Special international guest artist: Eugene Hideaway Bridges (USA)

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As his 2000 release Man Without A Home stated, Eugene is a nomadic musician living his life on the road. His home is wherever the next performance takes him.

After his last visit to our shores, Eugene has performed in Spain, Portugal, Sweden, The UK, France, Slovenia and New Zealand. He is currently finishing a new album due for release in February 2005.

"A dynamic young bluesman whose combination of instrumental prowess, lyric and musical vision, and passionate and emotional commitment results in a refreshingly adult set full of joy and meaning" - Living Blues

"...hands down one of the best of the younger crop of blues slingers. Bridges' arsenal is that rare triple threat - an outstanding vocalist, guitar player and a fine song writer" - Jeff Harris Bad Dog Blues

With reviews like this, it is easy to see why he is considered to be one of the newest members of the blues elite.

Eugene Hideaway Bridges has one of the freshest, most distinctive voices to come around in a long time. Bridges' vocal ability is what immediately grabs your attention with an uncanny ability to sound like his idol Sam Cooke. The end result, however, is a style very much his own, with a degree of versatility that allows him to seamlessly swap between Blues, Soul, Gospel and Funk. To cap it all, he's a great songwriter too, with a good ear for a catchy melody

Eugene's father - Hideaway Slim - started a fire of music burning inside him. Slim sat him down with a guitar and showed him where to put his fingers, but the music all came from Eugene's heart and soul. This was the only way he could express himself to the World - with the songs that he writes and sings.

Bridges was in gospel bands before he was into his teens, eventually switching to the "Devil's music", playing in a long succession of outfits. His highest profile came in 1996, when he hooked up with Big Joe Turner's Memphis Blues Caravan as lead guitarist/ vocalist.

A year later he left to work under his own name again and formed The Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges Band and has been receiving rave reviews for his live performances ever since.

Like BB King, Bridges sings about true life. Like Jimmy Reed, he continued to sing and play the true sound of the Blues after leaving the South. Like Sam Cooke, he combines Gospel, Blues and Soul and shows how to put messages in the songs.

CDs include:
Jump the Joint (2003)
Man Without a Home (2000)

Click Here to view blues CDs & DVDs currently available from the Australian Blues Music Festival from this website or in-store at the Festival Office located in the Goulburn Visitor Information Centre.

Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges featured as a special international guest artist at the Australian Blues Music Festival in 2005.