarantee a Pole will be at the pub on Saturday nght. You could choose someone of any nationality to run into with your undies on your head. Which reminds me of a warning often brayed at me by my dear old hairy-chinned grandma - "Always wear clean underpants if you are going out to a gig with pan!c - the people's three-piece party band - just in case you get cranked up and emotional and run into another person - Polish or any otherwise nationality - while you have your underdaks on your head, yer little shitkicker," she used to say to me. "And stop picking you fukken' nose; your brains will fall out, you grubby little fart-snifter!!". She used to say that to me quite a lot. Silly old fucker she was. |
This Thusday night (March 19) at the Kentish Arms (yes.... I said 'Kent'-ish Arms, not what you were thinking) in Stanley Street North Adelaide, John Schumann will begin a series of concerts to try to put an end to boring Thursday nights. For a little while, anyway.