Bluegrass Parkway and Lotti's Potion

Bluegrass Parkway

Established 35 years ago, Bluegrass Parkway take you on a musical time-trip to an era when instruments were acoustic and skills were gained by playing, practising and working with older, wiser mentors. When they gather around a single a single microphone, they are utilising an almost lost technique whereby soloists move closer to the microphone to be heard and then back away. Incorporating strong three and four part harmonies, the group brings classic bluegrass songs to life without an auto-tuner in sight.Whether it be the traditional sounds of Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys and the Stanley Brothers or material closer to the 'cutting edge', Bluegrass Parkway will thrill you with great picking, strong harmonies and fancy footwork!Over three decades of touring and countless concert performances have combined to strengthen the band’s reputation as Australia’s most highly credentialed and experienced bluegrass band.Bluegrass Parkway has toured extensively in the US and NZ as well as performing at most folk, bluegrass and country festivals across Australia. Bluegrass Parkway can claim a special link to the home of Bluegrass music, Kentucky USA.Maria Duff plays bass in the band and hails from the heart of Bluegrass territory, Lexington Kentucky. She was a casual member of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for twelve years and teaches Suzuki violin. Maria has been known to occasionally let loose with a clog dance or two during the performance. Paul Duff is the band’s mandolin player, lead and harmony vocalist and front man as well as being renowned as one of Australia's premier mandolin builders, exporting the vast majority of his instruments to satisfy an ever-increasing demand from the United States. Paul met Maria in the early eighties while touring America gaining experience in musical instrument building.The strong, tasteful banjo playing in the band is delivered through the very experienced hands of Mick O'Neill. Mick has also become a favourite with audiences because of his bass singing in the quartet. Mick’s experience and expertise in microphones and acoustic engineering is an essential part of creating the Bluegrass Parkway sound. Wayne Perry’s powerful voice and great harmonies as well as strong rhythm guitar add a substantial authenticity to the overall sound of Bluegrass Parkway. Wayne backs up his rhythm playing with some great flat-picking breaks during the performance.A recent inductee to the band, Michael Patrick has a great musical reputation all around Australia for his work with ‘The Company’ and provides a strong and authentic fiddle presence to the band’s sound. His quality voice has provided a wonderful diversity, adding yet another lead and harmony option to Bluegrass Parkway’s already powerful vocal reputations.

Lötti’s Potion is an exciting new trio featuring sultry female vocals, violin, ukelele and double bass.

From a bluesy base, Lötti’s Potion presents songs from the 1940’s to the present. The overall sound is refreshing yet accessible and suits audiences young and old.

The songs range from classic blues/swing and interpretive covers of popular songs to Lötti’s Potion originals and songs by other local songwriters, all presented with a breath of fresh air and a little magic.

Lötti’s Potion recently received an enthusiastic reception at the Albany International Folk ‘n’ Shanty Festival, Nanga Music Festival and the Darlington Arts Festival as well as more intimate venues such as The Laneway Artspace and Fire In Your Belly Music Bar.

Their music is well-suited to festivals as well as local events such as social clubs and private parties. 

Lötti’s Potion features Suzie Thompson on vocals and ukulele, Erik Kowarski on violin and John Perry on double bass. 

Suzie Thompson sings and plays ukulele in the edgy swing blues trio the Suzie Blue Crew. She is also known as a charismatic leader in the local community music scene, running choirs and ukulele groups where she’s affectionately known as the purple-haired ukulele lady.

With a classical violin background and involvement in various genres from folk-rock (Touchstone) to techno (The Debutantes), Erik Kowarski currently plays in Mucky Duck bush band as well as his solo live looping venture, Erik’s Loopy Fiddle.

John Perry has been involved in both jazz and folk music for many years, including playing double bass in the long-running Gum Nut Stompers and the Corner House Jazz band. Currently he plays piano in the Hills Big Band and bass in Mucky Duck bush band.