Alex Burns — Blues & Early Jazz

Watch & listen

The Music

Steel-string blues and hot early jazz — hear it for yourself.

Pistol Slappin' Blues Alex Burns — solo

Words Don't Matter Vacation in Harlem — on ABC's The Big Gig

It Is a Sin to Tell a Lie Alex Burns — solo

Can't Be Satisfied Alex Burns — slide blues

Recordings

Solo blues, Hawaiian steel, hot Harlem jazz and acclaimed duo records — from the golden age of blues and early jazz.

The Blues Is Here to Stay

Solo blues · Newmarket Music

By popular request — Alex goes back to his roots with a solo blues album of classics done his way.

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Adventures in Paradise

Hawaiian steel · Newmarket Music

Alex's critically acclaimed second Hawaiian album — steel guitar and island songs, digital only.

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Twilight Blues

Hawaiian steel · Black Market Music

The critically acclaimed first solo Hawaiian album — with guest steel guitar from the great Bob Brozman.

Club Tropicana

Island music

Tropical rhythms — calypso, rumba, tango and Hawaiian — from Alex's island music extravaganza.

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Vacation in Harlem

Hot jazz & swing · Musicland

The band's LP of 1920s Harlem hot jazz — as seen on ABC's The Big Gig.

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The Road More Travelled

With Nick Charles

The first of Alex's acclaimed albums with guitar virtuoso Nick Charles.

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Cordially Yours

With Nick Charles

Alex and Nick Charles again — warm, cordial and full of fine string playing.

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Anywhere Anytime

With Nick Charles · Black Market Music

The third Burns & Charles album — released on Black Market Music in 1997.

Alex's records are released through Australian independent labels Newmarket Music and Black Market Music — with several available on Apple Music and all major streaming platforms.

Learn

Workshops

Alex leads workshops for festivals, clubs and groups — bring your instrument and dig in.

Ukology

Ukulele Workshops

From solid strumming to swinging tunes from the golden age of blues and early jazz — Alex's ukulele workshops are a festival favourite, built around his Ukology project.

From the workshop songbook — "I'll See You in My Dreams"

Slide & steel

Steel Guitar Workshops

Steel and resophonic guitar — tunings, tone and technique from a player who's appeared at the Brisbane Steel Guitar Festival and the Melbourne Steel Guitar Convention.

Suitable for festivals and groups. Get in touch to talk dates and details.

About

The Player

Alex Burns is one of Australia's most respected musicians, having performed at all the major festivals in Australia and overseas — at Edinburgh and across the Pacific — with many recordings to his name.

His solo show brings together the broad repertoire of American string styles, where blues meets early jazz — on resonator guitar, steel guitar and ukulele.

Selected performances

Port Fairy Folk Festival
Byron Bay Bluesfest
Wangaratta Jazz Festival
Apollo Bay Music Festival
Queenscliff Music Festival
Bridgetown Blues Festival, WA
Edinburgh Festival, Scotland
Brisbane Steel Guitar Festival
Melbourne Steel Guitar Convention

Bookings

Book Alex Burns

Solo shows and workshops for venues, festivals and private events. The quickest way is a phone call.

0412 091 502

Call to book Email Alex

Alex plays select dates around Melbourne — call or email for availability and upcoming shows.