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2006

December unfurls and I revisit Taiwan to my dear friend and music buddy Jack (Daryl) Melbourne. On recording we have "BackBeat - the sessions" and 10 years later the release of Official Bootleg "Bluegrass: Made in Taiwan" - see sound bites on main website. There are only wonderful memories of music through Jack. The Taiwan times were shared with Canada Bluegrass star, Jenny Lester on whose Birthday I write this, Dec 14, and a host of Australian performers (See CD link just above & http://www.jennylester.com)

So I invited Jack here as a Banjo/ Singer performer in 96 and there he stayed! Became a Chinese language student; great Dobro (acoustic slide guitar) player; co-wrote a CanCan show; co-ordinated a Stunt Show; produced a Saudi Arabian Magic Show (even trained the Tiger!); opened a Pub called Banjos, then a Pizza Bar (well the locals couldn't get it right!) and called it. Banjos; a Theatre Bar er... Banjos till the present day of the natural progression to. Museum Curator(!) to a private gallery 'Chi Mei' in Tai Nan (presenting an historic music collection including Stradivaris and Guarneri Violins - most of which are loaned to exceptional students out of Asia).

He does run a bar in the time between but has confused us by calling it 'The Warehouse', in Hsinchu. He was the creative force though all these events which rode successive waves of the right place at the right time but to put a little icing on the cake, anyone with a printing project should drop into
http://www.printingasia.com he'll do the right thing by you there too!

And yes, the Strad plays very nicely thank you very much
Special thanks to Chi-Mei Museum Vice Executive Fuchi Hsu - Director of Taiwan's Chi-Mei Mandolin Orchestra.

Now I don't quote from emails but this one is too big a hug to leave behind. Going from 1722 above to moments with my 2005 Blue Chameleon 5-string Epoch Fiddle here. A replay of last meeting Xavier at Woodford Folk Fest in Australia last Xmas - always an absolute pleasure X.

{Do you recall the Hillside Festival in Ontario, Canada?

Your (Dya Singh Group) workshop with the Quebec band and, especially, the reggae band were the highlights of a beloved festival that has gotten too big too fast. You did what Hillside used to do: community, contact, a sum that shines far greater than the parts (come to think of it, that last bit is almost religious, and my soul stirs itself secular)...

I'm not explaining myself well, and am gettin' shy here. You burst through every expectation, limit and cliche to connect with and inspire other musicians and the audience. Rapture.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for a precious Hillside moment.

Friends dubbed you the Blue Guru, later to become the Cool Blue Guru. You riffed the universe up and down my spine... }

Dang nice huh!!

Must mention the email outs lately have been slow due to computer^%$#@#$... ah but some form of Zen has prevailed and all is nearly back to normal after 2 months of Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh! in those private quiet moments of course!

Coming up is The Lawnmowers at Harrietville Bluegrass Fest near Bright in Vic snowy mountains. Melb briefly and then finishing Teresa Hughes CD in Albany, WA while also workshopping the 100 or so fiddle kids there.

A hall concert in Fremantle on Sat Dec 3 with Simon Nield & choir before 10 days in Taiwan with Daryl(Jack) Melbourne from BackBeat & Fargone Beauties fame to er... chill awhile before ...

Woodford , Cygnet, Tamworth & New Zealand Festival unleash. Woodford is going to be absolutely over the top in great players & jams - Totally Gourdgeous, Dya Singh, JigZag, Tamerisque, Jodi Martin, Willow (Gypsy Hotclub) and ..... ya just gotta be there!!!

This year's mid year tour included USA/ Canada with Dya Singh World Music Group - San Fran. LA, Vancouver, Seattle, a day in London!, Kenya(2 weeks), Darwin & home mid August. Tour includes the band's tradition of weddings, partys, festivals & temples

Live recording soon - Saturday 12 November at 8pm
Sunday 13 November at 3pm
NEXUS CABARET SPACE - LION ARTS CENTRE
Cnr North Tce & Morphett St. Adelaide
BOOKINGS VENUETIX 08 8225 8888
or ARTBEAT MANAGEMENT 0418 839 264-

Otherwise see gigguide on main home page - www.andrewclermont.com.au

I caught up with ol' Three Chord Wonder Bassman, Daniel Duffin & from The WayBacks, mandolin/guitarman James Nash - at least for a fine Laksa in San Fran but then there was a Jazz Festival in the Bay area at thetime - a few late nights!

Oct - Totally Gourdgeous toured mid north NSW and recorded new CD at Rod MacCormacks wonderful Studio.

Rob Long & Doug Bull from The Lawnmowers made it back for the Dorrigo Bluegrass/ Folk Festival after sampling Ireland and various parts of Europe and China!. OZ has invaded there this year! Karen Lynne & Acoustic Shock - coming back from Denmark to the Supper Club Sat 28th Jan 2006

Meanwhile Jane Brownlee who soared recently in 'Celtic Connundrums' with Ollie Francis & I at Glen Innes Celtic Fest traipsed Canada soaking up the wild fiddle zones there.

Best of luck & life to all who's time it is to spread the music word.

And for those wanting to support or show their Fiddle World connection go to

www.goldenfiddleawards.org.au

Now looking back!
So there I was in Albany,WA, in March, mixing down tracks for ol' friend Teresa Hughes when it was time to fly to Perth, in time to fly to Sydney in time to hop into a train to get to the car of Jane Brownlee to get to Tamworth, to pickup the van, load it & get to Glen Innes in time to set up and play under the beautiful stars at the local winery - with not a minute to spare! All in a days work!
Hi All you fine folk, welcome here - world of The Supper Club, Fiddlers Festival, Totally Gourdgeous, Dya Singh, Celtic Conundrums & The Lawnmowers plus The NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Contest and The Golden Fiddle Awards! And.....
immediately coming up is the Dya Singh tour of Tamworth to Brisbane via Armidale, Wauchope, Dorrigo & Bangalow from May 18 to May 29 -

Most of you are from a concert mailing list but many are by other means of chance, history or design. Anyone wrongly here, just let us know. And though it be a big ol' world, very little is without some design.

Some sad news first off. A dear fiddle student, Anna Disher, just 15 and became this year's NoHoldsBarred Youth Champ, lost her life in a tragic traffic accident just outside her home at Kootingal near Tamworth. I'd had the pleasure of teaching her off & on over the last years and was looking forward to some time together this month at home - alas the busy year. She said she'd always be a kid - too sadly true indeed. Last friday was most amazing funeral service with full Tamworth Symphony (she'd been 1st violin), choir and video/ multimedia of her zestful life brought us all undone. A rose coloured balloon from each symphony member with a message to beloved Anna, were released into a tumbling sky. I was asked to play the pieces she had won with earlier in January. Catharsis & Possum Up a Gum Stump 2 all time favourites of mine as well. She was one of the greatest kids to teach - there was a river of tears coming out of the Baptist church last Saturday. If you f!
eel inclined, send your thoughts to Paul, Lynda & Miriam at lyndaloobs@bigpond.com. There is an Anna Jay Disher scholarship, through the the Tamworth Conservatory of Music being planned. Show your interest if you please.

Special mention of friend Jasmine MacDonald who donated a month of life to the orphan victims of the Tsunami affected Indonesia. During her time there she photographed a chilling sequence of events and views which fortunately also contain some signs of hope despite the way much of the politics/ military get tangled and forget that it's REAL people, 1000s upon 1000s who are the victims, let alone lost their lives. jasmine@castlemaine.net for those in support.

Last letter out, I was about share a solo gig at Adelaide Folk Centre with dear young flautist, Lucy Langham - now she's taken my place in USA with Dya Singh!! She's great, I trust they are having fine adventures in Florida and further. An overlap of band affairs (surprisingly rare) meant Lucy & I crossed in the sky as I made my way to Perth & the Fairbridge Folk Festival with Totally Gourdgeous.
An solid performance fortnight in LA, Orange County & Santiago with Dya Singh ranging from the LA Bahai Centre to Peace & Multi-faith Concerts. I thank the Bicky Singh family for their mountains of hospitality.
A fun last day was had with a blind date jamm organised by 'da boys' Keith & Dheeraj' who had found a social spot, 'Marty's,' in hub of OC. So I had a phone number and the 'Jamm' had heard there was an Aussie Didgeridoo player about. So I made the call and 'Brian' said he'd pick me up Sunday at 3 from Marty's. Somehow I'd never made it there before - either catching up on sleep, on the Net or getting my head around Mac computering. Ah such a diligent soul. However, Sunday came along and I remembered to take a change of clothes from the flowing Indian stage gear and just by chance really we arrived near home base around 3 and I was dropped off with Didg, Guitar, Mando & Fiddle - just to be sure!
I step in to the hole in the wall bar and every head turns, I hear there's a party at Brians? And we are soon all heading where long cars abound and the drummer has the smallest vehicle - a van.
The door opens to the foyer where the drums are established and down to the right lies the Piano covered in music beside a PA & guitar amps and the music is away. Just piano & my Epoch 5-string fiddle in Jazz ballad land to begin with, soon some Blues with Harmonica, Slide Guitar, and growing drums. Enter Kevin Ray Putzier, and it seems Tom Waits has hit the piano and microphone. The place is really starting to cook. He's no slouch on the Guitar either and soon there's the sound of Trumpet, Dang that boy has some variety of style and we were having great time, food wine and stories - they sure like the didgeridoo. Suddenly there is another Trumpet, well look who's arrived! But no! it's Kev with a trumpet out both sides of his mouth! A fine finale to a bold week in California, thanks to all those who showed us around and gave so much of their time. Meanwhile a toss over the Pacific and a flick over the many deserts of Oz and a mere 23hrs , LA to Perth!

