Checkerboard Lounge
Tour DatesCheckerboard Lounge SUN Studio Album Preview, Single and Video Launch
Semi-finalists at the 2020 International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN, recording at the legendary SUN Studio and a new incredible live album to launch, word keeps spreading about this formidable act.
Just before the pandemic hit globally, Australia’s hottest act on the blues and roots scene, scored a recording session at the legendary SUN Studio, home to Howlin’ Wolf, B.B.King, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis and more. During a visit to the museum, Tim Neal (keys) sat at Jerry Lee Lewis’ piano and pricked up the ears of the studio engineer who invited the band to record in the hallowed studio. A 5-hour late night session saw the band lay down 12 incredible tracks: blues and soul originals, rare covers and a few golden choices the band had never played before, inspired by the history of the studio that seeded so many pivotal careers. You can even hear in a quiet brooding moment of a spontaneous version of ‘It Hurts me Too’, a ghost walk in and close a door, behind which there was no one.The electricity was alive that night and all was etched to tape.
Line-Up
Legendary underground institution, Checkerboard Lounge, deliver a dynamic, soulful well of emotion and playful abandon in collective improvisation over classic blues, soul and originals.
Singing drummer Carl Pannuzzo, guitar master Shannon Bourne, Hammond virtuoso Tim Neal and uber-musical bassist, Zoe Frater curate shows fitting to events and venues, no two shows being the same, but each unforgettable live experiences, from standing ovations at Wangaratta Jazz Festival to crammed inner Melbourne pubs.
Worldclass Musicianship
With a history of having played with some of Australia’s best blues exponents such as Rev. Mick O’Connor, Ian Collard, Jeff Lang, Broderick Smith, Steve Teacle, Richard Tankard, Andrew Ogburn, Garrett Costigan, Nigel MacLean, Dave Boyle (USA), this current line-up is at its responsive best, boasting world class musicianship and raw unbridled passion inspired by the moment’s music to create seemingly rehearsed pieces out of nothing but great listening and reaction skills.
Limited Edition Vinyl and CD Available now
Collective Improvisation Over
Classic Blues and Soul
Roots
Ever since their famed seven-year residency at the Great Britain Hotel in the early 90s, many budding young musicians have cut their blues teeth with the uncompromising fire of this band’s energy. Checkerboard has inspired the development of some of Australia’s finest musicians and bands (Powderfinger, Dirty Three, Clare Bowditch, Jet, Spoonful/Rocket Science, Kylie Auldist, to name but a few). Checkerboard’s point of difference has always been playing with a myriad of musicians and throwing them into the improvisational hot-seat. Many have come away from a first time playing with the band saying things like “That was the most fun I’ve ever had playing live music” (guitarist, Co Tipping)
You could run a small city off these guys – Fiona Boyes
Winners of the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society 2019 Blues Challenge, Legendary underground institution, Checkerboard Lounge, deliver a dynamic, soulful well of emotion and playful abandon in collective improvisation over classic blues, soul and originals.
A Dynamic Soulful Well Of
Reckless Abandon
Featured Video
From deep within the veins of Melbourne’s music scene, Checkerboard Lounge has become a cult-like underground institution. The brainchild of renowned singer and drummer Carl Pannuzzo, the band has evolved over thirty years; breathing fire, virtuosity and improvisation into classic soul and roots originals.
Mischievous and unyielding, Pannuzzo is joined on stage by master guitarist Shannon Bourne, Hammond virtuoso Tim Neal and uber-musical bassist Zoe Frater. World-class musicianship, unbridled passion and an almost telepathic ability to create, Checkerboard are a powerhouse to be reckoned with. The spirit of the blues is palpable throughout their performances, all the while with an infectious and raucous sense of play.
From standing ovations at Wangaratta Jazz Festival to crammed inner Melbourne pubs, no two shows are the same. Vibrant and unforgettable, Checkerboard are a tour-de-force demanding honesty, integrity and truthful musicianship; the very essence of a live music experience.
Ever since their famed seven-year residency at the Great Britain Hotel in the early 90s, many budding young musicians have cut their blues teeth with the uncompromising fire of this band’s energy. Checkerboard has inspired the development of some of Australia’s finest musicians and bands (Powderfinger, Dirty Three, Clare Bowditch, Jet, Spoonful/Rocket Science, Kylie Auldist, to name but a few). Checkerboard’s point of difference has always been playing with a myriad of musicians and throwing them into the improvisational hot-seat.
