Evening of superb music in Bathurst

ROB KNOWLES

THE scene was typically Bathurst festive as returning favourite Jamie Jupiter and fellow musician Kathy Raven performed at the Bathurst Arms on Saturday evening.

Owner William Milne was delighted with the response of the locals who flooded into the Arms to dance to the bluesy and slightly ethnic music of Jupiter and Raven, as well as to celebrate the pub's fourth birthday under his ownership.

Jupiter is a virtuoso harmonica player and, together with his technical skill on guitar, sequencer and various other instruments, is able to reproduce the sounds of a full band. His unassuming demeanour and the ethnic twist to his music make his sound impossible to ignore.

MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TOGETHER: On tour together, Jamie Jupiter and Kathy Raven, who usually perform solo, entertained a packed and enthusiastic audience at the Bathurst Arms on Saturday evening Picture: ROB KNOWLES

He said his interest in music began when he was about 14 years old, after he'd picked up a piece of rubber hose and began making music on it. However, it wasn't until after he'd left school that he began to earnestly focus on a musical career.

Raven, by contrast, is a feisty performer whose smoky voice is often reminiscent of Annie Lennox or Joni Mitchell. She comes from a musical background and her father was a jazz musician.

"I grew up around music,” she said, explaining both her passion and abilities.

Although their styles are quite different, they meet when Jupiter and Raven play the blues together.

The pair have played together several times and, whenever they do, the sound they produce is amazing. While Jupiter sings and plays, the clear vocals of Raven complement the music and make the collaboration simply unforgettable.

Jupiter's latest album, A Brighter Life, contains 12 tracks and includes songs such as the haunting My Angel along with more traditionally African sounds such as in the Doop Doop Song.

Kathy Raven's album, Loveseed, is great easy listening music and, together with her hypnotic vocals, includes tracks like Shine, I am Yours as well as a cover of the classic Fleetwood Mac song, Rather Go Blind.

TotT has a copy each of the Loveseed and A Brighter Life CDs to give away to two lucky readers. Just answer this simple question: At which venue did Jupiter and Raven play on Saturday September 29?

Write your answer on a piece of paper and deliver it to the TotT offices by Tuesday October 9 to stand a chance of winning. The first two correct entries drawn will win either Loveseed or A Brighter Life