2006 Review

December unfurls and I revisit Taiwan to my dear friend and music buddy Jack (Daryl) Melbourne. On recording we have "BackBeat – the sessions" and 10 years later the release of Official Bootleg "Bluegrass: Made in Taiwan" – see sound bites on main website. There are only wonderful memories of music through Jack. The Taiwan times were shared with Canada Bluegrass star, Jenny Lester on whose Birthday I write this, Dec 14, and a host of Australian performers (See CD link just above & http://www.jennylester.com)

So I invited Jack here as a Banjo/ Singer performer in 96 and there he stayed! Became a Chinese language student; great Dobro (acoustic slide guitar) player; co-wrote a CanCan show; co-ordinated a Stunt Show; produced a Saudi Arabian Magic Show (even trained the Tiger!); opened a Pub called Banjos, then a Pizza Bar (well the locals couldn't get it right!) and called it. Banjos; a Theatre Bar er… Banjos till the present day of the natural progression to. Museum Curator(!) to a private gallery 'Chi Mei' in Tai Nan (presenting an historic music collection including Stradivaris and Guarneri Violins – most of which are loaned to exceptional students out of Asia).

He does run a bar in the time between but has confused us by calling it 'The Warehouse', in Hsinchu. He was the creative force though all these events which rode successive waves of the right place at the right time but to put a little icing on the cake, anyone with a printing project should drop into
http://www.printingasia.com he'll do the right thing by you there too!

And yes, the Strad plays very nicely thank you very much
Special thanks to Chi-Mei Museum Vice Executive Fuchi Hsu – Director of Taiwan's Chi-Mei Mandolin Orchestra.

Now I don't quote from emails but this one is too big a hug to leave behind. Going from 1722 above to moments with my 2005 Blue Chameleon 5-string Epoch Fiddle here. A replay of last meeting Xavier at Woodford Folk Fest in Australia last Xmas – always an absolute pleasure X.

Dang nice huh!!

Must mention the email outs lately have been slow due to computer^%$#@#$… ah but some form of Zen has prevailed and all is nearly back to normal after 2 months of Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh! in those private quiet moments of course!

Coming up is The Lawnmowers at Harrietville Bluegrass Fest near Bright in Vic snowy mountains. Melb briefly and then finishing Teresa Hughes CD in Albany, WA while also workshopping the 100 or so fiddle kids there.

A hall concert in Fremantle on Sat Dec 3 with Simon Nield & choir before 10 days in Taiwan with Daryl(Jack) Melbourne from BackBeat & Fargone Beauties fame to er… chill awhile before …

Woodford , Cygnet, Tamworth & New Zealand Festival unleash. Woodford is going to be absolutely over the top in great players & jams – Totally Gourdgeous, Dya Singh, JigZag, Tamerisque, Jodi Martin, Willow (Gypsy Hotclub) and ….. ya just gotta be there!!!

This year's mid year tour included USA/ Canada with Dya Singh World Music Group – San Fran. LA, Vancouver, Seattle, a day in London!, Kenya(2 weeks), Darwin & home mid August. Tour includes the band's tradition of weddings, partys, festivals & temples

Live recording soon – Saturday 12 November at 8pm
Sunday 13 November at 3pm
NEXUS CABARET SPACE – LION ARTS CENTRE
Cnr North Tce & Morphett St. Adelaide
BOOKINGS VENUETIX 08 8225 8888
or ARTBEAT MANAGEMENT 0418 839 264-

Otherwise see gigguide on main home page – www.andrewclermont.com.au

I caught up with ol' Three Chord Wonder Bassman, Daniel Duffin & from The WayBacks, mandolin/guitarman James Nash – at least for a fine Laksa in San Fran but then there was a Jazz Festival in the Bay area at thetime – a few late nights!

Oct – Totally Gourdgeous toured mid north NSW and recorded new CD at Rod MacCormacks wonderful Studio.

