DR REBECCA LOUISE-CLARKE
UNCOVERING AND CELEBRATING WOMEN IN AUSTRALIAN BLUES
Lady Sings the Oz Blues, explores the vital but often overlooked contributions of Australian women musicians to the Blues genre. This project engages with archival materials from the Australian Performing Arts Collection (APAC), Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society (MBAS), Women in Blues Program (Victoria), State Library Victoria, University of Melbourne Library and the University of Melbourne Archives and Special Collections. It brings together oral histories, sound recordings, and historical documents to highlight the important ways that Blues women have shaped the Blues in Australia.
Oz Blues musicians have incorporated international influences, their own cultural heritage, and the landscapes around them to create a distinctively Australian Blues sound. Welcome to a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, rhythms, notes and words that together weave the histories of Oz Blues.
ABOUT ME -
Rebecca Louise-Clarke
As a grassroots arts events coordinator and an author, curator and academic, I have enjoyed fostering connections between diverse sectors of the community in creative partnerships. My projects have built strong creative communities, resulting in performances, exhibitions, lectures and publications including 2 books, several essays and audio narratives.
My long-time love-affair with the Blues has sent me all the way to places like Beale St Memphis, New Orleans, and Chicago. I’m thrilled to apply my research skills to the Blues - a genre so rich with complex histories, stories and communities that it needs to be documented and celebrated. This exploration is well overdue in the Australian historical and scholarly landscape.
Lady Sings the OZ BLUES
TEAM MEMBERS & SUPPORTERS
This exhibition has been created in accordance with the needs of its community. It serves to preserve knowledge about the Blues genre, its culture and the lives of those people who have been a part of it.
We are honoured to have such a talented, fierce and inspiring network of musicians, creatives and supporters involved in this project.
35th Anniversary (MBAS) Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society Exhibition.
This year will be the 35th Anniversary of The MBAS! MBAS has enjoyed a long history and still attracts hundreds of new members and audiences locally and internationally. This volunteer run not for-profit organisation was formed in 1990 by a group of music lovers who gathered each week at the Station Hotel in Prahran to hear musicians Dutch Tilders and the Blues Club. Dutch invited guest artists to perform with him and it was decided by the artists and music enthusiasts that a society or club was needed that would support the current and developing Blues artists of Melbourne. MBAS’ activities and functions include a Tuesday Night Feature Artist and Jam Night, Youth In Blues, Blues Performer of the Year Challenge, Victorian Tasmanian Blues Music Awards and a Women’N’Blues programme. Over the society’s journey, international bonds have been fostered, and MBAS has become well known amongst communities foundational to the Blues genre. The MBAS has sent bands and solo artists to compete at the International Blues Challenge (IBC), a challenge that attracts over 400 acts from Blues Societies all over the world. All competing acts in the Blues Challenge (IBC), have each won a Challenge held by their local Blues Society. MBAS is amongst the most successful Blues Societies competing, proudly having their members make it to the Finals and achieving 2 winners, 2 runners up and 2 ‘best guitarists’ awards.
This international collaboration has earned Naarm/Melbourne a reputation for being one of the major Blues Music cities internationally. Their ongoing partnerships have included The Blues Foundation in Memphis USA which has endured for over 25 years. Emerging musicians who have honed their craft though MBAS’ weekly jam sessions which bring new and established artists together in Blues experimentation have gone on to compete and find success in international Blues competitions, a testament to the important ways that MBAS has nurtured young talent. This long history of MBAS is a rich tapestry of accomplishments, musical and intellectual rigour, friendship, community and tireless dedication. This exhibition honours MBAS’ contributions to the Blues community.
Fiona Boyes
Fiona is an award-winning blues & roots guitarist, songwriter & vocalist.
She is 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’. Her performances feature guitars, vocals and unique cigar-box instruments. As an international recording artist and touring musician, Fiona has been described as:
”...one of the world’s best fingerpicking blues guitarists...” (The Guardian, Australia).
Fiona will be participating as musical advisor and musician/performer in this project.
Kerri Simpson
Australian Blues Musician
2024 Hall of Fame – Inductee, Blues Music Victoria.
“Patti Smith with a glass of scotch in one hand.”
- music critic Andrew Masterson describing Kerri Simpson
Few singers have so successfully traversed musical genres as Kerri Simpson. Dubbed as "Australia's own Blues diva" (by Bruce Elder of the Sydney Morning Herald) Kerri made herself a home in a myriad of genres.
