Melbourne artist Aaron Pollock in Memphis for International Blues Competition
A 22-year-old with three studio albums to his name has arrived in Tennessee with high hopes of bringing home an international crown. Check out his story here.
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Aaron Pollock is walking in Memphis – and on cloud nine ahead of an upcoming performance at the International Blues Challenge.
The Mitcham musician headed over to Tennessee at the start of the year ahead of the five-day competition featuring some of the best blues acts from around the world.
At just 22, Pollock has already released three albums and become well known in the area for a body of work that includes a range of original blues and folk numbers and that helped him take out the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society challenge last year.
He’s now heading back to the city regarded by many as the genre’s birthplace and is already looking forward to reconnecting with friends made while travelling in the region just last year.
“To be able to be back in Memphis again already is immense, especially being able to perform and sing there. A win would be a dream come true,” Pollock said.
“A few friends from all over America will be rallying together to come see me at the IBC. I feel overwhelmingly grateful.”
Pollock will not only have the chance to show the world what he has to offer, but also perform at some of Memphis’ most famous locations, including the Orpheum Theatre and Beale St.
“It’s a phenomenal music scene there. The musicians are fantastic, honest and very authentic. Blues and folk music still shines in so many areas of southern America,” he said.
Pollock said the upcoming performance was inspiring a “creative high”.
“I have become more resourceful with words and lines I never thought I would use to tell stories. The key is to keep that momentum,” he said.
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“A lot of former songs were love and loss songs — melancholy songs. Issues just become more complex as you grow up and you don’t feel the same way about certain situations anymore.”
Pollock arrived in Memphis earlier this month ahead of the start of the program on January 28.
The IBC is hosted by the Blues Foundation and is in its 36th year.