The SoundLounge

Claude Hay

Hailing from the Blue Mountains Australia, Blues/Roots artist Claude Hay takes Do-It-Yourself to impressive limits. He builds his own instruments. He built his own house. He customized his tour van with a kitchen and a recording studio. And his musical approach is no different– you see only one performer, but the sound and music builds layer-by-layer until you have to wonder where the rest of the band is.

Hot on the heels of the Australian and US release of his second album Deep Fried Satisfied, Claude debuted on the Billboard Blues charts at #9, following the likes of Buddy Guy and John Bonamassa. His interview on Usa’s syndicated National Public Radio exposed him to millions of listeners which pushed the USA market interest not long after hitting #21 on the US Weekly Blues Charts.

Claude Hay fuses slide guitar, sitar, bass and electronic percussion in a loop-driven performance that invokes the best of stomping traditional blues with a booty-shaking funk edge. His fresh take on roots and blues draws in a wide spectrum of listeners, but still has the chops for the blues enthusiasts.

Asa Broomhall

Australia's favorite Rock/Roots larrikin; Asa Broomhall has done it again with his latest self-produced album 'Revelry Road'. Recorded live over 5 days in the farmhouse where Asa grew up on the Sunshine Coast. It builds on Asa's previous work by seamlessly combining full band tracks and solo acoustic songs showing the true depth of his songwriting and musicianship. You may say it is a Rock and Roll Record with a hint of Folk but it has elements of Blues, Country and even a bit of Calypso?

This album also features some of SE Qld's finest musicians on instruments such as Cello and Piano and an appearance on Guitar by one of Australia's most revered artists; Mark Lizotte (Diesel).

'Revelry Road' was officially launched at the Brisbane Powerhouse on July 5, available in record stores and on iTunes July 6 through Vitamin Records and was followed by a string of club and festival dates. 'Revelry Road' is currently being played on TripleJ, ABC Coast FM, 4ZZZ, Hot 91 and ZincFM, 612 ABC and Community Stations.

Transvaal Diamond Syndicate

Transvaal Diamond Syndicate (TDS) are the manufacturers of some of Australia's finest foot-stompin' swamp and dirty blues/rock.

"Great guitar riffs with cool and clear lyrics. Bound to get the speakers rattling." Sydney Daily Telegraph

"It's Blues with Big, Bristling Balls. Seriously Bad-Arse!" Zoo Weekly

AS FEATURED ON TRIPLE J RADIO

PERFORMED AT 2011 BYRON BLUESFEST

July 2009 saw the beginning of a rapid upwards journey for Transvaal Diamond Syndicate, almost immediately garnering attention for their raw, energetic, exciting and often primeval live shows. Since then, the TDS have only gone from strength to strength, gathering fans left and right from constant touring and performing and engaging with fans through their strong online presence (e.g YouTube - Tuesday Tinnies with TDS).

Now it seems all the hard work is paying off - Transvaal Diamond Syndicate's 2011 was shaped by their inclusion on Australia's premier Festival, Byron Bay Bluesfest, alongside international acts such as Bob Dylan, Michael Franti & Spearhead and Ben Harper as well as the signing of a record deal with Starving Kids Records for their latest release.

TDS are currently touring to promote ‘Sins of the Blessed’, a brand new 7 track mini-album showcasing the band’s diversity as it moves and swells through straight blues progressions into half-time rock and rockabilly into stoner groove and dark roots balladry. The 3 single releases thus far have fared well in the market with lead track ‘Devil on My Shoulder’ and straight-blues’ ‘Ol’ Carolina’ receiving Triple J Radio play, along with stoner-anthem ‘I’m Your Ticket’ gaining ‘top 10 most-requested track on Community Radio’ status in September (AMRAP). 'Devil on My Shoulder' was also featured on the 2011 Brisbane Sounds Compilation. The album’s shaping up to be a cracker and was released NATIONWIDE through MGM Distribution, Starving Kids Records and JBHiFi on Friday October 7. Head into your local JB’s to grab yourself a copy.