In 2024 Kerry was inducted into Blues Music Victoria's Hall of Fame. Her many credits include co-writing and performing on the title track of Jeff Langs ' More Life" album, Rhythms magazines’ peoples choice album of the year. She wrote a haunting piece in tribute to Oz rock star, Chris Wilson for David Bridie's acclaimed 2023 spoken word album "It's been a while since our last correspondence"
Kerri recorded and toured with Stranger Cole and The Ska Vendors in 2022. As well as continuing to record many songs with Belmar Records she released "Tuskegee Airman" a single from Belmars Top 10 Vol 7 featuring Simpson alongside Kelly Auty.
In late 2018, Kerri, together with Allison Ferrier and Anthony ‘Shorty’ Shortte – formed Opelousas. Opelousas released their second album "Opelousafried" which, like their debut 2019 release "Opelousified", won Music Victoria's "Best Blues Work of the year". Opelousafied was also voted 8th in Rythmns peoples choice albums of 2024, and 3PBS fm and 3RRR fm's album of the week. Kerri’s New Orleans infused vocal s have been described as “vodou influenced.” Her works have traversed alternative country, R&B, Funk and Disco. She has collaborated with Indigenous songwriter Glenn Skuthorpe on his Small Change and Wild winds of Dooga albums.
Kerri has had the pleasure of supporting big Blues stars, Dr John and Keb Mo on their national tour. As a result of that release and her previous work in New Orleans, Kerri was invited to perform with Norman and Ricki Caesar, Jason and Aaron Neville Jnr at the 1999 Jazz and Heritage Festival, making Kerri one of the few Australians to appear at the prestigious festival, and the first Australian female to perform there.
In the 90s, her original rock albums inspired author and music critic Andrew Masterson to compare her to “Patti Smith with a glass of scotch in one hand”. She was featured alongside Beth Orton and Fiona Apple on Fritz Radio in Berlin when her The Arousing CD was their number one. Her dance records Higher and Kiss Her Goodbye saw her compared to Patti la Belle and Chaka Khan. They became popular on the London underground dance scene and she toured Australia supporting Kylie Minogue.
As a long-time advocate of Oz Blues, Kerri has generously offered her time to support Lady Sings the Oz Blues as an advisor, musician and as a cultural heritage GLAM (GALLERIES, LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS) practitioner.
Andrea Marr
Andrea Marr is a multi-award winning Blues vocalist and Ambassador for Victoria’s Women in Blues . Her work has been described as…
“This has all the heart and soul of classic soul, funky enough to make James Brown sit up and take notice … in a world full of people trying to sound like their favourite star, Andrea Marr is a bona fide original – 100% The Real Deal” – Bill Wilson US review
“As with all the the great soul that came out of Stax and Atlantic in that halcyon bygone age and what Daptone Records currently do better than anyone else, miss Andrea Marr combines passion, energy, and S.O.U.L with melodies and hooks to die for” – Rocking Magpie UK Review
“Pure nostalgia to the era of Stax and Motown comes back to life on this album. Images of Aretha Franklin or Betty Wright are burned back on my retina when listening to the album. Andrea Marr is an 18 carat soul diamond” – Rootsville Belgium
“The first thing you are going to notice when you listen to Andrea Marr is that hugely-soulful voice. She has a passion for the music of Motown, Stax, Etta, Aretha, Sharon Jones, and JB, and she’s got the chops to pull it off. Andrea and The Hitmen get it tight, right, and outta sight. Fans, since the untimely passing of Sharon Jones, someone has to step up and carry the soul torch forward. Why not Andrea Marr? She’s sho’ nuff a “Natural!”.” – Don and Sheryl’s Blues Blog USA.
Andrea will be Advisor and Musician on the project to share her extensive knowledge on the Australian Blues.
Kelly Auty
Kelly’s impressive biography includes appearances at many Australian festivals and community events.
Kelly has supported numerous internationally renowned artists including Janis Ian, Jose Feliciano, Manhattan Transfer, The Drifters, The Platters, Eric Burdon, John Hammond, The Chantoozies and the Divinyls to name a few.
Kelly and her band won Blues performer of the year in 2017 and travelled to Memphis in January 2018 to take part in the International Blues Challenge, winning a place in the semi- finals after competing with 240 acts from all over the world. The band were also awarded the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society “Band of the Year” in 2018.
Since 2023 Kelly has been working on new arrangements of some of her favourite originals in the style of Blues, Roots, Country rock & Folk. Wanting to work with a brand-new look & sound, Kelly teamed with award winning & Blues Music Vic Hall of Fame Inductee, Melbourne producer & Bass player, Barry Hills, who has put together an amazing group of musicians- Nick Carrafa Drummer & singer, with Brian Fraser -Electric, Acoustic & lap steel and Roland Kretschmer - Electric and Acoustic Guitars & Mandolin. The band, PepperCreek Revival, recently recorded at Woodstock Studio with engineer Richard Stolz ans released a self titled album in 2024. The album has gained airplay in Australia and OS.
