Aussie Blues Star Anni Piper Returns to Ace's Thursday

BRADENTON – Australia's First Lady of Blues is headed back to Bradenton. Anni Piper launched her 2013 U.S./Canadian tour in Florida, including a June 20 show at Ace's Live. Based on the success of that show, Piper has added a Bradenton date to her most recent tour and will take the stage at Ace's this Thursday night at 8 p.m. The beautiful songstress has been a crossover star down under since her 2004 debut Jailbait, which earned her "Best New Talent" at the 2005 Australian Blues Music Awards.

Piper most recently had a hit album in Split Second, which was a collaboration with fellow blues singer and Florida native Nicole Hart. In his review, Dr. Blues writes, "When two hot mama blues divas get it together, you can assure that fireworks are in store. Piper and Hart lead and follow, harmonize and highlight each other like sisters from another mother while the band provides all the heat needed to keep things at a boil."

The album's critical and commercial success was further validated when it was awarded "Best Blues Album" at the 2013 Canberra Roots & Blues Awards in Australia.

Something of a musical prodigy, Piper started young, completing a BA in Contemporary Music at Southern Cross University at only 19 years of age. In addition to her smooth and sultry voice, she is a noted bass player, switching from the guitar at the age of 14. When asked when she first knew that blues would be her medium, Piper answered quickly.

“For me, it happened very early. I heard Paul Butterfield's Born in Chicago on the radio, and I just knew that was the kind of music I wanted to play. It was like nothing I'd ever heard before.”

Piper explained that the blues is something of a minor niche in Australia, where she still lives with her husband, who runs an instrument store, and their son. She says that playing in the U.S. has always been where she sees herself, which is why this tour has meant so much to her.

“America is the home of the blues, there's no doubt about it,” said Piper. “I was in a Walmart here the other day and Pride and Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughn started playing on the store's sound system and it was so exciting, because that's not something you'd ever experience back home."

The January 9 show at Ace's is a no-cover charge event, so don't miss your chance to see Piper's red-hot show in one of the area's most intimate venues.