NZ exports The Hipshooters are a jolt of Texas Blues, stinging guitar solos, smooth funk & voodoo groove. They perform electrifying blues with a Texas/Hendrix edge. Formed in NZ in 1993, Anton ‘Tipi’ Elkington scorches on lead guitar, Billy “The devil went down to bass land” Williams evokes a groovy thrumming city sized generator with Aussie drummer “Megatron” John Forbes who joined them in 2000. The Hipshooters have 3 classic cd’s, including the hallowed “Live At The Bombshelter”; won Blues Awards for Best Band & Best Song 2002 and continue playing to fantastic responses at many festivals including Sunshine Coast Blues, East Coast Blues & Roots, Woodford, Queenscliff, Blues on Broadbeach, Yagubi Multicultural, Narooma Blues, Gympie Muster. “Tipi's startling guitar work-you have to wonder how he doesn't snap the slender neck of his Strat. He bends the strings almost to breaking (and sometimes beyond), extracting every ounce of torment and passion and then some. His hard edged vocals similarly convey all the angst and ecstasy endemic in the Blues.” Recent SE Qld gigs and upbeat new material from their 2010 album is tuning in younger dance crowds as well as pleasing purist blues ‘boomers’. The Hipshooters are in the house.