Three Left Feet

January 2011 Gig

 

(On their visit to Hobart, Three Left Feet will be joined by Paul “Swanee” Svensson, a resident of Franklin, Tasmania, who will be adding his flair on percussion.)

Earlwood Greg Derrig (vocals, guitars)

Earlwood grew up in the sixties listening to Clapton and Hendrix on his valve bakelite radio. This was an era loaded with 2-step, 12-bar bands and Earlwood developed a love for blues that fell outside style. He built his set from a variety of blues styles and roots-based originals delivered with a vocal style once greatly admired by the folk legend Dave Van Ronk. In the early seventies he cut his teeth playing his own take on the magic sounds he had been hearing at venues such as the famous Roxy at Taylor Square, Sydney, alongside people such as Tommy Emanuel and Kirk L’Orange.

In the noughties Earlwood began playing and promoting his own shows on the NSW Central Coast. He has worked and played with national treasures, Jim Conway and Glenn Cardier, rock gods, The Brewster Brothers, mighty bluesmen, The King Brothers, Don Hopkins and Big Wheel and Three Left Feet, and local luminaries, Jenny Marie Lang and Jack Evans amongst others. Earlwood Greg makes sure his passion for real music comes through in all his shows.

Jim “Fingers” Jarvis (vocals, guitars)

An excellent solo performer well known for his distinctive, haunting blues voice and his finger-picking guitar style, Jim is highly respected among a host of other musicians. He has a polish and finesse that is characteristic of a fine, traditional and world class blues musician. Jim has been in the parlour blues scene in and around Sydney and the Blue Mountains over the years, playing at most folk clubs, pubs, radio shows, cafes, festivals, parties, house concerts, etc. He is well-known for his song “Ballad of Balmain” with its most beautiful melody that he co-wrote with Ian Jane. Jim now lives, works and plays music whenever he can in the Blue Mountains.

His influences range from the likes of Bert Jansch, John Martyn, John Renbourne, Robert Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton, etc. Jim’s musical calibre guarantees a great enjoyable night out: one of those not-to-be-missed events. Jim is not only a fine solo performer, but has also been involved in many fine bands over the years. He has performed with Last Bus (with Gerry Gillespie and Dave White), Rent Party (with Earlwood Greg Derrig and Trevor Winn), Hokum-On-Somble (the iconic Sydney-based jug band, with Peter Deane Butcher, Al Ward and Alan Meadows), The Other Brothers and Duck Soup (with Alan Meadows, Al Ward and Tony Burkys), The Jarvis Family. Currently, Jim is a long time member of Three Left Feet a great blues band also featuring Earlwood Greg Derrig, John Jacobs, Alan Meadows (now Hobart-based), and Peter Mackie. A unique band of fine musicians; each a great performer in his own right.

Alan Meadows (harmonica, mandolin, guitars)

Alan has been a professional musician for nearly forty years. Spending his teen years in London in the sixties he was very much influenced by the blues boom that swept the country. People such as Alexis Korner and John Mayall brought the likes of Howling Wolf, Elmore James and Robert Johnson to the ears of white English teenagers. Alan started playing harmonica after hearing the playing of Cyril Davis and Max Geldray. Alan played in the Classic Jug Band in London before migrating to Australia where he was a founder member of the legendary Spasm Bands in Sydney. Forming the iconic Hokum-on- Somble with Pete Deane Butcher in '76 they were indeed fortunate to procure the amazing talents of Al Ward and Jim Jarvis. The band rose to great heights, becoming regular performers on the Midday Show in Sydney, before culminating in the Jug Band Spectacular at the Graphic Arts Club which was recorded live by the ABC. Alan joined The Sweaty Palms Orchestra and had a great run of success with this band. In '83 they were doing lots of TV appearances and were even introduced on one show by special guest compere Bob Hawke. Since the eighties Alan maintained his musical skills and interest playing in such bands as Duck Soup, Beachhead with legendary jazz singer (the late) Rod Jefferies and most recently with Three Left Feet. This is a band that combines toe tapping blues based tunes with fine vocal harmony, skilled musicianship and a pedigree a mile long.