The Supper Club came to Western Australia with surprise guest Pianist, Paul Gioia, 'look out Mama! ' we wove a fine journey together with Carl Pannuzzo & Mal Webb from Totally Gourdgeous and Rueben Kooperman holding us together on ideal drums. Finale was all hands on the Piano and tag team lick for lick on the ivories. A ton of fun and a grand start to the Fairbridgefestival.com. TG had great gigs and a pleasure to catchup with the many chums - Tony McManus (may your new House be a haven for us, er You!), busy bee Liz Frencham, Jane Brownlee, Colcannon, and saw all the moments of Doug deVries & Diana Clark (I promise to workup the Brazilian moves & melodies); the Wise Family, Jodi & Robyn Martin and Spooky Steve Taberner; the new friends well met with heart & soul - Luv ya's for it all.
For those who have checked out the Emovies on my Homepage will have seen sublime Simon Nield in action on guitar, also the perfect host to wayward musicians together with Lindy & ever creative Ella.
Thankyou Freo Fremantle for the huge turnout midweek at Kulcha Club for Totally Gourdgeous (they will be heading to Tamworth Festival 2006 and perhaps a preliminary stab at the October Supper Club).

A revisit to HarbourSound Festival, Albany was still awaiting and the exuberant Wala from Ghana with the Perth Reggae Funk crew made for my favourite night - a big Dance. But then there were the 40 young fiddlers who joined TG for a Cajun/ Celtic meltdown with the Black Town Jig wrapping it up. Michael & Margaret your Just fiddling inspiration has worked gleeful wonders.

So have you been to Albany, Western Australia? A very special landscape. A full moon, misty sunset views and great music to boot as I write. Nearby west are the great Kauri trees, one of the best BlowHoles (http://hometown.aol.com/clrmnta/TGPosters.html ) and spectacular coastline. I've just begun recording at Mudbrick Studio for Teresa Hughes, a one time Tamworthian with a song of the days including gigs at Nundle with the Three Chord Wonders.
Thinking back on those times - the mid 80s - all of 20 years ago - Dang! The kids being born, many parties and mainly after the gigs; rehearsing music - shock horror(!); dogs & cats to horses; many nights by the fireplace, big handmade birthday cards - still got them! The years feel like looking at a fine wine though an antique glass goblet - but sample too much and who knows what you might uncover!
Funnily enough, not only am I finally performing songs written & recorded then, but reuniting with friends from said era on CD and Festivals - see the next Lawnmowers CD and all the Totally Gourdgeous CDs in particular.
Lawrie Minson, the driving force of 'The (historic) Wonders' is joining the Supper Club presentation of Dya Singh at Armidale , at the Cattlemans on May 20 with his Mohan Veener slide Guitar.Dya Singh comes to the New England area with concerts & a Tabla Workshop in schools & venues from Barraba , Tamworth, Dorrigo to Wauchope. See Gigguide from
http://members.aol.com/clrmnta/myhomepage/profile.html

February was the New Zealand Tour as Totally Gourdgeous -
Thankyou , Thankyou oh wonderous folk there. We had a fantastic time! Photos here soon (eventually!).
Auckland Folk Festival/ Waihi Bush Festival/ Arthurs Pass/ The Mussel Inn/ steps of Parliment - Wellington (front page of The Dominion news)/ inter island ferries to name but a few!
The range of appearances from acoustic to blitz and visiting/ diving/soaking at the many waterfalls & Kerosine Creek (near boiling!) plus tidal rips and Blackest beaches to amaze.

November 2005

Ah dear Folk! A fine welcome back here or new hello from the recent tour meetings. But should you be here and not want to be, just let us know.
I'll be appearing in most states in many guises between now February so please check out the Gigguide at http://www.andrewclermont.com.au and further news at "Latest News" featuring a pic with Xavier Rudd near Toronto, Canada as well. Adelaide this week!, Victoria next, then WA, Taiwan, QLD, TAS, Tamworth - January's Supper Club tickets are already available from http://www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/ticketsales ; as are the Golden Fiddle Awards! Special Guests are Totally Gourdgeous, Japanese Banjo Champ, Montz Matzumoto, and back by public demand, the extra-ordinairy Sophie Raymond all with many guests - complete with the NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Contest - and all at new times of 6pm & 9pm so you might even have time to sleep!)
At this 2006 TamFest the Fiddlers Festival will be celebrating our 10th Year of performance. If you're coming to Tamworth late Jan it will be a must. Tickets also via the Info Centre then it will be on to NZ and across VIC to SA end of Feb! I'll be heading to Albany, Western Australia, shortly to teach the 100 or so "Just Fiddling"crew. Previous trips have been with Totally Gourdgeous for their annual music festival in April and workshops on the side. They said:
"Andrew! Thankyou so much for your kind plug for Just Fiddling.
We had a rehearsal yesterday and all the kids were very pleased, left clutching your Posters!
What a life you have, touring with your fiddle. It's exciting just reading about it.
More power to your elbow!! Best regards, Margaret Gunson"

Please note: Reason to Breath Tour - Not to be missed!
Parris & Puyu Macleod (Piano /Flute), Christian Marsh (Harmonica) & Mark Atkins (Didgeridoo) first seen together at The Supper Club are touring beautiful worldly music late November through Wyong 20, Armidale 25, Tamworth 26, Bellingen Dec9, Byron Bay Jan 7 & Lake Macquarie Email parris@cloudstudios.com for details.
Seeking to help someone in difficulties? Try AFAP Program Manager Uma Menon (Aust) and Masaja (Kenya - site in French)

So now the world via the pics attached - beginning via Adelaide at the time of last main mail out. All these photos are taken from my 3CCC Vid/Still Panasonic Video Camera while still in my hand!
I had the best birthday weekend with a fine finale at the Psychic Fair in Wayville Show grounds the last June with Tamerisque, all family version of my fav SA group Brigalow. They are (from me -Janet (piano), Alex(mandolin/fiddle), Hugh(violins) & Jane(synth clarinet) Gordon) who, together with Dya Singh, Totally Gourdgeous and a further stella gathering of Artists & faithful, will head to Woodford Folk Fest this Xmas just outside Brisbane. I've been joyfully sharing music with the Gordon family well over a decade (see pics in PhotoHouse on my main website). They cast their "Enya meets Bach in a Bulgarian Gypsy camp" style all over SA and this year the National Folk Fest (where young Alex saw little sleep after meeting & bouncing notes with NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Champ Jess Randall) onto Woodford, Cygnet(Tas/ Jan) and Fairbridge Festival in the West after next Easter. And great CDs as well!!
Woodford features the mighty Fire-event and the Art of Fire is a fascinating realm - here be a snap (taken at 1/8000 of a second!)from the Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival last week, of the flames feeding the jams late into the night - The Lawnmowers surprise appearance entranced many both off and on stage - soon to reappear at the Harrietville Bluegrass Festival, Vic snow zone. Nov 19/20.
Qantas 747 museum as viewed from Lance Smith's Motel, Longreach, Central QLD while on the Fiddlers Festival Arts Tour last year. Lance brings a couple of Bus loads of CM fans to Tamworth and ensures the music lovers make it to The Supper Club each year. Cockatours is the tour group name if you want to suggest it to potential visitors.
The Head Qantas pilot landed the 747 Jumbo Jet to it's final home, without being able to see the too short runway! Thousands turned out for the successful spectacle and well worth a visit anytime.
Here we begin the animal dedication from across the planet - the poetically placed 'roos.
See my "Gigguide" for the meeting with a real Chameleon -in Kenya.
Next, in Nairobi's near to city wildlife park, this wildly purring cheetah with surprised young onlookers was very tough furred but so relaxed it was unbelievable that it's 60 to 80 mph running speeds were possible.
The Dya Singh group were invited back to Kenya for 2 weeks this year. Appearances included a highly ornate Hindu Temple and many warmly welcoming Sikh Gurdwaras (temples). We took in a good amount of safari sight seeing provided by our hosts, family of Sardar Swaran Singh Garial and his close friends Charanjit and Gurpreet, the Sikh Supreme Concil and Mr. Jandu of Arusha, Tanzania. All was largely mediated by our dear Satt Matharu, contact person for Kenya based in UK and special thanks to our Nairobi driver, Jonalan and all who provided the amazing food.
In Tamworth on return this year I was coincidentally back in time for the second fundraiser to include the Chikuni Mission near Monze, Zambia - about 7,000 Zambians and 6 white people - part of the $15,000 raised that evening will go to the Women of Chikuni to help gain work independance (last year we provided sewing machines). The concert featured performances from Opera Star Anna Lisa Kerrigan and Parris & PuYu from The Supper Club plus a last minute addition of Didgeridoo from yours truly. Anna had mentioned that our Didgeridoo & Vocal duet last year in the Betting Ring of the Tamworth Racecourse (moved vaguely indoors due to rain)became her most bizarre performance ever! Particularly in the pounding rain and wind on the corrugated iron!
To complete the Kenyan event, I was able to meet with the headmaster of a student I sponsor there and after fair haggling, completed payment for her school years. Kenya has a wild corruption
record - even the World Bank won't lend to the government - so seeing exactly where the money goes is quite a bonus.
I can't thank the bands and groups I am part of enough for the opportunity to participate in helping in these varieties of ways across the planet.
A devoted photographer & videoist I relish any chance to get close to wildlife as you may well have noticed! So there I was walking back from the London Tube station at Hounslow West and glance into a parked car and lo & behold - a python! And not being backward, there I am holding the slithery and weighty beast!

