C-Side Blues Weekend at Coffs Harbour

C-Side Blues Weekend

C-Side Blues is a casual weekend of Blues and Roots music by the sea, at RED-C Events in Coffs Harbour! Top Australian Blues performers, as well as talented locals, will entertain you over two days and two nights in this awesome lineup of fun and fantastic music on 3-5 September 2021! 

The event has been postponed from the original dates of 23-25 July due to Covid, but it is going to be bigger and better than ever!

Featured headliners include critically acclaimed Ash Grunwald, Fiona Boyes, The Mason Rack Band, Marshall Okell, YeeeW (featuring Marshall Okell & MC Triple Nip), Mal Eastick & Andrew Hegedus, Hussy Hicks and Cass Eager!
Supported by a range of fantastic acts including Blues Brothers Rebooted, Stormwater, Then Joelene, Pam Hata, Cold Caller, Pleasing George, The Orlandos St Blues Band, Nathan Beretta, The Shufflemen, Dan Hopkins and The Generous Few, Sonny James and Raven!

This is blues with a twist!

Limited full weekend tickets are available covering all sessions.
Or you can choose the session you most like the sound of with our Session Tickets: available separately for Friday night, Saturday daytime, Saturday nighttime, Sunday daytime and just added Sunday nighttime!
If you buy tickets in house at RED-C, or over the phone, you can use your NSW Discover Voucher too!

DAYTIME SESSIONS:
Our Daytime Sessions on Saturday and Sunday are situated outdoors with artists performing on our outdoor stage. There is no allocated seating for these sessions, so sit or stand where you like. We have tables on the deck and picnic tables on the grass, or just sit or stand on the grass! Bring your own folding chair but no outside food or drink is permitted. Our indoor and deck seating is still available and you will be able to purchase drinks from both our indoor and outdoor bars as well as meals from our kitchen.

NIGHTTIME SESSIONS:
For our intimate and limited nighttime sessions, we allocate seating on shared tables in three separate sections, with Front of House tickets available in the Main Bar, General Admission Main Bar and General Admission Corambirra Room
Nighttime Session Ticket Descriptions:
- Front of House tickets available in the Main Bar: these are located in the first third of the room directly from the stage, the dancefloor is the only thing between you and the stage.
- General Admission Main Bar: these are located in the rest of the Main Bar area behind the front of house with a direct view to the stage,
- General Admission Corambirra Room: this is a room set to one side of the stage with a side view of the stage
The pricing reflects the proximity to the stage and the view.

Please note: Nighttime Sessions are seated shows, so all seats are allocated to shared tables.

For groups who would like to sit together, please contact the venue after purchasing tickets on 02 8999 1818 from 11am Wed-Sun and our staff will try to seat you together (no guarantees though!)

No refunds except for event cancellation, and we will try to reschedule the event first.

Please Note: You cannot bring drinks or food into our licensed premises, but there is plenty to purchase!

A COVID Safety Plan and COVID Marshalls are in place at our venue, and you are agreeing to our Conditions of Entry displayed at the entrance to our venue, and on our website, www.redc.org.au, which may change from time to time as regulations change. Any breach of these regulations or Liquor Licensing laws will result in you being refused entry, or your removal from our venue, with no refund of ticket.

SESSION 1: Friday 3 September – Nighttime

5.30pm-11.30pm

Getting underway at 6pm, the opening session for our C-Side Blues Weekend is ages 18+ only, set indoors on Mainstage for an intimate concert experience, with limited tickets available.

First up we have some energetic blues originals from the critically acclaimed Marshall Okell, followed by YeeeW (featuring Marshall Okell and MC Triple Nip)!
The two highlights of the night are award winning headliners Fiona Boyes, and Ash Grunwald!

Your world is about to be rocked consecutively by three of Australia's top Blues performers on one night! Don't miss this one!

Doors open at 5.30pm for this session

Marshall Okell

Marshall has developed into an Aussie rocking bluesman like no other. His ever expanding list of musical accolades includes awards for the 2012 ‘Best Blues & Roots Artist’ at the Oz Music Awards. He has also been a winner of the of ‘Album of the Year’, ‘Song of the Year’, ‘Best Male Vocal’, ‘Best Protest’ and ‘Best Blues & Roots Artist’ at the NCEIA Dolphin Awards. This guy doesn’t just make music. He’s a roaring powerhouse of a man, and will get under your skin, into your blood and course through you like a visceral super-high of the likes you won’t come down from easily!

YeeeW!

YeeeW features Marshall Okell ripping out RL Burnside style riffs with rapper MC Triple Nip! A Collaboration of HipHop and Dirty Blues and Roots from Byron Bay. It's as catchy as Corona at a Byron Bay Hens night! 

