Based in Melbourne, Australia, Black Market Music began in 1991 with the aim of bringing international blues and roots music to the Australian public through an import and retail business. They released their first locally produced album, Sassy Mama, by Melbourne blues outfit The Mojo's (now disbanded) in 1995. They have since released nearly 200 albums by artists including

Collard Greens & Gravy Collard Greens & Gravy are an Australian blues band which formed as a trio in 1995 by James Bridges on guitar and fiddle, Ian Collard on lead vocals, harmonica and guitar, and Anthony Shortte on drums. Their second studio album, ''More Gravy'' ...

Jimi Hocking James Kevin Hocking (born 7 June 1963) otherwise known as Jimi the Human is an Australian musician. He has been a member of hard rock groups, The Angels (1988) and The Screaming Jets (1994–97, 2010–present). As a solo artist he has fronted ...

Sweet Baby James and Rob Eyers Sweet Baby James & Rob Eyers were a blues duo from Adelaide, Australia, made up of James Meston (guitar/vocals) and Rob Eyers (drums/percussion). ''Rhythms'' magazine described them as "fantastic, their two-piece guitar/drum combo outshoots The ...

, Maria Forde, Phil Manning, Brian Fraser, The Detonators,

Fiona Boyes Fiona Boyes is an Australian blues musician. She has been recording for more than 25 years and tours regularly in Australia, the United States, and Europe. Boyes was part of the Australian female Blues band, The Mojo's in thh 1990s alongside ...

, Matt Corcoran, Ash Grunwald,

Bob Brozman Bob Brozman (March 8, 1954 – April 23, 2013) was an American guitarist and ethnomusicologist. Biography Brozman was born to a Jewish family in Long Island, New York, and began playing the guitar when he was six. He performed gypsy jazz, ca ...

, Jan Preston and Inka Marka. Their artists can frequently be heard on ABC and community radio and keep a public profile through the press. They continue to be recognised on state, national and international levels. Collard Greens and Gravy won an

ARIA Award The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Austr ...

(Australia's equivalent to the US Grammy Award) for ‘Best Blues and Roots Album’ with their second release More Gravy in 2001. Inka Marka's debut album Auki Auki was nominated for an

for Best World Music Album in 2000. Their artists have regularly triumphed at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee. The IBC is an annual competition held by The Blues Foundation to unearth outstanding independent blues musicians. Jimi Hocking, from Melbourne, won first place in the solo/duo division in February 2005. Collard Greens and Gravy won the ‘Best Self-Produced CD’ competition, also at the 2005 IBC, with their third album Silver Bird. In 2003 Fiona Boyes won first place in the solo/duo division. Andy Cowan came second in the solo/duo division in 2002. Collard Greens and Gravy won second place for the overall competition in 2001. Ash Grunwald, Jan Preston, John McNamara and Dreamboogie have also recently represented Black Market Music at the IBC. Their success in this renowned competition confirms Australia's place as a serious contender in the international blues scene.

References

ARIA Awards winners 2001

International Blues Challenge past winners

External links

* {{Authority control Australian record labels Blues record labels Record labels based in Melbourne