“O’Brien is a talent to watch!” Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue Magazine USA
“An international blues star on the rise", Rhythms magazine AUS
PJ O’Brien knows how to get a Blues party started. His blistering fretwork has been turning heads from Perth to Memphis, Chicago, Austin, London, Singapore and back again.
Driven by PJ’s fat and funky guitar and accompanied by his smooth, soul-filled vocals, PJ’S music is receiving widespread acclaim. His Blues exude both a retro and modern feel, delivering award-winning songwriting and spine-tingling dynamics. Tom Hyslop of Blues Revue USA has labelled PJ ‘a talent to watch’ and Al Hensley of Rhythms Magazine Australia recently named him ‘one of the brightest talents to emerge on the Aussie Blues scene in a long while….an international blues star on the rise’. PJ's most recent album, Jefferson Blues debuted at No. 1 on the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Chart. It held the top place for two months and spent the next four months in the top 3 and spent 5 months in the top 10 - showing a real dedication by DJs and listeners alike. The CD has received fantastic reviews in Australia, the UK and the US and is currently receiving airplay in Australia, Europe and the United States. PJ's music has featured in Blues Revue (USA), Blues Blast (USA), Blues Matters (UK), Classic Rock's 'Blues' (UK), Rhythms (AUS) FHM (AUS) and Australian Guitar Magazine.
PJ has won numerous music awards over the years and in 2006 received an Australia Council grant to represent the Sydney Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN. In February 2017 the PJ O'Brien Band again represented the SBS at the 2017 International Blues Challenge reaching the semi-finals from a field of over one hundred and twenty American and International acts.
He has played multiple times at Australia's premier Blues festivals such as Blues at Bridgetown (WA), Great Southern Blues Festival (NSW), Thredbo Blues Festival (NSW) Gympie Muster (QLD), Darling Harbour Jazz and Blues Festival (NSW), Blues on Broadbeach (QLD) Echuca Winter Blues Festival (VIC) and the Australian Blues Music Festival (NSW), as well as top Sydney music venues including the Basement, The Vanguard and the Factory Theatre.
- Semi-finalist - International Blues Challenge , Memphis TN (2017)
- Group Of The Year - Australian Blues Festival 'Chain' Awards (2013)
- Semi-finalist – Compo10 International Blues Song writing Contest (2007)
- Quarter- finalist – International Blues Challenge, Memphis USA (2006)
- Song of the Year – Australian Blues Festival ‘Chain’ Awards (2006)
- Best New Talent – Australian Blues Festival ‘Chain’ Awards (2006)
- Performer of the Year – Sydney Blues Society (2005)
- Best Blues Artist – MusicOz Awards (2004)