Track In Progress

 With a major new project on the go, life has been pretty flat out. With the first layer of the first track put down in December with Anyerin Drury on Didgeridoo, invitations went out at the beginning of the year for the second layer. In February a group of local singers gathered at the Wetlands Centre in Shortland to lay down a chant which would sit behind the Didge track.

On a beautiful still and cool Saturday morning, we gathered to chant. Stevi Cannon directed the voices, Zac Limon bought his equipment to record in situ, and Catherine Knight worked behind the camera to get some footage. Here's a taste of the sound with the Didge track playing.  

Don't forget to subscribe to the Vlog The Wetlands Arts Project  to be notified when new updates are loaded up. I'd love to share the journey with you, introduce you to the musicians and their instruments, the artists who will create their works from the music, and the volunteers who work tirelessly in the wetlands.

Out with the old.....

  As we come to the end of another year in a chaotic world, are we not so very blessed to be able to find comfort in our familiar safe place, with people we care about who care in return, in a country not conflicted by war, famine, or despotic government?  Life may not be perfect, but it could be a whole lot worse, as so many of our fellow humans are experiencing across the globe.  

And here at home in Australia, too, there are too many of us experiencing a life that could and should be better. Homelessness hasn't skirted our country, nor has poverty, nor has domestic violence. But if you are one of the very fortunate who haven't experienced such things, let's all try to make the world that we inhabit here at home a little kinder and a little more joyful as we had into another year. Let's make it a year of change, thinking outside the square to bring some sparkle into someone else's life. 

My happy place is where I'm immersed in music ...listening to it, watching it live, or making it. It is truly awesome the difference music can make in individual lives. Let's do our very best to bring more music into the world through 2026....music that lifts us all UP, music that soothes those of us who are grieving, lost, or lonely. And let's make it our mission to bring more cheerful, fun and happy music to the kids in our world - their childhood shouldn't be contaminated with the fear and sadness of global unrest. 

I'm in!  How about you?

Here's cheers 🙆to making a better 2026!

New Projects

 Just when you think about winding down for the Christmas holiday season .........

•  This month I finally finished the track I promised for the Munibung Hill Conservation Society and it's now 'Live' on my Bandcamp site, with a video created for the track as well on my YouTube channel.  Links here:  Watch Munibung Hill   Listen/download here .   Recorded at Robbie Long's studio - and Rob adds some lovely mandolin and dobro to the track.

• 
  If you haven't heard yet (if you've not subscribed to the mailing list?), at the invitation of the Wetlands Art Gallery, I've embarked on another major project similar to the 2023 'Song of the Wetlands'.                          This soundscape will be very different ....I know a helluva lot more about the worlds wetlands than I did back then!...and the participating artists will be producing multi-medium artworks based on the soundscape. The first project - 13 months - was a hoot and so this time I thought you might like to come along for the ride. Consequently, I've started a Vlog [video blog] so you can travel the journey with me. You'll meet the musicians, the artists, and volunteers who keep the Wetlands Centre going, and I'll share information about how the music is evolving, background to the tracks and more. The Vlog isn't live yet but I'll post a link here as soon as it is....or subscribe to my YouTube channel to be notified automatically when it's available ... Get on board for the ride! 

• And lastly ...couldn't let the opportunity pass by to remind you that the Season is just around the corner and if you didn't collect a copy of 'Embrace the Season' for your playlist last  year, then please do so this year. It's a beaut album, with some lovely tunes and meaningful lyrics (apart from the comedy ones of course!) and it's available via download from Bandcamp  OR order direct - and I'm the only one who gets paid! - via CD or a nicely packaged flashdrive - just $16, postage included (Australia only)

 

Hidden Gems

 Happy to report - after last month's post about new music - that I found some little gems recently in the most unlikeliest of places.

Here in Newy (Newcastle NSW for the non local readers) another new pop-up venue has been drawing interest this year. Housed in a disused factory with a bit of rustic charm, one Sunday afternoon a month, local artists perform for guests who bring their own shared afternoon tea, and sit on old, recycled recovered, or restored chairs, lounges, ottomans and soak it all up. It's quaint, it's quirky, a bit like its offerings, you never know what you're going to get, and midst it all there are some absolute gems! And if you don't know about it, you'll never know about it!  Oh, and did I mention that it's free? (or now and then, a gold coin donation)

All over the country there are little undiscovered jewels like this happening, where undercovered live music is creating it's own underground scene. This month, along with a small group of my 'tribe', I enjoyed an afternoon of laugh-out-loud and 'wow' moments, with artists ranging from a couple of uni students through to some over-the-hill-ers. All with a common thread - a passion for their music and a willingness to share it with an appreciative - and sober - audience.

Mixed among some great original music, were some highly original takes on other covers. 

And no, I'm not going to tell you where it is. Some things shouldn't be just handed over on a plate for others to pick and choose. Little gems like this deserve to be ferreted out - a lot of the fun is in the searching, and the discovery.  But I will give you a hint: start with your local folk clubs. You might be astounded at how SOME clubs have evolved over a couple of generations. And you might also be astounded at just how many of the biggest stars today, got their first start in their local supportive folk scene. 

Pre-show setup - decor: shabby chic, recycled, restored, recovered, rescued