Opelousas

Melbourne’s swamp-blues powerhouse Opelousas are back in the saddle with their much anticipated second album Opelousafried.Following on from their award-winning 2019 debut Opelousafied, the new album raises the stakes even higher. Opelousafried showcases an evolution in the interplay between Kerri Simpson’s  visceral vocals and powerfully raw guitar, Anthony “Shorty” Shortte’s hypnotic grooves and swamp-soaked percussion and Alison Ferrier’s menacing electric guitar, keening amplified fiddle and sultry vocal tones.The smoky ingredients for Opelousafried resulted in a smoldering serve of Étouffée; a spicy Cajun stew of brooding atmosphere and pulsating rhythms straight out of the belly of the blues, with a piquant smattering of rock ‘n’ roll energy and punk attitude that ain't cooked “over easy”.ALBUM CREDITSKerri Simpson - vocals, electric guitar, electric baritone guitar,amplified resonator guitar.Alison Ferrier - vocals, electric guitar, amplified fiddle.Anthony Shortte - backing vocals, drums and percussion.Engineered and mixed by Jeff Lang, mastered by Colin Wynne.Produced by Jeff Lang and Opelousas.Media Enquiries: music@kerrisimpson.comThe songs on Opelousafried draw lyrical inspiration from the trials and tribulations of everyday life: facing down demons (One Day At A Time), ruminations on betrayal (Haircut & Black Cat Dreams), epic hangovers (Opelousafried), with a little Spaghetti-Western fantasy thrown in for good measure (the murderous, infamous titular character, Washboard Shorty).“Is it rock, blues, or something else entirely? Does it even matter? I don’t know. What I am certain of is that this album is good, damn good! Oh and yes, it rocks and rolls, incredible stuff. Album of the year contender? Gee, and it’s only February!”Neil Rogers, The Australian Mood, 3RRR-FM“To be different, authentic and good is near on impossible. Unless you are Opelousas.”Jon Von Goes, JVG Radio Method, 3RRR-FM“Epically sensual music that hangs in the air like humidity. Like a Mississippi disco shot by David Lynch with really good lighting.”Chris Russell, Melbourne MusicianMusically, Opelousafried travels through richly-varied terrain, taking in the shuffling pop sound of Words Fail Me, the brooding roots rock of Does He Know and the infectiously danceable Train To Brunswick along the way. By the time the trio barnstorm their way through a thunderous rendition of Third Jinx Blues there’s no doubt that they mean serious business. ANNA SCIONTIAnna Scionti is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and bottleneck slide player making herown style of music steeped in blues, roots, and rock. Scionti walks her own creativepath mixing it up on cigar box, resonator, lap steel and six-string guitar.Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society’s (MBAS) 2023 Blues Performer of the Year,Scionti represented MBAS at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN,USA in January 2024 and made it through to the Semifinals.Scionti has followedthis up by releasing two new singles, ‘Faker’ and ‘Sing with The Birds’, and a thirdstudio album ‘Sparrow And The Fox’ released on 12 July 2024.Sparrow and the Fox is a striped back acoustic album full of personal songs craftedafter having moved back to her childhood hometown in East Gippsland.The album remains firmly imbedded deep in the sound of blues and roots but expands herrepertoire in to a unique blend of folk. Drawing from personal experiences, creatingmusic that is both emotive and powerful. Soaring lap steel guitar and Scionti’strademark bottleneck slide bringing a personal and ambient feel to the new 10 trackalbum.Scionti was a finalist in the 2021 Music Victoria Awards for 'Best Blues Act’, and herother releases include ‘Junkbox Racket’, ‘Orphan Diary’ (nominated for ‘Best BluesAlbum’ at the 2019 Music Victoria Awards) and her 2017 self-titled EP.Scionti has shared the stage with some of Australia’s finest blues and roots playersand performed at festivals including Echuca Winter Blues Festival (VIC), Port FairyFolk Festival (VIC), Gympie Music Muster (QLD), Bendigo Blues & Roots MusicFestival (VIC), Mitchell Creek Rock ’n’ Blues Festival (QLD), National Folk Festival(ACT), Blues On Broadbeach (QLD), St Kilda Blues Festival (VIC).