Since 2017, Neil Boland has been performing classic and original jazz and country-influenced blues under the moniker of Hawker Heights.

The project has enjoyed several gigs around Melbourne and Victoria in various configurations of the outfit, from the Hawker Heights Hammond Combo to the jumbo-sized Hawker Heights and The Hurricane Horns.

The debut album ‘South By East’, soon after release in 2017, reached #2 in the Australian Blues And Roots Airplay Chart (ABARAC) and has been well-received by lovers of a more ‘uptown’ style blues across the world.

Since then, Neil has been working to not only do more gigs but to engage in the more long term proposition of developing a community in Melbourne in particular — for showcasing local talent via the invite-only Hawker Heights Jam Society and to build a network of musicians for accommodating the exploration of other American styles of music.

Speaking of this exploration, as of 2020, Neil is in the completion stage of newly-written music, pending a post-COVID pre-production period in readiness for recording.

“With South by East, I finally got my more jazz-orientated ideas within the context of the blues out on disc. And I’m very happy with it,” says Neil, “but now, it’s time to produce something a little bit broader in appeal. I’ve spent the last 12 months trawling the internet for drum grooves as springboards for songwriting inspiration, mostly from the New Orleans and vintage soul side of things.”

Neil’s previous experience playing for Melbourne deep funk outfit Deep Street Soul is a big part of the motivation for the new direction.

“I played some of my most fun gigs with that band. Packed rooms in decent-sized venues, with almost everyone dancing. That’s what I want to bring to my music: more fun. I have scratched the complex harmony itch enough; it’s time to party now, especially with the state the world has been in recently. I’m building these songs from the rhythm outwards.”

In addition to this, Hawker Heights is morphing into somewhat of a ‘production house’ ‘brand’. Not so much for music as such, but an umbrella under which a podcast and educational YouTube channel for guitar players are produced — Guitars and Arts and Blues Guitar Snacks respectively.

“I don’t know much about anyone else, but I thrive on community and having a way to build it and communicate with them,” says Neil, “and Guitars and Arts and Blues Guitars Snacks allows me to learn and to educate at the same time. I love it."

As for the performance side of things from 2020 and beyond, the Hawker Heights Hammond Combo will continue with the same (and more like it) repertoire of jazz-influenced and soul jazz-influenced blues at the Jam Society gigs.

And a newly-solidified permanent Hawker Heights lineup for performing material for upcoming new funkier releases—drawing inspiration from the likes of Dr John, Earl King, Lee Dorsey and The Meters—will be finalised upon pre-production, late in 2020 or early 2021, ready for recording, and to bring big grooves to the world.