Collard Greens & Gravy

Last updated

Collard Greens & Gravy
Collard Greens and Gravy 2.jpg
L to R: Jason Liu Soon, Ian Collard, Sean Emmett; June 2017
Background information
Origin Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres Blues
Years active
  • 1995 (1995)–2016 (2016)
  • 2017–present
Labels Black Market Music
Members
  • Ian Collard
  • Jason Liu Soon
  • Sean Emmett
Past members
  • James Bridges
  • Anthony Shortte
Website collardgreensandgravy.com

Collard Greens & Gravy are an Australian blues band which formed as a trio in 1995 by James Bridges on guitar and fiddle, Ian Collard on lead vocals, harmonica and guitar, and Anthony Shortte on drums. Their second studio album, More Gravy (2000), won Best Blues & Roots Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2001. James Bridges died in September 2016 of pancreatic cancer, aged 57. Collard Greens & Gravy reformed in 2017 with Collard joined by Sean "Juke Boy" Emmett on guitar and Jason Liu Soon on drums.

Contents

History

1995-2003: Formation and early albums

Collard Greens & Gravy were formed in Melbourne in 1995 as a blues trio by James Bridges on guitar and fiddle, Ian Collard on lead vocals, harmonica and guitar, and Anthony Shortte on drums. [1] [2] The group's name refers to a fictitious meal, Collard explained, "When we went to America we discovered that... everywhere we went people would say, 'You can't put gravy on collard greens. Your name doesn't make any sense'." [2]

Their debut self-titled album was released in 1999 via Black Market Music and was recorded live-in-the-studio at Soundhouse Studios. [1] [3] Benoît Felten of Planet Harmonica felt, "It is a very dark and haunting record, it has a kind of mean edge to it, not unlike some of the eeriest Robert Johnson stuff, although using different tools." [4]

The group's second album, More Gravy was released in 2000, [5] won Best Blues & Roots Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2001. [1] [6] [7] Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described how the group's, "energetic foot-stomping, country blues sound tapped into the very roots of the genre." [1] Patrick Donovan of The Age observed, "[their] local brand of swampy countrified electric blues has earned them a reputation as the best blues band in the land." [8]

At the International Blues Challenge (IBC) competition in February 2001, Collard Greens & Gravy represented Australia in the International Blues Performer of the Year category and finished second. [1] [9] The group undertook tours of the United States. [1]

2004-present: Continued success

The group's third album, Silver Bird was released in June 2004. It was produced by John Durr. [1] [10] At the IBC competition in 2005, the album won Best Self-produced CD – tied with Robin Rogers' album, Crazy, Cryin' Blues. [1] [11]

The group's fourth album, Devil in the Woodpile, was released in November 2007. [1] [12] Sharon Kennedy of ABC South West WA, described their sound, "The music is Mississippi but from the hill country rather than the delta." [13] Collard discussed Bridges' playing, "a really heavy, strong, deep sound... He puts a lot of thought into the guitar and amplifiers and the type of reverb." [13]

At the Australian Blues Music Awards of 2009, they won Album of the Year for Devil in the Woodpile and Duo or Group of the Year for "No Love", while Ian Collard won Male Vocalist of the Year and John Durr won Producer of the Year. [14] [15] They were also nominated for Song of the Year for "No Love". [14] [15] McFarlane declared that this album and their follow up, Juke Joint Boogie! (September 2010), [16] were, "considered to be their best releases." [1] According to McFarlane, the group broke up in 2011. [1]

Collard Greens & Gravy performed at the Byron Bay Bluesfest in April 2011 [17] after being announced as part of the final lineup in March. [18] They performed at the Deni Blues and Roots Festival in March 2013. [19]

Collard Greens & Gravy, and Collard as a solo artist, performed at the Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival in May 2014. [20] During that year they released a compilation album, Greasy Greens; [21] while Ian Collard released a solo album, Swamp Stomp & Boogie. [22] In February 2015 Collard Greens & Gravy appeared at the Goulburn Blues Festival. [23] In the following December they celebrated their 20th anniversary with a performance at Spotted Mallard. [24]

James Bridges died on 22 September 2016 of pancreatic cancer, he was aged 57. [25] [26] Shortte organised a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the funeral. [27] The new line-up had Collard joined by Soon on drums and Sean "Juke Boy" Emmett on guitar. [28] They issued their sixth studio album, Luedella, in 2018, which won Best Blues Album at the Music Victoria Awards of 2018. [29] [30] By June 2019 Shortte was working with Kerri Simpson on guitar and lead vocals and Alison Ferrier on guitar in a blues group, Opelousas, which released their debut album, Opelousified, in that month. [31] Collard was inducted into Blues Music Victoria's Hall of Fame as an Industry Icon, alongside Hugo T Armstrong, in November 2023 at Memo Music Hall, St. Kilda.. [32] [33] Collard Greens & Gravy then provided a "blistering" performance. [32]

