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Audrey's December '09 News

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Billabong Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OGfIRqJjaw

Happy Birthday, Sleepy John at KPIG Radio!

LINK TO ONLINE VERSION OF AUDREY'S OCTOBER '09 NEWS

The online version includes photos

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It's a big life... Mez says he loves touring with me as each day is so different and always packed with interesting stuff.  I was sorry he wasn't on my recent Texas tour because some days I needed him more than most...

THE TOUR MUST GO ON.....!

I turned to Anne McCue at one point during our recent tour of Texas and asked "Do you attract this shit?" 

From day one we were tested.  It was 11pm, we were heading south on Hwy 59 and 10 minutes from a comfy motel bed.  The 18-wheeler in front of us collided with a car driving the wrong way up the freeway. In the next moment the truck exploded high up to the heavens.  It was unbelievable and shocking. My body trembled like I've never known.  Afraid of what the truck may be carrying I reversed up the freeway shoulder, as the truck continued to explode.  Grey smoke and ash fell upon us.  We were helpless to provide assistance, not believing anyone would have survived.
A week later I learned from the Marshall, TX newspaper that the truck driver did in fact survive! The errant car driver was not so lucky.  I found some relief in knowing the truck driver survived and do wonder how he managed to escape - maybe he was blown from the truck when it exploded?

Needless to say, this event coloured the rest of our travels, my driving in particular. I now practice the UPS code of "always give yourself an out".  We were given a heavenly pardon that night.
OK, so add in food poisoning, a night in an old haunted hotel and driving through thunderstorms that felt more like a rally track and you get the picture.
But we did get to dip our toes (and paws) in the ocean at Corpus Christi (mmm... like a bath), hear a Jon Dee Graham show that rocked the house, hang out and eat with Eddie Wilson at Threadgill's Restaurant, play 2 house concerts with Maryann Price of the famous Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks (boy she's a groover - pictured above) and played a great show at the wonderful Freyburg Hall, which is like Gruene Hall without the traffic and tourists.
Best of all we got to open Billy Joe Shaver's show at Courville's restaurant in Beaumont.  Some say we "saved the show"!  Normally an opener will play 30 - 40 minutes.  Right before we were to go on the venue asked if we can play for 1 1/2 hours and not tell the audience that Billy Joe is MIA! [OK Aud, chin up and remember those 4 hour gigs in every RSL in Australia? I can do this, I just hope they don't start throwing stuff.]  Well, we were blessed with a very gracious audience.  After our first opening set we took a short break whilst Donny Courville entertained, then we went back on for another hour! By then the audience had learned Billy Joe would be late so we all had fun, sang Ernest Tubb and Rose Tattoo, drank home-made wine and ate great food. He was worth the wait!  Billy Joe finally arrived at 10pm and played till midnight and was as awesome as ever.  His fire continues to burn bright.  Great songs, inspired performance and a killer band.

WITH LOVE & THANKS TO...

*  Craig & Krista Wilson in England for playing "I'd Leave Me Too" at their wedding. What a great start!

*  Kori Free, a 12 year old dynamite guitar playing girl who jammed with us and proved you can never be too young to get the blues.

* Steve and Lisa Stagner for the Rockgarden and outstanding hospitality.

* Anne and Alan Mayfield for providing a perfect day at Fancy Gap, Virginia and an unforgettable barn concert, excellent BBQ, strawberry steeped moonshine and the hope to do it all again next year!

* Anne McCue for keeping Aussie culture alive inside and outside the minivan.

* YOU for turning off unwanted power and saving Appalachian mountains from coal-mining.  Once they're gone, they're gone...

                   Audrey x

To view this newsletter with photos and audio use the link below:

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Life is good! I've got lots of great news to share with you all.  Welcome to all the new friends I've made in my travels.  Listen to the media, and life sucks.  But there ain't no luggage rack on a hearse.  All we can own forever is memories and friendships.  I am rich!!

