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
               

So this is Christmas... didn't quite get over the line with my run for a seat on the board of APRA, but I got very bloody close. Thanks to all my APRA member friends, and others, who supported me in my pitch. I'll be back next year.

Meanwhile I've got some studio stuff going on with all sorts of people and will be playing shows in various guises in a variety of places over the festive season including a special KARMA COUNTY Christmas Party in Sydney. Check dates page for more. Merry Christmas one and all... Brendo

Polling for the Writer Director position of the APRA Board closes at 5PM this thursday 10th November. Vote early, vote often and please vote for me. I've been a member for over twenty years and an APRA Ambassador for two. For over thirty years I've maintained a comprehensive career as an independent artist in the music biz 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 is from the same side of the street as you then I NEED YOUR VOTE!

Last week I had two time Grammy award winner Lucky Oceans come over and do his dreamy pedal steel on a track of mine called Jerusalem Steps, a yacht rockin' instrumental that will be part of my double album Wine Island which I hope to release next year - promise. B!G (myself and Reels' drummer John Boy Bliss) will be heading out on the road for some gigs, Sydney fans get a special treat with B!G + Dog Trumpet = B!G DOG! at Camelot Lounge. More Pinks, dead marines shows too and a surprise Xmas gig. Check out dates page for more info.

See youse all on the mean streets... Brendo

... and unleash the dogs of war. Polling is now open online for the Writer Director position of the APRA Board. Member writers can vote here until 10th November. Vote early, vote often and please vote for me. I've been a member for over twenty years and an APRA Ambassador for two. For over thirty years I've maintained a comprehensive career as an independent artist in the music biz 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 is from the same side of the street as you then I NEED YOUR VOTE! 

Meanwhile I'll be playing the opening night at Upstairs @ La Casa, a funky little new venue in Russell Lea in inner western Sydney. Next week I'm off to Adelaide for the inaugural Backwater Blues & Roots Festival. Then I'll be back in Sydney first week of November at The Square with Penny Ikinger + dead marines. Check out dates page for more info.

See youse all on the mean streets... Brendo

I will be standing as a candidate for the position of Writer Director for the APRA Board, the peak body that administers the performing and communication rights of 67,000 + songwriters and composers in Australia and New Zealand. I've been a member for over twenty years and an APRA Ambassador for two. For over thirty years I've maintained a comprehensive career as an independent artist in the music biz and now I want to get involved in policy as it affects songwriters and musicians generally.

APRA will be notifying members with voting details mid October and votes can be lodged until 10th November. So to all my APRA member friends if you want someone on the inside who is from the same side of the street as you then I NEED YOUR VOTE! More info at www.apra-amcos.com.au

Meanwhile I'll be out playing gigs over the next months, some solo (have a look at this video link), some dead marines, a few B!G shows and The Pinks as well so check out dates page. Will be working on some new songs for my forthcoming double album Wine Island, am entertaining the idea of issuing a limited edition 'gatefold' double album on vinyl. Has been over twenty years since I put out a vinyl record, lemme know if you'd like one.... Brendo

"What a weekend!" as Frank Thring once infamously exclaimed. Did a big show at Camelot Lounge in Sydney with dead marines. Jimmy Little and his daughter Fran turned up from Dubbo. Jimmy looked like he was on his way to a UN meeting in a 3 piece blue suit, what a trooper.

Sat night I was slumming it with some of Australia's greatest bass players. First port of call was Tice & Evans at The Sando (I first saw Mark with AC/DC at Ryde Youth Club in the 70s before Bon Scott was the singer). Then on to Ken Gormley's 50th birthday at Marrickville Bowlo where the Cruel Sea did a coupla big sets. Tex and the band were in great form. See youse all at Camelot wed 28th Oct where I'll be playing piano with Texan cabaret star Luna Tart - I'll be the bloke in the tuxedo.

  
w. Clyde Bramley (Hoodoo Gurus) and Hoody (The Johnnys)
 
 w. Ken Gormley (Cruel Sea)

w. Mark Evans (AC/DC)

w. John Schofield (Paul Kelly & Coloured Girls)

 Howdy partners, days are getting longer, you bewdy. In August I re-mastered the two Jimmy Little albums I produced - Messenger (1999) and Life's What You Make It (2004) - plus several unreleased tracks from that recording period (Triffid's 'Wide Open Road' for instance). Sounds fantastic, Don Bartley really brought out the magic in those albums with his stunning mastering job. To be released as a box set through Warner Music at an as yet unspecified date.

Coming up 18 sept at Camelot in Sydney a rare live appearance of the the three-headed monster that is dead marines - the 'Miracle from Marrickville' Bernie Hayes, Front End Loader's Bow Campbell and myself - playing songs from their album New Day and other crafty cuts from the 20th century song book. Also on the bill, direct from Melbourne, Alex Legg. Stand by for some more open tune/slide guitar masterclasses later this year and check dates for some great shows coming up (like me playing piano with Texan cabaret artist Luna Tart at Sydney Fringe Festival). Meanwhile I'm beavering away on my mad double album solo project which should be available mid 2012... promise. See youse all on the mean streets... Brendo