Celebrated independent blues rocker Claude Hay has announced plans to release his new long player, Roller Coaster, on September 8th.
It’s never been in doubt that Claude Hay knows his way around a hook, and his 4th studio album Roller Coaster highlights Hay’s writing just as much as his unique guitar and vocal approach. From the stripped-back glam rock of the title track, gutter funk of ‘Forget About Me’ and Bowie-meets-chain-gang eclecticism of a tune like ‘Hold You Up’ – the Roller Coaster album is a tour-de-force from an artist at the peak of his craft, and one who’s not afraid to let his inner Hillbilly shine from time to time.
Finding time to write is always a challenge for Hay who spends most of his year on tour in Australia and Europe, says Claude: “I’m never really happy with anything I create and end up doing 15 versions of things until someone convinces me it’s good enough – so Roller Coaster took a while to write and demo. It’s also the first album I’ve written to be performed by a band – my previous albums were written knowing that they were going to be performed solo using loops – so it was inspiring being able to write whatever I wanted and have things like chord progressions, and verses that were different to the choruses.”
Roller Coaster is available in stores and online from September 8th through Only Blues Music and the launch tour takes Claude and his new band from the Sunshine Coast to Melbourne and WA.
Roller Coaster Tour Dates
Saturday 17th September
Mitchell Creek Rock ‘N’ Blues Festival, QLD
Sunday 2nd October
The Wildwood Festival, Port Macquarie, NSW
Friday 7th October
The Rhythm Hut, Gosford, NSW
Saturday 8th October
The Family Hotel, Katoomba. NSW
Sunday 9th October
The Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW
Friday 14th October
Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville, NSW
Friday 21st October
Kingscliff Beach Hotel, Kingscliff, NSW
Saturday 22nd October
Head’s Shed, Wolvi, QLD
Sunday 23rd October
Advancetown Hotel, Advancetown, QLD
Thursday 27th October
The Stag and Hunter Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
Friday 28th October
The Sydney Blues and Roots Festival, Windsor, NSW
Saturday 29th October
The Commercial Hotel, Milton, NSW
Sunday 30th October
The Harmonie German Club, Canberra, ACT
Friday 4th – Sunday 6th November
Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival, Bendigo, VIC
Saturday 12th – Sunday 13th November
The Blues at Bridgetown Festival, Bridgetown, WA
Thursday 17th November
Baha Tacos, Rye, VIC
Friday 18th November
The Catfish, Fitzroy, VIC
Saturday 19th November
The Blues Train, Queenscliff, VIC