Over the years, band members have included Australia’s best blues exponents, such as Rev. Mick O’Connor, Ian Collard, Jeff Lang, Broderick Smith, Steve Teacle, Richard Tankard, Andrew Ogburn, Garrett Costigan, Nigel MacLean and Dave Boyle (USA).
Thirty years on, with the band’s strongest ever line up, Checkerboard continues to leave musicians and audiences enthralled by their single-minded creativity.
In performance, these guys listen hard and give 111% of the truth, creating seemingly rehearsed music from nothing.
Heart and Soul
Carl Pannuzzo, Zoe Frater, Shannon Bourne and Tim Neal
Carl Pannuzzo has been creating inspired, reckless and beautiful music just about his entire life. With the innovative and extraordinary a cappella trio, Acapelicans, he has toured the world. As a singer-songwriter he has for years been a familiar presence at folk festivals around the country. But as drummer and vocalist for Checkerboard he lets his first love, soul and blues music, run free. With uber-musical bassist Zoe Frater on bass, it’s a rhythm section-driven feel that brings a deep groove and joyous, raucous fire to the blues. Featuring the exceptional musicianship of Tim Neal and Shannon Bourne, their rapport and exchange is nothing short of inspired.
Tim Neal is a highly sought after Aria award winning multi-instrumentalist and Australia’s foremost exponent of the Hammond Organ. He has recorded, played or toured with Mavis Staples(U.S.A.), Ricky Lee Jones(U.S.A), Joss Stone(U.K), Archie Roach, Paul Kelly, Ernest Ranglin (Jamaica) Betty Harris (USA), Bunny Ruggs (Jamaica), Duke Robillard ( USA), Shane Howard, Stephen Cummings, Dave Graney Fiona Boyes, Jody Williams (USA), Gil Askey, Billy Boy Arnold(USA), Lucky Oceans (USA), Big Jay McNeely (USA), Randy Crawford (USA), Lucky Peterson (USA), Mickey Tucker (USA), Chris Wilson, Ross Wilson, Ross Hannaford, The Fabulous Thunderbirds (USA) James Taylor (UK) , Renee Geyer, Wendy Saddington, Jeff Lang, Jimmy Smith (USA), Geoff Achison, Guy Pearce, Cattletruck, Swinging Sidewalks, Paul Williamsons Hammond Combo (Aria Nomination), Festa, Banana Oil (Aria Award), Melbourne Improvisation Association, Kate Ceberano, Kerrie Simpson, Pearly Shells, Tim Neal’s Big Organ Band, Jim Kelly, Bobby Previte (USA) and Anne McCue.
A veteran of Melbourne’s music scene, Shannon Bourne’s career began as a sideman to blues legend, Chris Wilson. Since then he has collaborated with and accompanied some of Australia’s most highly acclaimed musicians, including John Shumann, Vikka Bull, The Black Sorrows, Tex Perkins’ Band of Gold, Matt Walker, Broderick Smith, Jimmy Dowling, Kerri Simpson, Monique Brumby, Thomas Hugh to name a few. Career highlights so far have also included supporting Richard Thompson with Chris Wilson in 2001, being invited to attend SXSW in Austin, Texas (2010), and appearing in the Helpmann Award-winning show, The Man in Black starring Tex Perkins. A lyricist and composer of note, Bourne worked as a studio musician and co-writer with Russell Morris on the ARIA Award winning blues trilogy; Shark Mouth, Van Diemen’s Land, and Red Dirt – Red Heart.
Crowds love this band. Try them once and you will want them back every year.
MARCH 2023
Sunday March 3rd
Brunswick Music Festival, Sydney Rd Street Party
3-4pm
Sunday March 10th
Bacchus Marsh Blues Festival
March Friday 17th
Smiths Alternative, Canberra
7-9pm
March 18/19th
Blue Mountains Music Festival
APRIL
Saturday 1st April
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
Guests: Aplegate
7-10.30pm
Thursday 6th April
Bar 303, 303 High St, Northcote
‘Kickin’ the B’ Hammond Night
Checkerboard Trio, featuring Tim Neal
8.30pm
Sunday 16th April
Rainbow Hotel, St David st, Fitzroy
4-7pm
MAY
Saturday 27th May
7″ single launch ‘Double A-side’
Brunswick Ballroom
Guest: George Carroll-Wilson (Pollyman)
1.30-4pm matinee
Tickets here
AUGUST
Saturday 12th August
Flemington Bowls Club
7.30-10.30pm
with McNaMarr Project