And so it came to bear that my website since 1995 or there abouts, finally ground to a halt. The ancient programs I had milked to the last breath, finally ground to a halt! Yes I have bitten the proverbial bullet and enlisted Jen Blissett of Watermark Web Hosting (and formally of String Loaded Family Fiddle Band!). And we are here with the renewed approach!
Let’s look at what fell between some of the media cracks! Unless you were on FB – minute by minute 🙂
So in the quest of new notes and possibly new or more novel performance spaces, I teamed up with the ever adventuresome Garry Steel mid 2024 to explore where some new notes & music might come from!
We pulled off the safety gloves & goggles and between his home tools & a handy rhythmic old Southern Cross Water Pump from Herberton outdoor Museum, we took to the New England realms of NSW and finally knuckled into our whims & wants of music!
From Chic Corea’s Spain to Marcus Holden’s Talkin Balkin (see Fiddlers Festival Live & Supper Club/ House Concert Youtubes) and of course through to Jammin to said recorded ol’ Water Pump!
This was all close on the tail of annual tours with Hester Fraser as Goldheist from Central Coast ala Narara Community to the top of New England with a stellar turn out at Deepwater Hall!
Home on the Island!
Family time followed with my eldest daughter & tribe making it to our hideaway on Magnetic Island, and in fact fitting in a circumnavigation all the way round the island with Aquascene! That follow with a flight triangulation to the Goldcoast for my second daughter’s re-vowing of her marriage at Burleigh Heads.
Now this was at the time of Bonza going out of commisson and many flights were being lost – BUT – hats off to Jetstar who honoured all our family flights and saved the weeks involved!
Heading south, we are always on quests that include waterfalls – here Ebor Falls in good flow.
But then quite the blast from the past where we visited an old stomping ground just outside Tamworth/ Moonbi Hills where my daughter Sharna (in purple) played in the little hutch at barely 5 and the Hansel & Gretel house we lived in is the blank space in front of it! But to the right was a waterfall into a bathtub with Black Berries hanging within reach and my horse Gumby resided to the left of this pic!
As dear partner Sharn (as opposed to daughter Sharna!) headed south, the Piano tunings were on the rise including this pre 1915 “birdcage” variety in Tomerong which had suffered an exuberant family member with a tuning ‘hammer’ and broke some 15 strings before re-thinking her technique!
This is also the trip where I picked up my stolen Guitar (which has it’s own Blog moment)
A 700 km Ride around Vietnam!
Then a lovely surprise when beloved re-vowed daughter Sharna & husband Clint decided to take us on a trip to Vietnam – on a Motorbike Tour!
That part was a last minute bonus surprise as as we headed for the airport on a Sunday in Melbourne we spotted an Op Shop open in Brunswick and 10 min later Sharn walked out with fitting Leather Jacket and Jeans !
Ok, in this quick vid we are actually being pedaled around Hanoi in a Rickshaw lol
And on top of bumping into Cobargo’s Peter Hisco & Wendy M Jackson Dalat & Hanoi ! Too much adventure to take pics 🙂
But we’ll let the sunset at Ha Long Bay have the last word there – after 700 km with Sharn riding pillion! Such trust!
Back to Oz
We got back just in time of the Wake of our too early passed Singer & Friend, Hanna Elizabeth at Brunswick Heads. An intrinsic part of Supper Clubs @ Grieves Crossing, The Risk (near Kyogle – and what a place name!) NSW which was also one of Willie Qua’s last performances too – 2019 and also the Tamworth Sup Clubs into the Covid time as well.
South to VIC
After grabbing my returned stolen guitar (Link Here) on the way through Wodonga and home of Sharyn Bilsten,we scooted to the Folk Alliance Awards where BluGuru band mate Josh Bennett received Best Instrumentalist! And I was rather glad to be on hand to celebrate and support in performance with this corker set – Mooncoin Jig/ Kid on the Mountain/ Blackberry Blossom – Just click here!
Including instrument delivery as if Thor’s Hammer returneth to the hand that calleth!
Wirrina Bluegrass & Roots Music Fest SA 2024
There after followed intense preparation for my SA Super Supper Club @ Wirrina late November. Details in youtube link below to a few from that performance!
The Banjo Song (the performance Youtube link here) featuring Renee Donaghey
Epoch Fiddles at the ready! Sally Carter and clearly the Safety Shoe Squad!
And Clermont ready for all scenarios at the Mixing helm! Ashley Turner appreciating the “De-esser” on his Fiddle DPA mic!
Which leaves time to help dear friend Simon Molloy with his Light Studio tidy up – Rotating Effects Rack build, saving a stack of wiring – also where a few album overdubs for the likes of The Hillybilly Goats have happened!
There was also time for some Clare Valley Piano tune ups!
Finish with a hearty pre-Xmas with the family in SA before scooting all the way back to Tamworth to poster up for 2025’s North Tam Bowlo Super Club before further family Xmas in Brisbane and setting up a week’s home at Woodfordia!
Yep!! Ready for all weather!