Wow! I can't believe how long it's been since I got back to my blog....and how easy it is for time to slip away. So thought it was a good time to share a little Peppermint Tea with my readers [if I've got any left!]
Sometimes life gets so busy doesn't it? Last weekend I slipped up to the Central West of NSW to play at Coolah - for the lovely locals and their 'Rockin' the Racecourse' festival - and at Barraba - in their stunning Playhouse Hotel. The Playhouse is a tribute to one man's dream....Andrew Sharp has converted an old run-down hotel into an oasis, a refuge for the weary soul, a space to let time slip by, re-connect with the inner you, and let the pace of life pass on by. At least for a little while. We played in the lovely courtyard instead of the purpose built theatre [yep! its true! actually IN the hotel] because it was such a beautiful day - too good to be inside! You can check it out for yourself at www.playhousehotel.com
Peppermint Tea was written during a tour of SE Queensland - an area I tour frequently because it loves and supports my music. The song brings back fond memories of chilling out on the steps of our accommodation by the river in Brisbane, with a dearly-loved friend, as we shared a morning herbal tea and listened to the harmony of nature and friendship. So it was appropriate to give it a run at The Playhouse as we listened to the sounds of the country amongst new friends. [I definitely felt rejuvenated after our visit]
Here's one of my favourite lines from the song:
....... feeling nothing's better than being alive
breathin' in and out as time's slippin' by
haven't any need to be wondering why.....
You can hear a sound sample at
http://maureen.com.au/album.php?id=32
and to get a free copy of the track via MP3...simply send me a message from the website telling me what the song brings to YOUR mind
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Celebrate and Appreciate the Music of life
Have you ever wondered what life would be like without music? Or musicians?
You know, there are many disciplines which are essential to maintain our lives ....medicine, education, farming, et al. Vital Disciplines that take care of our Body and our Mind. But life -living - is MORE than just body and mind. Let's not forget that nourishment of our Spiritual essence is just as important.
In almost every significant moment of our life, there is music. We celebrate with music, we mourn with music, we get married with music and when we need solo time and space we comfort ourselves with music.
When we feel sad, we console ourselves with music. When we need motivation, we put on powerful, energetic music. When we make love, we use music to set the mood. At football matches, the music prepares us for the match. In every possible life situation, music speaks to our very soul. It uplifts, inspires, comforts, cheers, supports, and soothes us.
Music crosses all boundaries - generations, cultures, demographics, societies, gender, geographics. It is the universal language that speaks to the inner being of each and every one of us on this earth. It has the power to move all races - it has the power to change a society ....yet the gentleness to settle a disturbed infant.
Why then do we take it so much for granted?
Why then do we so often treat the musicians who make it - and those who create it - with such little regard?
Take a little time today to observe the music around you .....and to appreciate those who gave it to you.
You know, there are many disciplines which are essential to maintain our lives ....medicine, education, farming, et al. Vital Disciplines that take care of our Body and our Mind. But life -living - is MORE than just body and mind. Let's not forget that nourishment of our Spiritual essence is just as important.
In almost every significant moment of our life, there is music. We celebrate with music, we mourn with music, we get married with music and when we need solo time and space we comfort ourselves with music.
When we feel sad, we console ourselves with music. When we need motivation, we put on powerful, energetic music. When we make love, we use music to set the mood. At football matches, the music prepares us for the match. In every possible life situation, music speaks to our very soul. It uplifts, inspires, comforts, cheers, supports, and soothes us.
Music crosses all boundaries - generations, cultures, demographics, societies, gender, geographics. It is the universal language that speaks to the inner being of each and every one of us on this earth. It has the power to move all races - it has the power to change a society ....yet the gentleness to settle a disturbed infant.
Why then do we take it so much for granted?
Why then do we so often treat the musicians who make it - and those who create it - with such little regard?
Take a little time today to observe the music around you .....and to appreciate those who gave it to you.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
There are many shades of blue
Here in Australia we are fortunate to enjoy a pretty wonderful lifestyle. So Aussies are not always terribly tolerant of people who have "The Blues". But depression - in its many forms - can be such a debilitating illness. It can be a silent stalker - sneaking up on you when you aren't expecting it. And it can be deadly if left untreated.
That was the primary inspiration behind the song Many Shades of Blue - which is also the title track from my second album. The title came from a throwaway line in a conversation with my, then, music partner as we disagreed about what constituted a Blues song vs a Jazz song. I ended the conversation with "well, Gregg, there are MANY shades of blue!" and the thought followed that there are many reasons why people get "the blues".
Whether its a case of major life trauma, money worries, relationship problems, life/balance stress, or work issues.....whether they last a day, a month, or a lifetime.....the simple fact is when you've got the blues, you've just GOT the blues!
