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Known as the Japanese Blues Cowboy and the Tsugara shamisen player, George Kamikawa and Noriko Tadano have been kicking up a storm wherever they play. His lightning fast blues licks, and growling harmonica enhanced by the percussive sounds of the traditional, fretless three-string shamisen has morphed into a kind of bluegrass hard country blues. Noriko has thrilled Global Carnival audiences in the past with taiko master Toshi Sakamoto, but this is an entirely different performance.

The blues have always had that ability to cross genres and inspire different performances and lineups and this one is exciting. George's influences are as varied as Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Jimmy Winter and Gram Parsons. Since arriving in Australia in 2001 he has released his debut album Blues to the Bone and won the Australian Country Music Busking Championships at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2004. Noriko has been playing the shamisen since she was 6 years old, and her ability to cross genres and musical borders has seen her collaborate with many different artists.

Since playing together they have won acclaim and a swag of awards including the Mortlake based Australian Busking Championship in 2008, and their banter and easy audience interaction makes them a popular choice with festivals and audiences alike. Surrounded by a host of pedals, seated and thumping his slide guitar and alternating between vocals and harmonica, with Noriko bending into the sound with her shamisen and sharing vocal duties, George is an arresting sight and their sound is something you haven't heard before. They prove that the blues is music for everyone, all cultures and ages and are sure to get you toe tapping and dancing!

Their latest appearance on ABC Art Nation has further proven their talents and the recognition by the public.

View ABC Art Nation at
www.abc.net.au/arts/stories/s3340190.htm
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k11rsrRrx0I

Visit George Kamikawa at
www.myspace.com/georgekamikawa
www.facebook.com/georgekamikawa

Visit Noriko Tadano at
www.myspace.com/norikotadano
www.facebook.com/norikotadano

For video of their live performance visit:
[Sake Blues] www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdeVTOLRKek
[Shake Your Money Maker]www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6-1baHtg-c