Remember the days when the blues were sung with a beaten up guitar on a front porch? When Ray Charles was singing real rhythm and blues? And the Beatles recorded great pop songs live in the studio?

Well those days of great songs being played with simplicity and passion are back! Anderson/Lardot write original songs that draw from the heady days of the 60s & 70s through to the innovative 80s & 90s.

Anderson/Lardot combines the talents of Neil Anderson, one of Austrralia's leading session singers, and the outstanding guitar playing of Jake Lardot whose Australian credits include Rose Tattoo, The Party Boys and session & production credits in Europe, including a tour with Plastic Bertrand. Most recently he has played lead guitar for Lee Kernaghan on tour, as well as for the stadium spectacular of The Man from Snowy River.

Together they recently won the Central Coast Country Music Association Award for the Best Modern Country Song, and made the finals of the ABC Newcastle songwriters' contest.

On the recording front so far Anderson/Lardot have produced one country-styled album - On The Smell Of An Oily Rag - plus a blues album - Still On The Smell Of An Oily Rag - both full of original songs. To hear a sample of their music visit the CD Sampler page.

Neil Anderson

Starting in bands at a very young age, Neil was influenced by records that his father played while learning his licks as a lap-steel guitar player. The sounds of Hank Williams, The Sons of the Pioneers, and Hawaiian music left a marked impression on him.

Also at that time his brother was singing the songs of Roy Orbison and The Everly Bros. in his own bands.

Songs with a story and good melody have always played a big part in Neil's musical life, and after delving into many styles he has returned to the music that he has always loved.

Jake Lardot

The son of a boiler maker, Jake was born in Brussels, Belgium. He picked up a guitar in his late teens and hasn't looked back since.

Country music in Europe was limited, but what did filter through was enough to give Jake a love for this style of music.

Like Neil, Jake has mastered many different styles of music which took him all over Europe and then finally to Australia.

He has played for some of Australia's biggest names in the country music scene including Colin Buchanon, Mitchell Shadlow and Beccy Cole. He also played for George Fox at Tamworth when he toured here from Canada. He is quickly becoming known as one of the best guitar players in the country and is very much in demand.

In 1990 Neil and Jake discovered they were born on the same day of the same year as each other and have since formed a strong friendship and partnership that has produced many great songs and will continue to do so for years to come.