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Photo copyright Blind Freddy 1997. Used by permission.
Location: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 1987-
Formed in mid-1987, Blind Freddy started life as a hard-working blues/R&B
band, and quickly established a solid reputation around the Canberra scene at
venues such as The Oaks and ANU. Extending their gigs as far as the coast and
Wagga Wagga, their reputation continued to grow with support gigs for Tommy
Emmanuel, Monica snd the Moochers, and Mental As Anything.
In 1990, Blind Freddy opened shows for Albert Collins, and then for Canned
Heat. Since then, the band has supported such acts as Maria Muldaur and Jon
Cleary, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers, John Hammond,
and Junior Wells.
Two years later, Blind Freddy played a four month residency at the Unity
Hall Hotel in Sydney, which greatly increased their public profile. The band
has since been invited to play at many music festivals around Australia, such
as the St. Valentines Jazz Festival (Canberra, 1992), Jazz in the Highlands
(Bowral, 1992), Kiama Jazz Festival (1993), the inaugural Lithgow Blues
Festival (1993), East Coast Blues Festival (1994), Lithgow Blues Festival
(1994), and the Thredbo Music Festival (1995).
Band members:
Dave Blanken: guitar
Fraser Brown: keyboards
Peter Gelling: guitar, harmonica, vocals
Linda Hansen: vocals
Bridie King: keyboards
Graeme Molloy: keyboards
Lol Rainey: vocals
Tim Spellman: drums
Brian Taylor: bass
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