Blues broken and reborn

Josh Blau’s love of rock, rhythm and blues began as a kid growing up in Melbourne, when he found himself constantly watching clips of Elvis Presley and mimicking him.

When his mum brought home the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic Great Balls of Fire starring Dennis Quaid, he knew straight away that was what he wanted to do with his life.

He began learning to play the piano and guitar, delving into music by everyone from Buddy Holly and BB King to Eric Clapton, before becoming a yoga teacher.

He played in various blues bands until his mid-20s, but hadn’t performed in a group for more than a decade before moving to the Northern Rivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he decided not to return to Melbourne after coming up to help a friend open a yoga studio.

After meeting a slew of talented musicians at Lennox Hotel’s weekly jam night, he felt compelled to form JB’s Blues Breakers.

The name was inspired by the 1960s British blues band John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.

“Given the incredible rag tag of musicians constantly rotating I thought the name was fitting as John Mayall had a rotation of incredible players going through his band at different periods of time, including Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor,” he said.

The group now includes lead guitarist Geoff Wright from Mullumbimby, who has played with Tina Arena, Tina Turner and Joe Camilleri, and Lennox Head drummer Grant Gerathy, who has played with the John Butler Trio, Pete Murray and Angus Stone. Bass player Nic Lemits, who also lives at Lennox Head, has played with Marshall & the Fro and Lisa Hunt.

The band has residencies at Club Lennox at Lennox Head, The Rails in Byron Bay and the Australian Hotel in Ballina and will perform their first gig at Wharf River Club in Ballina from 3pm to 6pm on Sunday March 2.

“We have heard wonderful things and love the idea of playing on a wharf,” Blau said.

For more information, visit wharfbarballina.com.au/wrc