Blues, Tuesday August 26 - 5.45pm

Blues, Thursday August 28 - 4.15pm

DARREN JACK BAND

Previously the driving force behind the award-winning Australian Blues Band Third Degree, which rocked Blues enthusiasts across the country for six years, Darren (Jacko) Jack, now performs regularly both solo acoustic and as The Darren Jack Band, delivering a unique, smooth R&B/Soul style of Blues to packed venues across Australia. With a more mature approach and strong vocals, The Darren Jack Band, offers-up a gutsy, yet classy sound, as heard on the recently released Don't Mess Up a Good Thing CD.

One of Australia's leading Blues musicians, Jack has opened and shared the stage with such artists as: Robert Cray (USA), Jimmie Vaughan (USA), Canned Heat (USA), Ford Blues Band (USA), George Thorogood (USA), Chris Cain (USA), Andy Just (USA), Long John Baldry (UK), Kevin Borich, Ian Moss, Jeff Lang, Phil Emmanuel, Dave Hole, and Chain. Jack has also appeared at most major Blues Festivals in and around Australia. East Coast Blues Festival - Byron Bay, Great Southern Blues Festival - Narooma, Thredbo Blues Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Australian Blues Music Festival - Goulburn, Southern Blues and Roots Festival - Hobart, Gympie Music Festival, Cross Roads Festival - Central Coast, and Manly Jazz Festival, Blues on Broadbeach - Broadbeach, Bridgetown Blues Festival W.A. & The Forth Valley Blues Festival Launceston

Article from "THE DRUM MEDIA" #598 14th May 2002 by Andrew Williams

Drum Blues

Local blues guitar hotshot Darren Jack has just released his new CD. Titled Don't Mess Up a Good Thing the CD features ten tracks, six penned and co-penned by Jack and a few selected covers from the likes of the Linda Ronstadt - famed You're No Good, Stevie Wonder's To Know You is to Love You, Andy Just's Backtrackin' and Ten Years After's Feel it for Me. Every once in a while this here blues column receives a CD that makes me stop whatever else it is that I'm doing and really take note.

When I popped Don't Mess Up a Good Thing into the blues CD player, this is exactly what I did. The young man may be known as a hotshot guitarist, however Jack's vocals stand along side of his guitar talents. Jack's vocals are well beyond his years and his guitar work, although very Stevie Ray Vaughan, is very tasteful indeed.

The CD sees Jack pull out of his Third Degree backing band and bring in the likes of Ian Lees (bass), Calvin Welch (drums), Lachlan Doley (Hammond) and Wayne Jury (backing vocals on four of the tracks).

Jack may have dropped the Third Degree from his backing band's name, but there is plenty of fire in this young blues man.

This here blues column advises that this CD is a must buy.
Head along and catch one of this countries finest blues guitarist's/vocalist's.