Acclaimed American guitarist Robben Ford returns to tour Australia for the first time in eight years, performing at Blues On Broadbeach (Gold Coast) as well as his own run of headline shows (Newcastle, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide).
"As I always tell everyone, quite honestly, my two favourite places to play in the world are Australia and Japan," Robben says."I'm moving to Europe now and I'm going to curb my international travels, but Australia and Japan I'm always happy to go, so I'm really looking forward to it."
Blues On Broadbeach will be the only opportunity for Queensland audiences to witness one of the true guitar greats in action as he rips through a wide-ranging selection of his immense catalogue, including his latest record 'Pure'.
"Well, you know I like variety in my music and live performance," Ford says.
"There are times when you concentrate on a particular style or you write a record, you go out and play the record – I've definitely done that.
"But at this point there are things that I like from my catalogue that I will play, older pieces of music that are just a blast to play and everybody enjoys it.
"We'll be playing some songs from 'Pure', and I've also just been in this instrumental phase with the guitar; I've been enjoying playing and writing instrumental music.
"I worked a bunch with the saxophone player Bill Evans, he and I have made a couple of records together.
"So, the palette will be broad, but I like to think that if I had to put it under an umbrella, it's all rhythm and blues music to me. It's groove music, it's music that should make you move and stimulate."
Considered one of the hundred greatest guitarists of all time by Musician Magazine, Robben possesses a rare mastery of the guitar, seamlessly mingling blues, jazz, rock and world music into a glorious, harmonic fusion.
"Having a variety of experiences definitely broadens your musical perspective," Robben explains.
"I always bring it back to my two-year period with Joni Mitchell and the LA Express, which was really my first break into a larger world and my first time to play with really sophisticated, older musicians.
"I learnt so much in those two years that it just opened me up that I could listen to Chicago blues, James Taylor, Indian music, Raviel; and all of these things are real influences, they're not just casual acquaintances.
"They are things that really have impacted me from every kind of quality of music, many styles of music. So, I thank them for the lessons that I learned at a very early age, it was helpful."
Having called Nashville home since 2018, Robben is in the process of permanently relocating to Paris with the intention of starting a new chapter in his life and career.
"Well, it's a lifestyle change quite frankly," he admits.
"I'm a little unhappy with the way things are rolling here in the United States and I wanted to move to Europe many years ago, but circumstances always made it impossible. But it's possible now for me to go so I'm jumping on it."
Robben Ford 2022 Tour Dates
Thu 19 May - Lizotte's (Newcastle)21-22 May - Blues On Broadbeach (Gold Coast)
25-26 May - Memo Music Hall (Melbourne)
Fri 27 May - The Factory Theatre (Sydney)
Sat 28 May - The Gov (Adelaide)
