“O’Brien is a talent to watch!” Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue Magazine USA
“A superlative guitarist” Danny Murphy, FHM Australia
“The finest Strat tone Down Under!” JP Stratoblogster USA
Australian Blues sensation PJ O’Brien knows how to get a Blues party started. His
blistering fretwork has been turning heads from Perth to Memphis, Chicago, Austin,
London, Singapore and back again. Along with frequent flyer points PJ has gathered a
swag of awards: Blues Song of the Year, WA Music Awards (WAMIs); Music Oz Blues Artist
of the Year; Sydney Blues Society Performer of the Year; Best New Talent and Song of
the Year, ‘Chain’ Australian Blues Awards. Driven by a hard-edged Chicago/ Texas style
guitar, PJ’s Blues are given a contemporary twist with award-winning song writing and
soulful vocals. Tom Hyslop of Blues Revue USA has labelled PJ ‘a talent to watch’. 2012
will see the release of Jefferson Blues (Only Blues Music), the follow-up to his award
winning album ‘Blues People’ (Blackmarket Music).
PJ has been well and truly under the Blues spell ever since he saw Buddy Guy at the
age of 17 at a local Perth hotel. Too young to get into the venue, PJ had to watch
through the back door of the venue and was hooked. The self-taught guitarist has been
chasing the live Blues feeling since he first took to the stage of the Perth Blues Club in
1992 – only a year after he was inspired to pick up a Strat. From these beginnings, he
has played at festivals such as Blues at Bridgetown (WA), the Narooma Blues Festival
(NSW), the Gympie Muster (QLD), Darling Harbour Jazz and Blues Festival (NSW), Blues
On Broadbeach (QLD) and the Australian Blues Music Festival (NSW), as well as venues
around Australia and overseas including Singapore, London and the US.
PJ spent 2010 / 11 recovering from a career-threatening neck injury requiring surgery
and is thrilled to be back on track with his new album Jefferson Blues. PJ is a fantastic
ambassador for Australian Blues music and he looks forward to to taking his new alloriginal
release to Blues and Roots fans everywhere in 2012.
Best Blues Artist – Musicoz Awards (2004)
Performer of the Year – Sydney Blues Society (2005)
Best New Talent – Australian Blues Festival ‘Chain’ Awards (2006)
Song of the Year – Australian Blues Festival ‘Chain’ Awards (2006)
Sydney Blues Society Rep – International Blues Challenge, Memphis USA (2006)
Semi-finalist – Compo10 International Blues Song writing Competition (2007
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