Chill Island and Tamworth
Saturday 23rd, Jan 2010
Hi again folks!
I’ve just got back from Tamworth after playing my first ever shows there for the Country Music Festival and whilst I did not win any Golden Guitars or get asked to join Troy Casser-Daley onstage to perform a duet of “The Gambler”, the trip was still a success by most measures!
But first, before I ventured off to the country music capital of Australia, I played at the Chill Island Festival on Phillip Island. It was, as expected, chilled out. I was a little nervous about going on stage after KMH, (that’s Kate Miller-Heidke...come on, keep up!) as she is the proud owner of many a popular hit, however to my relief people tended to stick around and watch us play. I had a great time and thanks to everyone who came along!
A couple of days after Chill Island it was time to head to Tamworth. We flew in to Sydney and then hired cars for the 5 hour drive, meaning it was early evening b y the time we finally arrived at the Tamworth Hotel. Immediately upon entering the premises, we were set upon by folks eager to take our luggage, ply us with beer and show us to our palatial accommodation. Our hosts, Alison and Roger, had seen me supporting Keith Urban in December and were understandably impressed by what they witnessed. They asked me to come along and play at their beautiful pub and I readily accepted the offer. I have spent the last few years toying with the idea of going to Tamworth and busking on a street corner, battling it out amongst the old folks, the little kids and the Christian family bands. Alison and Roger had offered me a real stage at a real pub with free counter meals and a room upstairs, so as you can imagine I was very much looking forward to my first Tamworth Country Music Festival.
After settling in to executive suites, we wandered down stairs to grab a bite to eat and then watch Kevin Bennett from the Flood, whose band I would have the pleasure of supporting over the next two nights, perform in the beer garden. Little did we know that a veritable “potpourri” of country music stars would be gracing the stage as special guests, including Kasey Chambers, Shane Nicholson, Bill Chambers and Troy Casser-Daley. It was a real treat and as you might imagine, incredibly exciting for my band mates, who are unaccustomed to being in the presence of such musical royalty. Fortunately I was there and, having been the recipient of an ARIA award, was able to strike up an instant rapport with my fellow alumni. I invited them for drinks after the show, but unfortunately they were unable to make it for reasons that were lost under the din of the music. Nevertheless, my band mates and I celebrated, (what, I’m not sure), well in to the night.
The next day I took a stroll down the main street of Tamworth, where the buskers are lined up with only ten meters between each of them, battling against each other for the attention of the passer’s by. It’s a really fun atmosphere that would probably end up driving you completely bonkers by day three.
My show is an early start so I am delighted that there are people in the beer garden when I walk on stage at 5.30pm. We play two 40 minutes sets, something I don’t think I’ve done since my days playing in a Fine Young Cannibals Tribute band at the Newport Hotel in Fremantle during the summer of ’92. Before the show a girl working behind the bar named Sophie professes to be a singer of some worth and knowledgeable to the works of one Bob Evans so I invite her up on stage to sing “Don’t You Think It’s Time” with me and she nails the harmony to perfection! The audience seems to enjoy themselves and I get to meet lots of friendly folk at the merchandise table between sets and after the show. When we are all finished I go and eat some food, lambs fry to be exact, that puts me in to a deep food coma lasting two hours. When I come to I still have enough time to head back downstairs and watch The Flood play an awesome set. While watching the show I meet a young chap named Kurt who plays in a band called Chasing Bailey and we get talking over a few double bourbon and cokes. Before I know it, he and his band mates have bundled me in to a large hessian sack and dragged me away telling me that if I don’t struggle, they will deliver me without harm to a bar called “Goodies”. Having watched a few documentaries about kidnappers, I decide to do as they tell me, lulling them in to a false sense of security so that I can escape when they inevitably let their guards down. We arrive at Goodies and I make my way to the bar, where I remain for several hours, drinking bourbon and cokes and not making any rash decisions. Later, I retire to my hotel.
I awake in the early afternoon and begin preparations for the evening’s show, a solo affair as my band mates have had to go home to attend to prior engagements. Playing solo allows me to play a few different songs and also not keep to such a strict set list for other people to follow. I can take requests and play random songs a little more on the fly. Unfortunately, when I do take requests the songs that the audience asks for are often other peoples. Once again I am pleased that a good audience has gathered for my early show and we have a great time. Sophie from behind the bar reprises her harmony on “Don’t You Think It’s Time?” aswell as also singing on “Hand Me Downs”, again, performing brilliantly. I am joined on stage by a fella, (I think his name might have been Ryan?), who asks me to play “Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head” which, despite the fact I haven’t practiced it, I agree to do as long as he helps sing it. He refuses at first but the persuasion of the crowd convinces him otherwise. His performs nobly, given he knows not the words or the tune. All in all, I had a smashing time and once again, met lots of people after the show.
Thank you so much to everyone who came along to watch me at Tamworth. I really had the best time and can’t wait to come back again next year if it all pans out. Also big thanks to Alison, Roger, Anne and everyone at the Tamworth Hotel who made me so feel so at home.
So next on the agenda is my show in Canberra the night before Australia Day. If you are in the area, come along. All the details are on this site!
Also, there is now a Basement Birds facebook page so come be our friends!
http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Basement-Birds/297057437164
CHEERS!
XXXBOBXXX
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