Hawker Heights was born from singer songwriter and guitarist Neil Boland’s need to play the blues from a different angle to those in the rest of the scene.

With influences like Robben Ford, Keb Mo, Little Feat and the like, his debut album (under the former stage name of Neil Hawker) “South by East” combines elements from Chicago and Texas blues along with jazz, country and the songwriters of the 70s.

Reining in bandmates from Melbourne jazz funk group Pickpocket and other jazz and soul musicians, the Hawker Heights family comes in many formats: The Hawker Heights Six, Hawker Heights and the Hurricane Horns and more.

For Kickin’ the B at 303, the Hawker Heights Hammond Combo pulls it back to a lineup of three, free to dig in and get greasy on Neil’s original tunes as well as classics by Jimmie Vaughan, Hank Crawford, James Hunter, Jon Cleary, Professor Longhair, Kirk Fletcher and T-Bone Walker (and more!).

The Hawker Heights Hammond Combo are:

Felix Elliot: Hammond Organ
Neil Boland: Vocals and Guitar
Remi de Pree: Drums

Bar 303 Northcote | Doors at 8pm, music from 9pm | $10 on the door