An all-star group of musicians will help rock your blues away at Pistol Pete’s annual Christmas bash this Saturday night (December 23).
Pistol Pete (aka Pete Raimondo) has curated a lineup featuring two of the best-loved acts of the local blues scene, with the Maskell Love Band and the Von Robertsons kicking off the night with a set apiece.
The Maskell Love Band is driven by incendiary guitarist Troy Love and the highly regarded Pete Maskell on vocals on guitar, with drummer Adrian Gardham and bassist Luke Hynes completing the band.
Maskell said the Pistol Pete’s Christmas gig had been a yearly event since before he got involved in the Geelong blues scene and he felt fortunate to be a part of it.
“It’s Troy’s band; I like to tell everyone, even though my name’s first in the band name, it’s really his baby,” he said.
“He does all the work, he’s got all the energy. I’m not new to the music scene, but I’m sort of new to the blues scene. I just got lucky to get invited.”
The night will then open up into a rotating jam, with a number of legendary performers joining the fray to celebrate the season in style.
One of those special guests is virtuosic guitarist Shannon Bourne, a musician whose work spans many genres but who has a special affinity for the blues.
Bourne featured at Pistol Pete’s last weekend as part of Checkerboard Lounge, as did fellow special guest Tim Neal.
Neal (keyboard, alto sax) is a stalwart of the Melbourne music scene known for his long-standing work with Paul Williamson’s Hammond Combo.
The Ukulele Queen of the Bellarine Sarah Carroll is another of the Christmas party’s special guests, as is harmonica phenom Jack Meredith, who plays with Carroll and was a student of her late husband, blues legend Chris Wilson.
Doors open at 8.30, tunes begin at 9pm.