London has been home for up to 4 weeks a year over the last 5 years and Hounslow where the we used to see/ HEAR! the Concord and never stopping Jumbos scraping the rooftops, is on the edge of the Tube - a mighty multicultural haven. This year we had a single
nights performance stopover at a favourite temple Ramgharia, Southall. Supported by fans and friends from as far afield as Los
Angeles, Seattle and even Edmonton and from afar in UK - Swansea, Wolverhampton, Torquay, Milton Keynes and Birmingham. A great evening of sacred music and was dedicated to the victims of the London (7/7) Bombings.
I was able to catch up with young Piano whizz, Tom Donald from Tamworth, last seen by us at the Piano Nights of the Supper Club (coming up soon on Australia Day, January). He has settled well into the London multicultural stream and even receiving student scholarship sponsoring from his local Bank manager, go Tom!!
The eagle captured here was part of the Healesville bird display in Victoria. Step daughter Tash had just completed her HSC and was holidaying with Pauline & I to celebrate. The Gallery is essentially finished and holds an amazing amount of Pauline's Art. It's funny how a building of paintings comes nto existence and the original house still seems quite full - where does it all come & go!! Bottom line is they are mostly up for sale now along with her 5 verse&drawing books, 3 CDs for peace & healing; and Video to her first CD featuring her very gentle coloured pencil art.
Third daughter Nayia from gentile days on my Solo CD art of 'The Longing' at 7 years old, expounding her "Moment of Carpe Diem" has now added her impassionedvocals to the new Totally Gourdgeous recording. A short but most fun filled tour of New England area of NSW brought us to Rod MacCormack's Cellar Studio (on a hilltop funnily enough) in Erina, Central Coast (home to the biggest Shopping Mall in Southern hemisphere? The one in Edmonton, Canada has a Wave Beach, Dolphin, Submarine &Ice Skating zones - could take a while to beat that one!! But.. who needs to... We SO enjoyed recording/ living there and are very happy with the results. An ABC radio doco on the making of "Stroke of Midnight" via Scott Levi will help celebrate it's release this Xmas. Thanks to Superstar Beccy Cole for help there and we wish her the best in her appearances for the Aussie Soldiers in the Middle East coming up with Angry Anderson & more. Bec & I toured supporting Tom T Hall, and just prior saw outback Oz as part of the 1994 Brian Young Show. Wow! Over 10 years ago! She even sang wonderful harmonies on 'Letters from Home' on 'The Longing' CD dedicated to my daughters and written on that 94 tour!
Many chance happenings direct what we do next or influence how much we'll appreciate a moment in time. The main photo here is
outside the Nairobi Snake park in the Aloe Garden. Just a casual stroll and I spotted this little gem of a snake endeavouring to hide
in the green. Closer, closer and closer till only 15 cm away and yay! A frozen moment to reflect much that is in life. The moments
where we were willing to go a little further, wait a little longer, say yes when many would say no or visa versa.
Everyday has these precious possibilities, keep your eyes and hearts on the precious, the rest tends to follow.
Grateful regards to you all, our friends across the planet. Thanks for the help when you could, the support when you did, and the follow through on the concepts set in motion along the way,
Long Hugs, Andrew Clermont & Bands

Spring 2005

Andrew Clermont's Touring Details and Latest News - heading across USA/Canada/London/Kenya/Darwin with Dya Singh in the Spring of 2005

Top of west Victoria at The Grampians with Fiddlers Festival (Clare O’Meara, John Coker & Mark Oats plus friend Rosemary) June 2005

Big thanks from Fiddlers Festival who enjoyed fine hospitality through regional SA/ VIC - from the Art Minister through to the technicians who helped as only they can and the very dear audiences. Thanks also for all those birthday well wishes.

Above is part of the Fiddlers Festival with Fan/Friend Rosemary/ fiddler Mark Oats/Bassman John Coker / fid,piano,mando & voice Clare O'Meara/ and lil' ol' me on vid cam snap technique. See www.fiddlersfestival.com for more pics & stories

Now touring USA/ Canada with Dya Singh World Music Group - San Fran. LA, Vancouver, Seattle, a day in London!, Kenya(2 weeks), Darwin & home mid August. Tour includes the band's tradition of weddings, partys, festivals & temples - see gigguide on main home page - www.andrewclermont.com.au

Catching up with ol' Three Chord Wonder Bassman, Daniel Duffin & from The WayBacks, mandolin/guitarman James Nash - at least for a fine Laksa in San Fran but then there is a Jazz Festival in the Bay area at the moment - could be a late night!

Later this year in Oct will be Totally Gourdgeous touring mid north NSW and recording new CD at Rod MacCormacks wonderful Studio. They will be special feature of the Supper Club tour of Oct in the New England area 7.8.9th.

Regards to Rob Long & Doug Bull from The Lawnmowers sampling Ireland and various parts of Europe and linking up with Karen Lynne in Denmark and elsewhere festivals. OZ has invaded there this year!

Meanwhile Jane Brownlee who soared recently in 'Celtic Connundrums' with Ollie Francis & I at Glen Innes Celtic Fest is somewhere in Canada soaking up the wild fiddle zones there.

Best of luck & life to all who's time it is to spread the music word.

And for those wanting to support or show their Fiddle World connection go to

www.goldenfiddleawards.org.au

Now looking back!

So there I was in Albany,WA, in March, mixing down tracks for ol' friend Teresa Hughes when it was time to fly to Perth, in time to fly to Sydney in time to hop into a train to get to the car of Jane Brownlee to get to Tamworth, to pickup the van, load it & get to Glen Innes in time to set up and play under the beautiful stars at the local winery - with not a minute to spare! All in a days work!

Hi All you fine folk, welcome here - world of The Supper Club, Fiddlers Festival, Totally Gourdgeous, Dya Singh, Celtic Conundrums & The Lawnmowers plus The NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Contest and The Golden Fiddle Awards! And.....

immediately coming up is the Dya Singh tour of Tamworth to Brisbane via Armidale, Wauchope, Dorrigo & Bangalow from May 18 to May 29 - Most of you are from a concert mailing list but many are by other means of chance, history or design. Anyone wrongly here, just let us know. And though it be a big ol' world, very little is without some design.

Some sad news first off. A dear fiddle student, Anna Disher, just 15 and became this year's NoHoldsBarred Youth Champ, lost her life in a tragic traffic accident just outside her home at Kootingal near Tamworth. I'd had the pleasure of teaching her off & on over the last years and was looking forward to some time together this month at home - alas the busy year. She said she'd always be a kid - too sadly true indeed. Last friday was most amazing funeral service with full Tamworth Symphony (she'd been 1st violin), choir and video/ multimedia of her zestful life brought us all undone. A rose coloured balloon from each symphony member with a message to beloved Anna, were released into a tumbling sky. I was asked to play the pieces she had won with earlier in January. Catharsis & Possum Up a Gum Stump 2 all time favourites of mine as well. She was one of the greatest kids to teach - there was a river of tears coming out of the Baptist church last Saturday. If you feel inclined, send your thoughts to Paul, Lynda & Miriam at lyndaloobs@bigpond.com. There is an Anna Jay Disher scholarship, through the the Tamworth Conservatory of Music being planned. Show your interest if you please.

Special mention of friend Jasmine MacDonald who donated a month of life to the orphan victims of the Tsunami affected Indonesia. During her time there she photographed a chilling sequence of events and views which fortunately also contain some signs of hope despite the way much of the politics/ military get tangled and forget that it's REAL people, 1000s upon 1000s who are the victims, let alone lost their lives. jasmine@castlemaine.net for those in support.

Last letter out, I was about share a solo gig at Adelaide Folk Centre with dear young flautist, Lucy Langham - now she's taken my place in USA with Dya Singh!! She's great, I trust they are having fine adventures in Florida and further. An overlap of band affairs (surprisingly rare) meant Lucy & I crossed in the sky as I made my way to Perth & the Fairbridge Folk Festival with Totally Gourdgeous.

An solid performance fortnight in LA, Orange County & Santiago with Dya Singh ranging from the LA Bahai Centre to Peace & Multi-faith Concerts. I thank the Bicky Singh family for their mountains of hospitality.

A fun last day was had with a blind date jamm organised by 'da boys' Keith & Dheeraj' who had found a social spot, 'Marty's,' in hub of OC. So I had a phone number and the 'Jamm' had heard there was an Aussie Didgeridoo player about. So I made the call and 'Brian' said he'd pick me up Sunday at 3 from Marty's. Somehow I'd never made it there before - either catching up on sleep, on the Net or getting my head around Mac computering. Ah such a diligent soul. However, Sunday came along and I remembered to take a change of clothes from the flowing Indian stage gear and just by chance really we arrived near home base around 3 and I was dropped off with Didg, Guitar, Mando & Fiddle - just to be sure!

