TEX HERE FOR NEW YEAR’S

AUSTRALIAN music veteran Tex Perkins has tried his hand at everything from punk to country music over the past four decades, and now he is turning to jazz for a special Hobart show.

The Mercury can reveal Perkins will be the headline act at the Taste of Tasmania’s New Year’s Eve 1920s-style Speakeasy Ball.

“I’m very excited actually, it’s really great to be invited to be involved in this sort of thing,” Perkins said.

“Especially with a jazz band and performing jazz songs, which I absolutely love, but I don’t get the opportunity very often.

“I think you’ll be surprised at how comfortable I am singing smoky lounge jazz songs.” Perkins will sing with a 10piece jazz band — the largest he has ever fronted.

“My two favourite jazz vocalists are Nina Simone and Frank Sinatra, so I will be dipping into their catalogue,” he said.

Perkins has been performing since the 1980s, playing everything from pub rock with The Cruel Sea and experimental punk with Thug to his recent lilting, dark country with the Dark Horses.

The full program for the Speakeasy Ball will be announced tomorrow, when tickets go on sale.

GIG GUIDE IN PULSE TODAY.