Billy James  has performed literally 'hundreds of musical shows' in a wide variety of venues and situations, performing 'solo' or in Bands, Duo's & Trio's.

This IS a 'unique'  'One Man' Band musical act....for All-Ages.

*Enjoy a very entertaining...

'Blues Harmonica' Master and a fun loving Singer/Songwriter with well over 4 hours of original material and fresh song cover versions.

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 Professional Musical History

     Previous Bands/Duo's/Trio's:

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          *The Solo Show:

Billy V's The Machine (Island Vibe)

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   *Previously Hired in Bands:

Jenna Breeze, Pete Hawkes,

The Nimbin Full Moon Caberet,

JATTA (Earth Frequency festival)

The Bill Jacobi Band, Marshell O'Kell Duo/Band, Daniel Hopkins Duo, Dave Murray Duo,

The Dan Hannaford Band & Duo,

Matt Armitage Duo/The Swamps [Byron Bay], Rodrigo Cassiano Trio,

The Nigel Mc Trustry + Cigar Box Blues Explosion,

Byron Vibes (Wandering Eyes),

The Delta Amps with Ray Arnott (Spectrum, Cold Chisel, AC/DC), Laura Nobel, Kalamazoo Trio [CW Stoneking,   Dan Sexton (Original Blues Preachers), The Airbourne Blues Virus, James T. [Canned Heat USA, The Last Volunteers] in Duo, Julienne Moyston Trio [ Flaming Hands, Warwick Gilbert (Radio Birdman)], Lawrie Minson Duo [Slim Dusty, Lee kernigan, Jimmy Barnes],The Rod Dowset Band, Locomotive 761, Sugardaddys, Lambert & James, Hot Foot Sam, Blues Club Band, The Great Southern Blues Band, The Blue Meanies,The Stiffies, Wild Turkeys, Tupelo, Blind Lemon etc...

 

Festivals & Awards :

For 3 years Billy James won awards as 'Audience Favorite Performer' at the Tamworth Country Music Festival 'Hohner Golden Harmonica Championships' and became a judge and was hired harmonica player in subsequent festivals.

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*Various Festivals & Events:

Island Vibe 2022 Stradbroke Is.

Earth Frequency Festival (Jatta)2022

5 x Nimbin Blues & Roots Festivals,

7 x Mullumbimby Music Festivals, The Brisbane Rhythm & Roots Festival 2018,

Stradbroke Island 'The Gathering' Festival 2017,

Stanthorpe Apple & Grape Festival, 2x Newcastle Blues Festivals,

4x Bellingen Jazz Festivals,

4x Tamworth Country Music Festivals

Eddies Grub House-Coolongatta, Grumpys Shed, Ballistic Brewery, Coochie Mudlo Is. Tutor & show, Agnes Waters Blues & Roots Festival 2017, , and many more smaller festival eg: 3x Sawtell Chilli Festivals, The Great Northern Hotel Byron Bay, The Rails Byron Bay, Suffolk Park hotel, The Sun Hotel, Brunswick Heads Hotel, Ballina RSL Club, Cudgen Surf Riders Club, Broadbeach Hotel, Sabi Sushi Blues & Roots Bar, Burliegh Heads Blues Bar...etc etc...

plus Various local markets/cafes...etc.

  The Land of The Blues:

Billy has played majorly in NSW but also has gigged in Holly Springs Mississippi juke joints (Club Hutt, Reds Clarkesdale) with Robert Kimbrough Snr. [Jnr Kimbroughs son] and Dwayne Burnside [RL Burnsides son].

He also jammed with Stan and Dixie Street and Sean Apple [Hambone Gallery Clarkesdale Ms.].

Billy attended the first 'Hill Country Harmonica Homecoming' where he meet and jammed with Deak Harp, Adam Gussow, Billy Branch, Johnny Sansone and met with Greg Huemann and Randy Landry [Lone Wolf Blues Company].

Obviously on the tour he went to many historical  blues sites and graves of some of the Legends of the Blues such as Robert Johnson & Sonny Boy Williamson II.

Billy James also enjoyed jamming [ at Hollywood actor Morgan Freemans] Ground Zero Club in Clarkesdale Ms.,Oxford Tavern Ms.etc....

 

 The 'One Man Show'.

Book a dynamic,unique...

'Blues Harmonica focused show' ?

HOW Does he do it ?

Using loop pedals, a variety of samples, FX and  full-band backing tracks Billy performs a multi-genre show suitable for all ages audiences.

Originally  created for the smaller venues and streets, markets etc around Byron Bay.

Billy quickly became an 'official busker' in The Byron  Bay Bluesfest.

This is a truly unique Australian show which includes over 100 tunes and both relaxed or exciting cover tunes, original songs and great instrumentals.

*Sometimes the show includes 'Jammers' for  some fun & audience participation.

*Suitable for 'all Venues' Events and private Parties

Each show will be provided with appropriate sound equiptment/stage-lighting as required and is available with 'middle of the road' Popular Disco *[if required between breaks] or appropriate easy listening music.

Tuition and seminar presentation:

With a unique teaching style Billy James presents private 'one to one' 3 hour (initially) learning harmonica sessions [or as required for children and teens in groups].

These sessions vary... but incorporate a recorded review and handouts.

One Day/ Weekend Workshops are occasional created for group clients.

Also undertaken are, Aged or Fund raising entertainment, Childrens Entertainment, Book readings, Drug & Alcohol Awareness, living skills seminars blended with blues education and fun.

 

Billy has played many art gallery opennings, Conventions/conferences and Private Celebrations, Weddings etc. Contact for a quote?

 

Musical Experiences:

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Over the years Billy has had the pleasure of working in Asia in Blues & Jazz Bars and has played with,recorded for, jammed, 'supported' or has been 'on bills with legends' such as:

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The Hoodoo Rhythm Aces (Sydney), Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool /Mondo Rock etc), Radio Birdman, Scott Blackley-Great Dividing Range, Goons of Doom, Julia Stone, Moving Pictures, Airbourne, GONG : Daevid Allen & Orlando Allen /*Flame Dog Records,Cleis Pierce [Mc Kensies Theory, Richard Clapton, Coolongubbra], Greg Sheen [*as before], Lez Karski: Bondi Cigars etc, Jim Conway, The Backsliders, The Cruel Sea, Mangrove Boogie Kings, Louis Tillet, Topper Headon :The Clash, Howard Devoto: Magazine, Colin Moulding : XTC, Jean Jacques Burnell: The Stranglers,Ze Robotz, Steve Cropper, Matt Murphey :The Blues Brothers Band USA, Jerry Lee Lewis,  Doug Ford : Masters Apprentices, Johnny Dick [Doug Parkinson In Focus, John Paul Young], The Ride Ons, Byron Vibes, Slim Pickens, Luke Bennett, Clara, Jaz, Ray Arnott,  Nigel Mc Trustry, Eight Ball Atkins Band, Marshell & The Fro, Mojo Webb,  Scott Blacklys Great Dividing Range...Etc.

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Often booked as a valued 'recording session' 'Hired Hand' ...

 Billy literally  has played with some of  'the best of the best'... whilst in recent years has been 'flying under the radar' on the N.S.W. North Coast performing at many venues and house parties.