Newsletter 22/11/2008

Dya Singh – A last Tour!
The Nth America/ India route with Dya Singh has waaay too many folk to thank as we made our ‘final tour’ there. However it seems that is the phrase to absolutely guarantee our return before long!!! We already hear of plans being put into action! I love being able to say ‘we managed to clinch a music tour that took us from the Grand Canyon to the Taj Mahal’ ! Such has it often been with the Dya Singh group – big love to yas.  Also taken in were most of Arizona, New Mexico near the 4 corners with Colorado, Utah & Arizona; Orange County, LA, Mt Diablo & around San Francisco, Atlanta (Georgia), Detroit (Michigan), Madison (Wisconsin), Toronto India Film Fest, Geneva (New York), Chicago (Gotham City meets Brisbane), Rockford (a mighty Wine & Cheese house & Chocolateria!) and more.

I stole 2 days from the USA side & 2 days from the India side of the tour to snag a 4 day soak in autumn blazing Germany near Stuttgart. A time nere to be forgotten with a most special people. Even caught up with Irish band Grada for a few stories & finale jam to my last night in Europe (their agent lent me his 1914 (or so) Gibson Mandolin for the occasion – very sweet) . Can’t wait to get back!
Two ‘scarily’ large portraits of yours truly now hang in Berlin. One somewhat surreal, from an energy perspective and the other all too real! – see artist Bettina Düesberg on  http://www.bettinaduesberg.de  look under new paintings – A & Andrew.

India
Today the sun has climbed halfway up from the horizon seeking a clearer view, but the surrounds of New Dehli, India are relentless as the final rains have given way to the ever intensifying drying season ie. dust. The symphony of car/truck/bike/tempoost(mini 3 wheel-taxi) horns is intense, funny and critical to traffic success… like sonar is to bats! The back of every commercial vehicle demands you to ‘blow your horn’. Must also be about the only place in the world where it’s ok to beep your horn at the police so you can go passed them!
I’ve been from Nairobi to Taiwan and there is no better system for organic movement of mass traffic. Taipei continually ground to a halt where you simply have to give up your plans; Germany expects you to always carry a picnic basket with for the delays; USA just builds another lane beside you – or above! India is 10 times more intense catering to a far more diverse traffic population from elephants to push-bike gas bottle deliveries.
Ten years after joining Dya Singh World Music Group we come to an epoch, poetically & coincidentally put. Dya himself announced retiring and suddenly the requests and offers for tour and concert possibilities flood in and….we finally play India! And as much as one could suggest, it be like taking tea back China; the reality is – the recognition of the achievement of Dya and the group, is in its unique, universal communication to youth, through to heads of community & politics across a total inter/multi faith environment. From the Royal Albert Hall, London, to the Smithsoneum in Washington DC. Even a Resolution from the Californian Government in appreciation of community contribution.

The group (playing largely sikh relevant music) helps represent modern Sikh progress with acknowledgment to all 7 or so major religions. This may seem a long way from The Supper Club in Tamworth but in a group comprising 4 or more ‘religion’ connections, and with it’s sense of ‘Hats off’ to the international spice of music, it can get no more relevant. Here deserts were reclaimed and turned into the ‘bread basket’ of India – world wide, sacred related music has a similar potential, if not role, for the spirit and soul in societies.
The small amount we as performers get to touch in/on this potential and see it’s soaring affect always leaves a reminder that change and progress are willing to be near at hand – if a little obscured at times!.

So it already begins on arrival – my baggage is way laid back in Frankfurt, but I was given an upgrade to business class for the trip across (the lady winked as she said “I found you some extra leg room!”). That’s happened only twice in 20 years of flying! But of course, nothing is a problem. The main ‘handler’ was dealing with 6 people at once with my helper lady just firing questions at him while he was in firm discussion with another and without batting an eye lid, gave her answer & solution in the next breath. The bags all arrived at our hotel the next morning.

The Golden Temple
As we head north there are endless trucks of rice and a steady increase of farm animals like camels & donkeys on the arterial road to the Kyber Pass – the GT (Grand Trunk) Road. The Golden Temple is our quest now – the ‘Vatican’ of the Sikhs – however, where they feed daily, thousands of visitors, community & devotees. This has gravitated of it’s own accord, into the Guinness Book of Records! Endless eucalypts line the roads in – brought in to ‘green’ the country. As evening falls the sun disappears well before the horizon on this cloud free day. Smoke, dust and the most industrialized cities of north India dissolve into the soupy mix as Amritsar awaits therein!