There are new songs in the works and 2025 promises to be a great adventure for the band.
Something old, new, borrowed and blue....and something just for you.
“Kelly sings from the heart”
- Jose Feliciano
Brooke Taylor, Australian Musician.
Brooke Taylor
Melbourne's own musical maverick, is a powerhouse singer, songwriter, and guitar-thumper.
Brooke has the power and panache, the style and the sass. Can melt you or maintain you with the way she inhabits tunes. A writer and performer for the ages." - Tim Rogers
"[There's Magic in Mistakes] is a magnificent collection of songs, singing and playing. Swaggering, oozing attitude and smouldering with intensity. Oh yeah, and it rocks. This album is a complete blast." - Stuart Coupe
Navigating the waves of rock, blues, country, soul, and pop, Brooke has ignited stages and rocked festivals nationwide. She's been the sonic firestorm at events like the St Kilda Music Festival, Leaps and Bounds, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Nightjar Festival, and The Taste Of Tassie, to name a few.
Brooke writes from the gut. Her music is the raw, untamed pulse of the human experience, delivered with unapologetic power and searing emotion. Her songs are built on a foundation of relentless rhythm guitar, vocals that blaze like wildfire, and lyrics that speak to the very soul.
Backed by her incredible band ‘The Poison Spitting Gin Queens,’ Brooke’s debut album, "It's The Little Things", exploded onto the scene, smashing its way to #2 on the Australian Independent Album Charts in July 2020.
Her latest album, "There's Magic in Mistakes", released in May 2024, debuted at #8 on the ARIA Country Charts and #4 on the Australian Independent Album Charts.
Brooke will be participating in the project as a musician and her music and storytelling will feature in performances to be displayed in the Online Exhibition.
Joanna Connor
Joanna Connor is an American Chicago-based blues singer, songwriter and guitarist.
Award winning Blues Woman, Joanna, was born in Brooklyn of New York City, and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. After moving to Chicago in 1984, she was drawn to the Chicago blues scene, eventually sharing the stage with James Cotton, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and A.C. Reed.
Playing guitar since she was a child, she quickly learned the Blues style. By 1987, Joanna had started her own band, and recorded her first album for Blind Pig Records in 1989. Since then she has signed a recording contract with M.C. Records. In 2021, Joanna released the No. 1 blues album 4801 South Indiana Avenue, via Joe Bonamassa's Keeping the Blues Alive Records. Joanna regularly performs live at Kingston Mines, a Chicago based Blues club. She also performs frequently on film and television. In 2023, Joanna was nominated for the Blues Music Award in the instrumentalist category, for guitar.
Joanna is involved as an advisor on Lady Sings the Oz Blues, and collaborator on the exhibition as oral history interviewee and musician.
Anna C Madden, Photographer.
Photograph: Sampa the Great, Golden Plains Festival. Photographer: Anna Bandanna
Anna C Madden (Anna Bandanna Photography) - Naarm/Melbourne Live Music Photographer.
Anna is an award winning photographer who possesses a unique talent for capturing live music in her striking images. Anna has a passion for supporting women performers.
Anna describes her passion for photography …
“I discovered a love for photography while living overseas for 3 years. I was based in Dublin and travelled extensively in Europe undertaking travel photography and street photography. When I returned to Australia I started taking my camera to gigs. I developed an appreciation for the visual aspect of live music and learned a lot about photography along the way. Before Covid I had my work regularly published in Beat Magazine and was an official photographer for The Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Since covid I have returned to street photography and began to develop a documentary practice. I have been documenting a group of female blacksmiths for the past few years. I was a finalist in the 2017 Maggie Diaz Prize and the 2020 Into the Mist photography competition. I was also selected as Staff Pick in the CCP Salon exhibition in 2023”- Anna C Madden.
Anna will be working on this project as a photographer, documenting live Blues performances. Her work will contribute images to this Online Exhibition and to the long-term outcome: the Manuscript of Photography, Art and EssayBook, Lady Sings the Oz Blues.
Charlie Barker, Australian Blues Musician.
Charlie Barker is vocalist forNaarm/Melbourne based Swampy Texan Billy Blues band Shake. A dynamic 4 piece.
Barker is offering her talents as musician on this project.
