Legendary guitarist and songwriter Ian Moss, formerly of Cold Chisel, joins the line-up of the 3rd annual Cairns Blues Festival.

Ian Moss needs no introduction to Australian music lovers. As a renowned guitarist and songwriter, he’s had an extensive solo career (with hits like Tuckers Daughter and Telephone Booth) as well as having been one of the key members of iconic rock band Cold Chisel. Respected as one of Australia’s leading musicians, Ian Moss delivers an unforgettable sound. While primarily recognised as an axeman of unusual tenacity and sweet melodic sensibility, Ian’s distinctive vocal is the essential signature of his soulful, bluesy muse – as it has been since his first tentative foray into music during the early 1970s.

Cold Chisel is well known as one of Australia’s best rock bands. The band, which also launched the careers of Jimmy Barnes and Don Walker, defined a national sound – hard-driving rock chased by a shot of blues, lyrics depicting the Australian experience and resonating powerfully with young working class fans. Moss guitar solos and voice shone through such seminal Cold Chisel songs as Never Before, Bow River (written by Moss) and a gorgeous rendition of Ray Charles’ Georgia.

Enjoying the status of Australia’s best guitarist, Moss carefully evolved into a solo artist of the same calibre post-Cold Chisel. His debut solo single Tucker’s Daughter was released in January 1989, and caused an immediate sensation. The anthemic song – which Moss wrote in collaboration with Cold Chisel’s Don Walker – sat in the Top 10 for 11 weeks and hit No 1 for two weeks, achieving gold sales status after 15 weeks and selling more than 73,000 copies. Moss’s second solo single, Telephone Booth, was released in June that year, hit the Top 10 and remained in the Top 20 for 10 weeks.

The setting had been established for Moss to emerge as an important solo artist. His debut album Matchbook, released in August 1989, entered the charts at No 1 and remained there for three consecutive weeks. It stayed in the Top 10 for 14 weeks and has sold more than 185,000 copies. Ian Moss released his most recent album Soul on West 53rd in 2009. His live shows continue to be a mesmerising and unforgettable experience.

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