Members

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetails
Collard Greens & Gravy
  • Released: 1999 [3]
  • Label: Black Market Music (BMM 227.2)
  • Format: CD
More Gravy
  • Released: 2000 [5]
  • Label: Black Market Music (BMM 240.2)
  • Format: CD
Silver Bird
  • Released: June 2004 [10]
  • Label: Black Market Music (BMM 284.2)
  • Format: CD
Devil in the Woodpile
  • Released: November 2007 [12]
  • Label: Black Market Music (BMM 327.2)
  • Format: CD, DD
Juke Joint Boogie!
  • Released: September 2010 [16]
  • Label: Black Market Music (BMM 357.2)
  • Format: CD, DD
Luedella
  • Released: March 2018 [29]
  • Label: Only Blues Music (9331718001340)
  • Format: CD, DD

Compilations

TitleDetails
Greasy Greens
  • Released: 2014 [21]
  • Label: Collard Greens and Gravy
  • Format: CD, DD

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
ARIA Music Awards of 2001 More Gravy ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album Won [6]

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
Music Victoria Awards of 2018 LuedellaBest Blues AlbumWon [34] [35]

Related Research Articles

The Dingoes are an Australian country rock band. They were initially active from 1973 to 1979, and reformed in 2009. Initially based in Melbourne, the band relocated to the United States from 1976. The most stable line-up comprised John Bois on bass guitar, John Lee on drums, Broderick Smith on vocals and harmonica, Chris Stockley on guitar, and Kerryn Tolhurst on guitar. Mal Logan on keyboards joined after Stockley was hospitalised when shot in the stomach by Melbourne drug-dealer, Dennis Allen, who was attempting to gate crash a party. The Dingoes' debut single, "Way Out West", was released in November 1973, and peaked in the top 40 of the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart. Subsequent singles were "Boy on the Run", "Smooth Sailing", and "Into the Night", which did not reach the top 50. They had three top 40 albums, The Dingoes in 1974, Five Times the Sun in 1977, and Orphans of the Storm in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Butler Trio</span> Australian rock band

The John Butler Trio are an Australian roots/rock band led by guitarist and vocalist John Butler, an APRA and ARIA-award-winning musician. They formed in Fremantle in 1998 with Jason McGann on drums, Gavin Shoesmith on bass and John Butler on vocals. By 2009, the trio consisted of Butler with Byron Luiters on bass and Nicky Bomba on drums and percussion, the latter being replaced by Grant Gerathy in 2013. After both Luiters and Gerathy exited the trio in early 2019, bassist OJ Newcomb and drummer Terepai Richmond joined the band, accompanied by touring musician Elana Stone on keyboards, percussion and backing vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byron Bay Bluesfest</span> Annual Australian music festival

The Byron Bay Bluesfest, formerly the East Coast International Blues & Roots Music Festival, is an annual Australian music festival that has been held over the Easter long weekend in the Byron Bay, New South Wales, area since 1990. The festival features a large selection of blues and roots performers from Australia and around the world and is one of the world's leading contemporary music festivals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Wilson (Australian musician)</span> Australian musician (1956–2019)

Christopher John Wilson was an Australian blues musician who sang and played harmonica, saxophone and guitar. He performed as part of the Sole Twisters, Harem Scarem and Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls, and fronted his band Crown of Thorns. Wilson's solo albums are Landlocked, The Long Weekend, Spiderman (2000), King for a Day, Flying Fish (2012) and the self titled Chris Wilson (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beautiful Girls</span> Australian roots band

The Beautiful Girls are an Australian roots music group founded in Sydney in 2001 by Mat McHugh, Clay MacDonald, and Mitchell Connelly. They have released three extended plays, Morning Sun (2002), Goodtimes (2002), and The Weight of the World (2004), plus five studio albums, Learn Yourself (2003), We're Already Gone (2005), Ziggurats (2007), Spooks (2010), and Dancehall Days (2014). The last four albums have all peaked into the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Spooks and Dancehall Days also debuted at No. 1 on the Australian Independent Chart and No. 7&5 on the American Billboard Reggae Albums Chart, respectively. Their single "I Thought About You" reached No. 60 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Leonardo's Bride were an Australian pop band that formed in 1992. It consisted of Abby Dobson on lead vocal and acoustic guitar; Dean Manning on electric guitar, piano, wurlitzer and hammond; Jon Howell on drums; and Patrick Wong on bass guitar, backing vocals and cello. They released two EPs, Debut and Temperamental Friend and two albums, Angel Blood and Open Sesame, before disbanding in 2001.

