1994 (46 images)
1994 saw a heavy touring schedule for Beachhead's Blues.
Th band had released its self-titled cassette in December of 2003, just before leaving for a Queensland/Northern Rivers tour, and had been booked to perform at the Honeybend Creek Rock & Blues Festival (also to feature Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers from the U.S. & local Aussie legend, Dave Hole) in February 1994 after a promo tour/holiday to Melbourne in August of 1993.
They literally started with a gig at Soup Plus Restaurant in Sydney (Adam Barnard's last gig with the band) on Thursday, February 17.
The following two nights saw them performing to a very strange crowd at the Bega Show on the 18th and to an extremely appreciative and large crowd at Tathra Country Club on the 19th where they first met a youngster who is a fan to this day, Terry Neimeier.
Over the next six days they also performed for the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society on the 23rd, for accommodation at the Provincial Hotel - Ballarat (24th), Honeybend Creek Festival (25th) and at the Royal Victoria Hotel in Wangaratta (26th) pretty much for fuel money on the way home.
A number of local Sydney and Blue Mountains gigs before they left for a northern tour that would see them play 12 shows in 17 days between April 1 and 16 before returning home. The band would average between around ten gigs a month between then and their final tour of Victoria in July 1994. Several more tours north and south and performances at both the Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival and the 2nd Lithgow Blues Festival would see the year out!
Click a picture to see a larger view.
.jpg "L-R: 'Doc' (guitar), 'Beach' (vocals), 'special guest' Ian Collard (COLLARD GREENS & GRAVY - harmonica) & 'Thumpa' (drums).
BEACHHEAD'S BLUES on-stage at the 5th annual East Coast Blues Festival.
Belongil Fields, Byron Bay NSW: Good Friday - April 1, 1994.
Copyright - Ross 'Rooster' Mortimer 1994")
.jpg "Friends sharing a drink 'backstage'.
L-R: Noel Goodwin, John H. 'Big Bad Smitty' Smith (Feb. 11, 1940-Apr. 3, 2002) & Rod 'Beachhead' Jeffery.
5th annual East Coast Blues Festival.
Belongil Fields, Byron Bay NSW - Easter Saturday - April 2, 1994.
Taken just prior to 'Smitty' doing his set on the 'Main Stage'.
Copyright - Ross 'Rooster' Mortimer 1994")
.jpg "MBAS (Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society) Monday Night Jam Session with Geoff Achison: July 4, 1994.
l-r: Keith Nolan - Korg M1, Rod 'Beachhead' Jeffery - vocal & Geoff Achison - guitar.
Copyright - Ross 'Rooster' Mortimer 1994")
.jpg "'Promo' Shot of BEACHHEAD'S BLUES in Glebe Park with the 'Anzac Bridge' in the background.
L-R: Dean, 'Doc', 'Beach', 'Thumpa' & Matt.
Friday - July 22, 1994.")
