{"id":113182,"date":"2026-02-13T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballinatimes\/?p=113182"},"modified":"2026-02-11T18:52:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T07:52:09","slug":"rejuvenating-old-school-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballinatimes\/living\/rejuvenating-old-school-blues\/","title":{"rendered":"Rejuvenating old school blues"},"content":{"rendered":"

EVERY musician experiences moments in their career that help shape them as an artist.<\/p>\n

For Ray Beadle, that time came in his early 20s, when he found himself performing at the legendary BB King’s Blues Club in Memphis, Tennessee, every Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

“That was certainly something that shaped me, learning how to write songs in a certain way and how to direct a band,” he said. “They gave me an eight-piece house band to use. Leading an eight-piece band of black American guys when you’re a 23-year-old from Sydney, I was pretty overwhelmed but those guys were so friendly and they loved the fact that I was from all the way on the other side of the world and doing what I was doing. I would write songs and then go and try them out with the band.”<\/p>\n

On the nights he wasn’t working, he was out at the other clubs on the strip, soaking up the blues. “I scored the odd run out to Mississippi with some local guys,” he said. “It was a really great time.”<\/p>\n

Beadle grew up in a musical family. Originally from England, his dad was part of a 1950s rock and roll band called the Silver Dollars. His mum, who was from New Zealand and of Maori background, also played guitar.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Ray Beadle in action.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The 48-year-old describes his music as blues with a pinch of jazz, with the songs he writes inspired by people he’s met along the way and stories he’s heard, as well as personal stories about such things as losing his mum at an early age and working your butt off to make ends meet.<\/p>\n

“Guys like Albert King used to take everyday things that happen to people that you don’t really think about and try to put it into a song they can relate to,” he said. “I try to keep it honest. I have always believed no matter what you’ve been through somebody’s been through worse.”<\/p>\n

Beadle regularly plays venues such as Butchers Brew Bar in Marrickville \u2013 a suburb he describes as “the new Newtown” for live music.<\/p>\n

While he loves many different genres, blues is the one he can relate to the most.<\/p>\n

“It just feels the most natural kind of music to me, and I think that’s why it’s lasted all these years, because it’s so powerful in its simpleness,” he said. “People don’t have to think about it, they just feel it straight away.”<\/p>\n

Beadle has played at Bluesfest Byron Bay more than a dozen times over the years and is looking forward to returning in 2026.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Ray Beadle will perform at Bluesfest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m so grateful,” he said. “It’s always such a privilege. You never know if you’re going to get another guernsey. I’m always excited when I get the email.<\/p>\n

“I usually take a different band every year and this year I’m taking a band I’ve never used at Bluesfest, which includes a double bass, baritone, sax, piano and drums. We have been doing a few gigs the last couple of months. We’re trying to rejuvenate the old school blues and play a bit of 1950s and 60s junk blues.”<\/p>\n

But while he’s excited about playing at the event, he’s just as excited at the prospect of seeing so many other international artists he admires perform.<\/p>\n

“You get to see bands play up there that you never get to see,” he said. “They don’t come out unless they’re playing at Bluesfest most of the time. It’s all about getting inspired. It just makes you want to play and keep doing it.”<\/p>\n

Ray Beadle performs at Bluesfest Thursday, April 2 and Saturday, April 4. For more information and tickets, visit bluesfest.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EVERY musician experiences moments in their career that help shape them as an artist. For Ray Beadle, that time came in his early 20s, when he found himself performing at the legendary BB King’s Blues Club in Memphis, Tennessee, every Tuesday night. “That was certainly something that shaped me, learning how to write songs in […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":231,"featured_media":113183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-113182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-living"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRejuvenating old school blues - Ballina Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Blues guitarist Ray Beadle brings 1950s "junk blues" to Bluesfest 2026. 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