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Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band 

Wellington based Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band are heading back to Palmerston North to let this blues train roll. Their most recent recording ‘This Train’, the title track of which speaks about acceptance of getting older, maintaining momentum and glorious celebration, and it seems timely in NZ to talk about momentum and celebrating when and where we can.

Laura, who is up front from the very start, with high energy, cheek and vocal strength leads and celebrates her band – and gives them licence to shine. And shine they do, with Wayne Mason, of course also known for being one of our much loved singer songwriters, here is master of boogie ‘burning it up’ on the keys and adding his iconic voice to the vocal mix. Think Fats Domino, think Dr John, think Professor Longhair and you’ll be in the right honky tonk.

John O’Connor will be ‘eating it up’ on lead guitar, never self-indulgent – just soulful and astonishing. He’s played with everyone along the way, from BB King to Kiri Te Kanawa.

The rhythm section brings a warm acoustic volume with George Barris on tasty upright bass and Peter Cogswell on the ‘back porch’ drums proving that you don’t need to be loud to groove.

The lads offer four part vocal harmony to Laura’s lead, combining often for a lush gospel blues sound.

Expect to hear a little Fats Domino, Bonnie Raitt, Nina Simone, John Lee Hooker, some of Laura’s own and others she can put her stamp on, all with their roots in the blues. Laura says "Blues comes straight from the heart and that’s just how I like it, it’s accessible, joyful, heart full music and not only that it makes me want to move – what’s not to like?”

This band are dynamic, masterful and all about entertainment. A combination of ‘old hands’ who have been making music a long time, absolutely revelling in the playing.  A night out with Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band is a joyful celebration of why we would ‘keep the music live’ and let this blues train roll.

 

 

 

 
 
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