You’ve gotta be cool to be kind

BEFORE

the Hot August Jazz heats up North Hobart on Sunday, you can chill out with some Cool August Blues on Saturday.

Presented each year by the Hobart Blues Club, Cool August Blues began in 2015 and was held at The Winston for two years, before moving down the road to the Republic Bar last year.

This year’s Cool August Blues line-up features six acts: Arguably Tasmania’s finest acoustic blues duo, Balding and Croft (4pm), aka local legends Gerry Balding (guitar, vocals) and Ian “Crofty” Beecroft (harp, flute and saxophone).

Billy Whitton and the Men of Steel (5.30pm), which sees stalwart guitarist Billy Whitton team up with Randal Muir (keyboards) and Rit Coomber (drums) to perform blues, ballads and some jazz-tinged bop.

Veteran Hobart trio Greasy Spoon (7pm) — Graeme Beer (vocals, guitar), Brett Carson (bass) and Jeremy Sibson (drums) — who play tracks influenced by the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Little Walter and Howlin’ Wolf.

Local blues and soul group Mumbo Gumbo (8.30pm), which local bass legend Kevin Cooney formed with Konrad Park (drums), Simon Patterson (guitar), Randal Muir (keyboards) and Nicole McIntyre (vocals);

Old-school blues band The Patron Saints (10pm), featuring Dave Hall (vocals, harmonica), Pat Curley (guitar, vocals), Rob Moore (bass) and Lino Totaro (drums) recreating the classic sounds of 1950s and ’60s Chicago.

Acclaimed guitarist Merv Graham and the Billy Warner Trio (11.30pm), featuring the rhythm section of Tim Partridge and Konrad Park and special guest Hammond organist Randal Muir.

The Hobart Blues Club presents Cool August Blues at the Republic Bar in North Hobart from 4pm on Saturday. Entry is free.