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Dom just back from recording in Hanoi with Vietnamese guitar master, Kim Sinh. Take a look...

Backsliders ‘Left Field Holler‘ - September 27, 2007

Left Field Holler - Backsliders

Iconic Australian blues band- Backsliders – are set to release their eagerly-anticipated new studio album, ‘Left Field Holler‘.

The new album, the band"s 10th, captures the tough raw edge of Backsliders live performances with an eclectic array of original and diverse tunes. From the opening track ‘Duke‘ – a tribute to a surfing legend – through the to the hard punching ‘Fuck you Shock-Jock‘ (no lyrical explanation required here) and the Mekong delta inspired ‘Antihero‘ and ‘Vietnam People‘, this album is a mix of hard hitting, frenetic new blues anthems and poignant ballads. In what has become a signature trademark on Backsliders releases, two low-fi recordings of early 20th century blues songs are a welcome inclusion.

The distinctive powerhouse drum and low-tuned slide-guitar combination of Rob Hirst and Dom Turner is supported by the searing harmonica of two of Australia‘s leading harmonica exponents on most tracks: either the legendary, and much-emulated harmonica master, Brod Smith (Dingoes, Brod Smith‘s Big Combo), or renowned ARIA award winning harp genius, Ian Collard (Collard, Greens and Gravy).

What will be of no surprise to fans is that Backsliders have again stretched the boundaries with ‘Left Field Holler‘. Since the band‘s first release in the late 1980‘s, Backsliders have strived for a uniqueness evolving the raw sounds of Mississippi delta blues and melding them into their own original style. And this album is no exception. This is Australian blues based on interpretation rather than re-creation.

Recorded at Megaphon Studios by Guy Dickerson, ‘Left Field Holler‘ was mixed by Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil, Family Dog) and Brent Clarke (Ghostwriters) at Mum‘s Studio and mastered by Steve Smart at 301 Studios.

‘Left Field Holler‘ will be available from 20 October 2007 through Shock Records.

‘With only guitar, harmonica and drums, they sound like a symphony.‘ (Sydney Morning Herald)

Backsliders in the studio - June 2007

Backsliders have been in the studio recording a new studio album. All tracks have been recorded, and the album is now being mixed by Jim Moginie and Brent Clark. The album, as yet untitled, should be released in September 2007.

Dom is downsizing on instruments and is selling the guitar in the photograph (click on the image for a larger picture). It is a Gerard Gilet wood-bodied resonator equipped with a Sunrise pick-up and a Baggs bridge pick up, with an internal pre-amp / blender. For details, contact Pete's Musicians Market www.musiciansmarket.com.au

Following rocking gigs at the Byron Bay blues festival, and a trailblazing tour of the Kimberly region of Western Australia (June), Backsliders are to hit the road again as part of the new ‘Live’ album promotion tour. Returning to favourite haunts in Victoria and NSW, this leg of the tour will feature the innovative talents of two very special guest harmonica virtuosos.

Having blown up a hot desert storm with Backsliders in the Kimberly, award-winning harmonica genius Ian Collard (Collard Greens & Gravy) joins Dom Turner and Rob Hirst for their gigs in his home state of Victoria). For the NSW sector of the tour, the legendary Brod Smith (The Dingoes, Brod Smiths Big Combo) will add his explosive harp and vocal mastery to the Backslider’s furyAll in all it promises to be a furious ride – with Dom and Rob setting the grooves and taking no prisoners, and Ian and Brod firing-up the amps to fuel the maelstrom.

STOP PRESS: The “Live” tour will also feature a swampy downhome ‘all-acoustic unplugged’ set, spawned on the banks of the Kunnanurra River during a chill–out session while on the recent Kimberley tour.

Backsliders will be stepping-up tours from June 2006, rotating the harmonica chair with two of Australia’s most innovative and dynamic players. The legendary Brod Smith (Dingoes, Brod Smith’s Big Combo) put in a blistering performance on the recent Broken Hill tour, adding his explosive harp and vocal mastery to the Backslider’s fury. Award-winning harmonica genius Ian Collard (Collard, Greens & Gravy) is warming up his valve amp to blow a hot desert storm on the Backslider’s upcoming tour of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. From then on, the 2 blues-harp dynamos will play alternate gigs, each blazing his own trail to the raw energy of the Backsliders sound. All in all it promises to be a furious ride – with Dom Turner and Rob Hirst doing their thing, setting the grooves and taking no prisoners, and Ian and Brod (you never know who you will get) firing-up the amps to fuel the maelstrom.

Jim Conway, legendary harmonica player, has resigned from the iconic Australian contemporary blues band, Backsliders.

“This has been a difficult decision for me as I’ve been with Backsliders for the past 18 years and have derived immense creative satisfaction from that experience. However I feel the need for a change in direction musically. I’ve always been deeply influenced by folk and traditional music styles, and want to explore new avenues in these areas.”

Jim’s longstanding interest in acoustic music has found an outlet through his position as Artistic Director of Balmain’s Acoustica Festival; “Being creative director of Acoustica has been an exciting process and I’m already working on securing an interesting line-up of artists for Acoustica 2007.”

Over the last 3 years Jim has also been recording and playing in Jim Conway’s Big Wheel (a Jump Blues/Swing inspired band whose inaugural CD “Little Story” was nominated for an Aria in 2005). Jim stated that leaving Backsliders would allow him more time and energy to focus on Big Wheel as they move into developing material for their second CD and promoting their new DVD.

Jim will also be taking a well earned break from touring over the 2006 winter months before going back into the recording studio with Big Wheel.

