Jim Conway is acknowledged as a highly accomplished harmonica player whose distinctive style is well known to blues, jazz and country music enthusiasts. His extensive career includes national tours with American bluesman Brownie McGhee, The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Circus Oz, The Backsliders and Jim Conway's Big Wheel .
Jim was a member of the Conway Brother's Hiccups Orchestra from 1984 - 1988 and toured the U.K. in 1986, appearing at the Edinburgh Festival, the Capitol Music Festival and the Newcastle Festival. In early 1988, the Conway Brothers appeared at the Houston International Festival, World Expo 88 and the Perth Festival. Jim also joined the Backsliders in the latter part of 1988, touring nationally at festivals including the Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne Festivals, Womad, the East Coast Blues Festival and the Gold Coast International Jazz and Blues Festival.
In 2006, Jim resigned from the Backsliders to focus on his own band, Jim Conway's Big Wheel, which had already achieved a high level of success within the Australian music scene since it's inception 2002.
In 2003 he produced Big Wheel's first CD "Little Story" which was nominated in the Blues & Roots category for the 2004 ARIA awards. Since that time, Big Wheel has toured extensively, playing at the Port Fairy, Wangaratta, Bellingen and the Narooma Music Festivals.
In October 2008 Jim produced a new Big Wheel CD called "Share This Life" which Jim has described as the best recorded studio work from his long musical career. Also in 2008, ABC Records released a CD of live recordings called "Music Deli Presents Jim Conway" which features Jim performing with Chris Wilson & The Backsliders, The Brewster Brothers, Jeff Lang and Big Wheel. This CD strongly highlights Jim's versatility
In 2005, Jim launched into the organisational side of music festivals as musical director of the Balmain Acoustica Festival. In 2009 Acoustica celebrates 5 years of successive annual festivals. Jim is looking forward to many future festivals featuring some of the finest National and International acoustic music performers from the Australian festival circuit.
Jim is an extremely versatile musician which has also made him a sought after session musician. He has recorded with numerous artists including Shane Howard (Goanna Band), Colin Hay (Men at Work), Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Bob Brozman, Slim Dusty, Jan Preston, Tim Gaze, Dutch Tilders, Anne Kirkpatrick andPat Drummond.
Jim has composed, produced and recorded music for a broad range of film and radio projects, including the Kennedy Miller telemovie "The Riddle of the Stinson" and the comedy feature "The Honourable Wally Norman" which was chosen to open the 2003 Sydney Film Festival. Jim produced Big Wheel CDs "Share This Life" and "Little Story".
A documentary film celebrating Jim's contribution to Australian music was screened on S.B.S. Television in July 2000 In 2003 Jim was also awarded the prestigious Centenary Medal in recognition of his contribution to the Arts. At the 2000 Sydney Paralympics Opening Ceremony Jim performed a piece of music specially written to feature his harmonica playing.
Jim is becoming a popular portrait subject among Sydney's artistic community with the photographic portrait of Jim by renowned photographer, Greg Weight winning the inaugural Prize for Photographic Portraiture in 2003 and, a portrait of Jim by Greg Warburton was a finalist in the prestigious Archibald Prize in 2006.
Thanks for the add Jim, and generous words about our music. We love your playing and will never forget how incredibly you accompanied Kristina Olsen at the Harbourside Brasserie. You have the ears of an elephant :-) Love T&K
Hi friend!thanks for your support your music sounds great,vefry cool and tasty!I am also honored by your add!from Argentina!best wishes and keep in touch!
Hi Jim I just listened to She danced all alone - beautiful your a great harp player and you've got a lovely voice. Hope you've had a great easter. Cheers Zelda
Hi Jim!
<br />Radio MoM - the mother of music is wishing you a rockin' and bluesin' happy Easter!!
<br />www.radio-mom.com
<br />Your MoM-team... :-) Jake, Ratz, Sandy and Susi
Thank you for adding me, Jim. I was really knocked out with your playing and the overall sound of your music. So pleased to meet another great Aussie muso! :)
<br />Cheers and all the Best,
<br />Marc
Hi Jim, got some new songs on my profile if you are interested. Also, thanks so much for your awesome harp. It is truly inspirational. Hearing you play always makes me feel happy. Cheers mate, Chris.
Hi Jim Conway, we wanted all of our Myspace friends to know that Glenn Hughes Tickets are now on sale & selling fast. No major advertising has started yet so this is just a courtesy heads up to fans so they dont miss out... There are only 3 OZ shows in total & it could be an early sell out!
Some fans have also asked if they can meet Glenn, so we are thinking about Platinum Tix for an after show meet & greet. Please send us a msg via Myspace if you think you would be interested.
Have a great day & hope to see you at a gig in April! GH & Band.
3 OZ SHOWS ONLY!
MELBOURNE - APRIL 22 at THE PRINCE OF WALES with ELECTRIC MARY. http://www.princebandroom.com.au/gigs/info/glenn-hughes-uk
ADELAIDE - APRIL 23 at HQ with ALMOST HUMAN & ELECTRIC MARY. http://eventfeed.eventshop.com.au/public/htmlfeeditemview.php?itemid=6156
SYDNEY - APRIL 26 at THE GAELIC CLUB with support TBA http://www.thegaelic.com/whatson/glenn-hughes-australian-tour-381.html
Many thanks for the add, the love and the musical connection Jim.
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<br />May I wish you every success.
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<br />Love
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<br />Steve
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Online Now!
