The PERTH BLUES CLUB presents

Empire Blues + Big Town Players

Empire Blues | 7.30pm

Dynamic blues power outfit Empire Blues’ primary influences come from the British Blues invasion of the 1960s. Initially, the band took its material from this period, but over time it has moved on to performing more original material in the belief that for blues music to evolve, you can’t keep just repeating the past, so in addition to their existing material the band will be performing a selection of new songs compiled over the last couple of months.
The band features prominent Western Australian blues musicians Andrew McIlroy (guitar/vocal), Alan Dawson (bass guitar/vocal) and Frank Shinall (drums).

Big Town Players | 9.00pm

Big Town Players play old school Rhythm and Blues with new school Rock attitude. We’re talking Real Rhythm and Blues! Like that originally played in America in the ‘50s and ‘60s, which we’ve married to modern day rock producing an infectious repertoire with tongue in cheek lyrics that will have you dancing from the get-go. This gig will be the launch of their latest C.D.
MEMBERS: Phil Bradley (guitar and vocals) is one of Perth’s major guitar-slingers! He has been a member of legendary outfits such as The Mutants of Desire, Brutus, Subtruck, Steve Tallis and The Snakes of Desire, Polite Society, and The Jets to name just a few. He has embraced the chance to embellish the BTPs with his inimitable style and his inimitable voice.
Howie Smallman (blues harmonica and vocals) has been heavily influenced by the old Chicago blues blowers, providing gun harp in many Perth bands over decades. These include Salty Dog, The West Coast Rhythm Kings, Jaywalkers, Sneekers, Dave Hole, Feet First, The Body and Fender Band, The Hips, Smeeton and Smallman, and Datura4.
Phil Riseborough (drums and vocals) has been a stalwart of this big town’s music scene, applying his percussive skills in the ‘70s to such outfits as Spinifex and Twice Shy. Phil later became a top sound engineer to Perth bands as diverse as The Stems and Matt Taylor. Phil returned to the drummer’s stool in the naughties with The Hips, and now BTPs.