“In leaving Backsliders, I will miss working with the extraordinarily talented Rob Hirst and enjoying the powerful musical rapport I shared with Dominic Turner which for many years has helped define the unique sound of Backsliders. Nothing quite compares with Backsliders at their best.”

Band members Dom Turner and Rob Hirst say that they will miss Jim's incredible musical input and companionship. However they understand and respect his decision and wish him well.

Live (Shock), Backsliders
"Backsliders - Dom Turner (guitar), Rob Hirst (Drums), Jim Conway (harmonica) have, in recent years, been run over by the youthful juggernaut of Ash Grunwald, Jeff Lang, John Butler and Xavier Rudd. There's been a boom in acoustic blues and the older generation of players have not enjoyed the increased interest. This is a pity because there is really an excess of virtuosity in this group.

Jim Conway is still this country's finest harmonica player. Dom Turner is a supurb exponent of slide guitar and Rob Hirst, as Midnight Oil fans already know, is a sublimely gifted drummer. The result, when combined with the group's preparedness to push the blues envelope, results in interesting intepretations of classics (compare thier version of Smokestack Lightning with that of Grunwald) and genuinely blues-inspired original songs such as Hanoi. This album, recorded at The Basement and the Melbourne Music and Blues Festival, is a fine demonstrationof the trio's passion, originality and virtuosity."
Bruce Elder

Dom Turner solo support for The Mighty Reapers – this Saturday (Jan uary 21) at the Empire Hotel, Cnr Johnston street and Parramatta road, Annandale

For the Melbourne fans – a tour is planned for the second half of 2006! Will keep you posted.

Live * * *
Backsliders
"These guys take the minimalist approach and build it into a storm of sound every time. Dom Turner, Jim Conway and Rob Hirst's three-pronged delta blues attack is as hot and sharp as the devil's pitchfork. The lashing energy of their lithe and live show comes crackling through on this, their ninth album. Smokestack Lightning, Thinkin' Man's Drinkin' Man, Your Three, Evil Cloud and Black Top Road all fly past at a blistering pace. This would sound much better in a dark bar than a fluourescent-lit office. Includes a reverential phone interview with blues legend John Jackson."
SF

The new Backsliders CD will be out soon. Tracks were recorded at the Melbourne Music and Blues Festival 2003 and live at The Basement Sydney 2005.

1. SMOKESTACKLIGHTNING Burnett
2. HANOI Turner | Hirst
3. JACK Turner
4. THINKIN’ MAN’S DRINKIN’ MAN Hirst | Turner
5. WRETCH LIKE ME Turner | Hirst
6. TWO ON A LAKE Turner
7. YOU THREE Turner
8. EVIL CLOUD Turner
9. MOTEL 6 Turner
10. YOU GOT TO MOVE Mc Dowell
11. BLACK TOP ROAD Turner
12. JOHN JACKSON INTERVIEW*

Bonus Track
13. JUG BAND BLUES Traditional

* John Jackson Interview by Dom Turner

Dom will play solo at the Basement, Sydney, Sunday 9/10/05 as part of New Orleans Benefit Concert. Bookings at www.thebasement.com.au

Backsliders new album is almost complete! If all goes well it'll be out before Xmas.

Listen to The Backsliders recorded at the Basement earlier this year on Radio National -
Friday 29/07/2005 at 7.10pm, (repeated Sunday at 4.05pm). Find your local freqency here or tune in live over the internet here.

Since their first release in 1988, 'Preachin’ Blues', the Backsliders have brought the blues to Australian audiences. From this landmark album which exposed the work of blues legends like Robert Johnson, to their latest release 'Hanoi', The Backsliders have been at the forefront of blues in this country. Led by vocalist and guitarist Dom Turner, the group also features one of the country’s best harmonica players, Jim Conway, and standout drummer/percussionist, Rob Hirst.

Dom will be guest presenter on an ABC Radio series of broadcasts on Blues which will air in July 2005.

Headlining the festival are popular blues trio the Backsliders (Dom Turner, Jim Conway and Rob Hirst), who will end the festival with a bang when they let loose with their own unique style ‘delta blues wall of sound’.

Jim Conway and his band Big Wheel, Mic Conway’sNational Junk Band, Monsieur Camembert, Dave Tice and the internationally renowned U.S. performer, Kristina Olsen will also appear as part of Acoustica’s inaugural line-up.

HOW TO GET THERE: Birchgrove Oval overlooks Snail Bay & is next to Grove Street, Birchgrove. The 441 & 432 buses travel from the city to Grove Street & ferries from Circular Quay travel to Snail Bay Wharf.

Backsliders live on ABC Radio - 23 Feb 05

We'll be live on ABC 702 FM (Sydney) on Drive with Richard Glover Friday 25 February at 3.15 pm chatting about our gig at the Basement next week and playing a song live on air.

Backsliders at the Basement - 14 Feb 05

	Our Hanoi album is now available as a paid download from >Bigpond Music . We’re celebrating the move into the global arena with a gig at the Basement in Sydney on Thursday March 3, 2005 Special guest sitting in with us on guitar will be Jim Moginie. Hope to see you there!

Attention IPOD and MP3 users - 12 Feb 05

Backsliders HANOI is now available for download from Big Pond Music. Backsliders have gone all the way from Vinyl LP (the first 2 albums were released initially on vinyl in the 1980's) to CD and are now available as MP3 downloads. Check it out at Bigpond Music.

ABC Radio Documentary - 10 Jan 05

Backsliders to feature in ABC Radio Documentary to coincide with ABC TV release of Martin Scorsese series on Blues - Date to be confirmed.

Sydney Festival Gigs - 09 Jan 05

The Backsliders will be performing at the Sydney Festival's Jazz on the Park series in January 2005. For more details see the gigs section.

The latest official news from the Backsliders