I step in to the hole in the wall bar and every head turns, I hear there's a party at Brians? And we are soon all heading where long cars abound and the drummer has the smallest vehicle - a van.

The door opens to the foyer where the drums are established and down to the right lies the Piano covered in music beside a PA & guitar amps and the music is away. Just piano & my Epoch 5-string fiddle in Jazz ballad land to begin with, soon some Blues with Harmonica, Slide Guitar, and growing drums. Enter Kevin Ray Putzier, and it seems Tom Waits has hit the piano and microphone. The place is really starting to cook. He's no slouch on the Guitar either and soon there's the sound of Trumpet, Dang that boy has some variety of style and we were having great time, food wine and stories - they sure like the didgeridoo. Suddenly there is another Trumpet, well look who's arrived! But no! it's Kev with a trumpet out both sides of his mouth!

 A fine finale to a bold week in California, thanks to all those who showed us around and gave so much of their time. Meanwhile a toss over the Pacific and a flick over the many deserts of Oz and a mere 23hrs , LA to Perth!

The Supper Club came to Western Australia with surprise guest Pianist, Paul Gioia, 'look out Mama! ' we wove a fine journey together with Carl Pannuzzo & Mal Webb from Totally Gourdgeous and Rueben Kooperman holding us together on ideal drums. Finale was all hands on the Piano and tag team lick for lick on the ivories. A ton of fun and a grand start to the Fairbridgefestival.com. TG had great gigs and a pleasure to catchup with the many chums - Tony McManus (may your new House be a haven for us, er You!), busy bee Liz Frencham, Jane Brownlee, Colcannon, and saw all the moments of Doug deVries & Diana Clark (I promise to workup the Brazilian moves & melodies); the Wise Family, Jodi & Robyn Martin and Spooky Steve Taberner; the new friends well met with heart & soul - Luv ya's for it all.

For those who have checked out the Emovies on my Homepage will have seen sublime Simon Nield in action on guitar, also the perfect host to wayward musicians together with Lindy & ever creative Ella.

Thankyou Freo Fremantle for the huge turnout midweek at Kulcha Club for Totally Gourdgeous (they will be heading to Tamworth Festival 2006 and perhaps a preliminary stab at the October Supper Club).

A revisit to HarbourSound Festival, Albany was still awaiting and the exuberant Wala from Ghana with the Perth Reggae Funk crew made for my favourite night - a big Dance. But then there were the 40 young fiddlers who joined TG for a Cajun/ Celtic meltdown with the Black Town Jig wrapping it up. Michael & Margaret your Just fiddling inspiration has worked gleeful wonders.

So have you been to Albany, Western Australia? A very special landscape. A full moon, misty sunset views and great music to boot as I write. Nearby west are the great Kauri trees, one of the best BlowHoles (http://hometown.aol.com/clrmnta/TGPosters.html ) and spectacular coastline. I've just begun recording at Mudbrick Studio for Teresa Hughes, a one time Tamworthian with a song of the days including gigs at Nundle with the Three Chord Wonders.

Thinking back on those times - the mid 80s - all of 20 years ago - Dang! The kids being born, many parties and mainly after the gigs; rehearsing music - shock horror(!); dogs & cats to horses; many nights by the fireplace, big handmade birthday cards - still got them! The years feel like looking at a fine wine though an antique glass goblet - but sample too much and who knows what you might uncover!

Funnily enough, not only am I finally performing songs written & recorded then, but reuniting with friends from said era on CD and Festivals - see the next Lawnmowers CD and all the Totally Gourdgeous CDs in particular.

Lawrie Minson, the driving force of 'The (historic) Wonders' is joining the Supper Club presentation of Dya Singh at Armidale , at the Cattlemans on May 20 with his Mohan Veener slide Guitar.Dya Singh comes to the New England area with concerts & a Tabla Workshop in schools & venues from Barraba , Tamworth, Dorrigo to Wauchope. See Gigguide from

http://members.aol.com/clrmnta/myhomepage/profile.html

February was the New Zealand Tour as Totally Gourdgeous -

Thankyou , Thankyou oh wonderous folk there. We had a fantastic time! Photos here soon (eventually!).

Auckland Folk Festival/ Waihi Bush Festival/ Arthurs Pass/ The Mussel Inn/ steps of Parliment - Wellington (front page of The Dominion news)/ inter island ferries to name but a few!

The range of appearances from acoustic to blitz and visiting/ diving/soaking at the many waterfalls & Kerosine Creek (near boiling!) plus tidal rips and Blackest beaches to amaze.

Now just while you are here - way down the bottom here is a Photo Gallery & Links button. Please visit for some seriously good views! Read on or Jump ahead !

Now if you have any interest in Fiddle Music -

Announcing the Golden Fiddle Awards and....

THAT'S RIGHT! An acknowledgement of Australian & New Zealand Fiddledom

You can nominate your favourite teacher, enter your own fiddle composition (any style) or nominate a Best Fiddler etc

see http://www.goldenfiddleawards

Seven categories:

Best fiddler (as a soloist)

Best band, group, ensemble or orchestra featuring a fiddler

Best CD by a fiddler as soloist

Best CD by a band, group, ensemble or orchestra featuring a fiddler

Lifetime achievement award

Best fiddle teacher

Best fiddle composition

Entries close Late Oct

Andrew Clermont’s World News & Birthday Party Tour!!

  - via Dya Singh Group, The Lawnmowers, Kavisha Mazzellas, The Borderers and The Supper Club

Please come celebrate my birthday in Sydney, June 5 at The Harp, Tempe (just down Princes Highway from Newtown) with The Lawnmowers, JigZag (see links below) and Waiting for Guiness! A big night indeed - and a rare year to actually be home and share a 'Hoppy Birdy' - hope you can make it! (Sorry – a bit short notice! Just back from a month in USA). You’ll also have a chance to pick up our latest CD releases from The Lawnmowers & The Supper Club.

The Lawnmowers will then appear at Harrigans out from Newcastle in the Hunter Valley wine zone!

Latest CDs!

If you have internet, we have E-Movies about to appear on the home site of recent concerts!! (Tell us your Email!)

Ahead is the Clermont Touring Festival run: including "The Franciscan Montz of Brigalow", "LawnMazzellas of the Hot Club", "Borderering on Gourdgeous", "Dya Singh on the The Borderers of Kavisha" and other remarkable encounters in the 'lala' land of musical clermontology! Also World Tour peace making with Dya Singh Group - see below.

"The Franciscan Montz of Brigalow"

    23 years ago or so, before moving out of home, I wandered up to the Kapunda Celtic Festival for my first festival weekend of soaking in tunes galore. My brother, Alex, took me and we learnt of Ian Simpson, a phenomenal kid banjo picker in Perth via a cassette tape played in a next door tent; discovered the marvels of mass fiddles in reverberent, enclosed spaces; bought some very swish 2nd hand turquoise coloured glassware; and saw the Tritt family play & win on most of the instruments visable that weekend. Oh and we saw that the saxophone could really rip up a fiddle/pipe tune!

Well young Ian Tritt who won most prizes that weekend (those that John Munro hadn't!), sat down with me after imploring him to teach me a fine tune he'd made up.

Now over 2 decades later I returned to the same festival, as a headline act, featuring the very same tune in a few flavours and segways into the many other tune realms I've since then tampered with.

The weekend went a step more wonderful by being joined by Japanese banjo man, Montz Matzumoto, who I'd met at the Frances Folk Gathering a year earlier.

Also re-met at Frances was John Francis. As fate & fortune would have it, we have each won the Frances Musicianship Award! Fine design by Kym Fulgrabe, Kapunda Festival meant John also joined us with his award winning voice & charm.

However folks, yes indeed it didn't stop there either. The links and wonderment just kept going, for not only were John Francis and I also member to the illustrious group, Brigalow, but the other grand half of this much cherished group were also performing at the Festival as Tamerisque!

Thus with just a short step of influence, we were able to conjure a rare Brigalow Reunion. And what a hoot it was. A large slice of the Gordon Family together with John & I covering the classically twisted Bulgarian Gypsy Bluegrass & Enya'd Celtic music we so enjoy! Potentially there will be a CD available from the night!

"LawnMazzellas of the Hot Club"

A very short week later came the Easter National Folk Festival in Canberra, ACT. A very timely arrangement because a dear friend's mother had just passed away and I was coincidentaly flying in, exactly on time, for the funeral & wake. Our condolences to Nick Dooley & Family. Also running on the Saturday was the Griffith Wine Festival (near Narrandera) in the midst of NSW.

The recently formed Lawnmowers were meeting up to play/ jam and CD launch (The Good Road) at the National all weekend. Just prior, I discovered dear Kavisha Mazzellas was also coming up. She had been Pt Fairy's 'Artist of the Year', where we had last soared together and we were certainly keen to continue the flavour.     