We first visit the homeland of Dya Singh, himself, Ludhiana. A modest house on the corner of a garden block with a great Mango tree in the middle with squirrels dancing constantly about.
For the first time the Dya Singh World Music Group performed kirtan (sacred programs) in Delhi and Chandigarh celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Guruship of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (The Holy Book of the Sikhs). Temples included were Bangla Sahib, Rekab Ganj, Sis Ganj, and Moti Bagh in Delhi with a Sikh spiritual ‘concert’ at the Chinmaya Centre, Lodhi Gardens. We also performed kirtan at the Sector34 Gurdwara in Chandigarh.
Imagine an octagon temple situated between a modern Mall and a looming IMAX Theatre where one of those huge high-tension power line towers also scrapes the sky in amongst the bedazzling lights of consumerism. Hundreds of hungry locals are being fed every hour from the Temple directly below the power tower, where the hallowed words & music are being broadcast through those classic mega-horns on poles arrangements, and that includes our own performance that evening. Ah the incongruous pictures of multi-level society and technology. We did have some lovely, if historic Bose speakers in the temple itself and as usual had to totally restructure the mixing desk to achieve a performance without what seems to be a staple preference of distortion (they are ‘sooo’ adept at turning any great speaker into an age old racecourse horn speaker – seems like a matter of tradition or ‘equality leveler’ where every voice can sound identical through the substantial application of distortion)

A more generously helpful mob you will rarely find. Everything is always straight ahead and around the corner, no matter where it really is and you can get a cup of chai tea thrown in for your trouble as well. Even the cycle taxis are quite happy to ride a while then ask someone, ride a while, then ask another, until seemingly by gravitation you arrive at your destination, or one very similar!

In a land where most folk speak about 4 languages, the subtleties can get a little lost. For example, you are most welcome to study at the LPU – Lovely Professional University. Certainly one of the most advertised universities we saw!

We arrived at the Golden Temple, Amritsar just after theoretical sunset. Traffic is intense and our drivers magically land places to park beside the temple.

Dya Singh with elders plus Josh & Parvyn as I snap the shot before the golden Temple

Every inch toward the inner sanctum reveals more and more order, grace and reverence. You remove your shoes, cleanse the feet in a shallow stream across each entrance and up the steps to open into the immense golden shrine in the centre of a great reflecting pool. Everything that seemed normal around you ceases and walkways are under constant sweep. Walls are are on constant wash. repair and food is constantly on offer at the Lungar Hall – as it is in most Sikh Gurdwarras (temples) world wide. Certainly the most generous to the public religions in existence.
As you walk around India you are always aware of colourful gems sparkling in all directions – every woman is intensely dressed in colourful saris and the sacred areas are spotless. It seems everything else can crumble, fall and fade where it stands but that which is most close at hand & heart can and is very preciously controlled and cared for. Hardly a pair of jeans in view despite much company efforts. It’s all formal shirts and slacks/suits across the board.

Monty Python

Then the final straw in the comedic hat was the visit to the change of guard between India & Pakistan across from Amritsar. For those familiar with the Monty Python realm, The Ministry of Silly Walks, well it appears to have been born here! We received access to the ‘VVIP’ seating area by grace of the Golden Temple administraters. Now at this guard change there are typically around few thousand onlookers. The Pakistan side split into males left, females right with exceptional choir tendencies, whereas the Indian side was a fun melee of allsorts with both sides battling out chant versus chant. And at one point it seemed the title phrase yell of “Good Morning Vietnam” was in full swing. But the absolute aggression expression via extreme march antics had us in hysterics. I’ve got it on film for the keen some time, lol.

The New Film ‘Australia’
And finally, after a very careful tour re expenses, I spent the last day with a trip to the Taj Mahal – 4 hrs there, look with astounded eyes, shop for hand made carpet, marble & bejewelled things, nearly die in the traffic and 4 hours back, straight to the airport.

