Australia’s ‘First Lady of Blues’ Anni Piper, On Tour

Posted on June 19, 2018 by Joseph Timmons in Best Bets, Concerts, events, featured, Featured Artists / Bands, Live Performance, news, Performance Locations, Performances, Performers, Rhythm & Blues, Special Events, Touring, Touring Now, venues // 0 Comments

Performs Locally: ARCADIA BLUES CLUB – Saturday, June 30th

Anni Piper, ‘Australia’s First Lady of Blues,’ is on tour, and makes her Southern California performing debut at Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E. Huntington Ave., Saturday, June 30th.

Showtime: 9:00pm.Tickets: $10. (advance), $15. (door), available here:.

Information: (626) 447-9349 or visit http://www.arcadiabluesclub.com

One listen will tell you why in her homeland Anni Piper is known as th e First Lady of Blues. Not only is she a sultry vocalist, but an insightful composer, accomplished bass player and show stopping performer. Born and raised in Australia, her passion for blues was ignited by the sound of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Piper has called the United States home since 2014.

More Guitars Than Friends (Sugar Daddy Records; 2016) is the most recent release from Piper, and the first on her own label. Already an internationally acclaimed recording artist, her latest achievement is becoming a semi-finalist in the 2017 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Picking up a bass guitar at age 14, Piper completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Music degree at 19 years of age. Finding it difficult to resume her performing career following the birth of her son, Piper recorded her debut album ‘Jailbait’ in 2004. The all original album was meant to be a good quality demo and wasn’t intended for commercial release.

To Piper’s surprise, she was immediately signed to Black Market Music, Australia’s most prestigious blues label and began touring throughout the country. The ‘Jailbait’ album won multiple awards including Best New Talent at the Australian Blues Music Awards, the ABC Radio National ‘Fresh Air’ contest, and second place at the Australian National Songwriting Contest.

Her subsequent releases saw her placed as a finalist in the Australian Blues Music Awards (Best Female Vocal), UK Songwriting Contest,Australian Performing Rights Association Professional Development Awards and MusicOz awards. Piper has earned a reputation as a songwriter of distinction, her work having a blues sensibility while still addressing the issues of today.

“Australia has produced several noteworthy acts blues and roots acts in recent years, including some remarkable female vocalists. Anni Piper’s two previous releases established her as a card-carrying member of that club. Piper’s vocals create a velvet-y sound that calls up images of the late lounge queens of yesteryear. (Two’s Company) offers twelve tracks driven by Piper’s distinctive, smokey alto, also highlighting her considerable talent on bass.”

– BLUES REVUE

“Piper has the kind of voice that lulls men to their doom. It’s soft and sweet when it wants to be, scared and vulnerable a moment later, then ripping through you like a razor… Piper commands songs utterly.”

– EDMONTON SUN

“A towering bass player and sultry vocalist that plays up her sex appeal, this Australian transplant mixes soul-spilling electric blues rock, raw Southern steeped hill country acoustic blues, gritty hard rock, and jarring slow burners approaching it all like a seasoned torch singer that’s conscious of her instrument’s lack of limitations.”

– CHARLOTTE OBSERVER