Buddy Guy & Junior Wells in Melbourne 1972

I posted this story over various social media platforms, and I have decided to collate all the postings in one location here in this Blog of mine..... JW

DATELINE : 1972 – THE AMERICAN BLUES FESTIVAL – BUDDY GUY & JUNIOR WELLS – AUSTRALIA

The American Blues Festival was brought to Australia by promoter Kym Bonython. The concert festival featured two giants in the Blues music genre – Buddy Guy & Junior Wells (with their band). The US blues artist, Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup, was going to be part of this concert series however, sadly, this did not happen (although I received an email from the general public, directed from my website, claiming that he was part of the tour). Supporting act was Australian artist Jeanie Lewis – a worthy choice indeed!

The following photos were taken by me with my small Kodak instamatic camera. The venue was the Dallas Brooks Hall, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on 6 December 1972.

[Buddy Guy is the one with the suit and guitar, and Junior Wells is the one in the white shirt & light checkered trousers & without a guitar]

#blues #buddyguy #juniorwells #bluesmusic

[ All photos by John Weeks – 6 December 1972]

Any and/or all usage or copying of this image, without express written permission from the photographer, is prohibited by law.

Copyright John Weeks 2011 – Spectrum FM Radio – Australia. All Rights Reserved

There were several concerts conducted around Melbourne, all of which I attended with my brother Kevin…

The American Blues Festival Souvenir booklet :

Tickets to one of the concerts :

Feedback Received:

Gregg Muller

8 March, 2026

Just found your report. I vaguely remember the Dallas Brookes gig, and the tight blues set. At one stage the guitarist stepped off the podium, cranked the volume and ripped an amazing loud virtuoso guitar solo, finished, turned down, and returned to the tight blues tunes for the rest of the night, as if to say 'can do that' but not interested.

olddaveysaid:

June 10, 2021 at 11:38 am

Yes, we were there.

And I remember Buddy being a bit stoned from his exploits the night before and leaving the stage early!

From memory we had gone to the gig with Steve Williams, later of Farnsey’s band.

Those were the days!!

Dave Csaid:

December 19, 2019 at 11:06 pm

I remember my good lady and I going to the first concert am the Melbourne Town Hall and Buddy was too off his scone to stay on stage. He did apologise and I believe played the next night.

Big Boy was definitely there, a revelation for us blues lovers.

I also remember the wonderful Duster Bennett playing at the Melbourne showgrounds at around the same time with a number of artists that my substance scrambled brain can’t identify!

Peter Beulkesaid:

June 26, 2019 at 7:06 am

Yes Big Boy Cruddup deff played Melb Town Hall, fantastic concert Cheers Pete

sr4dsaid:

June 29, 2018 at 6:12 am

I was at the Hordern Pavilion show. Jeannie Lewis opened, backed by Buddy and band. Arthur Crudup followed, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. (Yes, he sang ‘That All Right”: and “My Baby Left Me”.) Buddy and Junior closed the show. As per your photos, Buddy was playing a Gibson ES-355, although he played Stratocasters previously and exclusively, I understand, since the 1980s. That Hordern Pavilion show was recorded, and broadcast by the ABC (on Room To Move – hosted by Chris Winter). I had a recording of it – long lost. And I was at the concert… what a night.

Dennis Hearfield:

January 6, 2017 at 9:06 pm

Yep. He also played the Sydney gig.

Hordern Pavilion. Pinstriped suit and a hat.

Tony Huntersaid:

October 11, 2016 at 11:14 am

yep Crudup definitely played the Town Hall concert. Short sleeve shirt and hat .

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