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Monday, February 23, 2015

Australian Blues Music Award Winner


Meet John McNamara
The Bluesman Down Under


And the blues came a calling......

Every once in a while something intriguing addresses your senses and you are mesmerized by its presence.  This happened at the IBC Memphis 2015.  Allow me to back up a bit: My friend Barry Maxwell who is a blues radio show host extraordinaire down under has always been kind to me whenever I have submitted music for air time consideration.  Barry has an immensely popular radio show and so I don’t take his kindness to review CDs from my clients lightly. After all everybody wants their music to be on the BAZ man’s show.  So just before I left for IBC Memphis Barry drops me a note. It was a suggestion.  He invited me to take in John McNamara’s performance and then perhaps meet with him afterward.  Barry, as I say, has always been fair with me and by extension good to my clients.  So without any reservation I listened to John’s music before arriving in Memphis and then did in fact meet with John while we were both at the IBCs. 

John and I were only about ten minutes into a one hour interview when I realized that this young man was not wanting to be a bluesman, this man was already very mature in that regard.  I instantly realized what Barry had turned me on to from afar. John's demeanor was one of a relaxed artist confident in his own skin and yet steeped in honest to goodness real humility.  No airs about him, no salesman’s swagger, no pretentious under pinnings, he was who he is John McNamara, bluesman.  As every blues person, man or woman will tell you - you either is or you ain’t.  This cat is…and it's visibly obvious to his audiences because of the inherent qualities that illuminate his stage presence and his delivery.  When you listen to John perform you may think of such artists as Bobby Blue Bland, Sam Cook, Otis Redding, and of the contemporary set perhaps Johnny Lang.  But you will also note that he is not a clone of any of them as his style is unique in and of itself. These men however have indeed deeply influenced John McNamara.  His appreciation of their body of work is what fuels the depth of his thirst for the real blues roots sound. 


This just in - John McNamara's song Burn, Burn, Burn just won Song of the Year at the prestigious Australian Blues Music Awards 2015.  Barry is correct, this man is on fire. As a matter of fact this winning track is on John’s debut CD is entitled Alone with the Blues, One Voice One Guitar.

In our one hour meeting John shared that he hopes people come away noticing a clean, pristine sound as yours truly noted on the CDs very first track.  He went on to say that his studio goal was to record and release a stripped back format, a presentation that highlighted the presence of the negative spaces between the notes.  Overall, John's goal was to share his originals on his debut CD but he also felt an inner passion to add four cover tracks.  I asked him if he was happy with the end result and he replied yes, indeed.

Black Market Music is the chosen distribution company and they are offering a special opportunity for anyone from even the far reaches of the globe.  Purchase John’s CD from them and the shipping is free no matter where you are located on this planet.  Pretty cool when you think about it - a nice way to get to know John’s music without going into hock.   Of course you can also pick up the tunes in MP3 format online as well if you prefer.

John touring includes various European countries, among them Scotland where he performs annually and Germany as well.  The man down under has also completed a gig in Singapore, Malaysia where he and his music were received extremely well.  Historically, John has graced the stages at such noted music festivals as 
Narooma Blues Fest, Echuca Moama Winter Blues Fest, Edinburgh Fringe  Fest, and Melbourne’s Docklands Blues Fest, an impressive array of large music festivals. 
 
Official website - http://johnmcnamarablues.com
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/johnmcnamarabluespage 
High Quality CDs without shipping charges -  www.blackmarketmusic.com.au
 
John's new CD recently tracked at number 3 on the Australian Blues
and Roots Airplay Chart
John McNamara - 2015 semi-finalist
International Blues Challenge

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