With 26 years writing, performing and recording experience, Lloyd Spiegel is a driving force in Australian blues and one of most respected guitarists in the country, having being named in Australian Guitar Magazine’s list of the 50 top Australian guitarists of all time.
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Spiegel will perform for the first time in front of Kiama audiences, at the area’s Jazz and Blues Festival in March.
Ultimately, I've always figured I'm in social work - my job is to give people a little time off, a laugh and a bit of a boogie.
- Lloyd Spiegel
“I really enjoy community based music festivals because you can submerge yourself in it,” he said. “It isn't about headliners and hanging backstage with the other musicians.
“I'm expecting to enjoy Kiama as an artist and as a music fan.”
Spiegel said he enjoys connecting with the audience above all else when he performs live.
“My solo show is part guitarist, part blues singer, part songwriter and part storyteller these days,” he said. “My show is based very much on the energy of the crowd.
“Ultimately, I've always figured I'm in social work – my job is to give people a little time off, a laugh and a bit of a boogie.”
Growing up in the music business, Spiegel made his way into the world of blues at a young age.
“Blues records were the norm in my house when I was a kid, I assumed all kids were listening to blues music at home, ” he said. “From the age of six or seven I was spending my weekends at blues gigs and I think that if you expose any child to blues music in that way, they're bound to love it.
“It was a very natural progression to go from watching my dad's friends play, to jumping up and jamming with them.”
ARIA award-winning Collard Greens and Gravy play a repertoire of stripped back, harmonica driven, Chicago blues in the style of greats like, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed and Muddy Waters to name a few.
Originally formed in 1995, the band features Ian Collard (vocals, harmonica and guitar), Sean(Juke Boy) Emmett (guitar) and Jason Liu Soon (drums).
The band have received many awards including second place at the 2001 International Blues challenge in Memphis.
"The band features one of Australia's best blues harmonica players in Ian Collard,” Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival coordinator Daniel Sullivan said.
“Their performance sees the return to Kiama of local boy Sean "Juke Boy" Emmett, who moved to Melbourne in search of his blues dreams, joining this powerhouse trio bringing juke joint vibes of the American 1940s, 50s and 60s.”
Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival runs from Friday March 9 to Sunday March 11.
