Who Are the MBAS?
The Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society (MBAS)
is Australia’s No 1. Blues Society from 1990 to now, and
have been affiliated with The Blues Foundation in Memphis USA
for over 10 years.
We are a non-profit making organisation, who have a monthly newsletter,
our own functions, workshops, jam nights
and clinics featuring known artists for aspiring musicians.
Membership provides a monthly newsletter,
discounts at a variety of co-operating businesses, MBAS functions
and affiliates club functions as well as advertised gigs.
If you would like to be updated regularly on events and other
gigs, subscribe to our newsletter.
Mission Statement
The Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society and it’s committee
has dedicated itself to the betterment of the blues music industry
in Victoria and Australia, supporting and encouraging blues artists
throughout their career.
The purpose of our society is to encourage youth and blues minded
people to take the right paths in their choices of direction with
motivation and contacts into the industry.
The values of our society is that the committee are voluntary
and in such, ask no monetary fees from musicians other than membership
into our society.
The Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society will motivate up and
coming acts to achieve their goals as well as support the well
established musicians toward their dreams of becoming more well
known throughout the world.
With all the projects we have developed through the years there
is something for all blues musicians to benefit from, the competitions,
awards, CD reviews and coverage of acts in our monthly newsletter
as well as helping them to obtain the information to go overseas
and also into Australian music festivals.
History of the MBAS
 The
MBAS, short for Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society, was formed
in 1990 by a group of music lovers who gathered each week at the
Station Hotel in Prahran to watch Dutch
Tilders and the Blues Club, (the MBAS patron) play with
his guest artists.
These people decided that what was required was
a Society that would support the current and developing blues
artists of Melbourne. Nobody really knew what was involved or
where this would lead to, but the MBAS was formed.
Founding member, Alan Stafford, with
Alex Burns,Nick Charles and Alan's wife, Dolly.
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It isn't just about the committee
and its actions, but also individual members whose actions make
a difference. The sharing of contacts, information and even instruments
is not unusual.
Activities Of The MBAS
Blues For Youth
“Youth in
Blues” Project is for youth 19 years old and under,
who are already playing blues or who are interested in receiving
help in furthering their music career. For those interested
in being involved in this program, run every 3 months, the MBAS
will organize a function to showcase the youth of Victoria where
bands are formed and existing bands/acts will play in front of
an audience on a stage. If tutoring is required, the MBAS
will assist students getting in touch with mucis teachers.
Jam Nights
Each Tuesday, we have a blues
jam at Britsh Crown 14-18 Smith Street Collingwood, that occasionally
features an established blues act. It's great to watch people
getting together and creating blues music. It is through these
sessions that the blues community has developed and networks have
been formed - this indirectly helps all blues musicians.
Competitions & Awards
Each year we run the Victorian
Blues Music Awards, where the achievements of blues artists
are acknowledged in such categories as 'Male Artist of the Year',
'Female Artist of the Year', 'Band of the Year', 'Song of the
Year', 'Album of the Year' and 'Emerging Talent Award'. This raises
the profile of artists and encourages acts as it leads to more
work and recognition.
We also run a yearly Blues
Performer of the Year competition where any blues act can
enter and the winner gets their ticket to the USA paid for as
they go, to represent Australia in the IBC
(International Blues Competition) that is held annually in
Memphis, USA. Previous winners have been Geoff Achison, Collard
Greens and Gravy, Andy Cowan, Fiona Boyes, Ash Grunwald, Jimi
Hocking and most recently Andrea Marr.
Music is about opinion and the MBAS contains
a growing number of members and each have their own opinion about
what is good blues music, who is the better artist etc, but the
common thread is that they all love music and particularly blues
music and they want to see our local talent blossom and spread
their wings and go and become successful.
Blues On The Move
The MBAS continues to grow and its influence
is acknowledged by the large family of blues artists that have
developed and the ones that have just started their journey. They
know that this is not a job that ends and they are ready to keep
on going.
The MBAS are based in Melbourne, Australia at:
PO Box 1249 St Kilda South, Victoria, 3182, Australia
Phone: 0425 776 613
email: sonia@mbas.org.au |