FRED EAGLESMITH
What a blessing to sing, laugh and tour with Fred Eaglesmith and his band.  I'm a big Fred Head. I have heard his show night after night and it never gets stale or boring.  He remains vital, funny, moving and exciting.  Fred is the annoying monk in the monastery.  He'll rub your nose in all you don't want to face, and make you laugh at it all at the same time.

DOWN HOME
Anne McCue and I opened Fred Eaglesmith's show at the Bluebird Cafe before heading to Down Home in Johnson City, TN.  I was thrilled to see Joy Lynn White there. I've been a big fan of hers since my days in Sydney listening to 2RRR on a Saturday morning, when Robyn Skinner and Ken Date introduced me to some great music.  She's living in the Tri-Cities area and hopefully we'll get to play a show together there some time.  She's a pure country singer, timeless and classic.

My night could only get better by Dale Jett telling me he's been singing my song "Down In A Hole" in his live show! Dale Jett is A.P. Carter's grandson!  This guy is the real deal.  I've mentioned his wonderfully authentic CD in a previous newsletter. Fred Eaglesmith mentioned from the stage that he'd played Dale's album over and over and over in the bus.  Oscar, Dale's guitar player was there too, and he told me they jam out on my song, just as I intended!  What a buzz!

WSM - A GRAND OLE TIME!
Appearing live on WSM, the Grand Ole Opry radio station was a real highlight.  Anne McCue and I were on with Charlie Mattos and Bill Cody, for the "Coffee, Country and Cody" show in the morning. i sang a few songs and we had a good laugh.  They'll upload a podcast to their site at some point as well as a video archive.  They repeated excerpts from the interview the next morning and again Saturday afternoon.  We were on tour so didn't get to hear us "on the air" but Mez tuned in every radio in the house! 
This station is where the Grand Ole Opry began.  I dig the history of country music and was completely honored to breath that rariefied air!

Georgia, Texas & Kentucky In May
Anne McCue and I head to Georgia for the 2nd weekend in May for some house concert dates.

And then we'll be in Texas, and that's good.
We have a free date on Friday May 15th.  We'd rather be playing, so if you'd like to host a house concert let us know.  We would come and play in your home for friends and neighbors.  House concerts create community.

Friday May 22 we're opening for Billy Joe Shaver in Beaumont!  What a thrill!  He's one of the most passionate performers I've seen and an amazing songwriter.  From so much pressure diamonds must come.

I open for Todd Snider in Kentucky late May.  Billy Joe Shaver counts Todd as one of his favorite writers, and I'd have to agree.  Todd is an awesome poet, songwriter and entertainer.

WITH LOVE & THANKS TO...
*  Eric Jones, webmaster extraordinaire for the spring cleaning on my website.  Check it out.  It's an ever-evolving beast.  Eric is the most talented artist who created the photos and artwork for my "Lost Men and Angry Girls" album.

*  Anne McCue who is an awesome talent, funny funny girl and great road companion.

*  All of you who email me your gig pics.  I love seeing them and adding them to Facebook and MySpace.

*  Everyone who sent love and prayers to my Mum.  She's doing well at home in Tasmania, in the loving care of her hubby.  I feel too far away from her.

*  Fred Eaglesmith and Dan Rushing for exposing me to new audiences all over the country!

*  Big Brothers Big Sisters for introducing me to Michaela, a breath of fresh air in my life.

*  All the hosts, promoters and music fans who meet me and keep me on the road.

Audrey x

To view an online version of this newsletter, complete with pics click the link...



http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/view_newsletter.php?newsletter_id=1409886095

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DK8kcJIYJI

Filmed by MusicFog.com, Memphis, Feb '09

Audrey's News March '09 - Click link to view Newsletter with all photos

THE GOOD LIFE
I'm just home from one of the best tours ever!  I traveled through North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and ended in Memphis.  It's the best life to travel and share music with people who are out to have a good time.    This was my first tour with Cole Bruce who plays a beautiful old Gibson acoustic guitar, as well as a Telecaster and a Guild semi-acoustic, plus mandolin and harmonies.  Along with Gypsy we were loaded for bear.  Anyone who travels knows that your companion can make or break the good times.  Cole is a great musician with a righteous heart, good humor and an appreciation for great music and golden silence.  These things count when you're sitting in a van together for weeks at a time!

