New Home for the Blues at the Crossroads
New Home for the Blues at the Crossroads
The Capital Blues Club has a new
home at Jack Hackett’s. Formally “Bill Direen’s”
bar in the nineties, the stage at Jack Hackett’s hosted
the very early gigs for the Blues Club back in 1996. After a
long stint at The Hotel Bristol, the Club is fortuitously
returning to its roots at the Crossroads of Cuba and
Courtenay.
Blues artist Pip Payne was the driving
force behind the Blues Club in the early years. He is back
on the very same stage 22 years later for the (re)opening
night party with his band ‘The Gospel Project’ featuring
Wayne Mason on keys.
The idea to host the club really
struck a chord with Jack Hackett’s manager - Matt
McLaughlin. “I’m a huge fan and supporter of local live
music. I know beer and blues on a Thursday is going to be
really appealing, especially as we head into summer. I want
Jack Hackett’s to be recognised as the go-to destination
for Blues in the Capital - so we are committed to continuing
this great tradition.”
Club member, treasurer of 8
years and musician Julie Lamb is really excited about the
move. “It’s a great new venue for us - it’s a bigger
space and the acoustics are great for the Blues sound. Every
good club needs a good base, and we are thrilled with our
new home.”
“I’m proud of our history. We are the
longest running blues club in the southern hemisphere. Every
Thursday for 22 years we’ve brought Wellington live blues
music. We provide a regular dose of monthly roots culture on
Del Thomas’s radio show on Access radio, and the blues stage within
the CupaDupa festival is our baby.”
“The Capital
Blues Club plays a vital role in keeping the blues alive.
The NZ School of music does 3 big band nights a year at the
club - The students come through and show their chops. The
evening is studded with talent proving that the genre
continues to inspire young musicians. We are immensely proud
to support that.”
Founding member of the Blues
Club, Dougal Speir says “The blues has always has been
relevant. It has that ‘special thing’ that never goes
away. The structure of the blues makes it incredibly
accessible. Me? I’m a 3 chord wonder. But that’s
basically all you need to express the full spectrum of
life's emotion. Jack White of the White Stripes said that he
was profoundly influenced hearing the power of the blues
expressed just with acapella and handclaps. It will
influence people ‘til eternity.”
Julie adds “For
over two decades, we’ve supported our local blues artists
with opportunities for their music and that in turn helps to
develop our national Blues sound. New Zealanders really
connect to the rich blues history, culture and sound. It is
a vehicle for telling ballsy stories. Its roots are in
struggle and slavery, and the dark emotional storylines of
racism and poverty are still relevant today. And since the
very beginning, it's always been great music to appreciate
with mates and a beer in hand”.
Come celebrate
the opening of the new Home of the Blues at Jack Hackett’s
5 Inglewood Place (Cnr Dixon & Taranaki
Sts.) Capital Blues on the Move Party, 8pm
22 November,
Free
Entry
ENDS