Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson – Beauty ‘N the Beast

HAT FITZ and CARA ROBINSON “Beauty ‘n’ the Beast”
“Robinson has not tried to tame the savage beast. He still roars like a lion and is the perfect foil for her Bonnie Raitt – like vocal tones” – Al Hensley, Rhythms, Australia.
Now firmly established on the European and UK festival circuits Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson return to Australia to perform selections off their eagerly awaited and critically acclaimed CD, “ Beauty ‘n the Beast” during a series of showcase performances across the country from October to late December.
If this album was a recipe it would read:……………………. Take one heaped teaspoon of Seasick Steve, a liberal helping of Catfish Keith, a pinch of Joni Mitchell. Finish well with a dusting of Blind Willie McTell and put into a studio at gas mark 5. Bake for one week. What you get is an eclectic pie with so many flavours that perhaps shouldn’t work together, but just do!
Both artists have vast experience behind them and have been able to gently influence each other without taking control. The variety of this recording is refreshing and the excitement comes from a sense that this is just the start of what is destined to be a large brood of musical offspring. The blending of pre war hill country and delta blues with early Australian folk and traditional Celtic styles has produced a truly unique sound and has enhanced their reputation as one of the world’s most interesting and musically appealing combinations.
“The best I’ve heard in a very, very long time” – The Big Issue, Ireland “This is high quality and immensely enjoyable” – The Music Critic, Scotland. “On this self produced record traditional and modern creativity embrace each other in a truly inventive way” – Rootstime, Belgium. What a combination !
One of Australia’s festival favourites and perennial showstopper Hat Fitz is now joined on stage by Northern Ireland’s critically acclaimed vocalist extraordinaire and multi instrumentalist Cara Robinson on drums, washboard, flute and tin whistle.
Recent overseas performances in 2010 have seen the duo play nearly 100 shows including some of the world’s most prestigious festivals, across England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Belgium and The Netherlands to packed houses and rave reviews before returning to Australia for the 8 week “Beauty and the Beast” CD launch tour across 5 states in October, November and December, 2010.
The blending of pre war hill country and delta blues with traditional celtic and early Australian folk has produced a truly unique musical style that’s seen audiences world wide drift off into the early morning, often drenched with sweat and always covered in smiles.
Sometimes referred to as “Queensland blooze with a twist” you’ll soon appreciate what all the fuss is about. Come and see why Hat Fitz has been invited to perform at Australia’s premier musical event, Byron Bay’s “East Coast Blues and Roots Festival” for an unprecedented 16 years in a row ! It’s raw, raucous and relevant. MUSIC IN A JUGULAR VEIN !
Hat Fitz
Musical style: Amped up old time blues with a Queensland twist.
Origin: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Discography 2010 Beauty n the Beast [ with Cara Robinson ] 2007 Play me sumthin new (solo) 2006 Hat Man’z on hiz way 2005 Stray Hat (solo) 2003 Freakz 2002 Hat Attack 2000 Jug Sloucherz – Just 1999 Jug Sloucherz 1998 The Silverbacks (with Jeff Lang) 1995 Hat Fitz and the Blooze Bitz
Endorsements: Beeton Brass Guitars – Australia.
Recent awards: Only Australian album (Stray Hat) to feature in Al Hensley’s (Rhythms magazine) top 10 for 2005.
2008 Finalist: The “Chain” awards at the Australian Blues Music Festival in New South Wales. Song of the year: “Play me sumthin new” Album of the year: “Play me sumthin new” Male vocalist of the year: Hat Fitz
Toronto exclusive awards: Canada, 2008 Best international blues song: Rooster Crows for Day Best international blues artist / group: Hat Fitz
Has shared the stage with: Canned Heat ( USA ) Bob Brozman( USA ) T Model Ford ( USA ) R.L. Burnside ( USA ) Alvin Youngblood Hart ( USA ) Bob Log III ( USA ) Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges ( USA ) The Fabulous Thunderbirds ( USA ) Bee Sting Braidner ( IRE ) Ian Sands ( IRE ) Peter Price ( UK ) Status Quo ( UK ) And from Australia: Jeff Lang John Butler Dave Hole Ash Grunwald Dutch Tilders Kevin Borich Phil Emmanuel Chris Wilson CW Stoneking Chain And countless others
Recent festival appearances AUSTRALIAN East Coast Blues and Roots, Byron Bay – NSW Wangaratta Jazz and Blues – Victoria Woodford Folk Festival – Queensland Tamworth Country Music Festival – NSW Freemantle Blues Festival – Western Australia Broadbeach Blues Festival – Queensland Blues Central – NSW Woodstock Festival – Queensland Queenscliff Music Festival – Victoria Imbil Bluegrass Festival – Queensland Newcastle Blues Festival – NSW Australian Blues Festival – NSW Junee Festival – NSW Thuringowa River Festival – Queensland The Great Escape – NSW Peat’s Ridge – NSW Great Southern Blues and Rockabilly Festival – NSW Sunshine Coast Blues Festival – Queensland Coastfest – NSW Blue Mountains Folk and Roots Festival – NSW Gold Coast Beer Festival – Queensland Maitland Blues and Tattoo’s – NSW Brisbane Blues Festival – Queensland Newcastle University Blues Festival – NSW Bucca Blues Festival – Queensland Patonga Blues Festival – NSW Thredbo Blues Festival – NSW Stradbroke Island Blues Festival – Queensland Gympie Muster – Queensland Bridgetown Blues Festival – Western Australia
INTERNATIONAL Blues on the Bay – Northern Ireland Castlebar International Blues Festival – Ireland Lee Delta Blues Festival – Ireland Shetland Islands Folk Festival – Scotland Hilden Beer Festival – Northern Ireland Killadoon Ocean Festival – Ireland Limavady Festival – Ireland Lisdoonvarna Festival – Ireland Fiddlers Festival – Northern Ireland Maiden City Festival – Northern Ireland Southside Festival – Scotland. Maritime Festival – Northern Ireland. Chichester Festival – England. Wattsfest – England. Fursac Festival – France. Mannifestlive – Isle of Mann. Nottingham Festival – England. Belfast City Blues Festival – Northern Ireland. Straat Festival – The Netherlands. Summertime Festival – The Netherlands. Off Grid Sunrise Festival – England. Dunfanaghy Jazz and Blues Festival – Ireland.

Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson – Beauty & The Beast
CD Review by P.J.Whyte

Great cover photo, sort of hints of what lies within this album.
A great pic of Hat and Cara tastefully in the raw.
The music too is raw, as is the production.
There are no clever tricks on this CD, just raw Aussie acoustic musical talent.
Some tracks, with the help of Jim Conway on harp, are as down south as you can get in Australia, while pretty instrumentals like “Fitzmullolland” suggest a traditional Aussie good time.
Cara’s vocals tease you somewhat as she is not on all tracks.
I love Cara’s beautiful tone and quality.
She presents on the pretty “Where it all began”.
You get sucked in and she teases for little while, then the beast, or the talented gravely tone of Hat takes over on the next track, accompanied by a classy resonator guitar and so on.
It all works a treat for me.
Of course they come together as well.
One outstanding example is “Mad About You”.
Great clarinet adds swing in buckets to this number.
The collaboration is a treat.
If you like raw and uncluttered blues and trad music performed flawlessly by some talented musos, then you need to order this CD today.
You will be grateful, as I am, that Hat and Cara had the notion and the gifts necessary to produce such a fine Album