Swing into Spring & River rythms wrap up

Howdy folks!

Wow! life has been so busy lately the I've fallen behind keepin the ole blog updated! And right now I'm meant to be preparing for a very big gig this weekend, so this will be brief!

Friday October 7th I caught a flight up to Sydney to perform at the Swing into Spring Festival, held at the newly restored Belmain Hall Ball room on the Saturday night,.

This gig was so much fun! I was a guest performer that night, and got up with Miss Pia Anderson and the Black and White Big Band, and sung Johnny & June Carter Cash's hit, Jackson. It was quite a new experience singing that song with a big band, and they gave it an entirely different, much bigger, feel! It went down a treat.



With Pia Anderson



Then Pia left the stage and I performed the Drifters tune, made famous by Dion and the Belmonts 'Ruby Baby'. I had been practicing the song in the key Dion sings it (E), but the band normally perform it in the key the Drifters perform it (G), which made it much too high for me! Luckily we discovered this problem earlier in the day, and the Band leader found charts that would meet me half way, in (F). Although it was higher than I'd been used to, it was still in my vocal range, and it actually gave the song allot of punch being sung in that key. It was great fun playing with the big band, and I look forward to further shows with those guys. The other highlight was catching up with my Sydney friends I don't see very often, and meeting other great Sydney folk



Chatting with Robyn Hayes




with Marc Rondeau , and Luke Beynon




With Georgio Rimi




with Geeves O'Shea



With Sue Cadzow

It was a great night, and I hope to be a part of the Swing into Spring Festival again another time. Sunday it was onto play with the  Pat Capocci Combo at the River Rhythms gig at Sydney's Olympic park

We had an under cover stage set up on the banks of the Parramatta river to perform on, and although the weather looked quite threatening, and was getting a bit windy, we had a small, but enthusiastic crowed cheering us on! Pat, Damo, and Goat did a brilliant job backing me, and we did a mix of my original songs, and some covers. Pat also performed a few of his own tunes on the day, and Pia Anderson got up and did some tunes with us too, including a more traditional version of Jackson with me.

After the gig, Pia took me out to see Sydneys sights, as I've never been to Sydney before. We had dinner on a pub rooftop, looking over the harbour, and the Opera house, and later went for a walk on the fore shore

So my trip to Sydney was a blast! I'd like to thank Pia Anderson, her son Bayley and her partner Angus for having me, and looking after me so well over the weekend. Also to Pat and the boys for the great gig Sunday, and to the Black and White Big Band for backing me up Saturday night

And ofcorse to Qantas, for arranging that my flights were 2 of the only flights not affected by industrial action on the weekend! ;)