Michael Robert "Mojo" Webb is a multi-instrumentalist blues musician, based in Brisbane, Australia. On 8 February 2007, Mojo Webb was awarded the Australian Blues Music Chain Award for 'New Talent of the Year'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ash Grunwald</span> Australian blues musician (born 1976)

Ash Grunwald is an Australian blues musician. He has released nine studio albums and has received five nominations for ARIA Music Awards. Five albums have charted in the ARIA Albums Chart top 50; Fish out of Water (2008), Hot Mama Vibes (2010), Trouble's Door (2012), Gargantua (2013) and Mojo (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Audreys</span> Australian blues and roots band

The Audreys are an Australian blues and roots band which formed in Adelaide, in 2004 by founding mainstay, Taasha Coates on lead vocals, melodica, harmonica and ukulele. They have released four studio albums, Between Last Night and Us, When the Flood Comes, Sometimes the Stars and 'Til My Tears Roll Away. Founding guitarist, Tristan Goodall, died on 2 July 2022, aged 48, of an unspecified illness.

Broderick Smith was an English-born Australian multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and sometime actor. He was a member of 1970s bands Sundown, Carson and the Dingoes, the 1980s Broderick Smith's Big Combo, and he recorded and performed solo and in duos. He acted on stage in the 1973 Australian version of the rock opera, Tommy, and in minor roles in the 1990s TV series Blue Heelers, Snowy River: The McGregor Saga and State Coroner. Smith was involved with the writing of some 200 songs and ran workshops on song writing, harmonica and vocals. He was the father of Ambrose Kenny-Smith, who has provided vocals, harmonica and keyboards for the rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard since 2011.

Backsliders are a three piece Australian blues based band. The current line up consists of guitarist/vocalist Dom Turner and drummer/percussionist Rob Hirst joined on alternating nights by either Brod Smith, Ian Collard or Joe Glover on harmonica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Steel</span> Musical artist

David Alexander John Steel is an Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He is a former member of folk rock group, Weddings Parties Anything (1985–88) and pop band, The Whipper Snappers (1990–91). Steel has released eleven solo studio albums, including one as leader of Dave Steel and the Roadside Prophets and two albums with folk singer, Tiffany Eckhardt. He has been nominated for three ARIA Music Awards.

Based in Melbourne, Australia, Black Market Music began in 1991 with the aim of bringing international blues and roots music to the Australian public through an import and retail business.

Clayton Doley is an Australian musician, singer, songwriter, television musical director, arranger, and record producer best known for his Hammond Organ virtuosity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Snowdroppers</span>

The Snowdroppers were an Australian blues rock band, formed in 2007 and disbanded in 2017.

The Revelators is an Australian blues rock band formed in 1989 by Joe Camilleri, James Black, Joe Creighton and Peter Luscome. Jeff Burstin joined in 1990. In Camilleri's own words, their desire was to "blow out the serious days' work with people who shared the same interest in music and who simply wanted to play it".

<i>The Adventures of The Amazing Revelators</i> 2000 studio album by The Revelators

The Adventures of The Amazing Revelators is the second studio album by Australian blues-rock band The Revelators. The album was recorded in four days and released in March 2000.

Bondi Cigars are an Australian Blues and Roots band. Their album Down in the Valley was nominated for a 2002 ARIA Award for Best Blues & Roots Album.

Shaun Kirk is an independent Australian soul and blues singer, songwriter, and musician. He has released four albums: Cruisin′ in 2010, Thank You For Giving Me the Blues in 2011, The Wick Sessions in 2013 and Steer the Wheel in 2014.

