Merimbula musician Ricky Bloomfield is putting the final touches to a debut album planned for release early next year.
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The local circuit regular and Merimbula School of Music teacher is keen to share his first full-length album of original songs with his fans, and at first listen of the opening track, it’s bound to be a ripper.
Bloomfield said he’s been working on the album for the past six months, alongside his other role as owner and teacher of the school of music – which now boasts 150 students and seven teachers, and has its biannual end of term concert this month.
The album features no shortage of talent, not least of which is Bloomfield’s on 14 separate guitars, synths and vocals.
“Australia’s most in-demand session drummer” Gordon Rytmeister, from Sydney, hits the skins over the 14 tracks.
“Gordon is, no exaggeration, one of the best drummers in Australia – we had a great time,” Bloomfield said.
Laying down bass tracks from Byron Bay is Dave Tweedie, who has played with the likes of Pete Murray.
And producing the album is ARIA-winning music engineer Peter Holz, of Peking Duck, Gang of Youths and Vance Joy fame.
“When I found out a friend of mine had sold out the Hordern Pavilion, I looked him up and found out he was being produced by Pete,” Bloomfield said.
“I went to Bega High with Pete, I remember him at the Tathra Country Club, which was the first placed I gigged at.
“When I saw he’d produced all my mate’s stuff I called him up and said let’s start recording.”
Bloomfield said all the tracks are originals, four of which were co-written with “a local girl”.
“I have a memory of Dad when I was very young saying you know you’ve made it when you’ve got girls on backing vocals!”
The final mastering will be done in the US before an expected release late January.
Bloomfield said we would likely then take the new material on tour, although it has had a little road test already.
In August, Bloomfield was booked by the Sydney ICC Theatre to open for Bob Dylan – “as close to being a support act as it’s possible to get for someone who doesn’t have support acts” – where a couple of the new songs were played.
Some of the vocals recorded live during that set have also been included on the new album.
Meanwhile, Ricky Bloomfield and his covers band The Radars, will be playing for the Oaklands Christmas party on Saturday, December 8, from 6pm. Tickets available from the venue.