"Borderering on Gourdgeous"

It is Victoria's year at the National but my Melbourne realm, Totally Gourdgeous, were omitted. No sadness though, because Griffith was very keen for the band plus good buddies The Borderers - who are generally looking for a band to augment them - and we discovered that TG makes a fine compliment to Alex & Jim. Hearing Carl Pannuzzo on full drum kit with Mal Webb getting lowdown on his Steinberg Bass was a real treat.          b

( TG will shortly return to Austria, late June, with material for our 3rd CD coming along well - the fun and life exploration continues! )

Alas the 8hr round trip - but thanks to Dave Hellens (Banjo in The Lawnmowers) for the car loan. I get back just in time for the midnight to dawn jam in the session bar with many folk including players from 'The Waybacks' USA. With any luck I'll catch them shortly here in California. All this plus mixing sound & sharing wild melodies with the Gypsy Hot Club, see some of them at the next Supper Club in Armidale, June 11.    

Suddenly, before you could say, "HHeLiBeBKNOFNeNaMgAlSiPSKArCa", Fremantle, Western Australia, was in view. Fine friend John Reed and co-player with Kavisha offered some video editing expertise & tools and soon I was buried in the process. I'd brought the video footage from my Supper Club concerts during the Tamworth Festival last January and proceeded to produced 19, 2 minute clips from 17hrs of concert recordings! (Soon to be up on the web)

"Dya Singh on the The Borderers of Kavisha"

All this was done while touring 2 weeks with Dya Singh as well. Sleep debt took on an extra zero or two. Thanks to all who came to the concerts, our CD sales tell us you enjoyed them - we had none to take home! The Fairbridge Folk Festival - my third visit - and looking forward to coming  back - perhaps with Totally Gourdgeous next year (looks promising). We had a great time with Dya Singh Group, sounding particularly holy in The Chapel (see montage pics).

 The Sunday morning Gospel segment was again very special. A mingle of the many festival performers. I had the joy of a funky bluegrass version of "Talk about Suffering" dueting with the 'Fair'gospel-queen, Jenny, and a solid audience choir part in my version of "Weary Land".

At one point The Borderers thought they were going to have a quiet night. But come the first bars of beat, the trusty Fairbridge crew appeared out of the night and were fully into it till the last drop. (see B&Wpics in montage) Alex & Jim gave all and I enjoyed some good thrashing fiddling together with the solid Mike Pigeney on drums plus special guest also from Dya Singh, Quentin Eyers playing bass (on low strung babyTaylor guitar)?!

The night jams, were in part, a continuation from the National with 'The Waybacks' not letting the strings get too cool.

John Reed (ex-Sensitive Cowpersons) and I trio’d with dearest Kavisha Mazzella covering north mediterrainean flavours with heart & soul. It's been an absolute bonus joy doing the trio of Festivals with them as well - Pt Fairy, The National & Fairbridge. A big thanks from the performers to the organisers there of. (see montage above)

2

MAY - to USA

An all too brief time at home with friends & family before the train to Sydney & Liz Frenchams beautiful bohemian evening supported by Kate Fagan - casting melodies & lyrics like balmy evening sea breezes. (the Glebe "Chapel" venue)

An over night jet and it's California - and straight into the thick of it.

Local TLC, Beverly Hill style. A dear friend of the Dya Singh Group, Simeran, while about to pour some just boiled Chai tea, doesn't notice the pot has twisted as it releases several cupfuls of steaming tea down her left leg & foot. A large area of 1st & 2nd degree burns, follow the screams of shock. Skin has already blistered as we seek water & ice cold items from the freezer to ease the pain and further damage. 911 is also rung in the panic. It is made clear that it is only a saucepan of boiling tea but were asking advice.

We had to leave for a performance organised by the unfortunate lass. As we head out the door, two fire engines and crew appear with sirens and give serious first aid. No problem too big or small in them thar hills. We hope recovery was as speedy.

It's a concert a day and sometimes three; between temples (Gurdwarras), Inter-faith events along side Peace & Justice affairs (see first picture) and even a few schools. The ramifications of Sept 9/11 have reached deep into multi-racial considerations and the Dya Singh Group has been grateful to be part of the peace making in these times.

San Francisco & Dallas, USA now, with a return trip to launch the Sikh exhibit at the Smithsoneum Museum, Washington DC then Toronto, France, Germany & special invite to The Royal Albert Hall, London late September.

Here we have the San Diego Peace & Justice Building in the background , Parvyn dancing in the garden in front and Dya Singh Group in concert at the last OZ concert in an Arts Centre, Perth.

PICTURES - see the groovy montages in colour on "Latest News" off the Homepage on the Web or in “Newsletters”

The Outro!

Do check in the the GigGuide on the Home Page which features 'The Lawnmowers' CD cover & pics with brand new links to latest tour pics & sites - we will be nearby some time soon for sure! One band, carnation or another!

Some last words of insight (below) come from your emails and letters, drop a line anytime,

Regards in that magic of music , Andrew Clermont

***********

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, and hour to appreciate them, but then an entire

life to forget them. Send this phrase to the people you'll never forget. It is a short message to let

them know that you will never forget them. If you don't send it to anyone, it means you are in a hurry

and have forgotten your friends. (a reality check for sure)

“You're always alone, but you're only lonely if you don't like the person you're alone with”. (Thanks Jas)

“Every so often, I like to go to the window, look up, and smile for a satellite picture” - Steven Wright (via Joe Dolce)

And now, a funky swimming thang (thanks Jinger)

http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~amimomo7/kokoro1/sakura.htm

Mantis below Mt Warning

Most photos from Andrew (and certainly assembled by!)

BETWEEN THE BANDS mentioned in the subject line we've been to: California; Sydney; the New England zone of Tamworth, Barraba & Armidale; over to Austria; Slovenia; then Washington State; Michigan, USA; Toronto, Canada; back across to Central & Southern England; Berlin, Hamburg & Bremen, Germany; Copenhagen, Denmark; then homeward through Singapore into Central Queensland! Phew! Now last update I featured a world of photo page links to Cyber-hop through (you'll find them now first up under ' LINK' on the homepage). This time it's back to some info and Gee! Guess what happened on the way to......... So yes there has been a bit to mention (from Meteorites to Bumble Bees!), but I've made it reasonably easy to spot the various band sections if you are flicking through: But first:-

Immediate GIGs in Australia (let your friends in the area know!):

In BRISBANE as FIDDLERS FESTIVAL
(Marcus Holden/ Mark Oats/ Clare O'Meara/ John Connolly/ Garry Steel/ Willie Qua/ Andrew)
Brisbane Energex Arts Festival Queensland, Australia, Sept 21 - 25 :
Tue 21 12.30pm Queen Street Mall
Wed 22 8pm Fitzy's Loganholme
Thur 23 North's Leagues Club, Kallangur
Fri 24 Ipswich Civic Hall
Sat 25 The Greek Club , West End
and

In ADELAIDE as DYA SINGH WORLD MUSIC GROUP
Saturday 2 October 8pm Nexus Cabaret Space, Lion Arts Centre, Bookings 8212 4276
The group will be Dya Singh vocals and harmonium, Dheeraj Shrestha - Tablas, Keith Preston - Bouzouki and Santoor, Harsel & Parvyn Singh vocals, Andrew Clermont - didgeridoo, violin and mandolin plus Quentin Eyers - guitars and didgeridoo (coming to Barraba, NSW, early Nov!)

In NEW ENGLAND as THE SUPPER CLUB returns
featuring Harmonica Master, Christian Marsh (See the Emovies on Homepage) with side man Dr
GoodVibes(Eddie Valk from a band with Andrew in 1988!). Special Harmony guest Belinda
Walmsley, plus regular favourites, Parris & PuYu Macleod with their beautiful Piano & Flute.
Oct 15th Benvenue Primary Morning Workshop & School Concert
Oct 15th Armidale's Cattlemans Motel ph 1800 028910
Oct 16 North Tamworth Bowling Club ph 0267 661987
Oct 17 Fundraising for Women of Kenya Featuring Opera Star Annalisa Kerrigan
at the Tamworth Race Course. Book at Tamworth Country Capital Newsagency.
Oct 18 Somerton & District Schools Concert

TOTALLY GOURDGEOUS Yundabung Festival (Cairns, QLD) 21st - 23rd Oct

THE LAWNMOWERS at Dorrigo Bluegrass & Folk Festival,NSW, 29th-31st Oct

Ph 0407753809 for bookings or more info - particularly any contenders for the Golden Fiddle
Awards & NoHoldsBarred Fid Contest

However, back to the Story! End May to end September and beyond........

FIDDLERS FESTIVAL
Today was Sept 13 in central Queensland, Mitchell to be exact, cultural centre and home to
healthful hot springs (only metres from the stage we performed on). The Fiddlers Festival had been invited to return to the Brisbane Arts Festival. Augmenting this, the Queensland Art Council saw fit to take the FF to the inner plains of this northern state. Did they really know who they were unleashing? HaHa. All superb in their fields - Marcus Holden from infinite studio sessions; Mark Oats - one of the funniest people to tour with together with Clare O'Meara both from The Bushwackers and playing like twins. Clare's vocals are a dream embraced by her piano while John Connelly, from Galapagos Duck, launches deep into his rare 6 - string Bass and struggles not to fall off stage from laughing at the antics. I get to field my Guitar styles with stabs of Mandolin & Didgeridoo with the odd flurry of Fiddle. Chilly mornings with blue sky days, Bottle Trees and local Art Gallerys with the most exciting displays I've seen in a long time - Mitchell rules the outback so far, for impressing we 'travelling folk'. Gourmet Food items like styles of Pasta, wild sauces, and jams that you just won't find in supermarkets and Jeans which fit like a glove! Now that is very rare & special for this tall fella! The Australian Blue Dog Brand no less! A horse ride along the river (careful of the quicksand!) is certainly the way to get a real feel of these lands. They are looking to hold a Jazz Festival here before long too.

