What happens when you combine the talents and experience of 2022 Blues Music Victoria Hall of Fame inductee and award winning producer / bass player Barry Hills, three other award-winning musicians in the forms of Brian Fraser on lap steel, electric and acoustic guitars, vocals; Roland Kretschmer on electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, banjo, Dobro, ukulele, vocals; and drummer and vocalist Nick Carrafa, and multiple award-winning singer/songwriter Kelly Auty? This is, of course, a leading question because the answer is, as the title of this post may suggest, PepperCreek Revival! But it was also the most efficient way to introduce the calibre of players who are on this self-titled debut album which is anything but the work of beginners.
Recently I spoke to Hills and Auty and while I wanted to find out about the band I was also keen to ask them about their individual musical histories, and it’s worth watching or listening to the interview for these alone, as they have such rich stories.
PepperCreek Revival was Hills’s idea and the nine songs that are on the album are the result of the band creating the music then taking it to Auty, who writes the lyrics then sings lead vocals. Like Hills, Auty’s background is in the blues, yet her voice is versatile and more than suits the country, folk, roots and rock styles of these songs (as well as some blues).
Given the musicians in PepperCreek Revival, this is definitely an album for music aficionados; it is also an album for those who want songs that reflect life and love, challenges and joys – which is all of us, really.
If you’re in Melbourne, catch PepperCreek Revival at the Boxing Day Blues & BBQ at The Odeon in Richmond from 1 p.m. Tickets available here.
Listen to the album here: https://peppercreekrevival.com/music-video
Buy the CD here: https://peppercreekrevival.com/shop
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