Rob Long & Doug Bull from The Lawnmowers made it back for the Dorrigo Bluegrass/ Folk Festival after sampling Ireland and various parts of Europe and China!. OZ has invaded there this year! Karen Lynne & Acoustic Shock – coming back from Denmark to the Supper Club Sat 28th Jan 2006

Meanwhile Jane Brownlee who soared recently in 'Celtic Connundrums' with Ollie Francis & I at Glen Innes Celtic Fest traipsed Canada soaking up the wild fiddle zones there.

Best of luck & life to all who's time it is to spread the music word.

And for those wanting to support or show their Fiddle World connection go to

www.goldenfiddleawards.org.au

Now looking back!
So there I was in Albany,WA, in March, mixing down tracks for ol' friend Teresa Hughes when it was time to fly to Perth, in time to fly to Sydney in time to hop into a train to get to the car of Jane Brownlee to get to Tamworth, to pickup the van, load it & get to Glen Innes in time to set up and play under the beautiful stars at the local winery – with not a minute to spare! All in a days work!
Hi All you fine folk, welcome here – world of The Supper Club, Fiddlers Festival, Totally Gourdgeous, Dya Singh, Celtic Conundrums & The Lawnmowers plus The NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Contest and The Golden Fiddle Awards! And…..
immediately coming up is the Dya Singh tour of Tamworth to Brisbane via Armidale, Wauchope, Dorrigo & Bangalow from May 18 to May 29 –

Most of you are from a concert mailing list but many are by other means of chance, history or design. Anyone wrongly here, just let us know. And though it be a big ol' world, very little is without some design.

Some sad news first off. A dear fiddle student, Anna Disher, just 15 and became this year's NoHoldsBarred Youth Champ, lost her life in a tragic traffic accident just outside her home at Kootingal near Tamworth. I'd had the pleasure of teaching her off & on over the last years and was looking forward to some time together this month at home – alas the busy year. She said she'd always be a kid – too sadly true indeed. Last friday was most amazing funeral service with full Tamworth Symphony (she'd been 1st violin), choir and video/ multimedia of her zestful life brought us all undone. A rose coloured balloon from each symphony member with a message to beloved Anna, were released into a tumbling sky. I was asked to play the pieces she had won with earlier in January. Catharsis & Possum Up a Gum Stump 2 all time favourites of mine as well. She was one of the greatest kids to teach – there was a river of tears coming out of the Baptist church last Saturday. If you f!
eel inclined, send your thoughts to Paul, Lynda & Miriam at lyndaloobs@bigpond.com. There is an Anna Jay Disher scholarship, through the the Tamworth Conservatory of Music being planned. Show your interest if you please.

Special mention of friend Jasmine MacDonald who donated a month of life to the orphan victims of the Tsunami affected Indonesia. During her time there she photographed a chilling sequence of events and views which fortunately also contain some signs of hope despite the way much of the politics/ military get tangled and forget that it's REAL people, 1000s upon 1000s who are the victims, let alone lost their lives. jasmine@castlemaine.net for those in support.

