Whoopee Blues - Q&A Screening (CTC)

A charming portrait of brother-duo Mic and Jim Conway’s passionate journey from humble Jellybean Jug Band to now famed Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Whoopee Blues is a much-needed showcase of Australia’s music history.

Brothers Mic and Jim Conway have been making music together since their school days, when they formed the Jellybean Jug Band, which later morphed into the wildly popular Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band. In the early 1970s, Captain Matchbox became a phenomenon, delighting audiences with lively performances My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes and Fats Waller classics and quirky originals such as Wangaratta Wahine. Mic’s passion for vaudeville and creating instruments from anything at hand has driven his work across countless bands over the last 40 years, blending performance, circus, and humour. Jim, a blues purist, found his voice in Captain Matchbox as a harmonica player, becoming one of Australia’s foremost blues harp players. With a mix of present-day interviews and extensive archival footage, Whoopee Blues celebrates the brothers’ shared passion for music. The result is an entertaining portrait of the brothers and their timeless contribution to Australian music history.

Cast: Mic and Jim Conway

Producer/Director: Fiona Cochrane