We did say blues with a twist!

This is YeeeW’s first public appearance so we’re looking forward to it!

Fiona Boyes

The only Australian musician ever to be recognised in the American Blues Foundation (Memphis) ‘Blues Music Awards’, with 8 nominations, including 2019 ’Traditional Female Artist of the Year’!

Fiona's performances feature guitars, vocals and unique cigarbox instruments.
International recording artist and touring musician, Fiona plays deep Blues, influenced by a myriad of traditional regional styles. She has carved an international reputation as a blues guitarist, bandleader, vocalist and songwriter. International reviewers have described her as a ‘musical anomaly’ and ‘Bonnie Raitt’s evil twin’!

A distinctive finger-picking and slide guitarist, Fiona’s soulful, authoritative style has earned her unprecedented recognition overseas as an Australian artist. Winner of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, she has toured widely, performing at acoustic, guitar, jazz, and blues festivals, clubs and cultural centers in more than 20 countries.

Equally at home on acoustic or electric guitars, her mostly original repertoire is like a Blues travelogue. Listen to her play and you’ll hear Delta slide guitar, single chord Mississippi Hills grooves, intricate country blues finger picking, along with material drawn from the classic blues sounds of New Orleans, Chicago and Memphis.

As her friend and mentor, the late, great Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf’s guitarist) said. 'She's got it! I've played with all of them - and she's got it!'
”...one of the world’s best fingerpicking blues guitarists...” (The Guardian, Australia)

Ash Grunwald

With a lineage that swirls a palette of colour as well as geography, Ash Grunwald is the modern-day representation of the global citizen, from the mixed-race melting pot of South Africa’s Cape Coloureds, to the Anglo Saxon migrant neighbourhood of his upbringing in Victoria, to the Hindu haven of Bali - his home for the past three years.

With the liberation that comes from many lineages pouring into one; not confined by the borders of race nor the parameters of culture, Ash Grunwald is an advocate purely and simply of the Earth. His music, whilst calling from the Delta Swamp, is an eddy of influences, collaborations and mediums. His voice through his lyrics, podcast and broadcasting ask for the protection of land, sea, river, self and resources, and his new role as an author signifies the sudden abundance of purpose that comes with sobriety and of a man carrying a message of change.

Ash has received five ARIA Music Award nominations and a swag of other award wins including MBAS Blues Performer Of The Year (2003), and the AIR Best Independent Blues And Roots Album for 2010’s, Hot Mama Vibes.
Ash’s reputation as a soulful surfer with that much-sought and much-celebrated spiritual connection to the sea has grown throughout his career, as his reputation on stage became the making of legend – an unbridled voice that carried all the power of the bluesmen before him, a power that rose in New Orleans, born in despair on its way across the seas from Africa, embodied in a driven, brown man as large in presence as he was in stature.

Ash’s music is alive like never before, a reflection purely of where he’s at.
Ash Grunwald is a man who has come home.

SESSION 2: Saturday 4 September – Daytime

10.30am-4pm
Enjoy our sunny Saturday all ages Daytime Session outdoors from 11am to 4pm, on our outdoor stage, set against the beautiful backdrop of Coffs Harbour Jetty and the Pacific Ocean, with performances from talented local blues band Pleasing George, leading into an afternoon of gritty blues originals from duo Stormwater, followed by Dan Hopkins and The Generous Few with a distinct delta flavour with soul and gospel overtones!

Then to round Saturday afternoon off nicely, get cranking with The Mason Rack Band!

Doors open at 10.30am for this session

Pleasing George

Pleasing George are a local 4 piece, with George Wilson's smooth vocals and haunting harp, Zoltan Barta on lead guitar with soaring riffs, Dave Brown on bass with his funky groove, and Alan Valja knocking out some rhythmic magic on the drums, they cover the blues classics and their own originals, with a grooving, soulful style you won't want to miss!

These guys aren't only pleasing front man George, they'll please you too!

Stormwater

STORMWATER are a Heavy Blues Rock n Roll band from Northern New South Wales. The band was formed when guitarist and singer Sonny Ingledew put a call out for a drummer in his local area of Yamba where he had recently moved to from Brisbane. Gary Nottingham Drums / Vocals answered the call and STORMWATER was formed.

From the first jam it was obvious the two had a unique musical chemistry and it wasn't long before they both started writing original material to add to the set list. Drawing heavily on their musical influences: Sonny - Blues, Rock and even Bluegrass, and Gary his love of bands like Led Zepplin and Deep Purple.
It's really hard to pigeon hole or list here their musical influence because they are so broad and diverse, but whatever those influences are, they forged the STORMWATER sound. Which many have described as gritty blues soaked in beer and sweat.  

