Richard Perso

Richard Perso is an 18 year old singer songwriter, from Yackandandah in North-East Victoria. Sitting on a stomp box with a drum pedal under his left foot and a tambourine under his right, vocals and acoustic guitar he creates good vibes and great energy.

Add a second pickup on the guitar fed through a Marshall valve amp, and a loop station and there is not only a one man band but three different guitars as well. Now let’s add some harmonica plus didgeridoos and there is more grunt than you would think possible from one guy.

During recent outings, Richard has been voted by the festival goers as one of the most popular acts, outranking many of the headline big name acts. At Mt Beauty he was ranked in the
top 3, over some of the headline acts at the festival including big names in the music industry.

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Richard Perso Bio

Richard PersoWendy Rudin - Spirit FM 92.3 and Blues judges commented on his Wagga performance quite simply with “He gives me goose bumps”. “Beautiful low range, and so young”. His latest win was judged with “Amazing vocals and sensational guitar”

Skip Landy in his promotional material for Devonshire Blues “We are also looking at showcasing some of the younger talent on the local blues and roots scene. Richard Perso, an exceptional guitarist from Yackandandah, will be showing why he is a name who is surely going to become well known. Jeff Lang and John Butler should be looking over their shoulders now because the next generation is here.”

Richard Perso arrived with a rush during 2007 with talent quest wins at The Kinross Country Music Muster, Tallangatta Show, The Man From Snowy River competition in Corryong, Yackandandah Folk Festival, North East 50’s Rock and Roll, Wangaratta Unplugged, Whittlesea Country Music Muster, Kinross Music Muster 2008 solo vocals plus duet, The Basin Song writing. Other performance awards have come as a surprise as often Richard was not aware of award prior to the event.

Richard PersoRichard was privileged to be invited to the December 2008 Adelaide International Guitar Festival as one of the 4 hottest up and coming guitarists / performers to play in an event called Rolling Stone Live, sponsored by Rolling Stone Magazine and Gibson Guitars. At just 17 years old this was an obvious highlight. The recognition continues to build however with Richard recently being awarded the Lis Johnston Memorial Award for Vocal Excellence at The National Folk Festival during Easter 2009.

Richard has become a hit on the Blues scene in 2009 with performances at Bruthen Blues, Bidgee Blues, Wagga Jazz and Blues (Best young blues performer), Devonshire Blues, with a lead role performance at the Blues Jam at Mt Beauty where Richard was voted in the top 3 acts ahead of some of the heavyweights including blues legend Phil Manning and Collard Greens and Gravy. Richard is equally comfortable with a Lap Steel, Steel Tricone or 12 string slide guitars.

 

Richards festival appearances include: Mt Beauty Music Festival 2009, National Folk Festival 2009, Yackandandah Folk Festival 2009, Wodonga Carnivale 2009, Maitreya 2009, Corinbank Music Festival 2009, Tumbafest 2009, Bruthen Blues 2009, Federation Festival 2009, Folk Rhythm and Life (FRL) 2008, Adelaide International Guitar Festival 2008, Music Majic 2008, Majors Creek Music Festival 2008, Bidgee Blues Festival 2008, Uranquinty Folk Festival 2008, Wagga Jazz and Blues 2008 (Including Best Young Performer), Basin Music Festival 2008 Including singer songwriter award, Devonshire Blues 2008, Yackandandah Folk Festival 2008, Wodonga Carnivale 2008, Lounging on High 2008, Live and Loud 2008, Albury Australia Day 2008, Holbrook BNS Ball, Deni Ute Muster 2007, Young Performers Beechworth 2007, Make Poverty History 2007, Wagga Jazz and Blues 2007. Regular pubs and clubs in the North East Victoria and Melbourne And coming up shortly Folk Alliance Conference August 2009, Ostara 2009, Maldon Folk Festival 2009, Bruthen Blues 2010.