Rock legend Jack Bruce at Fraze for Hippiefest

Hippiefest, with Jack Bruce, Mitch Ryder, War and others

This is proving to be a boom year for followers of rock legend Jack Bruce, who performs Friday, Aug. 6, at Fraze Pavilion. There is the new authorized biography of the former Cream member, “Composing Myself,” an upcoming live album and a long-dormant documentary, “Rope Ladder to the Moon” to satiate fans.

“We didn’t plan for everything to come out this year,” Bruce said last week, speaking over the telephone from his home in East Anglia, England. “The documentary is really a thing from the past that I’ve wanted to come out for many years. We had a print, but it was such bad quality that we couldn’t ever release it.

“We finally found a really good quality print recently,” he continued. “We got it digitally processed and got rid of a lot of the noise. It’s a very interesting documentary because it’s me as a lad walking around Scotland, basically. It’s fun.”

While much of this year’s output celebrates Bruce’s past, the Scotland native still is focused on creating new music.

“I’m working on a new studio album, which I want to get out next year,” he said. “I want to do it next year, so hopefully that will come together. I’m just writing some material for that in my little studio and it sounds good. I think I’ll have quite a large lineup for that album and hopefully it will be tied in with a big one-off concert. That’s what I’m aiming for anyway.”

Before he can continue album pre-production work, he is crisscrossing the country with Mitch Ryder, War and others as part of the annual Hippiefest tour. Bruce will be backed by frequent collaborators Godfrey Townsend (guitar) and Steve Murphy (drums).

“I’m really keen to play with the guys,” Bruce said. “I haven’t played with them in a couple of years. Godfrey is one of my favorite guitar players, especially for playing the old songs. He’s really got it. He’s full of energy. Steve is on drums and me on bass. We do a lot of trio stuff. I love it.

“I like Hippiefest because you get a really nice audience and it’s very mixed,” he added. “It’s not just old folks, there’s a mixture. I think on the ads it says, ‘Bring your grandparents,’ which is quite funny. You get grandkids, grandparents and parents, so it’s nice. I enjoy it. Any chance for me to play and sing is great. They let me out of the home and I go out and do it.”

CONTACT contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.