Stormwater are the real deal. Their music is played with heart and soul!

Dan Hopkins and The Generous Few

Australian Blues|Roots|Gospel artist Dan Hopkins joins the C-Side Blues lineup with a punchy brand of modern roots that has a distinct delta flavour with soul and gospel overtones. Dan creates an experience that could be described as Ash Grunwald, Eric Bibb and Paul Kelly meeting down at the crossroads. This culminates in an emotionally driven journey down a sweetly plucked but often dirty slide guitar borne road across the Southern blues idiom.

Winner of the Australian Blues Music Festival Busking Contest in 2016 and Music Oz Awards Finalist in 2010, back to back festival appearances at Port Macquarie's Howling Moon festival in 2017 and 2018, Dan's dynamic finger style blues has enlivened audiences for Kevin Borich, Claude Hay, Mal Eastick, Hat Fitz and Cara, Blues Arcadia, Wendy Matthews, Mental as Anything and Sydney Blues Challenge winner (2014) Darren Jack.

Dan's smooth rich vocal tone, his dynamic finger style blues and dexterity on the slide guitar mixed with poignant lyrics create a highly versatile performer not to be missed.

As a Band, Dan Hopkins and the Generous Few swing from sweet urban country blues fingerstyle to swampy lap slide guitar playing creating a smorgasborg of southern style footstomping folk, roots and blues that is both authentic and emotionally honest.

With uplifting appraisals from Khris Mazinski (Jeff Lang), Paul Gommersall (Kate Bush; Paul Weller; Sinead O’Connor) and Richard Cartwright (Platinum Entertainment) Dan and his crew are definitely a roots act on the rise.
Dan has recently released his album ‘Different Economy,’ to critical acclaim in his self-built solar powered shipping container studio, ‘The Blues Den.’ He has also recorded the E.P Golden Girl at Soundshed Studios in 2010 and has released a single dedicated to the plight of Asylum Seekers called Think Twice with Syd Green which has received both JJJ and national airplay. The songs often resonate from a place deep down but nothing short of a very entertaining delivery is what you can expect from Dan Hopkins and the Generous Few. Dan and his band will soon start work on their follow up album.
With a live sound contributed to by Christian Gardner on Bass, Ben Wehlow on drums, Bernard Smith on lead guitar and Dave Roberts on percussion the band is currently immersing themselves with local and regional tour dates. Keep a lookout for Dan and the band this year for upcoming shows near you.

"By all accounts, Dan was legendary." Eleanor Rigden Festival of Small Halls. 2019
“…compelling and emotive tunes with a beautiful voice…” Richard Cartwright – Platinum Entertainment 2011
“…killer live gig. Check these blokes out!”
Tess Jenner – Rollingstone Live Photography 2021

The Mason Rack Band

One of Australia's hardest working bands!

Festival favourites & internationally toured blues rock powerhouse, The Mason Rack Band have played over 3,000 live shows and appeared at many of Australia’s leading festivals incl. Byron Bluesfest, Blues On Broadbeach, Gympie Muster, Adelaide International Guitar Festival & Airlie Beach Music Fest just to name a few. Also appearing at festivals in Germany, Netherlands, Italy & Canada.

The raspy vocals of lead frontman Mason Rack have been described by fans as one of the sexiest voices in the blues music scene with flashes from Tom Waits and Led Zeppelin. As far as live performance “MRB” are entertainment monsters. Their drum duels, onstage antics and signature movements set them apart from everything & everyone else. An award winning stage show, definitely not to be missed!

“Dragging blues kicking & screaming into the 21st Century”

SESSION 3: Saturday 4 September – Nighttime

5.30pm-11.30pm
Getting underway at 6pm, our 18+ Saturday Nighttime Session is set indoors on Mainstage for an intimate concert experience, with limited tickets available.

First up we have awesome local band The Orlando St Blues Band with their mix of blues covers and originals guaranteed to whet your appetite for some live blues, followed by the edgy original blues of Nathan Beretta and his band.
Then be prepared to be wowed by Mal Eastick & Andrew Hegedus, that combination of awesome blues guitar and powerful voice!

Then the fabulous Cass Eager will take to the stage with her soulful whiskey-smoked vocals, to wrap you up in a feel-good vibe!

Doors open at 5.30pm

The Orlando St. Blues Band

Local band plays the blues! With a mix of covers and originals, the lads from Orlando Street Blues Band will set a cracking pace to open the night for you!