Last letter out, I was about share a solo gig at Adelaide Folk Centre with dear young flautist, Lucy Langham – now she's taken my place in USA with Dya Singh!! She's great, I trust they are having fine adventures in Florida and further. An overlap of band affairs (surprisingly rare) meant Lucy & I crossed in the sky as I made my way to Perth & the Fairbridge Folk Festival with Totally Gourdgeous.
An solid performance fortnight in LA, Orange County & Santiago with Dya Singh ranging from the LA Bahai Centre to Peace & Multi-faith Concerts. I thank the Bicky Singh family for their mountains of hospitality.
A fun last day was had with a blind date jamm organised by 'da boys' Keith & Dheeraj' who had found a social spot, 'Marty's,' in hub of OC. So I had a phone number and the 'Jamm' had heard there was an Aussie Didgeridoo player about. So I made the call and 'Brian' said he'd pick me up Sunday at 3 from Marty's. Somehow I'd never made it there before – either catching up on sleep, on the Net or getting my head around Mac computering. Ah such a diligent soul. However, Sunday came along and I remembered to take a change of clothes from the flowing Indian stage gear and just by chance really we arrived near home base around 3 and I was dropped off with Didg, Guitar, Mando & Fiddle – just to be sure!
I step in to the hole in the wall bar and every head turns, I hear there's a party at Brians? And we are soon all heading where long cars abound and the drummer has the smallest vehicle – a van.
The door opens to the foyer where the drums are established and down to the right lies the Piano covered in music beside a PA & guitar amps and the music is away. Just piano & my Epoch 5-string fiddle in Jazz ballad land to begin with, soon some Blues with Harmonica, Slide Guitar, and growing drums. Enter Kevin Ray Putzier, and it seems Tom Waits has hit the piano and microphone. The place is really starting to cook. He's no slouch on the Guitar either and soon there's the sound of Trumpet, Dang that boy has some variety of style and we were having great time, food wine and stories – they sure like the didgeridoo. Suddenly there is another Trumpet, well look who's arrived! But no! it's Kev with a trumpet out both sides of his mouth! A fine finale to a bold week in California, thanks to all those who showed us around and gave so much of their time. Meanwhile a toss over the Pacific and a flick over the many deserts of Oz and a mere 23hrs , LA to Perth!

The Supper Club came to Western Australia with surprise guest Pianist, Paul Gioia, 'look out Mama! ' we wove a fine journey together with Carl Pannuzzo & Mal Webb from Totally Gourdgeous and Rueben Kooperman holding us together on ideal drums. Finale was all hands on the Piano and tag team lick for lick on the ivories. A ton of fun and a grand start to the Fairbridgefestival.com. TG had great gigs and a pleasure to catchup with the many chums – Tony McManus (may your new House be a haven for us, er You!), busy bee Liz Frencham, Jane Brownlee, Colcannon, and saw all the moments of Doug deVries & Diana Clark (I promise to workup the Brazilian moves & melodies); the Wise Family, Jodi & Robyn Martin and Spooky Steve Taberner; the new friends well met with heart & soul – Luv ya's for it all.
For those who have checked out the Emovies on my Homepage will have seen sublime Simon Nield in action on guitar, also the perfect host to wayward musicians together with Lindy & ever creative Ella.
Thankyou Freo Fremantle for the huge turnout midweek at Kulcha Club for Totally Gourdgeous (they will be heading to Tamworth Festival 2006 and perhaps a preliminary stab at the October Supper Club).

A revisit to HarbourSound Festival, Albany was still awaiting and the exuberant Wala from Ghana with the Perth Reggae Funk crew made for my favourite night – a big Dance. But then there were the 40 young fiddlers who joined TG for a Cajun/ Celtic meltdown with the Black Town Jig wrapping it up. Michael & Margaret your Just fiddling inspiration has worked gleeful wonders.

So have you been to Albany, Western Australia? A very special landscape. A full moon, misty sunset views and great music to boot as I write. Nearby west are the great Kauri trees, one of the best BlowHoles (http://hometown.aol.com/clrmnta/TGPosters.html ) and spectacular coastline. I've just begun recording at Mudbrick Studio for Teresa Hughes, a one time Tamworthian with a song of the days including gigs at Nundle with the Three Chord Wonders.
Thinking back on those times – the mid 80s – all of 20 years ago – Dang! The kids being born, many parties and mainly after the gigs; rehearsing music – shock horror(!); dogs & cats to horses; many nights by the fireplace, big handmade birthday cards – still got them! The years feel like looking at a fine wine though an antique glass goblet – but sample too much and who knows what you might uncover!
Funnily enough, not only am I finally performing songs written & recorded then, but reuniting with friends from said era on CD and Festivals – see the next Lawnmowers CD and all the Totally Gourdgeous CDs in particular.
Lawrie Minson, the driving force of 'The (historic) Wonders' is joining the Supper Club presentation of Dya Singh at Armidale , at the Cattlemans on May 20 with his Mohan Veener slide Guitar.Dya Singh comes to the New England area with concerts & a Tabla Workshop in schools & venues from Barraba , Tamworth, Dorrigo to Wauchope.