Performance Times
2pm, Saturday
Tramshed
Overview
Blue Mallee are an inspiring duo that fuse multi-folk genres of indie rock, ambient dreams, and trad folk influences into their sound. This original act, comprising of Evan and Niev, are pushing the boundaries of contemporary folk music with injections of primal rhythms, storytelling and great banter in their live shows.
Blue Mallee have fostered a wide music following and have played multiple music venues and festivals in NSW including Bundanoon Folk Festival, Yass Irish & Celtic Festival, Tilba Festival, Sussex Inlet Scandinavian Viking Festival, Lockhart Spirit Of The Land Festival and Uranquinty Folk Festival. Notable support slots over the last 12 months include Conrad Sewell and The Black Sorrows.
After receiving a music grant, Blue Mallee released their debut EP ‘Shout That Whisper’ in 2022. In 2024, ‘Questions Of Fear’ was released to wide critical acclaim.
Visit their web site.
Reviews
“Blue Mallee consist of Evan and Niev, and appeared at HKFC for the first time. Blue Mallee are worth seeing. This pair are going places, beautifully crafted music and lyrics that evoke a sense of place which the music is set in. Evan’s singing is strong and nuanced to match the feeling imparted. Their stage presence, stories, songs and smiles demonstrated how much they enjoyed playing. We heard stories and songs about their travels in diverse places: Iceland, Ireland, Yass, Bomaderry, Austria and Maroota! These yielding songs such as GODAFOSS. The atmospheric introduction to this song made with guitar, synth and feedback loops. It was interesting to hear an Australian’s response to an Icelandic story, beautifully evoked by the song’s prelude. Evan’s huge effects pedal arrangement made it seem like he was conducting an orchestra with his foot. Punctuated by Niev’s bodhran it made for an evocative piece, infused with rhythms that made me want to dance. Acclaimed by the audience, who demanded an encore, Blue Mallee’s music is made for a bigger stage!” - Peter Dickson - Director Hornsby-Ku-ring-gai Folk Club - 17 January 2025
“Blue Mallee has 'a real Aus thing, spacious...yearning'.” - Andrew Barnum (Parliament on King)
“Yesterday I got to hang out with the cool kids at the Northern Beaches Music Festival where I interviewed some fantastic musos including solo artist Evan Guyatt who performs as Blue Mallee. Evan is a multi talented singer songwriter musician who writes his own music and is in demand gigging all over Sydney. Evan also has a great sense of humour so we had a good laugh during the interview in advance of World Laughter Day today!” - Sharon Gambrill (Radio Presenter)
“It was the turn of Blue Mallee to deliver his vibe of modern rock, starting with “Buildings With Ledges”. With a multi array of footpedals to illustrate his material Blue Mallee swung into a super vocal tone that enunciated superb lyrics. His foot pedal tango added different spices to his song dynamics. “The percussiveness of his guitar adds to the sound,” said Paul McGowan. I like the aural juxtapositions as they remind me of Powderfinger, or Bernard Fanning’s, material, especially the soaring vocals. Then came “Lettuce”, with the images of lettuces sitting on the couch watching TV. The song has The Drones and Pearl Jam influences, while the distortion pedal heightening The Drones effect, making a hypnotic delivery. Then Johnny G started table drumming, as Gav used the shakers and it became a whirlwind of rhythm pushing Blue Mallee along like an extended jam. It was great fun…I hope we hear Blue Mallee’s sounds at the Society Concert again in the near future.” - Gavin Fitzgerald (Editor & Photographer, The Songsmith The Magazine of the Songwriting Society of Australia)
