When Dunedin bluesman Leo LaDell first performed at the Whare Flat Folk Festival 11 years ago, he played solo, on an acoustic guitar. Over the past decade his level of involvement has steadily grown to the point he is now one of the headline acts at the event's New Year's Eve concert.
Performing with his band, King Leo (accompanied by dance outfit Swing Riot), LaDell has a setlist comprising ‘‘about 90% originals''.
‘‘The New Year's Eve concert follows the barn dance and tends to be very high-energy, so I tend to go for our most driving, upbeat material,'' LaDell explains. ‘‘We'll certainly include just about everything from Revival.''
LaDell is referring to King Leo's recent new album, which comprises 12 original songs. Although blues is at its core, it also offers a gumbo of New Orleans influences ‘‘and some Americana''.
Aiming for a big sound in most of the songs, he added a horn section, back-up vocals, piano and Hammond B3 organ, although a few stripped-down numbers provide a ‘‘gutbucket vibe''.
‘‘Revival came from an optimistic place, and there is a tradition in blues lyrics to express hope in tough situations. I was aiming for a genuine, personal approach, as most of the music that inspires me is about someone telling their story.''
LaDell will also be hosting his increasingly popular Blues Forum on New Year's Day.
‘‘From the beginning of my participation in the festival, blues was welcome in acoustic and electric forms. The festival-goers and organisers have been supportive of the genre, and now each festival features a blues artist. It has seemed like a natural fit with the other music on offer, and that shows in the forum.''
LaDell says the forum provides an opportunity for festival guest artists (as well as others) to bring out their blues chops, even if it's a style they might rarely touch otherwise.
‘‘This always brings different flavours: country artists, jazz-based performers and traditional folk musicians all contribute and steer the music in exciting directions. As a backing band, we keep an undercurrent of blues going in the forum, and it's a delight to see how the festival guests put their stamp on it.''
