Blues man: Claude Hay plays three gigs on the Blues Train starting this weekend.
ERIN PEARSON
A LITTLE bit of the Bellarine Peninsula entered Memphis’s iconic Sun Studios last month when an Aussie artist walked in wearing a Blues Train T-shirt.
Claude Hay said he wouldn’t have worn anything else to record tracks for his new album in the legendary studio where legends such as Elvis and Johnny Cash once laid down tracks.
The T-shirt spruiked the Geelong region’s own blues icon, which runs along Bellarine Railway with performers in each carriage.
“The T-shirt reminds me of the true spirit of blues music because it’s got on old steam train on it from country Victoria,” Hay said.
“Just like the train ride itself, it represents the ruckus, fun and lots of energy on board.”
Hailing from the Blue Mountains, Hay is an award-winning blues and roots-renowned musician for his do-it-yourself approach to music.
He builds his own instruments along and customised his tour van with a kitchen and a recording studio.
Hay fuses slide guitar, sitar, bass and electronic percussion to invoke stomping blues with a “booty-shaking funk edge”.
His fresh take on roots and blues has drawn a wide spectrum of listeners without alienating traditionalists.
Hay’s recent tour of America put him on a road trip through destinations including California, Oregon, Alaska, Kansas City, Milwaukee, St Louis, Memphis, Nashville and West Virginia.
Now signed to a US label, Hay said he explored a country struggling with poverty.
“It’s been hit pretty hard by the recession but the music is so alive it’s absolutely everywhere.
“I only scratched the surface but it’s quite amazing – drive 45 minutes and you’re in another city.
“You’ve got to like corn fields, though. You can drive four or five days straight through corn fields.”
Now back home in the Blue Mountains, Hay said he was “trying to get some work done” before hitting the road again – but this time down south.
Hay will play on the Blues Train this Saturday and on October 22 and December 2.
