May 2010
Just a quick note to let you know that I am still around, though I have been more focused on song-writing than performing recently. Work has been particularly busy, and did have a great trip South Africa in April this year. Plenty of photos on my Face Book Page. I am starting a new song-writing group in New Port, Melbourne, with a couple of cracking songwriters, and also setting up a regular Open Mic Session somewhere in the New Port area that will be associated with the New Port Folk and Fiddle Club. This will hopefully kick off in the next month or two.
Till then, keep the pressure on the Rudd Government; the laws or physics and chemistry will not be suspended while the Government vacillates on climate change.
March 2009
I wanted to let you know about two cool things and one un-cool thing.
Cool Thing Number One:
I have recorded a new song released on an album produced by Melbourne City Library.
MCL have been running an Acoustica session in the three public libraries and I have been one the lucky few to play there. They decided to put together an album of original Acoustica music, and thus, 'Music in a Quiet Place' was born. We had the CD launch in the city on Saturday afternoon, where a small number of us each performed a 30 minute set. It was great fun, and special thanks to Mr Q for coming along!
The song is called 'Looking for Gravity' and was written not long after I arrived in Australia. It documents that experience of being placeless and space-less, where everything is new, nothing familiar and little externally to hold on too.
I’m looking to gravity
To gently pull me back to the earth that anchors me
The world will move you and that’s ok
Boundaries shift by night and day
Too much gravity will trap us here
No weight at all ... and we’d disappear
You can hear it here LISTEN
Let me know what you think! There is, of course, a prize for the nicest comment!
Cool Thing Number Two:
I am playing at The Basin Music Festival at 3.00pm this Saturday 21st March at the Calendula Cafe 381 Forest Road, The Basin 3154, Victoria. This is a popular local festival so get along and enjoy the music if you can. There are some great acts performing so check out the programme.
Wanna know how to get there? Well, there are lots of options. You could walk (meat eaters get 5 stars on the 6 star carbon emissions scale I just invented; vegetarians get 6 - that's because animal food production produces more greenhouse gases that global transport), ride a bike, 5 or 6 stars, depending on diet; ride a cow, 2 stars (they are ruminant and burp a lot of methane), ride a horse, 5.5 stars (they are not ruminants); drive a Toyota Prius, 4 stars; Hot Air Balloon, 2 stars depending on what powers it; Fighter Jet, -356 stars. Or a Hummer.... (yeah right! You might as well build a brown coal fired power-plant right in your back yard while you are at it). Or a train, bus, or even a car. The truth is, I will have to take my relatively little used and economical car because of all the gear that I can't take on the alternative - walk to tram, wait, get on tram, get off, walk to train, get on train, train ride, get off, catch bus, get off bus, then long walk to the venue ... and home again. So when will I get my really fast electric car powered by wind energy?
Un-cool Thing Number One:
I belong to a songwriters group (that is NOT the un-cool bit, by the way!) who have met religiously every two weeks to serve at the alter of Eternal-Search-For-That-One-Great-Song-That-Will-Sweep-Us-From-Musical-Obscurity. Phil has written one, but hasn't recorded it yet which is why you have probably never heard of the Artist-Known-As-Phil. Anyway, we had our first and inaugural (which is the same thing actually) annual Melbourne Song Writers Concert where we showcased the best of 2008.
Unfortunately we didn't get the 20,000 people we deserved, as they were all off at the MCG for a Bush Fire Benefit Concert to see Split Enz reform, Liam Finn and that other KIWI band Crowded House, perform, as well as seeing the Federal Minister for the Environment the Hon Peter Garrett looking happier than he has done for years, back in front of Midnight Oil, playing at, er, midnight.
Anyway, here we all were, the cosy 60 of us at the beautiful home of Sally and Richard Weis, Hidden Farm, somewhere in the Victorian hinterland. When I get up to play, someone (who shall not be named and never forgiven!) had the audacity to refer to me as the Patriarch of the group. ME..., for goodness sake,...! Patriarch my arse!
How times change... how indeed!
Stay true to the groove of life
Simon
Feb 2009
A lot has been happening, including some great gigs, but mostly I have been writing songs. But two highlights are worth noting. I did get to the studio to record a new song 'Looking for Gravity" that is being released on a compilation of new music by Melbourne Library. The CD launch is March 14th Saturday, Acoustica CD launch, Softbelly Bar 367 Little Bourke St, (just nth of Elizabeth), Melbourne. (I have a new song on this compilation of original Melbourne music). 3pm - 8pm. I am playing at 5.00pm. I will put it up onmy myspace site shortly.