Get a taste of the song at www.maureen.com.au
For a FREE MP3 of the song answer this question in the comment box below or send a private email to: bookings@maureen.com.au
The Question is - "What do you say to someone who has The Blues?"
That was the primary inspiration behind the song Many Shades of Blue - which is also the title track from my second album. The title came from a throwaway line in a conversation with my, then, music partner as we disagreed about what constituted a Blues song vs a Jazz song. I ended the conversation with "well, Gregg, there are MANY shades of blue!" and the thought followed that there are many reasons why people get "the blues".
Whether its a case of major life trauma, money worries, relationship problems, life/balance stress, or work issues.....whether they last a day, a month, or a lifetime.....the simple fact is when you've got the blues, you've just GOT the blues!
Get a taste of the song at www.maureen.com.au
For a FREE MP3 of the song answer this question in the comment box below or send a private email to: bookings@maureen.com.au
The Question is - "What do you say to someone who has The Blues?"
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
BORDERLESS
BORDERLESS is the title of a project that grew from a simple festival workshop for the Gundagai turning wave Festival in 2007. The festival's premise is a celebration of the Australian Irish connection. I chose to look at this from a woman's perspective. What it must have felt like to be a young woman, forcibly sent to an uncivilised, harsh colony so very different from their gentle homeland...where they had no female network, no services, severly limited facilities and supplies....leaving behind everyone they knew and loved. The strong survived. These amazing women left a legacy to subsequent generations, characteristics that define Australian women even today.
In the course of researching the topic, I gathered an extraordinary amount of information that just seemed to keep growing - daily! At the time there was a play being performed at the local rep theatre ....Female Transport by Steve Gooch ... that demonstrated the appalling journey out to Australia at that time. A journey of some 6 months aboard what become known as the 'floating brothels' where the women were subjected to unbelievable conditions and at the mercy of the ships crew who took what they wanted at will. It was a brilliant production which inspired some original songs.
Additional anecdotal research from local sources - some of which was very funny, stories of how some of the women who settled in the NSW Hunter region made their mark - spawned a little bush poetry and more songs. And before I knew it, there was a small album of songs ready for recording.
After delivering the workshop at the festival, I was given more stories, more information, and people asked if I could send them the information. This meant going back and writing a shortened version of the workshop - I included some of the research, some of the stories, some poetry and lyrics - into a booklet to accompany the CD.
But then the workshop began to grow - it became a full-on performance/workshop with backing musicians, lots more stories, anecdotes, and some additional songs - one of which is an Anne Infante song called "Striped Jacket Girl". And people began to tell me that it belonged on a performance stage not a workshop corner.
So what started as a simple little festival filler became a dedicated themed concert and spoken word performance! This year however, I'm trimming it back to a simplified version for smaller audiences so that the full effect of the event can enhance the audience experience.
On the CD there are 5 songs:
In the course of researching the topic, I gathered an extraordinary amount of information that just seemed to keep growing - daily! At the time there was a play being performed at the local rep theatre ....Female Transport by Steve Gooch ... that demonstrated the appalling journey out to Australia at that time. A journey of some 6 months aboard what become known as the 'floating brothels' where the women were subjected to unbelievable conditions and at the mercy of the ships crew who took what they wanted at will. It was a brilliant production which inspired some original songs.
Additional anecdotal research from local sources - some of which was very funny, stories of how some of the women who settled in the NSW Hunter region made their mark - spawned a little bush poetry and more songs. And before I knew it, there was a small album of songs ready for recording.
After delivering the workshop at the festival, I was given more stories, more information, and people asked if I could send them the information. This meant going back and writing a shortened version of the workshop - I included some of the research, some of the stories, some poetry and lyrics - into a booklet to accompany the CD.
But then the workshop began to grow - it became a full-on performance/workshop with backing musicians, lots more stories, anecdotes, and some additional songs - one of which is an Anne Infante song called "Striped Jacket Girl". And people began to tell me that it belonged on a performance stage not a workshop corner.
So what started as a simple little festival filler became a dedicated themed concert and spoken word performance! This year however, I'm trimming it back to a simplified version for smaller audiences so that the full effect of the event can enhance the audience experience.
On the CD there are 5 songs:
- Patches [see the Patches blog]
- Shoulder to Shoulder which was written for my wonderful daughter and is about the mother/daughter relationship
- The Ballad of Miss Pitty based on a character from the Steve Gooch play
- Rockin' the Boat which starts as a gentle irish air and dissolves into a feisty blues/rock number - just like those women did!
- The Skye Boat Song a traditional song with a contemporary celtic/jazz-rock arrangement
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