By JO HARRISON
WHAT do you get when 10 friends who happen to be accomplished musicians get on stage and perform? A whole lot of fun and a cracking good time!
The Al Heeney Rhythm and Blues Experience is just that, 10 friends who share a love of music.
They aren’t expecting a record deal or plan anytime soon on hitting the road to perform across Australia but they are hoping they can be one of six bands selected to perform at the Grand Final of ABC’s Exhumed competition (The Best Bands you have never heard of) on 12 December in Sydney.
And they need your help to do it!
The guys have already tasted success in the competition as winners of the New England North West Regional final that was held earlier in the year at The Roxy at Bingara.
Now they need your votes to get them to the final in Sydney. Just visit the ABC’s Exhumed website www.abc.net.au/tv/exhumed/bands/ and vote for Armidale’s very own Al Heeney Rhythm and Blues Experience.
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra was the catalyst for Al Heeney to form his own band.
“I just loved what he was doing,” Al said.
“It is a big band; I heard some songs that I wanted to play. I wasn’t doing much at the time so I rang all the guys.
“It was just going to be a one off thing at the Armidale Club just for a bit of fun but the response to our first show was huge so we just kept performing.”
Singer Carol Elder was the one to initiate competing in the ABC Exhumed competition.
“I heard it on ABC radio and I thought it sounded fun and something we could all do,” she said.
“I thought they wouldn’t go for it but when I put it to them in rehearsal they were all really keen.”
The band are hoping that the New England community will get behind them on their quest to make it to the grand final of ABC’s Exhumed competition in Sydney.
“Winning the regional final in Bingara has given us the chance to be part of the People’s Choice award and perhaps be one of the finalists to go and play in Sydney.
Currently the Al Heeney Rhythm and Blues Experience is coming third out of 44 finalists.
“We are still 200 votes behind so if we could just get a ground swell behind us from the town we would be in with a chance,” Carol said.
“So come on Armidale go on the ABC Exhumed website and vote for us, I reckon we can do it.”