The Orlando St. Blues Band are all originally from Melbourne, but the
four guys now happily reside in Coffs Harbour after relocating
up to 20 years ago.

The guys played the Melbourne pubs and clubs for many years and toured
with artists such as Daryl Braithwaite, Brod Smith, James Reyne, Wilbur Wilde,
Countdown, Mal Eastick and many others.

They are all excited to be playing at C-Side Blues Weekend at their local hangout!

Nathan Beretta

Nathan made his mark in the Australian blues scene with multiple award winning blues band Blue Eyes Cry. He'll be playing with his own band tonight with all original songs to blow you away!

Growing up with Blues jazz and soul in the household, Nathan has brought his own unique style to the table. Influenced by artists such as Ronnie Earl, Albert Collins, Albert King and Buddy Guy, Nathan plays from the soul with a “all killer no filler” approach.

Nathan is on a mission to put the “edge” back into the blues, with vibrato bending guitar solos and emotion.

Nathan Beretta is a known, yet new act on the scene and is not to be missed if authentic original Blues is your thing.

Mal Eastick & Andrew Hegedus

Mal is one of Australia’s finest blues rock guitarists, with a passionate, explosive and soulful style that has been featured with some of Australia’s biggest recording and performing acts for over 30 years, including Jimmy Barnes, Stars, Broderick Smith, Max Merritt, Hoodoo Gurus, and Phil & Tommy Emmanuel. He has also worked with a number of overseas greats including Buddy Guy, Eric Burdon, Joe Walsh, Lonnie Mack, Little Charlie, Johny Johnson and Joe Louis Walker.

Joining Mal is Andrew Hegedus, a powerful singer who hails from Grafton. Andrew is best known across northern NSW as the lead singer & rhythm guitarist of “Jabiru” – a local outfit that has been performing throughout the northern rivers region for over 20 years. In the 1980’s, Andrew was a founding member of the Grafton based band “Little Eagle” – a solid group who captivated audiences with the sounds of the Eagles, John Fogerty, and Bob Seger to name a few.

Together they create a really unique blend of musical talent with an energetic show you will love!

Cass Eager

Cass is a modern soul singer with a sound that embodies old-school cool with bold, sexy optimism! Her sound takes its cues from a vintage sonic swagger a-la Amy Winehouse, but sounds like she’d be just as much at home drinking dry martinis with Sade, Dusty Springfield and Nancy Sinatra at The Dresden.

Cass sings songs that remind you that if the champagne glass isn’t already full, then it’s at least half-full (and definitely never half-empty). They're always drenched in her signature whiskey-smoked vocals, and wrapped up in a feel-good vibe. She left Sydney for LA and carved out a new sound with her producer in LA, Billy Lefler, together nailing the sound she’d been looking for…a love of old-school soul blues songs mixed with a blend of the new West Coast.

A finalist for Best Group and Best Female Vocalist in the Australian Blues ‘Chain’ Awards and Best Blues/Roots Artist in the MusicOz Awards, Cass’ EP ‘Down On My Knees’ was voted ‘Top 10 Album’ of the year in Rhythms Magazine.

“Janis Joplin and Ben Harper’s love-child”
— Timber and Steel

SESSION 4: Sunday 5 September – Daytime

10.30am-4pm
Our Sunday session is another sunny outdoor all ages Daytime Session set against the iconic backdrop of the sea.

Plenty of room for everyone, so bring the fam! 

Opening our Sunday Session at 11am are local trio The Shufflemen with their mix of blues and other hues to entertain you, followed by local Pam Hata, a woman on a mission with her original blues and soul songs, followed by talented local blues trio Cold Caller!

Then we’ll be listening to the energetic band Then Joelene, with a country blues twist!

And last, but not least, the amazing Hussy Hicks are going to knock your socks off with their awesome music and great stage show!

Doors open at 10.30am!

The Shufflemen

Local trio, The Shufflemen, with their seriously cool blues & other hues, are first up to to entertain you with easy listening classics and originals perfect for a relaxed, chilled vibe for Sunday!

Pam Hata

Pam Hata will blow you away with her special soulful blend of blues, RnB, funk, reggae, roots covers and originals!

Cold Caller

Cold Caller is a trio with a special place in their hearts for the blues! Featured in their set are well known blues classics as well as a collection of more popular songs. 

From a slow blues in G to a loud and heavy hitting interpretation of Catfish blues, this band does their best to produce a great modern take on the blues!

Then Joelene

Then Joelene are an 8 piece melodic raucous folk hard country string band.

Bastard son of bluegrass and the wayward daug, this will put an original twang into some country blues! Energetic and amazing, they're not to be missed!

