Based in Nairne, Mick Kidd is a blues guitarist who has taken his talent around the country and across the globe.
The self-taught musician is a regular collaborator with Cold Chisel harmonicist Dave Blight, was lead guitarist for both the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Darwin Symphony Orchestra’s Pink Floyd Tribute, has been a regular award-winner at the Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists Association’s Festival of Original Music and represented South Australia at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
He’s recently returned from a two-year trip across Australia, performing up and down the East Coast and is aiming to start work on his fourth album next year.
When and how did you become interested in music?I was always listening to my older brother’s record collection, he had an eclectic mix of music from the Beatles through to Jimi Hendrix.
As a self-taught musician, when did you first pick up an instrument and how did you go about teaching yourself to a professional standard?My mum bought me a cheap acoustic guitar for a Christmas present when I was about 12 or 13 years of age (with a book of basic guitar chords included). By the time I was 15 I was playing rhythm guitar in a cabaret band and it just went on from there.
What sparked your passion for Blues?The very first concert I ever went to – it was B.B. King performing at the Adelaide Festival Theatre in the mid 1970s.
You’ve released three albums with music partner David Blight. What was the inspiration for these albums?I really enjoy the song-writing process and the first album we released in 2014 (Wintersun) was a culmination of songs I had previously written over the past 10-odd years.
Our second album (Menu of Sin) was released in 2017 and came about as a result of our travelling to Memphis, US, to compete in the International Blues Challenge the previous year.
We were representing the Adelaide Roots & Blues Association in the solo/duo category, making the quarter finals.
Our latest album released in 2022, It’s All Worth It, coincided with our debut at Blues On Broadbeach in Queensland. Both David and I had done a lot of touring and interstate festivals prior to the release.
What is the highlight of your musical career so far?Definitely performing in Beale Street in Memphis, US.
Where is your favourite place to perform?I really enjoyed the whole vibe at Blues On Broadbeach, but locally the Semaphore Workers Club, The Gov, Three Brothers Arms at Macclesfield, the list goes on …
What’s next for you musically? I have just returned to the beautiful Adelaide Hills after travelling in a motorhome for nearly two years across a lot of Australia. During that time I performed all up and down the east coast of Australia, from Hobart all the way north to Mission Beach in Far North Queensland.
I’m currently writing a batch of new songs from these experiences, which I hope to start recording with Dave early in 2025 (Dave is currently preparing for the Cold Chisel tour to start in October 2024).
If you could share the stage with any musician, who would it be and why?I think probably the great Willie Dixon, he wrote so many timeless classic blues tunes back in the day.