Playing the blues on the ridge this weekend

Larry Amos is widely regarded by his peers as the ‘best blues guitarist in the country’ and he will be playing at Rocky Ridge in Ramsgate this weekend.

Born in Gauteng in 1952, he always aspired to being a musician and started playing the guitar from the age of nine years. He performed at family parties and school functions before joining a band that was put on the map when it came third in a Battle of the Bands competition.

He began his professional career after signing with an agency as a solo artist with his first gig in the Persian Room at the Four Seasons Hotel in Durban. Touring the country from there, including a stint as backing vocals and understudy to `Riff Raff’ in the `Rocky Horror’ production in Lesotho (the musical was banned in SA at the time). `Baxtop’ was formed in Johannesburg in 1978 with Larry on guitar and vocals, Tim Parr (guitar, vocals), Fuzzy Marcus (guitar, vocals) and Bruce Williams (drums, vocals) and was billed as “the best blues-rock-boogie band that never came out of the American South”,

The group disbanded in 1982 and Larry formed the `Larry Amos Blues Band’.

In 1991 he went to Ireland and joined Tim (Parr) where they performed at the Galway Busking Festival as well as at various venues, two of which included opening for two Don Baker (Bono of U2’s favourite harp player) concerts.

Later, in 1995 Larry and Tim supported `Crosby, Stills and Nash’ at the Standard Bank Arena. He has jammed locally with the likes of Johnny Fourie, Alistair Cokley, Mike Faure, George Worthmore, Jethro Butho, Julian Laxton, Mike Slavin and numerous others, including a surprise session with Shaun Phillips.

Catch Larry on stage at the premier music venue this Saturday, May 25. Entry is R50 per person and the venue opens at 6pm.

After a hiatus of approximately 18 months, `Avade’ is looking forward to kicking some rock ‘n roll once again. The set and repertoire remain roughly the same as it did when the guys were touring full time and a few additional cover songs have been added.

Avade will headline the Sunday Blues slot (May 26). Entry is R50 per person and the gates and kitchen open at midday.

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