As one of the headline acts at this year’s Cairns Blues Festival, award winning trio Chase The Sun are set to impress, and garner themselves a whole new legion of Far North Queensland fans.

This three-piece blues-rock outfit from Sydney - consisting of Jan Rynsaardt (lead vocals, guitar), Ryan Van Gennip (bass) and, Jon “Howler” Howell (drums) – inherit a certain element that separates them from the rest in their genre and that is their unrefined take on the music. Their roots are firmly planted in the blues scene but it’s hard to ignore the very apparent influences of this group of musicians throughout the performance, particularly Rynsaardt who lists his earlier influences as ACDC and Metallica. Consequently, it was the influence of Satriani, Hendrix and Stevie Ray that confirmed his dedication to guitar and steered him in the direction of blues.

When Chase The Sun won the Australian Blues Award for Best Group and Best Song with ‘You Gotta Go’ in 2007 their outstanding abilities as musicians were rightfully acknowledged (noteworthy when considering the band’s formation having only taken place the previous year after one jam session). The creative chemistry between these artists was clear from very early on enabling them to create a unique and intriguing sound unlike any other within the Australian blues industry. They were in the studio recording their first album merely days after their first collaboration and have barely had a break from touring since.   Further testament to this band’s conspicuous sum of rightness is their recent scoop at the 2011 Australian Blues Music Awards; they took home 3 out the 7 awards. 

The band is natural in their delivery while managing to keep their very diverse fan base unwaveringly captivated throughout. They maintain the same intensity in how they convey the quiet, slow songs as they do in the faster, rock songs and this is something that’s not easily done by even the most experienced musicians. The relationship of these artists when they perform is very distinctive and is fast carving them an enviable reputation. 
Chase The Sun will no doubt deliver a huge performance at the 3rd annual Cairns Blues Festival this year. The band is scheduled to perform at the Sound Shell Stage at 5.00pm.

Pre-sold tickets are available through Ticketlink for $50 and any remaining will be available on the gate on the day for $60 for adults, $30 for those aged under 17 and free of charge for those under the age of 13.

Cairns Blues Festival will be held on Saturday 7th May at Fogarty Park, The Esplanade, Cairns. Tickets are available from www.ticketlink.com.au from March 1. Gates open at 10am, for an 11am start, with the festival wrapping up at 10pm.
For more information, please visit www.cairnsbluesfestival.com.au