Boyes and the blues

Multi-award-winning blues woman Fiona Boyes is appearing live at Ocean Grove’s Piping Hot Chicken and Burger Grill on September 15.

The Australian blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, has been recording and performing for more than 25 years, playing major festivals and stages around the world and will perform songs from her latest release Voodoo in the Shadows.

A veteran recording artist with 15 releases, Australia’s first lady of the blues has been honoured with seven USA Blues Music Award nominations in five different categories, including two nominations in the 2017 USA Blues Music Awards: Acoustic Artist of the Year and Acoustic Album of the Year for Professin’ the Blues. The album won 2017 Blues Blast Music Award Acoustic Blues Album of the Year in the US.

She’s also received more than 30 Australian music awards, spanning the blues, folk, jazz and Americana scenes.

Fiona began her career as a blues artist when she won an Australian made Maton guitar in a local coffee shop talent show; during the early years she honed her skills with all female band The Mojos, who went on to become one of Australia’s premier blues acts, with five recordings to their credit.

In 2000 Fiona released her debut solo recording, which won Australian Blues Album, Female Artist, and Song of the Year awards.

Her international career took off in 2003 when she won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, the first woman and first non-American to be honoured.

Since then she has released numerous award-winning albums and maintained a busy international touring schedule.

Constantly touring, Fiona divides her time between Australia, North America and Europe. Her home-away-from-home is Portland, Oregon, as she follows the festival seasons in both hemispheres.

When she is back in Australia, Fiona lives on the Clarence River in northern NSW, with her husband Steve (aka The Preacher), a social activist and Anglican priest, and between them they share the joys of five children and nine grandchildren.

Get in early for tickets at pipinghotchickenshop.com.au or geelongtickets.com.au as seats are limited.