About
Merlin is a guitarist for hire in Redcliffe, QLD.
One guitarist, but it doesn't sound like one. MERLIN has spent more than 30 years as a professional musician across solo work, duos, originals and covers bands, backing high profile artists and playing tribute shows. The solo act runs on studio-grade backing tracks carrying the rest of the instruments, harmonies and drums played by an actual drummer, so his lead, rhythm and slide guitar sit over what sounds like a band. Classic rock and pub rock from the fifties through the noughties: Creedence, Deep Purple, the Beatles, Skynyrd, Clapton, Status Quo, the Doors, ZZ Top, and a solid run of Aussie and Kiwi material including Cold Chisel, INXS, Icehouse, Dragon, Powderfinger, the Angels and AC/DC. A standard night is three or four hours with three short breaks, though he's played longer. He'll travel up to 300km and works from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales.
Watch
The show
One person on stage, and it does not sound like one person. MERLIN plays lead, rhythm and slide over professionally made backing tracks carrying the rest of the instrumentation, backing vocals and real drums, so the songs land close to the records people know. Volume sits wherever your room needs it. The stage setup is part of the show too: a personalised banner, laser and LED party lights, and a bigger rig with colour chasers for larger rooms. He'll theme the set list and the visuals for occasions like Australia Day, Halloween or Anzac Day, using props kept from his tribute shows. A show runs three to four hours with three fifteen-minute breaks.
On the day
A basic stage or a clear patch of floor to play on, with power nearby. Undercover is better if the weather looks like turning. Beyond that he'll work around whatever your venue gives him.
Insurance and paperwork
Public liability insured
Song list
18 songs
AC/DC
Angels
Beatles
Billy Idol
Bob Dylan
Cold Chisel
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Daddy Cool
Deep Purple
Eric Clapton
Georgia Satellites
Jimmy Barnes
Lynryd Skynyrd
Mental as Anything
Powderfinger…to name a few.
Rolling Stones
Spiderbait
Status Quo
