Feb 2013

Just So CD by Jim Conway's Big Wheel

Just So by Jim Conway’s Big Wheel is available through Vitamin Records for delivery (ships within 24 hours) or download
http://www.vitamin.net.au/albumdefault.asp?ai=574&album=Just_So&artist=Jim_Conway's_Big_Wheel
Will also be available through
JB Hi-FI stores or website.
Includes the track
Don’t Let The Drillers In as heard on Macca ABC Australia All Over Sun 24 Feb 2013
and
Do What We Wanna as performed live on ABC 702 Richard Glovers TGIF Friday 22 Feb 2013
www.bigwheel.com.au

Finally, a new CD from
Jim Conway's Big Wheel, and it's a beauty!. The CD is very stylistically diverse, reflecting the characteristics of different band members.   The main contributors of original songs are Jim Conway, Jess Green and Don Hopkins.  Aptly named Just So, the title track is about life, the universe and everything.  So is the CD;  I Wouldn’t Pay It Any Mind,  is about climate change and corporate greed and ‘I Need You Here Right Now’, is a gentle calypso-esque duet with Jess Green and Don Hopkins about love and loss,  while Your Time Will Surely Come is an ode to those euphemistically known as 'Sydney's colourful racing identities'

Jim Conway has been a musician for all of his working life, from his early years with the legendary Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Conway Bros., through to Backsliders and on to Jim Conway’s Big Wheel, each band has made its mark.  He has performed at every major festival in the country at one time or another and has toured with some music giants, including Brownie McGhee. Jim says, “I feel that as well as being creatively gratified, I have been spiritually rewarded in being able to work at doing what I love.”  Jim is the musicians’ musician on blues harp and he has built a deserved reputation as a master of the instrument.

Despite battling MS for over thirty years, Jim has continued to record and perform. In his 17 years with the Backsliders he recorded 12 CDs, and in the last 11 years with Big Wheel he has recorded 3 CDs and also a CD of favorite live performances for ABC Music Deli. Conway’s vision with Big Wheel was to create a unique fusion of Blues, Jazz and Jump and musical influences from around the world. He has chosen some of the finest and most respected musicians from the Sydney Blues and Jazz scenes to create what he calls his "dream band".

It features Jim on harmonica and backing vocals,
Don Hopkins (Gumbo Fever, Dr. Don’s Double Dose) on keyboards and vocals, Jess Green (the Catholics, Petulant Frenzy, Jess Green’s Bright Sparks) on guitar and vocals, Andrew Byrnes (Hughie & The Swing Thing, Lunar Loop, Psycho Zydeco) on Drums and percussion and Stan Valacos (Unity Hall Jazz Band, The Young Olympians, Tom Baker Tribute Band) on double bass.

Each member of ‘Big Wheel’ is uniquely talented and stylistically distinctive and while individually they draw from a wide source of influences, collectively they exhibit an instantaneous and uncanny empathy.  It’s little wonder that their inaugural CD, Little Story received an ARIA nomination for Best Blues Album in 2004. From its humble beginnings in Jim Conway’s lounge room, Big Wheel had the magic, a distinctive sound that jelled from the start.

Jim Conway's Big Wheel CD Launch

Jim Conway’s Big Wheel “Just So” CD Launch This Sat! Venue Confirmed.

SATURDAY 23 FEB: JIM CONWAY’S BIG WHEEL (CD LAUNCH) + Tamlin. 8PM. $25; $20 conc. 
Teachers Federation Auditorium, 37 Reservoir St, Surry Hills. Ph. enquiries: John Gallagher on 0424 741 886, or email me.
All tickets at the door from 7pm. 400 seats, so no worries about getting in, or getting a seat.
(This show was originally meant to be at Notes, Newtown, but had to be moved at short notice, because of the sudden closure of Notes.)

Jim Conway’s Big Wheel and Vitamin Records are pleased to announce the launch of Big Wheel’s new CD, ‘Just So’, a diverse selection of original songs for our time, including the title track ‘Just So’, about life, the universe and everything, ‘I Wouldn’t Pay It Any Mind’, on climate change and corporate greed, and ‘I Need You Here Right Now’, a gentle calypso-esque duet about love and loss, sung by Jess Green and Don Hopkins. 
Jim has chosen some of the finest and most respected musicians from the Sydney Blues and Jazz scenes to create what he calls his "dream band" - Big Wheel. It features Jim on harmonica and backing vocals, Don Hopkins (Gumbo Fever, Dr. Don’s Double Dose) on keyboards and vocals, Jess Green (the catholics, Petulant Frenzy, Jess Green’s Bright Sparks) on guitar and vocals, Andrew Byrnes (Hughie & The Swing Thing, Lunar Loop, Psycho Zydeco) on drums and percussion, and Stan Valacos (Unity Hall Jazz Band, The Young Olympians, Tom Baker Tribute Band) on double bass.
http://www.bigwheel.com.au/

This Friday between 3 and 6 hear Big Wheel play one of their new songs live on Richard Glovers TGIF on ABC 702 AM local radio.

February

Goulburn
This weekend Dr. Don’s Double Dose are playing at The Australian Blues Music Festival in Goulburn Fri, Sat, Sun nights.

Cosmopolitan Cafe
This year Don is now playing every Wednesday from 7 to 11pm at the Cosmopolitan Cafe, Double Bay

Big Wheel CD Launch
Please put Saturday 23rd Feb in your diary for the launch of Jim Conway’s Big Wheel new CD ‘Just So’. Mostly brand new, all original tracks written chiefly by myself, Jim and Jess Green. Released on Vitamin Records label. Location is unsure at the moment as Notes is having a change of management. We will keep you posted when the new venue is finalised.

Blues, Roots and Popular Piano Tuition
Don Hopkins has recommenced teaching piano for 2013.
Times are Tuesdays 12 noon to 9pm some spaces available early on the Tuesday
Wednesdays 12 noon to 5pm, and Thursdays 5 to 9pm come spaces still available for Thursdays.