Hussy Hicks

A band of accomplished and powerful women, Hussy Hicks have made a name for themselves locally and on the international stage the old fashioned way – by playing their music and connecting with audiences one passionate performance at a time.

Julz Parker is widely recognised amongst her peers as one of Australia's finest guitar players, with a tone and approach that sits stylistically between Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Django Reinhardt and Tom Morello. Leesa Gentz's powerhouse stage presence, soaring vocals and massive smile will steal your heart, have you hanging on every note and leave a tingle dancing down your spine.

It is now 10 years since they released their debut album, Life Plays Out, and Hussy Hicks are currently on the road introducing fans old and new to their fifth full length offering, 'On the Boundaries'. This album experiments with their sound and production to create something familiar yet fresh and the results are nothing short of stunning.

They run the gamut of musical genres incorporating blues, folk and riffy rock with gypsy, surf, alt country and soul, all cheekily woven together with beautiful vocal harmonies.

"A not to be missed act that are ready for the world" - Peter Noble, Bluesfest Director
“These girls epitomise everything I admire about great music - instinct, passion, courage, creativity and a distinct refusal to compromise their vision" - Kim Cheshire, Country Update Magazine
"Watching Julz Parker play her custom-made acoustic dreadnought is nothing short of breath-taking; a stark reminder of the huge gap between simply ‘playing guitar’ and the ability to make an instrument the extension of your musical imagination.” - Sabian Wilde, X Press Magazine

SESSION 5: Sunday 5 Sept – Night Time

5pm-9.30pm
What a terrific way to end our C-Side Blues Weekend, with a bit of dress up Blues Brothers fun and an extra session!

With opening sets by local act, Sonny James, with his gritty, electrified blues style, followed by Raven with their British Blues Invasion, and headlining act, the Blues Brothers Rebooted Show, dress up in classic 'Blues Brothers' theme, book a table for dinner from the ‘Soul Food Café’ from 5.30pm, get set for some grooving and you won't be disappointed! They’re on a mission to entertain you!

Set on our indoor Mainstage, this is an intimate night of dress up fun, blues classics and dancing, with strictly limited tickets available!

Doors open at 5pm and the fun starts at 5.30!

Sonny James

For those who love the blues but prefer something a little more adventurous, Sonny is a Slam-dunk. His music has a loose, aggressive edge akin to Elmore James or Junior Kimbrough, but in his more quiet moments, Sonny can channel supple beauty from his slide guitar. 

No smoke and mirrors here, one man, his guitar and some gritty electrified blues. Sonny's raw sound is sure to get emotions flowing and your feet stomping, close your eye's and be transported.

"Such a passionate hard hitting artist" - Luke Henery (Violent Soho)
"Sonny is one hell of a musician and I think big things are headed his way" - Brooke Mclymont (The Mclymonts)

Raven 

Raven is an exciting ensemble of accomplished musicians that have come together to pay homage to arguably the most influential period of popular music since the invention of the electric guitar. 

The British Blues Invasion! 

This short period between 1965 and 1975 witnessed some of the most famous bands from England dominate the world music scene with timeless tracks that are still revered today. There is no doubt The Beatles were at the beginning of this movement but also The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Animals, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Free Peter Green and many more up this exciting era in musical history. 

Raven presents this era with power house energy and distinctive style! 

Raven is: Grahame Elsley on guitar, an accomplished singer/songwriter and member of more than a dozen successful groups but most recently guitarist and musical director of “Crossroads" Eric Clapton Tribute show” Bill “the Hammond Organ Guy” Ferguson on keys who has supported many great Australian acts since the 80s and currently with “Blues Exile” Barry Dennien, an amazing drummer/vocalist whose experience goes back to the 80s. Barry brings a level of excitement to the band with his passion for rhythmic dynamics and together with Bassist/vocalist Pete Lemke make up Raven’s solid rhythm section. 

Blues Brothers Rebooted

They're on a mission to entertain you!

The Blues Brothers Rebooted show is an exciting hyperactive production that pays tribute to both the unforgettable and infectious style of soul music and a faithful recreation of those 2 soul brothers who donned the Black hats, dark shades and created what is now a musical institution “The Blues Brothers” Rebooted.

This high energy, fun and polished presentation features the finest soul, rhythm and blues classics by such artists as Solomon Burke, Sam & Dave and Wilson Pickett.

Blues Brothers Rebooted have played sold out shows in some of Sydney’s finest venues including The Basement, The Vanguard, Lizottes, Auditoriums across NSW and multiple cruise liners around the world. Now they're coming to RED-C for you!