DYA SINGH WORLD MUSIC GROUP
At last update we had just been in Califorina with Dya Singh Group - Orange County/ San Diego/ San Francisco and finishing in Dallas, Texas with new beloved friends. There we had a very special (nearly dawn) concert / Sikh program beside one of the lakes. A rousing finish was provided with a wild Jet Boat cruise and visit from motor bike mate James (last seen in LA for my fun 40th down Sunset strip) and so again we headed off into the sunset.

Fine recording & hospitality was had at La Jolla Beach, and ever grateful to Bicky Singh, our chief of southern Californian operatons and his family, for making the world a friendlier place to be in! (And I'm promising his kids I'll try not to grow any taller)

Now there could be a few of you who are, if not a tad intrigued, perhaps at least a little curious to the relevance of my world tours with Dya Singh (only 5 years of them already!). Well have a read of the following Review - particularly the last quote. I happened to find it wandering through my back emails; of an appearance we made in

USA, California,Yuba City: The 7th annual Punjabi American Festival hosted by
the Punjabi American Heritage Society

Bhai Dya Singh, from Adelaide, Australia, graced the occasion with his spiritual music accompanied by his two daughters Parvyn Kaur and Harsel Kaur. Also accompanying him were: Dheeraj Shrestha on tabla; Quentin Eyers on guitar, and Andrew Clermont on the fiddle. Dya Singh brings Sikh hymns to the masses in his own special style-allowing both the old and young to enjoy his offerings.

This year's Festival attracted approximately 12,000 people.

This concept was well represented at the Punjabi American Festival 2001 and Yuba City. Bhai Dya Singh provided the spiritual aspect through his mystical, Sikh hymns. Dya Singh's music pervaded the atmosphere at the fairgrounds, embracing everyone - the older people enjoyed the blissful music but what was surprising was how the initially cynical youth stood entranced by the rhythms emanating from this communicator. Dya Singh and his group of world-class musicians were able to raise the entire throng to a level of bliss and joy that most people do not associate with religious hymns and especially not in the setting of an outdoor mela. At least in our families his status is equal to that of a rock star - our children wake up in the mornings and then go to sleep at night listening to his music, not because they are forced to do so, but because they want to.
Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore once dreamed and prayed:

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow
domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
……..

Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake.

Sometimes we forget THE REASONS WHY, when often the view seems to be only the road ahead.
I don't have the writers name but verily appreciate the warm hug from it. Even last night with the Fiddlers Festival and being pulled a side by one of the fine audience of Tambo (southern central QLD) who implored. Don't you ever forget how important your role in inspiring the youth (and not so youth) is And so we do what we do and somewhere along the line, notice the twinkle in the eye, where the penny has dropped and another disciple to life, through music, is converted.
By the way. in Dya Singh we have Sikhs, Hindu, Christian and some perhaps a little less defined (but where the classic bumper sticker My God loves Your God comes to mind) - all merrily travelling together. I bid them a great gig at The Royal Albert Hall, London on the 26th Sept. Sadly I had to pass up that opportunity but my loss only, they will have fine success there for sure, in the 400th Year celebration of the assemblage of the Sikh Holy Book, the Guru Granth Sahib. The entire collected script is written to music in Raga melodies.

AUSTRALIA
And speaking of life through Music -
my June, Oz return BIRTHDAY PARTY weekend with The LAWNMOWERS and great friends, JigZag at the Harpe Hotel, Tempe was an absolute hoot. An afternoon picnic/ jam with near & dear family & friends, with both the Pyrmont & Sydney Harbour Bridges as a back drop in Glebe Park. And to have my fav folk band, Jigzag alongside our Bluegrass mania with the 'Mowers. Ah another heaven on a 'musical' stick'. We wrapped up the weekend at Harrigans Pub in the Hunter Wine lands for a Sunday wind down - both days we joined by fine friend and Bluegrass Harmonica wizard, Tony Eyers.

The midyear SUPPER CLUB reached out to 7 schools this time round, plus 4 Concerts in 4 days. A whirlwind return to the 300km sided triangle of Tamworth/Armidale/ Barraba with music from around the world. Including sensational young Sri Lankan born R&B Soul & Jazz Singer Roshani Priddis, The Lawnmowers - Jazzy Bluegrass, The Fiddle Champions, 'Gypsy Hotclub' and our favourite lady from Taiwan, PuYu on Flute and partner Parris Macleod on Keyboards. All up, 10 musicians spreading the gospel of music. The next Supper Club shows are coming up in October as read earlier above.

E-MOVIES
Perhap you'll never get the chance to see some of these concerts, alas, but have no fear, the Emovie site on my HomePage is running well now with Window Media to many and Quicktime to ALL 26 or more video clips. They range from the many Supper Club concerts last January (including the NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Contest) to Dya Singh in concert, and shorts of Totally Gourdgeous, Pauline & our meditation video - 'Songs for the Soul', the tuition videos, and a special full length treat from Fremantle guitarist, and dear friend, Simon Nield.

HUGE THANKS again,
first of all to Sunshine Poschinger for her remarkable eye for framing and steady hand in filming the Supper Club concerts and secondly, John Reed, way over in Western Australia, for loan of the Apple G4 Laptop & Final Cut Pro program to make the recent clips. I'm definitely converted and will pick up my own G4 at the end of the month to delve deeper into this wonderous media. (Thanks Satt in London for the big help there)

AUSTRIA & SLOVENIA with TOTALLY GOURDGEOUS - Mal Webb/ Penelope Swales/ Carl Panuzzo
& Andrew
Getting on TV can often be a task, but over in Southern Europe, Totally Gourdgeous had the media confounded and they just had to check it out. See the Emovie page in a month from now for that one. However our return invite to the Donauinsel Fest of 2.5 Million partying folk on an island in the midst of the Danube can only leave us saying - ya just had to be there! Vocal workshops in Vienna again as last year were well attended with much stretching of the larynx and melodic interpretation - plus a humdinger Vegan Taiwainese Restaurant over the road and Spanish Tapas around the corner! Ah, the tours of Food & Music for the heart & soul! Well done all attendees. http://www.totallygourdgeous.com

Carl Pannuzzo is our fav Gourdgeous vocal warbler, and for those who haven't experienced him, here's what some said:
You take the fear out of singing! - workshop student in Zakynthos 2004

One of the most amazing results i´ve ever seen happen in a week!
- Wolfgang Löhnert, organisator Summer Academy of Greece

I love this guy´s stuff - pure soul! - George Nussbaumer, singer, pianist and radio moderator.
You can hear and see some on my CD homepage under TG

KGB MUSICIANS CLUB!!
In Maribor, Slovenia we found the KGB Muso Club! (well it does actually stand for something else there) We will shoot for a gig there next time but had to make do with the round house cavern where they used to hang the witches ! A Lent Festival appearance! A very weird sensation to be sure but a packed house with Jazz to Dance fans. An enormous firework display after and more TV coverage.
A little bit of trivia - this country is rationed with 24km of coastline on the Mediterainean Sea!

One of our fav gigs in this part of the world is Pu:rbach, south of Vienna in the Sandhofer Vineyard Cavern. The host, Hubert and his extended family (the amazing kids) & friends make it another 'Gourdgeous' Gourmet Event' - I always come away with an amazing photo collection. And for those into artistic 'doors' this would have to be one of the capitals of 'door' art!

At this point I'd also like to send our CONGRATULATIONS and support to Penelope Swales who has managed to get the very expensive visa clearance to tour USA/Canada for the next year. Her standing ovation at the North America Folk Alliance Convention in New York State last year led to great interest and we wish her safe touring and glorious success.

HOME PLANS - Gallery & Pauline's Books/ CDs Art
The home front has been all go inspired by Pauline's eldest daughter's house building ('cos she wanted her own room!) and now Pauline's Gallery Studio is near completion in the backyard. A quest of Pauline's to be sure, her art work from so many mediums - some visible on the CD/Book/Video page of my Homepage - will soon have a display home. I hope this will also initiate the further possibilities of a touring an Art/ Music/ Screen Show of her drawings/paintings/CDs/ Videos and crafts. It's been a long time coming but a remarkable collection you can be sure from the most loving & peaceful soul I know.

DYA SINGH WORLD MUSIC GROUP through USA/ Canada/ UK/ Germany/ Denmark/ Singapore
From the amazing realm of the Smithsoneum Institute Museum where we launched the first Sikh exhibit there with a special concert in the Natural History Building - with a USA who's who of this major religion. Onto Detroit, Michigan and very warm folk with a Major Feature Film in mind to include the Group in. An opportunity to hone my own film making thoughts and editing study - an inspiring stay.

