Claude Hay releases new album ‘Roller Coaster’ September 8th and heads out on tour.
Celebrated independent blues rocker Claude Hay has announced plans to release his new long player ‘Roller Coaster’ on September 8th. We’ve had the opportunity to check ‘Roller Coaster’ out today and man we can’t get enough of it, twelve thumping tracks at Claude Hay’s foot stomping best!
It’s never been in doubt that Claude Hay knows his way around a hook, and his 4th studio album Roller Coaster highlights Hay’s writing just as much as his unique guitar and vocal approach. From the stripped-back glam rock of the title track, gutter funk of ‘Forget About Me‘ and Bowie-meets-chain-gang eclecticism of a tune like ‘Hold You Up’ – the Roller Coaster album is a tour-de-force from an artist at the peak of his craft, and one who’s not afraid to let his inner hillbilly shine from time to time.
Finding time to write is always a challenge for Hay who spends most of his year on tour in Australia and Europe, says Claude:
“I’m never really happy with anything I create and end up doing 15 versions of things until someone convinces me it’s good enough – so Roller Coaster took a while to write and demo. It’s also the first album I’ve written to be performed by a band – my previous albums were written knowing that they were going to be performed solo using loops – so it was inspiring being able to write whatever I wanted and have things like chord progressions, and verses that were different to the choruses.”
Love No More, lifted from Roller Coaster
Roller Coaster is available in stores and online from September 8th through Only Blues Music and the launch tour takes Claude and his new band from the Sunshine Coast to Melbourne and WA.
WIN A CLAUDE HAY HANDMADE GUITAR
Claude Hay is one of the world’s great DIY musicians and has built almost everything he uses for his art, including his studio (and the building it’s in), his pedals, his tour van and of course his guitars – which he names after women – real and imagined. Every album and tour gets a new handmade guitar and the Roller Coaster Tour is no exception with ‘Jeri’ and ‘Jeri MK 2’ being created from jerry cans to supply the resonator-style tones found all over the album. Claude is running a competition to win the Jeri Mk 2 – all you have to do for your chance to win is to go along to www.claudehay.com.au/guitars to fill in an entry form.
ROLLER COASTER TOUR DATES:
Saturday 17th September – Mitchell Creek Rock ‘N’ Blues Festival, QLD – Tickets: www.mitchellcreekrocknbluesfest.com.au
Sunday 2nd October – The Wildwood Festival, Port Macquarie, NSW – Tickets and info: www.wildwoodmusic.com.au
Friday 7th October – The Rhythm Hut, Gosford, NSW – Tickets: www.therhythmhut.com.au/events
Saturday 8th October – The Family Hotel, Katoomba. NSW – with special guests, Free Entry
Sunday 9th October – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW – Tickets: www.brassmonkey.com.au
Friday 14th October – Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville, NSW – Tickets at door
Friday 21st October – Kingscliff Beach Hotel, Kingscliff, NSW – Free entry
Saturday 22nd October – Head’s Shed, Wolvi, QLD – with Transvaal Diamond Syndicate
Sunday 23rd October – Advancetown Hotel, Advancetown, QLD – Free entry
Thursday 27th October – The Stag and Hunter Hotel, Newcastle, NSW – Tickets: stagandhunter.com.au
Friday 28th October – The Sydney Blues and Roots Festival, Windsor, NSW – with Chase The Sun, The Fumes, Tickets and info: sydneybluesandrootsfestival.com
Saturday 29th October – The Commercial Hotel, Milton, NSW – Tickets: www.commercialhotelmilton.com.au
Sunday 30th October – The Harmonie German Club, Canberra, ACT – Tickets: www.oztix.com.au
Friday 4th – Sunday 6th November – Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival, Bendigo, VIC – Tickets: www.bendigobluesandroots.com.au
Saturday 12th – Sunday 13th November – The Blues at Bridgetown Festival, Bridgetown, WA – Tickets and info: bluesatbridgetown.com.au
Thursday 17th November – Baha Tacos, Rye, VIC – $15 tickets at door
Friday 18th November – The Catfish, Fitzroy, VIC – $10 Tickets at door
Saturday 19th November – The Blues Train, Queenscliff, VIC – Tickets and info: www.thebluestrain.com.au