<i>More Gravy</i> 2000 studio album by Collard Greens & Gravy

More Gravy! is the second studio album, by Australian blues band, Collard Greens & Gravy. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2001, the album won Best Blues and Roots Album. The group's line-up was James Bridges on guitar and fiddle, Ian Collard on lead vocals, harmonica and guitar, and Anthony Shortte on drums. It was recorded live-in-the-studio at Soundhouse Studios with production by John Dorr and the group.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 McFarlane, Ian (2017). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Collard Greens & Gravy'". The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) (2nd ed.). Gisborne, Vic: Third Stone Press. p. 105. ISBN   978-0-9953856-0-3.
  2. 1 2 Bylok-Collard, Avrille. "Collard Greens and Gravy". Beat Magazine. Furst Media. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 Collard Greens & Gravy (1999), Collard Greens & Gravy, Black Market Music , retrieved 1 September 2018
  4. 1 2 Felten, Benoît (2001). "Collard Greens & Gravy – UK". Planet Harmonica. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  5. 1 2 Collard Greens & Gravy (2000), More Gravy!, Black Market Music, retrieved 1 September 2018
  6. 1 2 "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2001: 15th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  7. ↑ Donovan, Patrick (14 September 2001), "Sticky Carpet", The Age , Fairfax Media
  8. ↑ Donovan, Patrick (14 July 2004). "Blues Finds Its Rhythm". The Age . Fairfax Media. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  9. ↑ Eliezer, Christie (28 November 2000). "Music & Media Business News: Collard Greens & Gravy Head Stateside". In Music & Media. No. 236. Archived from the original on 30 January 2001. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  10. 1 2 Collard Greens & Gravy (2004), Silver Bird, Black Market Music, retrieved 1 September 2018
  11. ↑ "2017 Finalists: Best Self-Produced CD" (PDF). Blues Foundation . Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  12. 1 2 Collard Greens & Gravy (2007), Devil in the Woodpile, Black Market Music, retrieved 1 September 2018
  13. 1 2 Kennedy, Sharon (3 November 2008). "Ian Collard Blues". ABC South West WA. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  14. 1 2 "Industry News: 2009 Awards Finalists Announced". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 28 January 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  15. 1 2 Eliezer, Christie (4 March 2009). "Eight Days a Week: Grunwald, Collard Greens & Gravy win at blues awards". In Music & Media. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  16. 1 2 Collard Greens & Gravy (2010), Juke Joint Boogie!, Black Market Music, retrieved 1 September 2018
  17. ↑ Nolan, Mandy, ed. (19 April 2011). "The 22nd Annual Byron Bay Bluesfest Special Liftout Guide" (PDF). Byron Shire Echo . Vol. 25, no. 45. Byron Shire, New South Wales: Echo Publications. p. 50. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  18. ↑ "Latest news: Take a deep breath – this is IT folks! FINAL artist announcement for Bluesfest 2011's outstanding lineup of star performers" (Press release). Byron Bay Bluesfest. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
    Ritchie, John (17 March 2011). "Bluesfest final line-up announcement". News. Music Feeds . Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
    Condon, Dan (22 March 2011). Mast, Andrew; Neilsen, Mark; Smith, Michael; Fitzsimons, Scott; Curley, Adam (eds.). "Blues and Roots with Dan Condon". Roots Down. Drum Media . No. 1052. Surry Hills: Street Press Australia. p. 52. Retrieved 4 September 2018– via issuu.
  19. ↑ Pascuzzi, Carmine. "Deni Blues & Roots Festival 2013". Mediasearch. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  20. ↑ "Blues on Broadbeach — all you need to know about acts, prices, transport and road closures". Blues and Boating. Gold Coast Bulletin . News Corp Australia. 20 May 2014. ISSN   1321-3830. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Collard, Greens & Gravy (2014), Greasy Greens, Collard, Greens & Gravy, retrieved 3 September 2018
  22. ↑ "Ian Collard on Harmonica Riff Raff". News. 3MDR . Melbourne, Victoria: Mountain Districts Radio. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018. Old Shep and Ian will cover Ian's time in Collard Greens & Gravy, The Backsliders & Three Kings and also Ian's solo album Swamp Stomp & Boogie, which was released last year.
  23. ↑ Spencer, John; Scarlett, Kerry (9 February 2015). "News – Page 4 of 7: President's Message February 2015". Canberra Blues Society. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  24. ↑ "Have You Heard Collard Greens & Gravy". theMusic.com.au. 9 December 2015. Archived from the original on 18 July 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  25. ↑ "The Ryerson Index". Ryerson Index . Retrieved 14 June 2018. Note: User must add 'Bridges' into the Surname search parameter and 'James' into the Any Given Name(s) parameter.
  26. ↑ "James Bridges Death Notice – Bendigo, Victoria". The Age . Fairfax Media. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  27. ↑ Shortte, Anthony (28 September 2016). "Fundraiser by Anthony Shortte: James Bridges Funeral". GoFundMe.
  28. ↑ "Collard Greens and Gravy". Forté. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  29. 1 2 "Collard Greens & Gravy – Luedella". Amazon.com . Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  30. ↑ "Music Victoria Awards – Courtney Barnett a Big Winner". Rhythms Music Magazine. 22 November 2018. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
  31. ↑ McCartney, Rory (4 June 2019). "[Album Review] Opelousas Opelousified". BMA Magazine . Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  32. 1 2 Phillips, Greg (30 November 2023). "Blues Music Victoria 2023 Hall of Fame". Australian Musician Magazine. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  33. ↑ staff writer (10 November 2023). "Blues Music Victoria honours local force Hugo T Armstrong as the 2023 Industry Icon". Forte. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  34. ↑ "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  35. ↑ "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.