CHARACTERS
I discovering a few interesting characters too, like Roving Ron, the Mandolinist and Boogie Woogie Piano King, Bob Seeley. His piano at Charley's Crab Restaurant, Troy, MI is built into the bar! I found Roving Ron under 'Musicians' in the Yellow Pages. He advised me on a great Music Shop for a new Mandolin soft case, and we were soon jamming at the house I was staying at. A very nice retired engineer fella with a fun attitude to Life & Music. It was admittedly a touch strange, explaining to our hosts that my 'friend', which I was sharing music and laughs with and entertaining the household, had infact been but an amusing entry in a phone book, a few hours earlier! By this time next year he is likely to be hosting some friends from Australia I'm sending his way. The web-o-music is an amazing realm. And so it is with most groups of people who share a common passion, a passport to many fine new friends across the planet.

TORONTO - amazing views! Now this is intensive touring - August . Toronto with near 15 appearances and TV in 5 days, culimating with thousands of folk at the Harbourside Maasta Indian Festival. And still time for a good buddy to take Parvyn & I for a fine, drenching visit to the bottom of Niagara Falls - to feel that immense water energy face first. Big thanks to the Kobi Family & Friends for a perfect though busy stay. The Toronto Tower IS staggeringly high (about as high as you can get and still be connected to the ground - and you get to stand on a glass floor endless stories high looking perilously down! Or have a delicious meal while the world rotates gently around you, waaaaaaay below you). Oh! And unbelievably at this phenomenal height i see a BUMBLE BEE, yes truly, a Bumblebee, tumbling passed the window Pant, pant, pant, there's gotta be a flower somewhere at the top of this wacko tree! Amazing view No. 3 is from high in the city. The Panorama Bar - a night vista with the mighty Tower centre view, and the lights of the city tumbing into tendrils around Lake Ontario almost till Niagara Falls is also absolutely breathtaking.

LONDON
Soon we are in London to the ol' aircraft housescraping zone of Hounslow West. Amazingly I barely hear the 6am flights these days! It's all pretty busy this time with mainly Temples (Gurdwarras) and some private functions. Many are full of warm familiar faces now and even some surprise visits from Tamworth friends - good onya Brookie & Beck. Refound ol' mate and fine songwriter/player Craig Taylor formerly of Adelaide. Then there are the ever reliable for a fun catch up, Ev & Elliet - ya'll rock! Elliet is fiddler to Kangaroo Moon in UK and has been collecting gig stories along the way.

BERLIN
A week in Berlin is next with a concert at the Indian Embassy - SOLD OUT! And with discovering a 3 day gap in shows I hightail it to Copenhagen via Hamburg & Bremen to see Family & Friends. A glorious trip reminding me that these Germanic Lands are like a second home with some of my absolute favourite people. Thanks Suzi for the sealion counting expedtion, and my cousins for the best spots to relax in Berlin town. I had a very groovy night at Polish/Czech party house that happens once a month with a 60s retro DJ spinning songs just like you remember them, but they are in foreign lyrics. A very funny and dancy night (the REAL Berlin I'm told!) - Diana you're a Legend. Thanks also to Gabriel & the Berlin Sikh/ Yoga folk, we can't do it without you. Never be surprised where your next best friend may appear from!

SOUTH ENGLAND
And so the south west of England with a friends Bluegrass gig way down in Dartmouth is the next tour gap. Meeting the biggest slug (at least 5 inches long and an inch wide!) in a most charming garden in a tiny village of but a few cottages. A lovely fire in an old washtub bowl while the full moon & wine brings all manner of conversation into the frey. Pity about the airforce base going at it into the night - ah well, you get that.

Tis always sad to leave a country, the fine friends and or family and all the more awkward when a tour overlaps. but keeping in contact is one way the distance & time between gets shorter. So I swap with the amazing Quentin Eyers, studio engineer and player of most instruments, and head 'home' to Australia and reunite with 'Fiddlers Festival' for our most substantial tour yet.

FIDDLERS FESTIVAL TOUR QUEENSLAND
So the Fiddle mob head off for another jaunt on the road to Roma. A mining truck transport is ahead taking over the entire roadway at 80 km per hour and a queue forms behind. Finally we pass the transport in a tiny town, only to be pulled over by the police! He tells us our trailer door is wide open! We dash around to see the damage and or loss of gear..........Unbelievably even Mark Oats's Fiddle which teeters upright by the opening is still calmly sitting there! What a pack! 100 km of a wide open trailer AND not one person behind flashed their lights, honked their horns or ran over any gear - having miraculously stayed in the trailer! We all counted our luck stars that morning. And blow me down if we didn't then see a staggeringly big, wide shooting star last night across most of the heavens and it glowed for ages after! Night sky watching is an absolute must in the outback. And Note: in the southern hemisphere we have dramatically more stars & Milky Way to see than in the north because we are actually looking into the heart of the Milky Way as compared to looking out of the outer tail of it in the northern hemisphere! But it was in fact an all round dramatic day with Brendan & Grant our Sound & Lighting personel had a 3m wing span Wedge Tail Eagle crash into the truck windscreen! Oh so lucky it didn't break through,for they make a horrific mess! But at 100kmph and a truck coming at them as well - very lucky lads, and the Eagle.... just flew away! The truck limped off with a totally shattered screen. One hectic day in an otherwise peaceful, though nicely partying tour.

There's still a few things I didn't cover (!) and a treasure of notes to be shared - Love, Light and safe travel between your family,friends and work.

Update Sept 2003

Subj: The Clermont 'Amazing Tour' Update Sept 2003
Date: 5/09/03
To: clrmnta@aol.com
CC: andrewclermont@optusnet.com.au

Here's lookin' at Ya from a 'worldly'(!) perspective. Starting in 'awareness for the physically disavantaged' with Totally Gourdgeous, in Austria, with a final show at the Donauinsel Fest amidst 2.5 million folk in Vienna! We also ne'r forget to take in the tourist sites eg. at the thundering Canada/ USA border and by Lake Louisa (Alberta) in The Rockies with snow and Dya Singh World Music Group (after 12hr drive over them!), or later in Scotland - 'Whoa there Nessie!'.(we actually took a band holiday!) Them wee Longhorns were pretty special too - not to mention curious!
All photos from my Video Cam except top L (Die Bruke)and bottom R (ta, Harmeek). Nessie care of my lil' Photoshop experiment.
The Path -
I left Oz with TG in June, joining Dya Singh by late June in West Virginia, USA and via Canada, UK, Germany & Kenya (early Sept). I return mid month to promote the "International" Supper Club's October presentation in the New England, NSW and further touring with Dya Singh Group and Dorrigo Bluegrass Festival. All before returning to Austria with TG in late October, (briefly), and back to the BarrAbor Festival near home, workshops in Tamworth, Organic Food Festival - southern Cobargo, Bungendore, Majors Creek Fest, Harrietville Bluegrass Fest and Alice Springs (Glen Helen) er… in a nut shell that is - by end November!
Please check the GIG GUIDE!! at http://www.andrewclermont.com.au

A major year all round - thanks again on the well wishes to daughter No.1 with my dearest first grandchild. All are well.

The International Supper Club went leaps & bounds including school presentations of hearty proportions.
It returns 17th Oct to Armidale (Cattlemans Motel) & 18th to the North Tamworth Bowling Club - let your friends there know please. School programs will also be held during the days leading up.

Dya Singh Group picked up more awards while away this year. The UK Khalsa Award, and similar from Toronto for dynamic success in bringing Sikh Spiritual music to the world audience - having also received multiple World Music Awards nationally & in South Australia the last decade. Now annually touring 4 continents!
http://sikhnet.com/dya
http://www.andrewclermont.com.au/AOL Pages/Dya Singh -Thanks from Edmonton,Alberta, Heart Foundation.htm

Totally Gourdgeous latest CD "D'vine" has been gettin Radio Airplay from both all kinds of Radio stations - from Indy to Country, Folk to Mainstream. Now Europe buckles to the impact - well, we're getting around there anyway!! The audiences are amazed and very quickly loyal fans - aren't you?!?
http://www.totallygourdgeous.com

So tis soon that the Fiddlers Festival must unite with their wayfaring sideman hmmm we'll keep you posted awaiting details from master Marcus Holden - hope you've already got your copy of the new CD "Get Reel" via marcus@fiddlersfestival.com

Thanks for taking the time here, and a big thanks to all those who helped this year
- we canna do it without ya!
Hope to see you or your friends at a live show soon in that big ol' world.

Thought for the while -
"If you love Love then Love loves you too!" ta for that Mr. Bruce Cockburn

MAIN RETURN EMAIL IS NOW andrewclermont@optusnet.com.au -
http://www.andrewclermont.com.au new pics & info all the time.

...and just for those of us who (read last newsletter and) had no idea on our (Australian)National Anthem, my previous quote should have read "For those who've come from across the seas, we've boundless plains to share" so I was pretty close. A phrase well worth our politicions consideration (and as I also noted, "to share" not sell off overseas)
ah tut tut the powers that be....

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Midwinter 2003

Andrew Clermont - with respect to the Magic of Music & new Life
Ah, yes indeed the sun has been shining in Austria, tornadoes in New Orleans - and 'Grandpa' Clermont welcomes you to the midyear commentary of musical & such affairs from this chameleon minstrel.

