Claude Hay releases new album ‘Roller Coaster’ and heads out on tour.
Celebrated independent blues rocker Claude Hay has announced plans to release his new long player ‘Roller Coaster’ on September 8th.
It’s never been in doubt that Claude Hay knows his way around a hook, and his 4th studio album Roller Coaster highlights Hay’s writing just as much as his unique guitar and vocal approach.
From the stripped-back glam rock of the title track, gutter funk of Forget About Me and Bowie-meets-chain-gang eclecticism of a tune like Hold You Up – the Roller Coaster album is a tour-de-force from an artist at the peak of his craft , and one who’s not afraid to let his inner Hillbilly shine from me to me.
Finding time to write is always a challenge for Hay who spends most of his year on tour in Australia and Europe, says Claude:
“I’m never really happy with anything I create and end up doing 15 versions of things un l someone convinces me it’s good enough – so Roller Coaster took a while to write and demo. It’s also the first album I’ve written en to be performed by a band – my previous albums were written knowing that they were going to be performed solo using loops – so it was inspiring being able to write whatever I wanted and have things like chord progressions, and verses that were different to the choruses.”
Roller Coaster is available in stores and online from September 8th through Only Blues Music and the launch tour takes Claude and his new band from the Sunshine Coast to Melbourne and WA.
WIN A CLAUDE HAY HANDMADE GUITAR
Claude Hay is one of the world’s great DIY musicians and has built almost everything he uses for his art, including his studio (and the build- ing it’s in), his pedals, his tour van and of course his guitars – which he names a er women – real and imagined.
Every album and tour gets a new handmade guitar and the Roller Coaster Tour is no except on with ‘Jeri’ and ‘Jeri MK 2’ being created from jerry cans to supply the resonator-style tones found all over the album. Claude is running a competition to win the Jeri Mk 2 – all you have to do for your chance to win is to go along to www.claudehay.com.au/guitars to fill in an entry form
Roller Coaster Tour Dates
Saturday 17th September
Mitchell Creek Rock ‘N’ Blues Fes val, QLD
Tickets: www.mitchellcreekrocknbluesfest.com.au
Sunday 2nd October
The Wildwood Fes val, Port Macquarie, NSW
Tickets and info: www.wildwoodmusic.com.au
Friday 7th October
The Rhythm Hut, Gosford, NSW
Doors 7:00pm, $15 + bf presale, $22 door Tickets: therhythmhut.com.au/events
Saturday 8th October
The Family Hotel, Katoomba. NSW
with special guests 9:00pm, Free Entry
Sunday 9th October
The Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW
7:30pm, $13 + bf online, $16 door Tickets: www.brassmonkey.com.au
Friday 14th October
Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville, NSW
8:30pm, $15 Tickets at door
Friday 21st October
Kingscli Beach Hotel, Kingscli , NSW
7:30pm, Free entry
Saturday 22nd October
Head’s Shed, Wolvi, QLD
with Transvaal Diamond Syndicate
Sunday 23rd October
Advancetown Hotel, Advancetown, QLD
1:00pm, Free entry
Thursday 27th October
The Stag and Hunter Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
8:00pm, $10
Tickets: stagandhunter.com.au
Friday 28th October
The Sydney Blues and Roots Fes val, Windsor, NSW
with Chase The Sun, The Fumes
7:30pm, $30
Tickets and info: sydneybluesandrootsfes val.com
Saturday 29th October
The Commercial Hotel, Milton, NSW
8:30pm, $10
Tickets: www.commercialhotelmilton.com.au
Sunday 30th October
The Harmonie German Club, Canberra, ACT
$15 + BF Online, $17 door, $10 CBS Members Tickets: www.oz x.com.au
Friday 4th – Sunday 6th November
Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Fes val, Bendigo, VIC
Tickets: www.bendigobluesandroots.com.au
Saturday 12th – Sunday 13th November
The Blues at Bridgetown Fes val, Bridgetown, WA
Tickets and info: bluesatbridgetown.com.au
Thursday 17th November
Baha Tacos, Rye, VIC
8:30pm, $15 ckets at door
Friday 18th November
The Ca ish, Fitzroy, VIC
8:00pm, $10 Tickets at door
Saturday 19th November
The Blues Train, Queenscli , VIC
Tickets and info: www.thebluestrain.com.au