Blues man surfing to date with The Rose

Jane Emerick
After featuring in various surf films and playing alongside the likes of Jack Johnson, California’s Todd Hannigan is looking forward to touring Australia.
But music isn’t the sole reason bringing Hannigan down under.
“We’re in Byron Bay at the moment and we’ve been lucky enough to have a surf wherever we’ve played in Australia so far,” Hannigan says.
“We’ve been playing shows but also hanging out a lot and surfing.
“I can’t wait to check out the surfing in Torquay and down the coast – I’ve heard a lot about it.”
Hannigan will have hit Sydney, the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Phillip Island before making it to Torquay to play at The Rose next weekend.
He notes similarities between the surf scene in California, where he grew up, to the locations he has visited on his Australian tour.
Hannigan, known for his mixture of blues and a surf rock style, says Australians “have it figured out”.
“You guys have more open coastlines, more undiscovered waves,” he says.
“There’s a real beach lifestyle. It’s cool.”
While Hannigan says surfing has inspired his sound, he also believes travelling to places like Romania and Kenya have played a role.
“My music is definitely influenced by seeing other cultures and every place I have been. It’s all in there,” he says.
“I just try to write down surf music with a modern interpretation and travelling has been a part of that.”
Keeping with the surfing theme, acclaimed surf filmmaker Jack McCoy will present a screening before and after Hannigan’s show.
Sydney outfit Mojada will also appear on the night.
Hannigan’s End of Summer Sessions tour will reach The Rose on Friday May 4.