Riverbend Blues 2025 @ the Boathouse Function Centre

Name: Riverbend Blues 2025 @ the Boathouse Function Centre
Start: 2025-05-03T13:00:00+10:00
End: 2025-05-03T18:00:00+10:00
Location: Boathouse Centre Launceston

Schedule

Sat May 03 2025 at 01:00 pm to 06:00 pm

UTC+10:00

Location

Boathouse Centre Launceston | Launceston, TS

Riverbend Blues - a showcase of smokin’ hot blues music right here in Launceston!
Riverbend Blues is showcasing some of the best of Tasmanian Blues artists this year as well as a crackerjack headline act from VIC! Show starts at 1pm and goes through to 6pm. Table seating, great meals available, and fully licenced accessible venue with plenty of parking onsite,
▪️Headlining this year is the Phil Para Band. Phil is a New Zealand-born Melbourne guitarist, singer and songwriter whose outstanding blues-rock has been thrilling pub-rock punters for decades. He’s probably best known for his twenty plus years Saturday night residency at the Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda, where he played weekly to full houses, but he has done so much more. There are many excellent blues rock singer/guitarists in Australia, but few to match Phil Para for playing technique, sheer entertainment and stagemanship.
Para plays electric and acoustic guitar with rare flair and skill, paying homage to the greats that have inspired him, such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Eric Burdon has been quoted as saying, “Phil actually becomes Hendrix when he plays one of Jimi’s songs’’. Phil’s shows include classic Hendrix party tricks such as playing the guitar with his teeth and playing it behind his head.
Phil plays an exciting mix of covers and original material, acoustic and electric. He has released one album, the five-song EP Gypsy Night (2018), featuring brilliant and moving acoustic guitar blues. His hard work, professionalism and persistence have built a strong and loyal following mainly on the back of his live performances. [Courtesy of Beat Magazine online]
▪️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]
▪️Mumbo Gumbo are one of Hobart’s favorite local acts. Performing a great selection of Americana/ Blues/ Soul Funk from artists such as EttaJames, Renee Geyer, Bonnie Raitt, Lucky Peterson , Tedeschi Trucks Band and Little Feat, Mumbo Gumbo delight audiences with power house vocalist Nicole McIntyre and a dynamic band to match (Kevin Cooney; Bass, Konrad Park: Drums, Simon Patterson; Guitar, Dan Sulzberger; Keyboards)
Mumbo Gumbo have performed at Taste of Tasmania, MONA, The Republic Hotel, The Hobart Blues Club, Longley International Hotel, Hobart Brewing Company, Rektango (Salamanca Courtyard), Taste of the Huon, and Blues in the Barn (Rathmore). As some of Tasmania’s finest, members draw on vast experience, having worked with artists such as Renee Geyer, Savage Garden, Lucky Oceans, Richard Clapton, support for Bonnie Raitt & Robben Ford/Mike Landau, Daryl Braithwaite, Kate Ceberano and the Hey Hey It’s Saturday Band.
▪️Billy Whitton & the Men of Steel, (featuring Randal Muir on Hammond Organ and Henry Nichols on drums) are Hobart based, and have played all over Tasmania with multiple appearances at the iconic Forth Valley Blues Festival, Devonport Jazz, Festivale, Clarence Jazz Festival among others, as well as regular performances at venues across Hobart.
Billy Whitton is the consummate lounge performer. He will ease you back into the last century with his smooth vocal stylings and vast repertoire of jazz standards and laid back blues classics.
Tickets for the Riverbend Blues event will be on sale via GigFindr and the Dobson Guitar Services Facebook page.