A concoction of blues, funk and soul will resonate throughout Broadbeach this May as the Brodie Graham Band plays at one of Australia’s most iconic Blues festivals.
The talent from the Bachelor of Popular Music course at the Queensland Conservatorium will take to the very same stage as Andrew Strong and The Commitments, Ash Grunwald, James Morrison, The Black Sorrows and Tijuana Cartel, who will headline the Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival from May 21 to 24.
Griffith University will sponsor the event for the first time this year, allowing emerging talent from across the region to perform professionally and gain major music festival experience.
Queensland Conservatorium Deputy Director (Gold Coast) Donna Weston says the new partnership is in perfect alignment with the core goal of the BPM course — to help independent artists forge their paths in the Australian music industry.
“The real focus is industry — having those industry contacts and also building fan bases by getting their music out there — so a performance opportunity like this really aids in nurturing both the creative and business aspects for a young musician,” she says.
Griffith’s involvement will see the introduction of the Schoolyard Blues Showcase, which will welcome high school bands from throughout South East Queensland to the main stages during the festival.
Young musicians from John Paul College, Robina State High School, St Stephen’s College, Nerang State High School and Pro Deo / Aquinas College will perform on the Victoria Park Main Stage from 10am with Griffith University’s Seed Showcase featuring The Brodie Graham Band from 12.40pm.
According to Donna, 23-year-old guitarist Brodie Graham is a young musician everyone is talking about.
“Brodie has already established himself as one of the hottest emerging talents in the Australian Blues scene,” she says.
“He has performed alongside the likes of Ray Beadle, Mojo Webb, JB Lewis, Doc Spann, Lil Fi, and Phil Emmanuel, and at the Woodford Folk Festival, Queensland Festival of Blues and the Australian Blues Music Festival.
“The BPM course facilitates performance experience of this level to allow our students to adapt to today’s music industry — a world where artists now produce and promote themselves more than ever before.
“Paid performances like a gig at Blues on Broadbeach are a perfect example of the head start the program offers young artists like Brodie,” she says.
More than 125,000 music lovers converged on Broadbeach for last year’s event and the organisers say this year will be bigger and better than ever before.
“There is something for everyone whether you are a soulful Blues fan, or a lover of great entertainment,” says Jan McCormick, Broadbeach Alliance CEO.
“The Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival continues to grow every year and with the line-up we are about to present we believe people will fly from across the country to be a part of this incredibly unique event.”
Mrs McCormick says the 2015 festival will showcase Australian and international artists on outdoor stages and in venues throughout Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.
“Our partnership with Griffith University is an exciting step in showcasing the amazing emerging talent in our area and giving back to our community.”
“Our ability to give artists experience with one of the best events in the country is something we are very proud of,” she says.
The free event will be staged in the streets and in venues over four days throughout the popular Gold Coast hub and will also feature Jeff Lang, The Backsliders and US favourites Old Gray Mule along with many more.
The BPM course at Queensland Conservatorium has helped launch the careers of the likes of The Kite String Tangle, Ian Peres of Wolfmother, Elliott Hammond of The Delta Riggs, The Orchard, Jake Whittaker (who played at the Byron Blues Festival) and also David Baker (who opened for Joan Armatrading last year in her final solo world tour).
Download the free Blues on Broadbeach App on the iTunes Store or Google Play or visit the website www.bluesonbroadbeach.com
