BLUES BYTES – FRANK SULTANA
Interview by Bob Gordon
What’s the best thing about playing festivals?
We get to see other musicians perform and get to catch up with each other.
Do you have a Blues at Bridgetown experience that you’d like to share, either performing or as an audience member?
This will be my first Blues at Bridgetown, so I’m looking forward to creating some great memories this weekend.
Where do you feel you fit in musically along the blues and roots scale?
Not sure where I fit in, to be honest. I came to the blues via ’50s rock’n’roll, through my parents’ records. Little Richard led me to Muddy Waters who took me to Son House. In between that, I found artists like Bob Dylan and Neil Young and fell in love with the nuance of their genius in the same way. When I play, all of that comes out.
What have been the highlights of your music career thus far?
The Memphis Experience in January this year was pretty special. Winning the final of the IBC at the Orpheum Theatre, recording at Sun Studio, playing at Reds Juke Joint in Clarksdale Mississippi.
What have you been mainly focussing on in 2023 and how is it coming along?
Since returning from Memphis in February, I’ve released the Ghosts Of Sun album recorded at Sun Studio. I’ve toured nationally, played some amazing festivals here and in the US.
What are your plans and hopes for 2024?
I’ll be returning to the US again in January-February. I also have music to release next year that I’ve been working on and continue to work on.
What can folks expect from your performances at Blues at Bridgetown?
I’m looking forward to bringing my solo show to Bridgetown for the first time. It’ll be dirty guitar, stomp box and wailing stories… the blues!
Friday 8.45pm Scott’s Tavern
Saturday 11.15am Bank Stage
Saturday 1.45pm Geegelup