Teenage multi-instrumentalist to play at Blues at Bridgetown next week

A teenage Perth multi-instrumentalist will be one of the artists performing at this weekend’s Blues at Bridgetown and says he is excited to be back in Bridgetown and bring new music to his set. Mitch Santiago, 17, is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist from Perth, known for making music in his bedroom, playing a multitude of instruments including guitar, bass, drums, synths, keys, and percussion. He said he was looking forward to the blues festival this weekend, noting his previous experience with the festival and the Bridgetown area. “I’m very much looking forward to it, I was on one of the side stages a couple of years ago and I’m excited to be back. “I love Bridgetown, my mum used to live there and I would visit her and my nonno when I would visit from Perth. “I’ve spent a lot of time in Bridgetown and surrounds growing up and visiting once every few months, I love that area, I’ll see if I can stay for a bit longer. “I’ll definitely be coming down that way soon and spend some time because it’s such a lovely part of the world.” He said those attending can expect him to have a live set, singing while playing either the guitar or the drums. “When I play live, it’s guitar, drums and singing, as some of the other instruments I play are a bit more obscure and I haven’t figured out the best way to play them live.’’ Mr Santiago said things were slowing down since his tour around Australia and Europe, which he said he had got the “hang of” by the end. “Things have been hectic, but are slowing down as we come into summer,” he said. “I’m finally getting the hang of touring, I’ve done a few back and forth for shows and festivals and then did a tour half-way through the year, so I learned a lot from that as it was a month and a half of flying back and forth between the other states and home. “I knew what to pack and how to get ready for my live sets, and that made the holiday part of it a lot more enjoyable and the playing nights easier, I loved it.” He said a gig at Rotown in Rotterdam was a highlight, especially with the engagement from the crowd there. “I played a show in Rotterdam and the whole thing was a highlight, but this specific show was unlike anything else, they were so passionate and I would have never said I would be going to Europe this soon, and it was incredible.” He also said Blues at Bridgetown festival fans could expect to hear his latest single during his set. “It’s a song called Talk to Me. “It had been in the works for eight to 10 months and I wrote it just after new year’s and the second I wrote it, I was excited to put it out. “I’m really enjoying playing that one live because I had added it while I was touring and have that one under the belt now.” He plans to write more songs after the weekend is over, and hopes he can create new music to play. “After this weekend, I’ve got about six months off, which is very unusual, and I’m really looking forward to writing new music and progressing in that area and getting ready to take that further,” he said.