Bendigo remains a hub of local, national and International music activity despite social distancing and the temporary prevention of audiences gathering at live music venues across the state.
Musicians are always creative and adaptable and are using this strange time to give housebound audiences the opportunity to have entertainment online with live streaming shows, song releases and interactive concerts beamed into lounge rooms everywhere.
Artists who have strong links to the Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival (Festival) are at the forefront of this online revolution.
Matt Katsis has been showcasing his distinctive fusion of folk, blues and hints of alt country Americana to appreciative audiences all over the country. Matt has now teamed up with The Ulumburra Theatre and The Capital in Bendigo to produce a series of fantastic online shows in May, as a part of the Play At Home initiative. Check out Matt’s Facebook page for his live shows.
Another artist making good use of Social media is Melbourne based songstress Maja. Her refreshingly honest and lyrical performances are gaining her a reputation as a performer of substance and she was one of the standout musicians of the 2019 Festival. Maja is launching a new single ‘He wants to know you’ online on 29 May and is looking forward to releasing her debut album later this year. Follow Maja on her Facebook page and book in for the single launch here.
Another Festival favourite, Charlie Bedford is one of the hardest working musicians in the industry and is delighted to be releasing his second album ‘Good To Go’ on 22 May. A three-time representative of the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society at The International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee and playing festivals up and down the country, Charlie is a brilliant showman on his way up.
The new album is receiving accolades from the media in the USA and UK and the title track, ‘Good To Go’ debuted in the top 10 of the Roots Airplay charts. Charlie told the Bluesletter, ‘I’m so stoked to be bringing out this album of my original work, it was an absolute blast recording these songs! I hope you like it and I am really looking forward to performing all of these tunes live soon. In the meantime, turn it up real loud and enjoy!’ Follow Charlie here and you can pre-order the album here.
