Why is John Makey not performing in the Mal Eastick Band? from Ashley Swinfield

It has been Mal’s and my intention for several months to enter the Mal Eastick Band into the Sydney Blues Society’s 2012 “Sydney Blues Challenge. For those who are not familiar with this competition, six bands will perform a 30 minute set each on August 25 at the Cat and Fiddle Hotel Balmain, and the winner will travel to the United States next January to represent NSW in the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis (the IBC). Well over 100 blues acts from all over the world enter this competition every year and perform in Memphis against each other.

Mal and I held a band meeting in my office several weeks ago to discuss the commitment and level of personal involvement required for the Mal Eastick Band to be competitive as the NSW representative at the IBC. John along with bassist Stan Mobbs and drummer Tony Boyd confirmed themselves as Mal’s “Memphis Band”. Nine days prior to the closing date for lodgment of SBC applications John phoned Mal to withdraw his availability for the Memphis prize for personal reasons. Whilst caring about our friend, this brought all our dreams and expectations to a crashing halt. Needless to say we had minimal options available given the time restraint we had to work with. It looked like our “Memphis Band” plan was dead. With undeniably amazing timing, along came one of Mal’s guitar students who suggested a lady by the name of Milena Barrett, a fine blues singer he was currently working with in Sydney band “Blues Kitchen”. The consensus from watching a brief YouTube clip of her was to see if she would like to have a chat. Milena and Mal met, had a discussion about aims and expectations, and compared their favourite music artists and influences with great results. Naturally we were gauging Milena’s interest, her musical taste and her desire to advance her career. An amazing coincidence, Milena had intended to enter the same competition too, but her band had retracted. Hence the “Memphis Band” was re-born, and the pressure was back on for all. Mal lodged his band competition application with the SBS within moments of the deadline. Five days later the rhythm section met Milena for the first time and the band did a 4 hour rehearsal. Twenty three hours after that, on Saturday night 4 August, Mal and his “Memphis Band” were playing their first show, at The Empire Hotel Annandale, and what a show it was!

Sunday saw Mal and the band play at Beaches Hotel Thirroul to a far better than average crowd who wouldn’t let the band go home. Two encores later saw the final finish of a gig that can only be described as a highlight of Mal’s career and one I’m glad not to have missed. Mal’s determination to get his band to the IBC against all odds is obvious after seeing both shows and to continue the pursuit with a new line-up is clear evidence of that, without John’s unexpected decision of unavailability halting him. John is and will always be a great personal and musical mate of Mal’s. The two over many years have endured countless laughs, the odd moment of sadness and a host of memories filled with great times in between. John Makey, Ian Lees and Rudy Miranda are Mal’s “Spirit Band”, a line-up very close to his heart, and a line-up that made a great album at a vital time in his life. Let’s hope they can write more songs together. Through many years of experience, Mal firmly believes that a great band should never break up, but have the prerogative to take a “sabbatical”, so to speak, so that the different people involved can venture into other projects at logical times.

We can look forward to the reappearance of Mal and his “Spirit Band” at a mutually appropriate time in the future. In the meantime, it is about the exciting new line-up of Milena, Stan and Tony .... and the United States .......

RADIO INTERVIEW - Adelaide's Coast FM - 88.7 with Rob Horsell

On June 30th 2012 Mal Eastick was invited to be on Adeliade's Coast FM-88.7 as presented by Rob Horsell. The interview asks Mal some very candid questions of his vast and dedicated musical career through the years and up to the present day. We have included this exclusive interview in four parts.

Our special thanks and appreciation to Rob Horsell and Adelaide's Coast FM.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

A long and overdue catch up with warm greetings to all!

Things have been a little busy around the Mal Eastick camp so far this year, which commenced with Mal playing two memorable shows at the Thredbo Blues Festival in January. He also conducted a blues guitar clinic there which attracted over 125 people.

The next couple of months saw Mal and his band, vocalist John Makey, bassist Ian Lees & drummer Rudy Miranda, play select shows to the north and south of Sydney. These are the guys who co-wrote and recorded with Mal on his gem album “Spirit”.

In March, Mal was honoured to be one of four nationally-renowned guitarists selected to feature different styles both individually and together in a show called “Guitarama” at Sydney’s exclusive venue The Basement.

In April, Mal spent some wonderful time with his young boys Aaron & Morgan as well as generally doing what musicians do.

May saw Queensland’s inaugural Cairns Blues Festival which had Mal and his band take a quick trip to the far north for what turned out to be another one of those “You should have been there” shows. Needless to say Mal has been invited back to play at next year’s festival.

After a couple of weeks off back home, a little more practice and more than a few coffees the boys were back to the airport on May 29 heading for another great festival, Blues On Broadbeach on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Mal played at this festival in ’06 and ’07 as special guest with his friend Kevin Borich, but this year was Mal’s first time playing the festival with his own band. Chosen to headline the Friday evening, Mal delivered a monumental performance to several thousand blues enthusiasts who battled the wet and windy conditions until the conclusion of one of his signature pieces, “Lenny”, a beautiful instrumental written by the late great Texan bluesman Stevie Ray Vaughan. After that track the band and their audience had to duck for cover fast as the rain took over the headliner position at a 45 degree angle.

Saturday morning Mal flew back to Sydney to pack the bags and fly to WA the following day to do a show for each of the Perth, Albany & Bunbury Blues Clubs. Many thanks to all involved, all three clubs are so welcoming and hospitable and the gigs were sensational.

Straight after the Bunbury gig Mal hit the road back to Perth airport for the 6am plane back to Sydney to play with his band that very night as one of the leading acts at the 2nd Gosford Blues Festival. The promoters were more than satisfied with the numbers, showing blues music is alive and well and possibly stronger than ever.

The second week in June saw Mal head to northern NSW to play 3 all-instrumental shows as special guest with his mate Phil Emmanuel at clubs in Lismore, Grafton & Laurieton. Mal won much praise from those attending and his after-show CD sales were huge.

On Sunday June 28 Mal and his band return to Beaches Hotel at Thirroul in the north of Wollongong, which is one of Mal’s favourite areas to play in on this continent.

Coming up in October Mal is thrilled to be playing at Narooma Blues Festival on the Saturday evening. It has been many years since he played this legendary event. Mal just may have something special for this gig that will have the place jumping. Don’t miss the show.

I have just secured NYE for Mal and his band to play at the party of the South West Blues Club in Bunbury Western Australia, which goes to show that Mal’s recent gig there must have been a beauty. From all accounts those on the East Coast will read about this big party night soon after.

Other dates appear on the Tour Dates section of the web site.

Since Mal’s illness he has shown his commitment to this long and sometimes painful journey reinstating his mark in our music. Sincere thanks to you the dedicated music lover for your encouragement, support and faith in him over the years.

Yours truly,

Ashley Swinfield
Mal's mate and Manager

Mal Eastick contact details:

Ashley Swinfield
Management & Bookings
c/- Bluefish Records
31 Brooklyn Rd
Brooklyn NSW 2083

Mob: 0418 216 640
ashley@bluefishrecords.com

For CD purchase by mail order:

Bluefish Records
PO Box 738
Concord NSW 2137

info@bluefishrecords.com