Wow! What a compliment…

This is how The McNaMarr Project, made up of Sri Lankan Andrea Marr, and John McNamara, based in Melbourne, Australia, has been described: “If you close your eyes, you think its Otis Redding and Tina Turner singing to you”.

They say the stars aligned, in the musical universe, when Andrea and John, both well respected and experienced Australian Soul and Blues artistes in their own right, combined forces to become The McNaMarr Project.

Yes, this versatile and talented duo has reached the very top in the Australian Blues scene and, before long, we may even see them breaking into the international scene, as well.

The McNaMarr Project hit No. 01, on the Australian Blues charts, in April, this year (2022) and remained in the top 10 for six months.

The single, ‘Run With Me’, went to No. 01, on the US Roots Music Report Soul Blues Charts. The album was also in the Top 10 albums, nominated in the Aria awards, for Best Blues Album.

More exciting news have come their way, with the album, ‘Run With Me’, being nominated for Best Blues Work, in the 2022 Music Victoria Awards!

Says Andrea: “We are just so excited to announce that we are nominated, in the 2022 Music Victoria Awards, for Best Blues Work, for our album ‘Run With Me’.

“This is the very first time either of us have been nominated in the Music Victoria Awards, and with 11 albums between us, it is a very sweet moment indeed.”

Andrea, who is also a vocal coach, added that once a month her students do a songwriting class – learning to write songs from the video course she has created, called ‘The Songwriters Handbook’.

“They present their original work, to the class, and we discuss what works and what doesn’t, and then the song, if it’s really good, is produced, in a studio, (world class production, mixed and mastered), and released to radio stations. I also organise launches for them to release their songs.”

The next few weeks read like a dream for the McNaMarr Project, and Soul and Blues music lovers, in Melbourne, could check them out…

Bendigo Blues & Roots Festival – Saturday, 5th November, Bull Street Party, 9.45pm. Sunday, 6th November, All Seasons, 7.00pm. Sunday, 6th November, All Star After Party. 10.00pm.

Blues Guitar Roadshow – Friday, 18th November, The Caravan Club Archie’s Creek. Saturday, 19th November, Macedon Railway Hotel.

Queenscliff Music Festival – Saturday, 26th November, The Blues Train lunch show.

And, the duo will be seen in action at the Kings and Queens of Soul tribute show, on Saturday, 3rd December, at the Oakleigh Music Hall.