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The second night of the two-day Juke Joint brought together some of Australia’s best contemporary blues talent. The atmospheric Queen’s Theatre was the perfect setting for the event, rough and ready but brilliantly alive like the juke joints of old, complete with hotdogs and corn-on-the-cobs to sate the dance-weary fans.

Kirk Special, recent SA winner of the Killing Floor Blues Challenge, played a modest set to open the evening. The self-professed one-man band showed himself a worthy winner with his homemade percussion and dirty blues style.

While the crowd may not have been too attentive during Special’s set, Jackson Firebird certainly woke them up with their brand of highly energetic rock-blues. Hailing from Mildura, Brendan Harvey and Dale Hudak set the stage metaphorically alight, as true to their name. The duo is fast establishing a good following, having supported the likes of Tim Rogers to Spiderbait’s Kram, Little Birdie to The Screaming Jets.

A highlight of the night was a musical battle of The Blues vs Hip-Hop. Locals Sweet Baby James and Rob Eyers delivered their ‘voodoo blues’ style, surprisingly well-complemented by DJ Shep and MC Simplex, Hilltop Hoods producer. With beat-boxing and expert scratching on the decks meeting raucous drums and guitar strumming, it was proven that synergy can exist between the two genres. The only outright winner in that battle was the audience who lapped up the rare treat.

The Mojo Webb Band, hailing from Queensland, also delivered a tight set. The band’s namesake on guitar was joined by Coojee Timms on drums and J. B. Lewis on bass. The charismatic Webb was not shy with banter with the appreciative crowd, many of whom would have seen him at WOMADelaide earlier in the year. With songs including The Luckiest Man Alive, the multi-award winning artist showed influences traversing from jazz and blues to roots and folk.

Dallas Frasca, aptly described as a “modern-day Janis Joplin” on Triple J, bounded onto the stage with her signature fiery red hair. Every inch a blues star, the Victorian singer-songwriter brings flair and character to the genre, working through material from her debut release, Not For Love Or Money. This hard-working artist recently claimed the Best Music Act award at Adelaide Fringe 2009 on her last visit and certainly demonstrated that she deserved this with her passionate voice and powerful presence.

The second year of this blues fest did not disappoint and shows that blues and roots in Australia certainly alive, strong and growing.

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