THE 'MURRAY DELTA JUKE JOINT', (formerly 'The Wreckers'), has undergone an amazing transformation since David Lloyd and Greg Button decided to take on the Live Music Venue in 2020. When I interviewed David for The Engine Room (S2E8), he talked a bit about the venue and I wanted to see what it was like, as my band had played at there in 2019. I decided to check it out on the same weekend that "The Fallen Saints" were playing there, I attended the gig on the Saturday night (footage available from gig on my Facebook page and YouTube), and went back on the Sunday to chat with the new venues owners. I would like to thank my partner Nick for being my cameraman for most of the interview, listeners have the choice of podcast or vodcast (video). If you would like to watch this interview please head over to my Band It About YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/h1b1jG-BA1k

Background: Greg and David had their eyes on this venue for a while, having said that if it ever became available they should get it. The opportunity came along at a time when venue owners worldwide were bracing themselves for the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. About half of the world's population was under some form of lockdown by April 2020, government's implemented measures to attempt to slow the spread of the Coronavirus and flatten the curve. Venues were closed, and with no way of knowing how long for, many feared permanent closure. With the C-19 Pandemic crippling the Music Industry overnight, the last thing on most people's minds would be to take on and renovate a Venue, but for Greg and David it was perfect timing, as I discovered during my recent visit to the MDJJ.

The Murray Delta Juke Joint is on the Fleurieu Peninsula, in Australia's first Cittaslow Town, Goolwa. Once a thriving River Port – the last on the Murray River before it reached the Southern Ocean, and the only place in Australia where paddle steamers and steam trains met to carry produce inland for shipping overseas. Greg and David fill me in on some of Goolwa's colourful River Port history; the Goolwa Hotel where the figurehead from the Mozambique, (a ship wrecked off the Coorong coast in 1854) can be seen, and other information leading to me finding out why they named the venue (which is modelled on the juke joints of Louisiana and New Orleans) the Murray Delta Juke Joint!

Music: "Band It About" written and recorded for the Band It About - podcast series by Catherine Lambert and Michael Bryant.

Murray Delta Juke Joint: 4 Dowdodd Cres, Goolwa, South Australia. Licensed from Thursday till Sunday, beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks available. Events are advertised on the Murray Delta Juke Joint Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/Mdjukejoint/ A mailing list is available for those wishing to receive upcoming events info. Enquiries and bookings Phone: 0413 160 922

Friendly staff, cosy atmosphere, and Superior Sound, the Murray Delta is sailing towards a Best Live Music Venue Award!

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