Kelly's Bar & Kitchen - Mt. Dandy Tourist Rd, Olinda. 8pm
With Fats Wah Wah

Rainbow Hotel - St. David St., Fitzroy. 9pm
With Fats Wah Wah

Platypus Festival - Main St., Hurstbridge. 8pm Last Act
With Fats Wah Wah

Kelly's Bar & Kitchen - Mt. Dandy Tourist Rd, Olinda. 8pm
With Fats Wah Wah

Healesville Music Festival - Queenspark, Healesville. Fats on at 7pm - 8pm
With Fats Wah Wah

Selby Festival - Minak Reserve, Wombalana Rd, Selby. 11 am till 7.30 pm
Fats at 6.30 pm - Last Act
Also playing: Jed Rowe Band, Lily and King, Ben Kelly, Phil Young, Creaky Joints, Jam Tarts, Aurora, Luna & Bell......and more
With Fats Wah Wah

St. Andrews Hotel - St. Andrews. 9pm
With Fats Wah Wah

Hillz Bar & Kitchen - Olinda Monbulk Rd, Monbulk. 2.30pm
With Fats Wah Wah

www.3mdr.com

FATS WAH WAH is Luke Spekes, Cam Walter, Denise Smith, Josh Licht and Chris Laider. From time to time we a blessed to have Andy Burns joining the Fats on Keys.

Apollo Bay Festival.

The festival is nothing if not eclectic - there aren't many places where you can sit and listen to some gentle chanting and sitar strumming before wandering 100 meters down the road to find a full on funk band whipping the crowd into a different sort of trance. To that end, one of the highlights for me had to be Fats Wah Wah - an extremely tight, funky outfit with a ridiculously charismatic front man and two backup female singers (just like The Human League, er, but without the synthesizers). Some other great moments included the sing-along breeziness of Skipping Girl Vinegar, the jazzy intensity of Vince Jones, and Fogg's slightly psychadelic Sunday afternoon set - the perfect antidote to the wind and sleet dashing the tent outside.
ABC Melbourne Website
www.abc.net.au

RRR presenter and drummer of 'Daddy Cool' Gary Young

Described the Fats sound as "tough but sensitive" combining as it does elements of delta blues, reggae, country, and free flowing improvisation, all with an unerring ear for a hook.

Many of the songs are characterized by a killer riff, some have weird chord structures and time signatures. Others are heavy on the harmony chorus and hypnotic vocal chants. All are uniquely Fats with the rasping bluesy lead vocals of Luke Spekes sometimes giving way to a more Dylan-esque whine or sometimes a whispered plea.

Energy levels are felt as a controlled and understated power which could jump off the leash at any time. Excitement is always high with Luke seemingly plugged into a wall socket and the backing vocalists swaying and flowing while the rest of the band take the groove out the window and round the universe.

Watch out for Fats Wah Wah, you'll never hear another band like them…

Matthew Frederick of 'The Age' says,

Straddling the worlds of blues, funk and reggae, the guys in Fats have a powerful sound that's been causing a heavy buzz around town. The band sounds like a mad scientists deranged attempt to combine the DNA of Tom Waits, George Clinton and Bob Marley.

Rob Harwood - Sound Engineer Extraordinare

Luke Spekes is a tripper, in fact the whole band is a trip. Maybe it's the hills tribe trip you know. Or maybe it's the psychedilic shirts that Luke wears but really good looking colours and I mean it.

Music - Rhythm section to die for: Luke on Fender axe, Steve - Fat Gibson EBO bass, and Josh - Chunky, fat & tight, - drumming of course! The sensuous Swamp Mummies on BV's, Neesy and Jacki never stop dancing while Cam and Andy bookend the band with gorgeous solos and rhythm work - like a floating soundscape of trippyness.

Too much? I guess once this music gets in your head it's a bit like that, doesn't go away real soon and leaves a lasting impression. Not to take away from the serious kick arse blues though. Because when these guys dig in you better look out! The thing I like about Fats Wah Wah is that it's not one thing or one style. Lots of variety and interest level to keep your attention for a whole night and more.

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