Beginning life as a group of guys jamming together every Wednesday night, Bendigo outfit Midweek Blues will release its debut album next week.
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Last Days of May is a nine-track album described as “hard blues” and, if it matches their live shows, it is sure to get people up and dancing.
Lead guitarist Jayd Ingles said each member of the band has brought their own influences to the work.
“Our first goal was to play music at the Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival, so we set about learning standards and covers for that,” he said.
“The first taste we got was doing five song set at The Exchange. That gave us a taste for performing live.
“At about the same time, we wrote our first song and when we realised something was coming together with that, we thought we could make a go of it.”
Since then, Midweek Blues has been a regular feature at the Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival.
“A couple of us are committee members. I do a lot of banners and advertising and Paul does the online social media type work for festival,” Ingles said.
“It seemed like a goal for us but we all had an interest in it and wanted to support the festival.
“Usually we get a couple gigs at each festival. Colin Thompson has been quite a big supporter and with that has come some confidence that has built as we play more.”
The band formed in 2014 with the members getting together to play music as a hobby.
They were as surprised as anyone else when warm-up jams started developing into full blown songs.
“It started with five of us at Bendigo Bank who all wanted make noise one night a week and get away from the kids,” Ingles said.
“We formed and decided to give it four weeks and have some fun. About three-and-a-half years later we have an album.”
It was encouragement from blues lovers that made them head into the recording studio.
“All our recording costs have been covered by gigs we did last year, so we have been happy to be able to record and release without spending from our own pocket,” Ingles said.
“We had a bit of luxury with the first album. We have played the songs about 30 times on stage plus rehearsal. You don’t get that luxury usually.”
Midweek Blues’ album launch is on at the Golden Vine Hotel on September 8.
Copies of the album, Last Days of May, will be available from Hardcopy Entertainment and Muso’s Stuff in Bendigo as well as the band’s website www.midweekblues.bandcamp.com