Mornington’s Royal Hotel continues to fly the flag for live music. Receiving huge support from adding a featured band once a month to their already successful acoustic Saturday format, the Royal steps out with an exciting new Sunday session to soothe your winter blues. This week Jesse Valach’s Blues Mountain kicks off a rockin’ Sunday roster featuring some Melbourne and the Peninsula’s favourite bands including Safari Motel, Sammy Owen Blues Band and Celtic favourites Zeon.
After sitting just below the radar Melbourne’s fiery blues/soul infused, reggae/roots inspired, singer/songwriter, and lead guitarist Jesse Valach is now starting to attract the attention he deserves. Nominated for ‘Best Blues Album’ at the recent Age Music Victoria Awards for “Separation Street” Blues Mountain take you on a journey from lights down low soul ballads to energetic shuffle romps delivered in demanding fashion. Weaving together intense guitar and soulful vocals, Valach has performed alongside some of Australia’s biggest names in blues music including Russell Morris, Geoff Achison, Jeff Lang, Lloyd Spiegel, Jimi Hocking, Ray Beadle and on numerous occasions he has been the dynamic guitarist behind renowned harmonica player Mr Chris Wilson.
Valach first made a name for himself honing his craft at local blues jams and after being selected to perform on the “Unearthed Stage” at The Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Festival and Winter Blues Festival in Echuca by the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society alongside his outfit Blues Mountain their sound caught the rapt attention of everyone from the loyal traditional blues followers to the casual-part time listener.
With an unmatched dedication, hard work, devotion, and a killer rhythm section to boot Jesse Valach and Blues Mountain have produced a tight riveting live show and with their self-tiled debut album ‘Separation Street’ coming in at #3 on the Australian Blues and Roots it is a definite testimony to that. Performing close to 200 shows a year including festivals such as Blues on Broadbeach, Thredbo Blues, and Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Festival along with regular performances at some of Melbourne’s premium live music venues. With jam-packed album launches at the GH Hotel-St Kilda and The Catfish-Fitzroy including very successful overseas tours in New Zealand and Fiji Jesse Valach has proven that from local blues jams to the international stage he is a musician who is indeed on the rise.
Join Jesse Valach’s Blues Mountain this Sunday May 29 at Mornington’s Royal Hotel from 3pm. The fun continues weekly from there with Sammy Owen Blues Band on June 5 and Lisa Faithfull’s Soul Explosion as part of the Mornington Winter Jazz Festival on Sunday June 12. For more details and a full entertainment roster call The Royal on 5975 8555 or visit www.pearlhq.com.au