MUSIC lovers are in for a real treat this weekend with the Music Oz 2012 blues and roots artist of the year playing at the Commercial Hotel on Saturday, September 20.
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Marshall OKell was born on Good Friday, which also happened to be Friday the 13th in 1979, on a full moon.
His father, a Melbourne rock and roll boogie guitar player, named him Marshall Dawson OKell - the Marshall coming from Jimi Hendrix’s middle name and the Dawson from Johnny Winters, a Texan albino slide shredder.
Marshall was taken home and put in a guitar case behind his old man’s Fender twin where he would sleep through high-decibel ear-piercing jam sessions.
Groomed on Hendrix, Winters, Little Feat, Muddy Waters and AC-DC, his journey was set forth before he ever had a choice, a victim of rock and roll circumstance.
Marshall’s father and his entourage of talented musical friends from all over Australia taught him licks, tricks, riffs, styles, techniques and drum and bass grooves.
OKell formed three-piece rock and blues band The Immortal Flames on the NSW Far North Coast at the age of 11, hitting the school rock eisteddfods and supporting older working bands in the late 90s.
Marshall would have to stay behind the stage in breaks due to being so young looking and five years under.
By the age of 19 Marshall had supported hundreds of older acts and played most of the music venues in the region, performed at smaller festivals in a punk band called Noosphere and hard rock band called Spirit.
At this time of his life Marshall felt the burning desire for more musical freedom, control and songwriting.
Within 12 months Marshall was playing and singing up to 200 gigs a year and has not stopped till the present.
He has released three albums, two EPs and been through five tour vans.
OKell also studied a Bachelor of Social Science followed by a Dip Ed in high school teaching at Southern Cross University in 2006.
Marshall completed it all the while still playing three to four gigs a week and working in a high school with special needs and local indigenous children, and squeezing in the odd girlfriend.
His love for the community and helping kids has been a huge part of the positive energy in his songs, way of life and care for family, community and friends.
His band Marshall and The Fro released their self-titled album in 2007 and toured it nationally for three years, playing major festivals like Byron Bay Blues Fest, Woodford Festival and Festival Of The Sun to name a few.
After their second album OKell launched an exciting new project and new Band Marshall OKell and The Pride – based on the sound of surf roots and Australian Mojo Rock, it’s stomping in high energy yet jaw dropping and full of fresh new raw emotion - a style of music garnished and brewed in the Far North Coast surfing Mecca of Lennox Head/Byron Bay, NSW.
The songs are powerful, rhythmic, energetic, honest and emotional; the live performances are full of blood, sweat and tears, which can be enjoyed at the Commercial Hotel on Saturday night.