Leanne Paris band
Nick Charles
Kid Hank & his Ockerstra
Leanne Paris is a musician of outstanding talent, performing the last decade in residencies overseas. She has toured Canada with Walter Woolfman, worked extensively in New Orleans and supported the legendary Jon Cleary on his last Australian Tour. She even played the support for Savage Garden in the early years.
Leanne is returning to live music after a brief hiatus to start her family. She has played sold out shows for the iconic Basement & Vanguard venues, having recorded her “Live at The Basement” CD/DvD in 2015.
A vocalist arranger composer & ace keys player, Leanne will take you to New Orleans & back. Her show features a tight band of local A-circle session musicians, including a horn section, to blow your mind.
With dazzling melodic fingerpicking on six and twelve string guitars and a lifetime’s stories and songs gathered or written on the world’s musical highways it’s no surprise that Nick Charles has long been labelled internationally as “Australia’s virtuoso of acoustic roots and blues”.
During his extensive and acclaimed career, Nick has released sixteen albums on major Australian and US roots music labels. His recordings have garnered world-wide recognition beginning with “My Place” and now his most recent release “Further Down the Line” which continues his tradition of beautiful guitar melodies and a unique take of blues, country and folk classics.
Nick’s list of awards and accolades further include every major blues award in this country multiple times, twice winner of the Australian Song Contest and “Port Fairy Folk Festival Artist of the Year” (Australia’s highest folk accolade). This recognition has resulted in his signing to the Grammy Award winning label, Solid Air Records USA (“Home of the World’s Finest Guitarists”). The only other Australian recognized by the label being Tommy Emmanuel.
He has toured with and supported John Hammond, Guy Clarke, Ralph McTell, Robyn Ford, Junior Wells, Taj Mahal and BB King and toured the US twelve times
Consistently averaging 150 shows a year in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, his music encompasses a delightful and eclectic mix of acoustic roots including blues, folk, country and early ragtime jazz. Along the way there are stylish nods to the “Great American Songbook” and the finest contemporary players and composers from Chet Atkins to Lennon and McCartney to Leo Kottke.
Bruce Elder from the Sydney Morning Herald says “he plays guitar like an angel”
Rhythms Magazine – “dazzling virtuosity”
Australian Guitar magazine – “an awesome talent”
Henry Manuell’s « Kid Hank and his Ockerstra » brings the vibrancy of New Orleans to life. A repertoire covering the traditional Blues, Dixieland, and swing jazz styles with just a sprinkle of ragtime. Hank and the crew create a joyful rendition of ‘NOLA’ street music.
The band’s toe-tapping beats and lively melodies transport listeners to the familiar sounds of the early 20th-century French Quarter. The Ockerstra’s unmistakable Inner Western earthy notes portray its Sydney origins. The modern twist of classic old-timey jazz and dancing rhythms is guaranteed to have you dancing in your seat!