However there had been a somewhat frantic call from the music directors of new film ‘Australia’ who recalled seeing The Supper Club at TamworthFestival and the bluegrass sound of The Lawnmowers & Mark Atkins on Didgeridoo. It seemed to be the missing ingredient to the soon to be released film. So while I was wandering about the Taj Mahal in shoe coverings to protect the surface of the amazing structure, I had phone to ear going ‘wow’ with my eyes and ‘wow’ with my ears! By the time I finished the lap of white marble grace, I had also found most of the guys needed for the recording as I landed back in Oz. More luck of the angels with timing. So keep an ear out for some Supper Club twang in this lil blockbuster film, with dearest Nicole Kidman and team!

I’m dramatically short of time – ha – aren’t we all! Would love to write more & you’d love to read less! LOL

Been a while since writing such a long read, eh ! Thanks for taking the time. Below is a moment spotted by a friend, a warning and a request for support of a family issue.
Much Love, Light & hope you’ve helped someone in their time of need,
Andrew Clermont

“Hi Andrew,

I spent last Friday at home wanting to watch some stress-free, mindless but not too annoying TV and ended up on a program showing 101 things to do in Victoria which was apparently established by the RACV. They went through the Top 10 in detail but listed the other 90 or so and showed a little snippet to illustrate each point, for example Yarra Valley wineries was illustrated by a picture of vines, regional markets showed tables with jams, etc.
Well, when they got to “music festivals” – you popped up, playing your fiddle…. So – that makes you the face of all Victorian music festivals I guess.
Cool…… 🙂
Katharine”

Cancer Update from John Hopkins Hospital
No plastic containers in microwave.
No water bottles in freezer.

No plastic wrap in microwave.

A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer.

Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don’t freeze your plastic
Bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital ,
Was on a TV program to explain this health hazard.
He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.

He said that we should not be heating our food in the
Microwave using plastic containers…

This especially applies to foods that contain fat.

He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin
Into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body…

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic
Containers for heating food… You get the same results, only without the dioxin.
So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc.,
Should be removed from the container and heated in something else.
Paper isn’t bad but you don’t know what is in the paper.
It’s just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.
He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away
From the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons…

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when
Placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high
Heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.
Cover food with a paper towel instead.
This is an article that should be sent

To anyone important in your life!

Bottled water in your car Very dangerous.
This is how Sheryl Crow got breast cancer. She was on the Ellen show and said this same exact thing. This has been identified as the most common cause of the high levels in breast cancer, especially in Australia .

A friend whose mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and the Doctor told her: women should not drink bottled water that has been left in a car.

The doctor said that the heat and the plastic of the bottle have certain chemicals that can lead to breast cancer. So please be careful and do not drink bottled water that has been left in a car, and, pass this on to all the women in your life. This information is the kind we need to know and be aware and just might save us! The heat causes toxins from the plastic to leak into the water and they have found these toxins in breast tissue. Use a stainless steel Canteen or a glass bottle when you can!

LET EVERYONE WHO HAS A WIFE / GIRLFRIEND / DAUGHTER KNOW PLEASE.

If you feel strongly about the unfairness of the decision on this family please sign and forward to others the petition below .

Dear Adam

Thank you for your expression of support for Dr Moeller and his family. Down Syndrome Victoria is supporting Dr Moeller and his family in their fight for permanent residency. We have mounted a significant media campaign to highlight the plight of the family and the issue of discrimination against people with Down syndrome more generally. We firmly believe the practice of automatically excluding families with a member with Down syndrome from migrating to Austr ali a is prejudicial and discriminatory and are calling on the Federal government to immediately r evie w their policy and practices. Both the Human Rights Commissioner Graham Innes and Victorian Premier John Brumby have agreed that the practice is unfair and discriminatory. In addition to our media campaign and petition, we are writing to the Federal Minister for Immigration Senator Chris Evans and Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Bill Shorten to express our disgust and press for change.

Please take the time to sign our online petition at www.downsyndromevictoria.org.au to express your opinion or alternatively you can call our office on 1300 658 873.

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards

Catherine McAlpine | Executive Officer | Down Syndrome Victoria
219 Napier Street Fitzroy VIC 3065
1300 658 873
www.downsyndromevictoria.org.au
Down Syndrome Victoria works to empower individuals to achieve a lifetime of meaningful inclusion in the community.