THE DC DASH
Although musicians travel all over  it's usually pretty rare we actually get to sightsee whilst touring. We see loads of motels, radio stations, restaurants, gas stations, venues, highways, smiling faces and the inside of our eyelids.  So I was super happy to get a quickie tour of the DC area, a celebratory cuppa with the Obamas at the White House- NOT, and a dash into the American Indian Museum. DC contains a remarkable collection of big government buildings in varying degrees of tasteful architecture (something went horribley wrong in the 70s) and a wealth of Smithsonian museums that demand more time than I had that freezing day.  I had a bit of a "Graceland" reaction to seeing the White House - ie, "I thought it was bigger".  Whereas the Pentagon's size blew my mind and gave me pause to reflect on September 11 and how fearful and confused all the DC occupants must have felt that day.

FOLK ALLIANCE
The Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis was loads of fun. It was a huge thrill for Cole and I to perform with the dynamic Pam Delgado (Blame Sally) on cajone and for our final showcase we were also joined by the fabulous Ray Bonneville on harp. I was delighted to catch up with so many friends from all over the USA and Australia.  I hope you'll take time to check out Blame Sally, Ray Bonneville, Walter Strauss, Diana Jones - just some of the musical highlights for me.  James Burton and Albert Lee reminded us that great guitar playing is all about less is more!!

MUSICFOG.COM
Jessie Scott is someone who's been involved with U.S. radio for many years and it was sad to hear she'd been lost in the merger of Sirius and XM Radio, along with many other great radio presenters.  But the silver lining is in the creation of her new venture MusicFog.com, along with her mates Ben and Beans.  MusicFog.com is truely embracing the future of media by creating a site that contains text, video interviews and filmed performances.   Jessie and I had a chat prior to my show in Herndon, Virginia and you can watch it on YouTube.   Their site also features a bunch of live performances shot in Memphis during the Folk Alliance conference.




AUDREY @ THE BLUEBIRD
Saturday March 28th I'm thrilled to be performing In The Round at the famous Bluebird Cafe, Nashville.  Jeff Talmadge, Eric Brace, Tim Thompson and I will be swapping songs and stories from 6.30pm.

MARCH IS RED CROSS MONTH
My heart goes out to all Australians affected by the recent Victorian bushfires.  Australia experiences bushfires every summer, but this year conditions were prime for massive devastation - soaring temperatures, zero humidity.  In 1967 my family lost our home to widespread fires in Tasmania, when 60 + people died.  Since then Volunteer Brigades have been created and better education is available regarding preparing for and guarding against bushfires.  But in February '09 as in February '67, no-one anticipated the speed with which the fires spread, the winds they create and the heat and lack of oxygen that accompanies them.  
Back then, my mother saved me, and later the Red Cross saved us by providing clothing and household items.  To be dispossessed leaves a permanent scar but the generosity of strangers is healing.
Red Cross Australia has received millions of dollars and thousands of clothing donations from all over Australia.  Much needed, for while Victoria burns, Queensland floods.
And if you're a smoker PLEASE DON'T FLICK YOUR BUTTS AWAY - carry a portable ashtray, take them home, put them in the trash  - be mindful of your impact on our environment.

Red Cross America is literally 'in the red' after so many recent natural disasters in the U.S.  It needs financial help so please consider donating money or blood.  You can make a difference by helping an organization that really does make a difference.


With Love to...

- John & Julie Pennell on the arrival of Eva Lauren
- Jo and Elly Drosihn - we're glad you're safe and well
- Vickie Lucero & Capitan for growing our Nashville family
- Cora Lynn, our American Dingo, for surviving a brush with a car
- Mez for shaving your head - anything is better than that haircut
- Bill and Mary Aaldacushion, Dan Rushing, Rob & Connie Redus for your generosity & friendship
- Jon Dee Graham for staying alive for 50 years, against all odds

love Audrey x