A monster Blues and Roots triple treat!

Legendary underground institution, CHECKERBOARD LOUNGE, deliver a dynamic, soulful well of emotion and playful abandon in collective improvisation over classic blues, soul and originals. Singing drummer Carl Pannuzzo, guitar master SHANNON BOURNE, Hammond virtuoso TIM NEAL and groove bassist AMOS SHEEHAN curate shows fitting to events and venues, no two shows being the same, but each unforgettable live experiences, from standing ovations at Wangaratta Jazz Festival to crammed inner Melbourne pubs. Vibrant and unforgettable, Checkerboard are a tour-de-force demanding honesty integrity and truthful musicianship; the very essence of a live music experience.

OPELOUSAS (Opper-loo-sas), is a feast of grit and glory featuring a roux of KERRI SIMPSON’s powerful raw vocals, ALISON FERRIER’s dirty stripped-back electric guitar, amplifed fiddle and smooth vocal tones, peppered with ANTHONY “Shorty” SHORTTE’s swamp-soaked percussion. This powerhouse plays pulsating rhythms from the belly of the blues. Their debut album “Opelousified” won them the 2019 Music Victoria Blues album of the year award. The album co-produced by Jeff Lang who also created film clips for their singles ‘Dear John’’, “James Dean’ and “ Third Jinx Blues”. The resulting gumbo is a tasty treat for audiences far and wide.

“A joyous debut collaboration from three of Australia’s highly respected musicians, Opelousas have whipped up a gumbo of stripped back raw blues, highly rhythmic & riff orientated, rollin’ & tumblin’ straight out of the swampy Mississippi Hill country, above the Delta. I just love the sound and material. Can’t compare it with any other Aussie band, I believe.” Helen Jennings OAM PBS 106.7FM .

The incomparable SUZANNAH ESPIE is the icing on the cake. Anybody who saw the former Port Fairy artist of the year bang out 'Gotta Serve Somebody' at our recent Bob Dylan show will testify to her vocal power and stage presence