Shenandoah

The Widowbirds were born in late 2010 from a song writing project and calling of heart for long term brothers in arms and co- writers Simon Meli and Tony Kvesic.   Living in the inspirations of Otis Redding, Frankie Miller, The Band and Neil Young, The Widowbirds deliver a soulfulness and truth.

In October 2010 the collective were hand-picked by the Modfather himself, Paul Weller (UK), for his Australian Wake Up The Nation album tour.   Forging friendships over the common love of soul music, the true highlight was when Weller joined the band on stage started tinkling on the Hammond.

Taking their gritty back-boned blues and roots to audiences around the country, The Widowbirds have continued garnering a reputation as a solid opening act and festival staple, joining other international greats and Australian blues rock artists around the country.

Appearances at Tamworth Country Music Festival 2011 in their maiden year was another great accomplishment to back up their first ever festival performance at the Caloundra Music Festival in 2010 alongside the likes of Powderfinger, Dan Sultan, Jon Cleary and many more greats.   Supporting on many occasions Ash Grunwald (National Album Tour), The Backsliders, The Badloves, Chris Wilson and Mark Seymour, it was high time The Widowbirds set about recording their debut album.

The band also supported the legendary swamp fox Tony Joe White (USA) on the NSW leg of his national tour, bonding on whisky & roots.   They were again invited to support him in Tasmania whilst recording of their album continued.

“You boys make a real good noise…I mean real good!” Tony Joe White

“rootsy folk/blues-rockers The Widowbirds – are quite all right. Lead singer Simon Meli works his powerful, raspy pipes, channelling Robert Plant and young Rod Stewart with ease, while the songs pack enough relaxed old-school groove to warrant a decent listen”.   Rave Magazine | Oct ‘10’

But it was his voice that left me open-mouthed and slightly stunned. There was a time when all rock’n’roll bands had to have a frontman who sang this well – but that era is long gone: I had not heard a sound like this for years. And it was a delight – raspy enough, honeyed enough, with a range from crooning to howling. Comparisons of course leapt to mind – early Rod Stewart, Free’s Paul Rogers, definitely Steve Marriott, more recently the Black Crowe’s Chris Robinson – but ultimately it was Simon Meli’s voice and no one else’s. – John Harkaker

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