Riverbend Blues on The East Coast

Riverbend Blues is showcasing some of the best of Tasmanian Blues artists this year in an ALL TASMANIAN lineup! Show starts at 1pm and goes through to 6pm. Easy Tiger is a fabulous venue in the heart of St Helens with a brewery, wine bar/beer garden, great meals available at this fully licenced accessible venue with plenty of parking nearby, and a combination of table seating and standing/dancing room.

Headlining this event Tasmanian legends, The Pete Cornelius Band, are well known and loved across Australia for their consummate musical skill and engaging stage presence. It just wouldn't be a RIVERBEND BLUES session without Pete! He's played at more festivals, won more awards and released more albums than most blues men twice his age.

"Pete Cornelius has been a working musician since the age of 13. He continues to expand his repertoire and impress his audience with his toneful guitar and soulful vocals. Pete's style is difficult to describe but is steeped in heartfelt blues, greasy funk & soul with Americana overtones. His authentic sound and original songwriting is unique to Pete and does not disappoint. Pete's skill is recognised internationally. He has a swag of awards and albums and maintains his status as one of Australia's best guitarists. The Pete Cornelius Band is nothing less than world class.

[Excerpt from Pete Cornelius website]

Port Wine are a Hobart based 4-piece band who have gained a big following with their unique original sound, fusing gutsy soul, blues, and some funk thrown in for good measure! Led by charismatic young vocalist Molly O'Brien, this band will blow you away with their polished performance honed by appearances at major festivals and venues across Tas. Get ready to get your groove on!

The Swamp Owls are a Launceston based 4 piece band playing swampy, greasy, rockin' blues led by the vivacious and foxy vocalist, Edwina Blush. Our own Festival Director Dave Dobson is on guitar, with Michael Lewarn on bass and Georgia McKinnell on drums. The Swampies will have the dance floor stompin' from the first song, so get ready to rumble!

With a reputation as one of Australia's finest slide guitarists and blues stylists, Richard Steele has been impressing audiences with his unique sound and approach on both acoustic and electric guitar for over 30yrs. He has been featured at many blues, folk and guitar festivals and has opened shows, both solo and with a band, for such artists as American legends, Charlie Musselwhite, John Hammond Jr, Bob Brozman and Del Ray. The Richard Steele Trio will feature Gary Evans on drums and Roger Tattersall on bass. Richard goes beyond reproducing the familiar riffs passed down by the old bluesmen; he creates interesting and often unexpected improvisations, dipping into jazz and western swing influences to Hawaiian and Gypsy, which makes his performance exciting and fresh and thoroughly entertaining.