HARPER @ Millers Snooker Club, Nottingham 22/05/08

Miller's is renowned for it's open mind in promoting different Blues artists, but a Bluesman playing a didgeridoo was an eye-opener! Harper was raised in Australia and is currently living in the USA. His exposure to the Native American Indians sent him back to his own Australian roots and the Aborigines. His set at Miller's was most definitely World Blues and his performance on the didgeridoo showed it to be an instrument well suited to the whole ethos of the genre. Its deep, primordial notes lending themselves to the roots of the Blues and beyond. A music born out of one people's suffering but shared by all oppressed. "Does Anybody Really Care" was a Blues-rock number with some funky lead guitar and Harper's hard hitting lyrics on the plight of firstly the Aborigines, but also all who have had their rights to land-culture and thought eradicated by the oppressor. Harper's strong, expressive, at times pain- ridden vocals was interspersed with some top class electronic harp playing and the unearthly and soul wrenching call of the didgeridoo. "One Day" saw drummer Mark Dixon don a Djembe, whilst guitarist Tyler Mac switched to drums- a deep bass riff underpinning vocal and didgeridoo. Harper and his band showed themselves to be tight, highly proficient and profound musicians carrying on a legacy with honour and innovation.

Carol Borrington, Blue Matters

Goin’ Up The Country, Worthenbury, Wales, Friday July 27th, 2007

This was the first ever gig in the UK for Australian roots singer and harp player Harper and was a warm up gig prior to his appearance at the Maryport Festival the next day. Now a resident of Michigan he was backed by his young enthusiastic band of 22 year old musicians, Tyler Mac on guitar, Ralph Reitinger on bass and Marc Dixon on drums and the fact that they play over 240 gigs each year in the USA, showed as they were incredibly tight from the very start.

Harper has immersed himself in the culture of the Aborigine people of his homeland and this has led him to introducing the digeridoo into his music and so it was on the opening track I’ll Go Home that we heard the wonderful effect of this instrument as it introduced the rhythm section followed by the guitar and then his superb soulful vocals . This track was taken from the new Blind Pig release, Day By Day as were the next two: Just What You’re Looking For and Sure There’s A Place, all three tracks demonstrating Harper’s superb harmonica.

The next track Does Anybody Really Care followed a short intro about what is happening to the indigenous people before Harper made his first move into traditional blues with an outstanding version of Sonny Boy Williams’ Help Me with an extended harp solo which drew rapturous applause.

Big Brown Land again demonstrated the digeridoo and referred to the view of Australia from the air and was the cue to describe the two instruments called Mary and George in detail.

Way Down Deep Inside was the title of his award winning Aussie release and this was followed by the two final tracks of an hour long first set, the superb rocking Soul Food showcasing the band members in turn and the politically motivated Get Out Of This Mess with its reference to George Bush and the troops in Iraq

The 80 minute second set was as brilliant as the first and again featured the remaining tracks from Day By Day with highlights being Do What Is Right with more wonderful digeridoo, the beautiful sensitive vocals on I Must Be Dreaming and the rocking You Can’t Hide with again an incredible harp solo.

One of only three covers featured the excellent guitar work of Tyler Mac on Don Nix’s Going Back To Iuka… “a little town that you’ve probably not heard of in the north east of Mississippi” - major surprise to hear that not only had everyone heard of the place due to the two visits to Worthenbury of Iuka residents Eddie and Frank Thomas, but that at least three people had visited the place!!

It was a great disappointment that such a superb night had to end but with the tracks Do Whatever You want To and the encore Down To The Rhythm, the title track from his previous Blind Pig release which again featured all the band members, the memorable night ended with Harper proclaiming that he would definitely return.

The audience in the packed little venue showed their appreciation at length at the finale and cleared him out of a stack of cds. Look out next year - a full UK tour is planned.

PETE EVANS

Review of Harper @ the Old Towne Blues Festival, Lansing, Michigan,USA. Friday Sept 21, 2007

This was to be my first experience of Australian "world blues" performer Harper & his wonderful band. Harper was the headliner of the Old Town Blues Festival held in Lansing, Michgan's historic district on Friday September 21. It was a beautiful warm evening with a gentle breeze and everyone was there to see Harper's debut performance. From the outset Harper dominated. His opening tune "I'll Go Home" featured wild rhythmic didgeridoo drones and extraordinary harmonica riffs. For those who are unfamiliar with the Australian wind instrument of the didgeridoo, it really is a pleasure to listen to. It has a deep dark rootsy drone that penetrates your very soul. It is certainly a unique application to the traditional blues format. Harper switched between the instruments with ease. His deep powerful voice penetrated the excited audience which crowded the North stage in anticipation of what turned out to be the highlight of the entire festival. The band then launched into "Just What youre Looking for" which has been receiving heavy rotation on the national satellite radio XM network "Bluesville". This song speaks of the huge problems American's face with our current health system and the adverse effects caused by manipulative corporate drug companies. It seemed most of the audience were mouthing the words, it was definitely a Harper crowd at this festival.

"Sure There's a Place" seemed almost biographical, as it spoke of life on the road. Harper and his band mates have a relentless schedule of over 250 shows per year and it showed with the close repore of the musicians on the stage. They all really enjoyed themselves and the music they created for us. Harper's rich, soulful baritone vocals soared on this song and his harmonica solo was a flurry of super fast scalic patterns which moved with the music. His technique as a harmonica player is quite a joy to watch, he plays his instrument like a guitar. And he is tasteful. His playing is not just showing off how fast he can play, it is subtle and is placed strategically with the format of the songs.

Harper's tight and engergetic band featured Tyler Mac from Indiana, Ralph Reitinger from Erie, Pennsylvania and Marc Dixon from Flint, Michigan on drums, djembe and washboard tie. Harper is not afraid to show off his band. Tyler Mac performed a beautiful subtle melodic solo, on "Big Brown land" written about Australia's outback then he raunched it up on the comical "Give me The Money". Ralph Reitinger performed an incredible funky bass solo on "Do What ever you Want To" which had the crowd screaming in appreciation. Marc Dixon pulled out the djembe (african drum) on "One Day" performing an incredible solo backed by Harper's percussive didgeridoo, then to everyone's surprise Marc brought out a washboard style tie on which he tapped out an electric rhythm that got the crowd dancing wildly around the stage.

Not only is Harper a superb musican, he is also a great entertainer. He talks, laughs and jokes with his audience.. It was very refreshing to hear Harper's music which I can only describe as 'world music meets rockin blues fusion. Blues music in general has reached a stalemate here in America. We desperately need something new. It is artists like Harper who through his reninvention of this deep soulful artform that keeps this music alive.

Stephen Sortwell, Michigan Blues News

** Click here for Booking Information **