Endorsements/Words of Support for
Lady Sings the Oz Blues
Andrea Marr
Ambassador for Women in Blues, Blues Music Victoria
www.andreamarr.com
“I am in full support of Dr Rebecca Louise-Clarke’s application for Lady Sings the Oz Blues. I am the ambassador for Women in Blues for Blues Music Victoria and in partnership with the US National Women In Blues inc. I also run my own music school Andrea Marr Music School, helping my acts release original music and I am the vocal coach for Australian Songwriters Conference to help women in blues with touring opportunities and create an equal playing field. I have been a singer songwriter and performer since 1997, I have released 10 albums, won many awards and charted at number one on the US and Australian blues charts many times. Yet the festival and touring opportunities are not as forthcoming as they would be to male artists in our genre and there is a disparity in pay grade for between male and female musicians. We desperately need funding for female artists here and in the US. I look forward to working with Rebecca to help her research the history of the Oz Blues and in promoting women Blues musicians.”
John Durr - President
Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society (MBAS)
‘The Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society (MBAS) is excited to partner with Rebecca.
In this, the 35th year of the existence of the MBAS, it would greatly assist the profile of the organisation to hold an exhibit, displaying the history of the Club. To do so, in partnership with someone of the impressive experience and abilities of Dr Louise- Clarke, would greatly enhance the profile of MBAS.
The exhibition will present posters, fliers etc that demonstrate the significant role that MBAS has played in the Melbourne music scene. there will also be an A/V component consisting of interviews with past office bearers of the Club, plus some of the leading Blues musicians of Melbourne.’
Kerri Simpson
Australian Blues Musician
2024 Hall of Fame – Inductee
Blues Music Victoria
“I am proud to support Dr Rebecca Louise-Clarke’s application for her project ‘Lady Sings the Oz Blues’ and would be happy to support and be involved in Rebecca’s project. Having been involved in the blues scene since the early 80's I would relish the opportunity to assist as it remains largely undocumented. As a section of the industry that has been a stalwart of the live scene for decades, I think it crucial that this rectified for historical purposes at the very least. Her aim to promote local established and emerging Blues women musicians and foster a community that fosters mentorships for younger musicians would achieve impressive long-lasting impacts that will greatly benefit the community. With Rebecca’s extensive museum and archival experience, proven ability to bring hidden histories to light, strong track record in digital storytelling, experience managing arts projects and community engagement, and her recognised academic and professional contributions, I believe she is a strong candidate for this grant. As a section of the industry that has been a stalwart of the live scene for decades, I think it crucial that this rectified for historical purposes at the very least. Rebecca’s project takes a unique and lively approach by applying her archival research on the history of ‘Oz Blues’ to a contemporary setting, bringing both the old and current day aspects of the Blues genre into dialogue. “Lady Sings the Oz Blues” will celebrate the vibrant history of Naarm/Melbourne’s blues scene by combining historical materials with contemporary performances and digital storytelling. By building an archive and curating digital exhibitions, this project will ensure that the legacy of the Oz Blues is preserved for future generations.”
Jen Jewel Brown
Author/Editor/Music Journalist.
Former Mushroom Records/A&R manager, Signed Yothu Yindi, Editor of Lisa Bellear’s 'Aboriginal Country', Author of 'Skyhooks Million Dollar Riff' and 'Michael, my brother, lost boy of INXS'.
“I have known Rebecca Louise-Clarke for 20 years and hold the greatest respect for her creativity, her curatorial nous and her reliable organisational skills. She has shown real commitment to empowering and celebrating the talents of Australian female and LGBTIQI+ creatives, on display when she founded, hosted and ran a regular poetry reading called “Kitty Sessions” (2005 – 2010), focusing on women and queer performers in the early part of the 21st century, in High Street Thornbury. This successful series of nights exposed and boosted a great hidden vein of female and disadvantaged literary and musical performers' skills while nurturing community with great warmth. Since then, Rebecca has achieved many successful projects with outcomes including books, essays, exhibitions and digital artworks. She has brought her work to international audiences in the form of her involvement in artist residencies, her presentations, lectures and online exhibitions. Rebecca Louise-Clarke is a rare bird: an ideas person and leader in the world of under-represented creatives down under. I wholeheartedly support her project; ‘Lady Sings the Oz Blues’ which I am confident will achieve all the outcomes she has envisioned and beyond. Her ability to liaise with stakeholders from all walks of life, her receptivity to experimental ideas, and her courageous can-do attitude makes her an exceptional project leader. I have no doubt that this project will spark much creativity, inventiveness and will create long lasting impacts and connections in the blues community both within Melbourne and beyond.”
Antonia Koratzopoulos
Presenter Services Coordinator of venue
Meat Market, Venue, North Melbourne.
“I’d like to express my support for Dr Rebecca Louise-Clarke's project, Lady Sings the Oz Blues which we are proud to host at our venue. This significant project holds promise and Rebecca has the capacity to successfully lead it. With her background as a curator, scholar, and researcher, she is well-equipped to bring this project to life. Her expertise in archiving, digital storytelling, and community-driven curation makes her uniquely positioned to document and celebrate the history of the Oz Blues through exhibitions and live music performance.”
