Kerri Simpson

Kerri Simpson is a blues singer from Melbourne. In 2024 Simpson was inducted into Blues Music Victoria's Hall of Fame. Her band Opelousas, a trio with Allison Ferrier and Anthony 'Shorty' Shortte, won Music Victoria Awards in 2024 for best blues work, and best blues album in 2019 with Opelousified. Simpson's album Confessin' the Blues was nominated for a 1999 ARIA Award for Best Blues & Roots Album. In 2005 Simpson won Chain Australia Blues Music Awards for best female vocals.

Predominantly a blues musician, she has also performed country with 'Kerri Simpson and the Prodigal Sons', gospel with the Gospel Belles and Ska with The Ska Vendors. Gospel Belles were formed in 2006 and consists of singers Kerri Simpson, Kelly Auty, Marisa Quigley and Diana Wolfe. The Ska Vendors is a Ska band fronted by Melbourne Ska Orchestra's Steve Montgomery alongside Simpson, Steve Phillips, Chris Rogers, Johnny Holmes, Dean Hilson, Russell Roberts, Michael Havir and Pat Powell.

Discography Albums Title Details VeVe Released: 1993 Label: Kerri Simpson (SPUD 001 CD) Format: CD The Arousing (with VeVe) Released: June 1995 Label: Kerri Simpson (SPUD CD 002) Format: CD Note: Recorded at Periscope June 1994 Speak (with VeVe) Released: 1996 Label: Karmic Hit (KH 005) Format: CD Confessin' the Blues Released: 1998 Label: Viridian (VR028) Format: CD Vodou Songs of the Spirits Released: 2001 Label: Kerri Simpson (SPUD CD 3) Format: CD Maybe By Midnight Released: 2007 Label: Origin Records (OR077) Format: CD Sun Gonna Shine Released: 2008 Label: Belmore Records (BEL009) Format: CD Fortune Favoured Me Released: 2012 Label: Kerri Simpson (KATB2) Format: CD, digital 4AM Released: 2013 Label: Kerri Simpson (KABD3) Format: CD, digitalBluebirds Released: 2017

Label: Independent

Format: CD

Singles +TitleDetailsHigher Released: 1991 Label: Razor Cuts (X14963) Format: 12", 7" Vinyl 45 RPMKiss Her Goodbye Released: 1992 Label: Mushroom (X14411) Format: 12", 33 ⅓ RPM

Opelousas Releases +Title Details Opelousas BabyReleased: 2018 Label: Format: Limited edition EPOpelousifiedReleased: 2019 Label: Format: CD, digitalDear JohnReleased: 2019 Label: Format: Digital singleThird Jinx BluesReleased: 2020 Label: Format: single digital, vinylThe JVG Radio Method Mix Released: 2020 Label: Format: Digital singleOpelousafried Released: 2024 Label: Self Release Format: Vinyl

Collaborations, Compilations, Projects

Jeff Lang: More Life (2024) Hey Gringo: Keep on Moving (2024) Belmar Records tringle: Tuskegee Airman (2024) David Bridie: It's been a while since our last correspondence (2023) Stranger Cole, Ska Vendors: More Ska single (2023) Belmar Records Grubby Rhythm and Soul Vol 1 (2021) Bruce Hearn and the Machinists Live at the Athenaeum: A tribute to Woody Guthrie (2020) Hey Gringo: Not the same planet (2018) Glenn Skuthorpe: Wild winds of Dooga (2018) Glen Skuthorpe: Small Change (2017) Glen Skuthorpe: See My World (2016) Barb Waters, Suzannah Espie, Alison Ferrier: Bluebirds (2017) Belmar Records Top 10 Vol 5 (2017) Belmar Records Top 10 Vol 6 (2019) Ska Vendors: Feeling Fine (2015) Suzannah Espie: Mother’s Not Feeling Herself Today (2015) Wendy Rule: Black Snake (2015) A band called Milton: Kiss single (2014) Andy Szikla: Dark Valley (2013) David Bridie: Take the next illusionary exit (2013) Geoff Achison and Chris Wilson: Box of Blues (2012) Just Music [Jesuit Social Services] (2012) The Gospel Belles (2010) Diana Wolfe: Rutherglen Road (2010) The Ears: Dogs in Space (2010) Suzannah Espie: First and Last Hotel (2009) Rory Ellis:Two Feathers Hau About: I am woman. Compilation for the women of East Timor (2008) Sarah Carroll: Yippee (2006) Rory Ellis: The Rushes (2005) Telek: Amette (2004) Cyndi Boste: Scrambled Eggs (2004) David Bridie: Music Totempted (Film soundtrack 2002)David Bridie: Act of Free Choice (2000) Wendy Rule: Deity (1998) Wendy Rule: Zero (1996) Stephen Cummings: Four Hours Sleep album, She Wanted To Fight (1996) Turkey Neck: Lasso (1996) Native Tongue: Loudspeaker (1996) PsyHarmonics Comp. #1 [Psyharmonics] (1994) Swinging Sidewalks: Attic Jazz (1994) P.R.I.C.S: Covered (1992) Sophisticated Boom Boom: Don’t mess with Bill (1986) Sophisticated Boom Boom: Heatwave (1986) The Five Aces: Tough Love (1983)

Film / Soundtracks

Bran Nue Dae (Australia 2010) Tempted soundtrack (US 2000) Last Drinks [Australia 1998) Island of Salvation [US 1998) Nomad SBS TV (Australia 1993) Big Night Out (Australia 1990)

Print

Music City: A slice of the Melbourne music scene (2024) Wangaratta festival of Jazz and Blues: 30 years (2022) WOW: Celebrating 20 years ofWay out West roots music club (2021) The Singers companion by C. Sullivan (2019) Blues Portrait: A profile of the Australian blues scene by P. Bailey (2019) Roots: How Melbourne became the live music capital of the world by C. Horne (2019) Witch: A Magikal Year – chapter: ‘Lakes of Memory’ by F. Horne (1999)

Awards and nominations ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony held by the Australian Recording Industry Association. 1999 Confessin' the Blues Best Blues & Roots Album

Music Victoria Awards The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006. 2014 4am Best Blues Album