Two Rocks ramps up the amp

WEEKLY jamming sessions and fortnightly Sunday blues are part of an entertainment program planned to entice people to Two Rocks.

Tavern manager Vicky Ellisou said they recently recruited electric violinist Rupert Guenther and his blues band to perform every other Sunday.

Band Resonator have been providing Friday night jamming sessions since early 2014, where other musicians can join them on stage, and Ellisou said it was after hearing Guenther perform at one that she approached him about leading a regular Sunday session.

She said since they started holding the jamming sessions, more locals and people from other suburbs had been bringing their own instruments.

‘It’s starting to pick up ” each week there are new people coming in,’ she said.

‘There are a few locals, but we are also getting a lot from the other suburbs as well ” Butler, Quinns Rocks, Jindalee.

‘People have forgotten about Two Rocks; there was nothing here to interest them, but we are still here, we are putting on good entertainment.’

Resonator guitarist and Quinns Rocks resident Geoff Eastwood said the band had been playing at blues venues across WA for almost 18 years.

He said anyone who brought their own instruments could join them on stage between 8.30pm and 11.30pm on Fridays, as the band were ‘versatile’ and had played blues, classic rock, country, rock, funk or jazz.

‘We get people turning up with a saxophone, trumpet, flute, bass guitar, singing ” we’ve had people turning up playing keyboards,’ he said.

‘They can pretty well suggest anything ” if they can play, then we can follow them.’

Trained in Vienna as a classical concert violinist, Guenther brings years of experience performing internationally to his afternoon sessions of ‘tough traditional gritty Chicago blues’.

Backed by John McNair on bass and Ian Ironside on drums, he will perform at Two Rocks Tavern this Sunday, June 1 from 3pm to 7pm.