New album and tour for teen blues star Taj Farrant
With his blazing guitar album gaining worldwide attention, 15-year-old blues prodigy Taj Farrant is coming into his own.
The teenager from Sydney, Australia is currently on a U.S. tour to promote his 2024 album Chapter One. Recent appearances included Lollapalooza in Chicago and the Meteor Guitar Gallery in Bentonville, which has been one of the young artist’s early supporters.
The album and some of its singles have reached top positions on streaming services and the U.S. and Australian blues charts. The well-produced recording delivers all the hormonal energy that fans expect from a young player.
Several hard-rocking originals like “2×2” and “House Always Wins” complement a couple of jazzy and ballad-style songs. An obligatory cover of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Tightrope” includes high-wire solos. Farrant displays excellent use of guitar tone and electronic effects throughout.
Performing since he was nine years old and barely able to lift a Stratocaster, Farrant was considered a novelty act until recently. He has matured into a wispy young man in dreadlocks and a floppy hat. His busy, warp-speed soloing is reminiscent of earlier teen blues sensations like Jonny Lang and Joe Bonamassa, both of whom evolved with age.
As Bonamassa realized early in his career, there are two paths for rising blues guitarists. The difference between being a high-earning headliner or a perennial sideman is the ability to give a convincing vocal performance in front of an audience. That can require dedication and practice for young performers like Farrant who sings on all the album’s songs.
Photo: Taj Farrant at the Meteor Guitar Gallery in September 2024 (by Mickey Mercier).
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