Black Market Music (record label)
Encyclopedia
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Black Market Music began in 1991 with the aim of bringing international blues and roots music to the Australian public through an import and retail business. The wealth of talent in Australia soon found them shifting their focus to local artists.
They released their first locally produced album, Sassy Mama, by Melbourne blues outfit The Mojo’s (now disbanded) in 1995. They have since released nearly 200 albums by artists including Collard Greens and Gravy, Jimi Hocking, Sweet Baby James and Rob Eyers
, Maria Forde, Phil Manning
, Brian Fraser, The Detonators, Fiona Boyes
, Matt Corcoran, Ash Grunwald
, Bob Brozman
, Jan Preston and Inka Marka. Their artists can frequently be heard on ABC and community radio and keep a public profile through the press. They continue to be recognised on state, national and international levels. Collard Greens and Gravy won an ARIA Award (Australia’s equivalent to America’s Grammy Award) for ‘Best Blues and Roots Album’ with their second release More Gravy in 2001. Inka Marka’s debut album Auki Auki was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best World Music Album in 2000. Their artists have regularly triumphed at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee. The IBC is an annual competition held by The Blues Foundation to unearth outstanding independent blues musicians. Jimi Hocking, from Melbourne, won first place in the solo/duo division in February 2005. Collard Greens and Gravy won the ‘Best Self-Produced CD’ competition, also at the 2005 IBC, with their third album Silver Bird. In 2003 Fiona Boyes won first place in the solo/duo division. Andy Cowan came second in the solo/duo division in 2002. Collard Greens and Gravy won second place for the overall competition in 2001. Ash Grunwald and Jan Preston have also recently represented Black Market Music at the IBC. Their success in this renown competition confirms Australia’s place as a serious contender in the international blues scene.
They released their first locally produced album, Sassy Mama, by Melbourne blues outfit The Mojo’s (now disbanded) in 1995. They have since released nearly 200 albums by artists including Collard Greens and Gravy, Jimi Hocking, Sweet Baby James and Rob Eyers
Sweet Baby James and Rob Eyers
Sweet Baby James & Rob Eyers are a blues duo from Adelaide, Australia, made up of James Meston and Rob Eyers . Rhythms Magazine have described them as "fantastic, their two-piece guitar/drum combo outshoots The White Stripes, The Black Keys, The Mess Hall, the Fumes, anyone you care to mention"...
, Maria Forde, Phil Manning
Phil Manning (musician)
Philip John "Phil" Manning is an Australian blues singer-songwriter and guitarist. Manning has been a member of various groups including Chain and has had a solo career. As a member of Chain, Manning co-wrote their January 1971 single "Black and Blue", which became their only top 20 hit...
, Brian Fraser, The Detonators, Fiona Boyes
Fiona Boyes
Fiona Boyes is an Australian blues musician. She has been recording for more than 17 years and has toured in Australia, the United States, and Europe. Boyes' debut US release Lucky 13 was officially nominated by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN for the 2007 Blues Music Awards, 'Contemporary...
, Matt Corcoran, Ash Grunwald
Ash Grunwald
Ash Grunwald is an Australian radio announcer and blues musician.-Early career:...
, Bob Brozman
Bob Brozman
Bob Brozman is an American guitarist and ethnomusicologist.He has performed in a number of styles such as Gypsy jazz, calypso, Blues, ragtime, Hawaiian and Caribbean music. Brozman has also collaborated with musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds such as India, Africa, Japan, Papua New Guinea...
, Jan Preston and Inka Marka. Their artists can frequently be heard on ABC and community radio and keep a public profile through the press. They continue to be recognised on state, national and international levels. Collard Greens and Gravy won an ARIA Award (Australia’s equivalent to America’s Grammy Award) for ‘Best Blues and Roots Album’ with their second release More Gravy in 2001. Inka Marka’s debut album Auki Auki was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best World Music Album in 2000. Their artists have regularly triumphed at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee. The IBC is an annual competition held by The Blues Foundation to unearth outstanding independent blues musicians. Jimi Hocking, from Melbourne, won first place in the solo/duo division in February 2005. Collard Greens and Gravy won the ‘Best Self-Produced CD’ competition, also at the 2005 IBC, with their third album Silver Bird. In 2003 Fiona Boyes won first place in the solo/duo division. Andy Cowan came second in the solo/duo division in 2002. Collard Greens and Gravy won second place for the overall competition in 2001. Ash Grunwald and Jan Preston have also recently represented Black Market Music at the IBC. Their success in this renown competition confirms Australia’s place as a serious contender in the international blues scene.