New Eco-Friendly Organic Gear

We've been revamping the on-line web store and are proud to be making a complete "green" transition. Our organic shirts feature several new designs to coincide with the upcoming CD release of "Stories For The Soul". There's heaps of other new merchandise available too so click below to check it all out. Cheers!

Fiji Tour

Check out this two-page spread that appeared in the Fiji Times in anticipation of my tour there next month!
(Click the image for a full resolution view):

I am truly excited to be returning to my birthplace for this special tour. Read the Fiji Times articles here and here to find out more about my early childhood in Fiji.

Upcoming

Hello Australia!

Welcome back a mate who has been touring out of the country for nearly four months! There will be a heap of special shows this time around, including several mini-tours around the country as we continue to expand our horizons. And stay tuned for the release of the new CD, which has been in the works for nearly a year!

Freelancing

Here I am filling in on acoustic bass for the fantastic Delmarva Big Band, a traditional 18-piece American Big Band. I think this must be Jim's attempt at keeping me musically honest(!) - plus they really needed a sub and we had a free night from the tour to make it happen. We performed at a quaint and lovely park in the seaside town of Ocean Pines, MD, USA.

Click on the above photo to see more pictures of this show! Besides Jim on trumpet you'll see Dean on the kit - he's also their regular drummer besides being my US touring drummer and percussionist.

Thanks Coconut Times!

Please click the photo for a full size, readable representation:

The Coconut Times crew was out in style last night for the final full band show on the tour. They have been a major help in promoting our USA tour in this Atlantic resort area. Big cheers to Brenda and everybody else on the staff. See you on the next go around!

Wailers concert follow up

Here's the follow on from this amazing concert. The Wailers were awesome. That's me with Al Anderson. Below are photos of our performance and a video excerpt of us performing my composition "Australia", to be included on the upcoming CD release.


Our group consisted of me, Jim Miller on flugelhorn, Dean Haemel on percussion, and Pam Miller providing backing vocals.

New tour show with the Wailers

Greetings from the USA tour! Thanks heaps for all your support!!

On 8/10 I'll be opening for the Original Wailers at the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach, DE. I'll be doing an enhanced version of my solo show which will include band mates Jim (trumpet), Dean (percussion) and Pam (backing vocals).

The show starts at 9:30 sharp. If you're in the area please come out. Cork concerts are the most amazing shows!

Promethean concert

Rip It Up magazine was at the Promethean in Adelaide, Australia earlier this year for my concert with Chris Finnen.
Click this link or on the photo to see their entire coverage of the event. If you were there look for yourself in the photos!

USA Tour Interim Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jay Hoad Band USA Tour Arrives in Delaware for August Shows

Jay Hoad and his band will be bringing their brief USA tour to Delaware for three shows during the month of August, beginning with a performance at Dogfish Head in Rehoboth Beach this Saturday night, August 7.

Many Delawareans will recall the summer of 2007 when dreadlocked Australian Jay Hoad first arrived on the local scene performing his unique brand of world music. Fast forward to three years later following repeat tours of the USA, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and Canada, a successful CD release and the creation of an independent record label, Walkabout Fish Records. The band passed on a 2009 USA tour while Hoad returned to Australia to record his upcoming second CD and further develop his multi-instrument solo show.

Fans attending the Delaware shows will hear the evolution of a gifted songwriter and talented musician as he furthers his sonic palette with new musical creations and an ever enlarging stable of unique instruments. The all original shows will feature selections from Hoad's acclaimed debut CD "Warmth In The White" as well as from his newly completed CD, which is to be released early this autumn.

In addition to the Dogfish Head show the band will be giving a free concert of Hoad's original music at Killens Pond State Park on August 13. On August 27 the band will perform for a unique one-off jazz and blues themed concert at Bethany Blues in Lewes as part of Sydey's Music Revival series.

Interested parties can visit www.jayhoadband.com for more details on the band and the upcoming shows.

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For more information about the tour or to schedule an interview with Mr. Hoad, please contact US manager Jim Miller at jmiller@walkaboutfish.com

USA tour update

Having a fantastic time on the East Coast of America and making many new fans whilst performing heaps of solo shows as well as duo and trio shows with some of the U.S. Jay Hoad Band members; especially getting lots of assistance from my U.S. manager, Jim.
We're getting ready for our full band debut extravaganza a bit later this summer - stay tuned!

Press excerpt (edited) that accompanied this photo:
"...Jay is a most unusual musician as he plays a variety of instruments including guitar, lap steel Dulcimer, another lap steel on which his slide technique was superb, percussion, harmonica and an instrument native to his country, the didgeridoo. Keeping all that going while looping background parts and working a foot bass beat is just amazing. I heard him play with two members of his full band that he hooks up with when he’s in the States last Saturday at Davey Jones Locker Room. Jim Miller played trumpet and Dean Haemel played percussion. The full six-piece band includes these three plus full drums, sax and even a belly dancer. Jay will be playing all over the region in the next eight weeks so check jayhoadband.com or this paper for upcoming dates." (-the Coconut Times)

Skanky One Drop

Click below for a slide show of the debut performance of a cool summer reggae project inspired and fronted by Jay:

You can check out Jay and the band every Monday night this summer at the Nalu Surf Bar in Dewey Beach and a few other choice spots.

Update -- about the name (some definitions):
One drop, in Jamaican music, refers to a style of playing the drums where the snare drum and bass drum are only hit on the third beat in 4/4 time. Reggae is based on a rhythmic style characterized by accents on the off-beat, known as the skank. Skanking is a form of rhythmic dance performed to reggae or ska music, characterized by bending forward, raising the knees, and extending the hands.

Documentary Video

Studio Update

Jay Hoad Band and Chris Finnen

TOUR DOWN UNDER SHOW IN GOOLWA!!!

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to let you know that I will be performing a benefit show for River Alert in conjunction with the Tour Down Under at the Goolwa Oval this Friday.
I will be performing solo outside from 11:45am until 3pm. $10 from each CD sold will be donated to River Alert and saving our beautiful River Murray. See you there!