Jimi Hocking Leads Docklands Blues Festival Announce

Melburnian blues workhorse Jimi Hocking has been announced as the headline act for this year's iteration of the annual Docklands Blues Music Festival, held in the Victorian capital this October.

The acclaimed stringsmith is arguably best known for his time as the guitarist for renowned Aussie outfit The Screaming Jets, though his more-than-two-decades in the industry have taken him to heights and breadths far beyond those confines (which lasted four years and wrought two Gold albums).

He cut his teeth in bands such as The Astroboys and The Astros back in the mid-1980s before embarking on a solo stint as Jimi 'The Human' Hocking during the late '80s and early '90s. As well as rubbing shoulders with the likes of Joe Satriani, Edgar Winter and George Thorgood, Hocking was lauded by blues icon BB King and even hooked up with fellow legends The Angels in 1988, as part of their Live Line tour.

In the time since, he's well and truly established himself as a rare and blistering blues talent, a capable multi-insrumentalist and a captivating performer. His albums have found audiences in Europe and the US, and Hocking has become something of a local festival-circuit veteran, having previously graced the Port Fairy Folk Festival, Woodford Folk Festival and Queenscliff Festival - as well as the Himalayan Blues Festival, in Kathmandu.

He most recently released 15th LP Live In The Moment, as well as previously rejoining forces with The Screaming Jets for a few live shows, so despite advances in age, there's been no regression in fire and vitality, making Hocking's place as Docklands fest's headliner a truly enticing prospect indeed.

Hocking leads a line-up of more than 20 artists and bands that will hit the Docklands pprecinct across five stages from 11am on Sunday, October 5. The event is free(!!) and boasts a line-up of some of the city's foremost blues musicians alongside esteemed contemporaries from around the country and the world.

For more information, see the event website, the Gig Guide or The Music App for more information.

full line-up

Jimi Hocking
Johnny Rieger Band
Greg Dood & The Hoodoo Men
Dreamboogie
Kelly Auty's Wild Women
Blue Eyes Cry
Rod Paine & The Fulltime Lovers
Mojo T'ree
Supporting Women In Blues Band
John McNamara
Nick Charles
Jess Valach Blues Mountain
Sweet Felicia & The Honeytones
Oscar Lalor Band
Bryan Fraser
Dan Dinnen
Wayne Jury
MBAS Youth In Blues
Justin Youth Band
Safari Motel
Desert Blues Cartel