... thankyou Iggy Pop. Am back from a long trip overseas (where it was very bloody cold) with a head full of ideas. I mastered my new album Wine Island coupla weeks ago and am very happy, nay, excited with the result. It's a double album, two sides of quite different material:

side 1 Bianco is a rockin' affair with a nod to my formative years as a player, channeling ZZ Top, Kraftwerk, Chuck Berry, Roxy Music, Devo and others.
side 2 Rosso is gentler, more spacious, pulling in elements from Scott Walker, Leon Russell, Beatles (with Billy Preston), Stylistics et al.

It will be available on CD & iTunes mid August and on vinyl soon after. I'll be embarking on a national tour with a band of my fave musicians Sept/Oct/Nov so keep an eye on dates page.

Meanwhile I'm finishing up producing an EP for young Australian singer/songwriter AC Danger Monaro and mid way through a new album for Bernie Hayes. Keep an eye out for Companion by Sunnyboy front man Jeremy Oxley which I produced with him and also the wonderful documentary about his life The Sunnyboy which is premiering at Sydney Opera House in June as part of Vivid Festival. See youse all on the mean streets... Brendo

Hey ho, been busy after Xmas/New Year break. My album Wine Island is mixed, as is the Jeremy Oxley EP I was working on. Currently working on Bernie Hayes' new album and an EP by singer/songwriter Annaliese Monaro. 18 March i"m off to Toronto for Canadian Music Week (and some other business, more to come) then NYC for a few days before catching up with the missus for a coupla weeks in Europe. I'll also be checking in with some music friends in Italy to plan a tour there in November.

I'm revved up to go out and play Wine Island with a great band of some of my fave players later in 2013. Meanwhile I'm doing some other shows with THE PINKS and Dave Mason with REEL B!G DOG before I head OS, check 'dates' page for info..... Brendo

Well I didn't make it onto the APRA Board... again. Thanks to all who voted for me and spread the word, dunno if I'll have another crack next year. Meanwhile... 10 December I start mixing 23 songs for my forthcoming album Wine Island at my friend the Gigpiglet's GPHQ studio in Redfern. Of late I've been working on Bernie Hayes new album over at Alberts. In January I'm heading up to Brisbane to mix Jeremy Oxley's EP at Ian Haug's Airlock Studio. I'll be going to see Sunnyboys with Elvis Costello in Hunter Valley 2nd February, oh yeah. And sleeping in my car, can't afford them hotel prices 'round those parts.

Come to Deus Ex Machina at Camperdown for a very special Pink Christmas with THE PINKS on saturday 22 December. Merry Xmas, Felice Navidad, Buon Natale, Happy Chanukka.... Brendo

The poll for Writer/Director on APRA Board closes Nov 15. Like most APRA members I write my own songs, make my own records and book my own gigs. I’ve been an APRA member for over twenty years and an Ambassador for three. For over thirty years I’ve maintained a comprehensive career as an independent artist and now I want to get involved in policy as it affects songwriters and musicians generally.
So if you want someone on the inside who shares the aspirations of independent artists then I NEED YOUR VOTE! Please click on link to vote for me now. Once logged in click on the 2012 AGM & Voting menu. You may have two votes, it helps me if you only cast one vote. Thanks...

Recently I mastered a new song The Good Baker’s Dream for radio release early Nov (available now on downloads page). It’s one of 22 songs from my forthcoming double album Wine Island. Meanwhile I’m producing a new album by Bernie Hayes and finishing off an EP for Jeremy Oxley as part of The Sunnyboy doco. Lotsa live gigs too with Karma County, THE PINKS & Dead Marines, check out dates page for more. See youse all on the mean streets… Brendo

Thinkin' about summer.... Meanwhile lots of gigs going on - solo festival shows, THE PINKS, DAVE MASON with REEL B!G DOG, dead marines and some rare Karma County performances later in the year - check dates page for more. In September I'm producing a new Bernie Hayes album, nice one. Over the last several months I've been working behind the scenes on an EP recording with the great Jeremy Oxley for a documentary about his life aptly called The Sunny Boy. It's been a real treat working with JO, a gifted musician in any era.