Second, I have been pretty much full om writing my climate change show. This is a story of someones encounter with climate change and the challenges and opportunities that it brings. It is both music and multi-media images projected onto the big screen. I hope to have it launched by the end of the year.
April 2008
Well, after a hectic time shifting countries, and in the midst some swine pinching my domain name (which also linked to my email address), I am finally back on-line with a new domain name. More importantly, I have been doing lots of musical activities, including being in a choir (just while I get to know Melbourne a bit better), started a song-writing group with some wonderful musicians and creative types, and even playing the odd gig. But now I am getting down to business with more gigs, lots of new songs (as if I haven't got enough), and working on putting together a new 'Acoustic Junkies'.
For now though, keep an eye on the gig pages, and I will keep you up-to-date through this site! Better still, put your name on my mailing list. Then you will never miss out on the fun.
Oh, Melbourne really IS one of the greatest cities to live in! All they say is true...!
December 2007
The BIG NEWS for me and the band is that I have moved to Melbourne, Australia. The reason for the move is primarily for work (I have a new job at the University of Melbourne), and it does mean that the Dunedin version of the Acoustic Junkies has come to a close. We may still play the odd gig if I return to NZ. So the musical future for me is now very open. I would like to form a Junkies Mark II at some point, but in the meantime will be looking to link up with other musicians and start gigging around Melbourne. And it does have a little bit of a music scene going on...!
May 2007
27th May: We had our CD release party last night at a wonderful underground venue '12 Below' to a full house. Delgirl, that wonderful three piece all woman band opened for us with their very popular unique sound. We were on about 9.30pm and did two sets that, while not flawless, were pretty solid, with a great sound from the desk provided by Steve Barkman. There were visuals for many of the songs that my partner Fiona has produced, and we are continuing to develop these. The crowd response was great, and I will have to write a few more dance numbers, given the response at the end of the show to our reggae numbers! A hugely successful night with a lot of new people being introduced to our brand of socially conscious yet entertaining music. Next stop is the Whitestone folk festival next weekend, and then next month off to Christchurch for our CD launch up there on the 23rd June. The journey has finally begun in earnest....
Very Special Announcement: TWO CD Launch Parties coming up....
Dunedin, 26 May, at 12 Below, with special guests DELGIRL
Christchurch 23 June at the Harbour Light, Lyttleton, with special guests Peninsula Envy (Dunedin -sort of) and Andy Thompson, song writing legend from Christchurch.
As I write this the CD is in Wellington getting printed... it has been a huge amount of work, but we are nearly there. The show is coming on really well with new multimedia in addition to the ones we have already been using. My partner, Dunedin Artist Fiona Owens has been putting her video and photographic skills to this project an creating some wonderful visuals. So come along to the party.
March 2007
I am very pleased to report that the album is virtually completed. The recording has been finished and it has been mastered, ready to duplicate. The last piece of the jigsaw puzzle is the art work and design, which is itself nearly finished. Once this is done then we can get it all to the printer and get the thing back to us ready for the CD launch. We are launching the album in Dunedin, Christchurch and New York. Ok, so I'm kidding about Dunedin...! I mean New York. So keep your eye on our gig page or better still put your name on our mailing list (it's really easy).
November 2006
Recording
Well, finally, I have got into the studio and have begun recording. It has taken a while (about 3 years!) but the time is right and the opportunity is here. It is quite an experience, although I have to fit it in around a busy job. Ideally, I would have two months in which the record company pays for my every desire; but the reality is not so flash. Still, I am very exciting about finally getting a chance to do something with those songs I have been playing with for a while now (and some new ones).
The Acoustic Junkies
My new band, the AJs, is sounding really hot. Gary, a great bass player with great skill and impecable timing, and Sam, a young dude on the drums, with a brillant ear and great musical attitude. I'm not sure the 'new folk-roots' thing actually describes what we do. We still have some folky numbers, but have a great reggae sound and do some stuff that reminds me of U2; quite diverse really! So watch this space. We intend to play more and when the album is finished, get out on tour. I feel very fortunate to have a band of 'musicians', not just some guys who back me.
July 2006
One really great thing that has recently happened is meeting up with a bass player who is very keen to play with musicians writing original music. He also had played with a young drummer from the