Back - From The Outback

No we have not deserted our thousands of loyal followers, or disappeared down the "Lawson Trail" never to be seen or heard from again, we've been to Fairbridge, which is about an hour south of Perth in Western Australia. It's been a long hot, dusty weekend at Fairbridge Folk Festival, the sun shone, the band played and the beer flowed. At times there was bit too much music and jolly drinking going on. Our room was strategically placed above Ruby's Wine Bar, in fact we were almost on the stage. I never thought I'd complain about being close to a wine bar, but as the laughter and song faded at around 2 in the morning and started again 4 hours later at 6, we were becoming a bit less patient. Not that we're complaining but there was not much peace and quiet during the day as the stage was constantly in use and it would have been nice to have a few moments to get out heads together.

Having said that and before we get hung drawn and quartered, let me tell you we had a great time at Fairbridge, it was a very special and memorable festival. The music was superb, the location was very special and the organisation throughout was excellent. Musicians had their own rest area with tea, coffee, toast on tap all day, free massages, transport into town and helpful friendly staff.


The music venues were well staffed and the sound was exceptionally good, we particularly liked the Chapel which had great acoustics ans was ideal for the smaller more intimate performances.


Here we are after Vin's main concert on Saturday afternoon, left to right Stan, Ann, Ray, Vin, Helen, Richard and Margaret, what a jolly bunch we are!

It was great once again to see so many old friends from Vin's previous visits and to meet lots of new fans who were experiencing his music for the first time. Best wishes to Christine Bolt who we met and Canberra Airport and who had a bit of a turn on the plane, fortunately she was back back to her normal self in time for the Festival.

The line up of acts was exceptional, the wonderful Eddie Reader with Boo Hewerdine on guitar and Allan Kelly on Accordion, Australia's The Fiddle Chicks were very impressive, the brillient Chilean Guitarist Nano Stern, the faboulous Genticoram (who shared our house), our old friend James Keelaghan and many more, a feast of great music, well done Fairbridge a fitting end to our festival appearances.

A quick word about Fairbridge itself which was orignially a reception home and training farm for the homeless children, sent out from Britain and other countries by organisations like Bernado's, to Australia from the 1930s onwards. I had a chance to visit the school museum on site I told them about my Dr Bernado's Song "Doors Ever Open" which was written for my great friend Vic King from Shrewsbury himslef a Bernado's Boy and left them a CD. They asked me to sing the song for them and the visitors which I was delighted to do.

Can we just say a special thank you to Vin's son Louis for his Stirling work on the Facebook, Myspace and all other Cyber communications systems which he has been manging for us, we think your great, you us! Louis send the bill to your Dad!

Our last gig will be at the "Fly By Night Club" in Fremantle on Wednesday April 14th at 7.30pm, you just have time to tell all your friends and anyone you know to come along for what promises to be a very special concert, see you there!!

Last word, Happy Birthday to me for yesterday, I won't tell you how old I am, but Vin sang that well known Beatles song as we ate our Museli yesrday morning and also to Richard for today, we'll be having a party tonight in Perth to try and forget our combined age which is somewhere up in the 110's.