And still I'm endeavouring to polish off my own new double album Wine Island before the end of the year... it'll be worth it, trust me, I'm a musician! See youse all on the mean streets... Brendo

Howdy, keeping busy in cold Sydney. Got lots of gigs coming up in the next few months - solo, THE PINKS, DAVE MASON with REEL B!G DOG, dead marines maybe and rumours of some Karma County shows later in the year - check dates page for more. Have started pre-production for a new album with one of my favourite artists 'The Miracle From Marrickville' Bernie Hayes. I worked on 2007's Homebody and am really looking forward to this one, BH has some great new songs.

And meanwhile I'm endeavouring to polish off my own new album Wine Island... almost this close! See youse all on the mean streets... Brendo

Had a great time in Italy in May, played some memorable shows and plan to be back there in Feb 2012. We gave Uncle Jimmy Little a great send off at the memorial concert at Sydney Opera House on 3rd May. People came from all over – blackfellas, whitefellas, youngfellas, oldfellas – to sing a legendary song man and humanitarian on his way.

Have been busy over at Alberts working on my double album Wine Island and some other things. In July I'm doing a solo blues spot every sunday at Rock Lily bar at Star casino. Some Pinks gigs coming up too. Check dates page for more info. See youse all on the mean streets…. Brendo

... it tolls for thee.

April saw the passing of legendary song man and humanitarian Jimmy Little. Jimmy was my friend and mentor for sixteen years, through several albums and many memorable shows. He was a great inspiration to generations of fans. Come on down to the state memorial service and celebratory concert at Sydney Opera House on May 3 and give this great Australian a big send off. Tix are free but you have to apply here.

Meanwhile I’ll be in Italy doing a few shows late April with my road warrior friends Daniele Di Giovanni and Aldo Betto. May 27 I’ll be back taking part as a mentor in Songwriting Coaching at APRA Song Summit Sydney. June I’ll be doing a couple of solo spots and an open tune/slide guitar masterclass at 4th Perisher Snowy Mountains of Music as well as a one-off show at Canberra's Paperback Sessions Fri June 8 on the way down. July I'm doing a solo blues spot every sunday at Rock Lily bar at Star casino. Check dates page for more info. See youse all on the mean streets…. Brendo

The day before Xmas I signed a worldwide publishing deal with Alberts home of Vanda & Young, AC/DC, Washington, Gotye and more. Alberts will also be administering all of Karma County's back catalogue. I'm well chuffed to be part of such a legendary Australian music company, there's a real vibe going on at Alberts and I'm looking forward to getting in there to write and record with some of their great artists. I'm currently recording some bed tracks for my album Wine Island with drummer Rob Souter and bass player Jonathan Zwartz.

I'll be in Brisbane for my first solo show in five years on 1st March and doing an open tune/slide masterclasses on Gold Coast 3rd March, see dates page for more info. In May I will be mentoring sessions being held as part of the Career Development Workshops at APRA's Song Summit Sydney. Meanwhile APRA members please click here for a special deal on my Open Tuning Chord Book For Guitar. See youse all on the mean streets.... Brendo

Still waiting for summer in Sydney? When it does arrive I'm gonna do a few days lying around the beach and recharge for 2012. Got some new recording projects coming up in 2012 and a proposed European tour with B!G in April/May. And, yes, I'm going to finish off my grand double album opus Wine Island, promise. Hopefully I'll get to realise my aural fantasy of cutting a double vinyl version, gatefold sleeve and all. 

Meanwhile I've got lots of shows at festivals in new year  - Gulgong Folk Festival 1st weekend of January and Illawarra Folk Festival 2nd weekend of January. I'll be doing open tune/slide masterclasses at both so check dates page for more info. APRA members please click here for a special deal on my Open Tuning Chord Book For Guitar in Dec/Jan. Merry Xmas and Happy New Year.... Brendo