Please note - any of my webpages or links which tries to open to .an address with 'clermona' should now be re-placed with 'andrewclermont'. Just incase I don't find & correct all the links straight away!

Hi to the the new friends in Europe and some new in Oz (from waylaid emails - oops!), and a big Hi to those who have dropped in via the net from various angles and reasons. Special thanks to the people who help the touring musicians deliver their music to the little/ big world out there - from the passing smile, the extra hand off the bus/tram/train/plane/boat, through to those who organise the tours - every bit counts and is hugely appreciate. But most of all to you wonderful listeners & gig goers 'cos it would be very sad indeed without you.

Coming Up: - more detail at http://andrewclermont.com.au
There's news of recording The Borderers new CD, Pauline's new Healing CD; House Concerts You can have!; central -europe with Totally Gourdgeous; Dya Singh across USA (now to New Orleans as well), Canada, UK, Berlin & Nairobi too. Good news from the Supper Club's Parris & Pu Yu Macleod; and looking to be home mid - September for a friend's wedding and in the meantime, I hope a few jpegs come though of my dear fiirst grandson to ease the distance..

So the energy of new life re-appears in the widening Clermont clan. And how special is each and every new baby to the universe! If only the sad world powers could be more in touch with the innocence of such life. Funnily enough everyones newest baby is always the best too, but we do manage to keep that in perspective. I have passed on your many congratulations to my daughter & partner - thanks muchly.

About the same time, and as I was conveniently near Adelaide, The Borderers looked to recording a more 'Live' style CD. I have joined them for a large swag of their energetic concerts around Oz in the last few years and together with Adelaide Bassist (and not a bad fiddler either!) Steve Fleming, Alex & Jim & I laid down some nice fresh tracks at Sody Pop Studio in Prospect (ask for Brett ). I look forward to hearing the final touches on my return.

While in South Australia, I also picked up the first copys of the new Healing/Meditation CD from Pauline - "Child of Light" - the third CD in her series. This time a more Red Indian (First Nation) flavour guided by her spiritual sources. Here she sings, chants, story tells, plays the Healing drum, chimes, 'spacial' piano and the Indian Red Cedar Twin Flute. A must, for peace seeking souls. Her third book is not far off either and second video (designed for kids) is in production as I write. All her material is for inspiration and various samples are at my website, just above. She is a very special being.

Adelaide also welcomed me with a House Concert in the Hills(you're a champ, Rosemary), and i'd just like to say it's a concept and trend I'd like to see & do more of. All over the world there are a growing number of belevolent householders keenly to having intimate concerts at home amongst a 'Friends Club' . Have a think about it!

Good news from Parris & Pu Yu who were battling the powers that be over visas and such (now that they are well married and making fine music). Alas it all came down to money in the end. Good ol' red tape and greedy government systems. Just when you'd like to consider Australia to be a touch more reasonable(cough splutter). What's that line in our anthem? "and for those from foreign shores, we've abundant land to share" or very similar. Providing a stark contrast to our policies. Also I doubt that 'sharing' and 'selling off' are the same thing either.

Overseas Tours
This month of June saw Totally Gourdgeous tour across Austria & Munich (Germany) during a heat wave (for them) week. The sights and venues included the very fine wine region of Purbach (thanks Hubert & family); a tiny portion of the 1500 museums of Vienna; Donauinsel Fest of 2.5 million people to a standing ovation (well some of the folk were elsewhere on the many km long(Insel)island at the time too). Bonny Tyler, Nina Hagen & Shaky Stevens among the others there. We experienced serious and near scary crowd crush for Nina, and decided it was wise to leave the melee.

Top Hurdy Gurdy player, Siemen, showed us around Vienna - the amazing Folk Instrument museum - a must see - of artful instruments. we even got to see the Munch gallery exhibit (famed for "The Scream" lino cut). And for those who do remember the image of the tormented figure on the pier, recall also, the two black figures in behind. Now set them closer and have the first holding & playing a 5-string Banjo! It makes a great T-Shirt offering with true response depiction. I even once performed it with fiddle, double bass & percussion (yo, Roma) - a free form soundscape over a haunting, fog horn, bass augmented 4th! (for the musically curious)
And he introduced us to Lena Galle, the first lady fiddlemaker I'd met (after Penelope!), who kindly rehaired my sad bow that very day and allowed P to make some repairs to the gourd instruments.

Munich was a huge party atmosphere and I found some groovy boomerangs to buy (I'm not too bad on the ol' fling). Thousands upon thousands milling about the streets again and a very curious section in the "English Park" for nude relaxing and a fun (good ol' easy going Europeans). A fast flowing water channel flowed through it, which could have bobbingly brought us very quickly to our accomodation on the other side of the city! Great concerts were had all over.
A big thanks to Ali & family for very peaceful hospitality to wind down with after.

A hearty midnight to dawn walk along the Amsterdam canals with a fine friend, provided by a seven hr stopover between flights, induced some good sleep over the Atlantic. Amazingly I then stayed on the corner of Amsterdam (!) St & 72nd in New York, which led to some Klesmer meets Bluegrass jammin - thanks Bob (Mandolin) & Margot (clarinet) plus Sprocket on Double Bass (the KlezmerMountainBoys (dot com)). And only Margot was a regular from the band that night - but we got a bonus gig the same night at the same place!. Ah, we musicians are so replaceable!
Next morn I dropped into Yale Uni Campus up in Connecticut (extraordinary), visiting Perth friends & their recent baby, ah sweet things indeed and a very happening peach pie to wrap up a charming 18 hr day before -

Dya Singh Touring example
Up at 8 am, eight hours on the train to Chesterfield, Virginia, concert/eat/ receive & send an Oz fax/ off to airport (2am) and perform in St Louis, Missouri by 11 am / eat/ plus an evening show / eat, 1 am - Mr Clermont you may now sleep! that was 42 hrs

A quick flying lesson in a Cessna over St Louis (home of the Big Arch), thanks, Harry (the only helicopter & glider instructor in the area)

I'm typing from Houston, Texas awaiting a flight to New Orleans and the TV screen shows the clouds of a hurricane moving into our path, however the 'on the scene' shots of the coastline are very tame and show enormous 12 inch high, waves pounding the sand cliffs 24 inches high!! Ah, Yes, the news beat ups - a lot like the Sars Virus hype pounding - resulting mainly in economy damage to the mentioned cities. (see below)
However New Orleans did pretty much close down for the day after we flew in. The next day all is fine and time for a little R & R ,thanks to Raj Pannu & family, before the Vancouver Is Folk Fest on the weekend.
All is looking good for the New Orleans Jazz/ Heritage Fest next year for Dya Singh too - the hard work pays off.

Ahead lies a very full schedule so drop into the gigguide on
http://www.andrewclermont.com.au
Workshops and Supper Club concerts in Oct/ Nov too.

Big Hugs, Love & Light to you all and don't be shy, see you here soon, Andrew

ps. Sars Virus - dose of reality from Ben Cook

' I¹m writing to respond to Mr Clement Chow of HKPU who wrote May 14 that ³panic is saving us²
from this ³epidemic² of Sars.
Mr Chow, in Hong Kong between March 11 and May 13, 225 people
allegedly died from ³Sars², that¹s 110 or so per month. In a ³normal² year in Hong Kong there are, on average, 3000 deaths from pneumonia or 250 per month.

In other words, this time last year we were 2.2 times more likely to die from ³typical² pneumonia
than from Sars this year! Where were the masked people and the economy destroying panic then?

In Hong Kong we see an approximate 86% recovery rate with less than 6% of deaths occurring in
people under the age of 44. Of the unfortunate people who die, I quote Professor Yuen, the head of
microbiology at HKU:

³Most of the Sars patients died because of the serious side effects of the steroids that suppressed
their immunity making them more susceptible to infection by other bacteria.²

And again from the virology chief at the US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases
at Fort Detrick M.D:

" Ribavarin (the drug used in HKG to treat Sars patients) has significant toxicity and does more harm
than good - it is the only drug conclusively shown ineffective in the experiments on Sars so far.²

Now is the time for responsible journalism to counter this epidemic of ignorance infecting peoples
minds and devastating the economy of Hong Kong and the companies and individuals based here.
This media frenzy is totally disproportionate to the actual threat and is symptomatic of a chronic
incapacity to calibrate risk.

To put this in proportion, in the year 2000, a total of 65,313 people in the USA died from influenza or
Pneumonia, that¹s 178 a day. Where was the outcry of epidemic then?

West Nile Fever has killed 280 people and infected over 4000 since August last year, an average of
440 per month, where is the W.H.O travel advisory warning people not to go to the USA thus hurting
THEIR economy?

³Sars² is not nearly as threatening as succumbing to the most devastating twin ailments of all time:
Ignorance and fear. '

Ben Cook
Deep Water Bay.

Thought for the day
In the Beginning there was Music

MAIN RETURN EMAIL IS NOW - andrewclermont@optusnet.com.au
http://www.andrewclermont.com.au new pics & info all the time.

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June 2003

Ah dear friends of music and the life it touches, guess who's a granddad! Yep, daughter number one is 21 . Grandson is hearty & happy. And funnily enough matching my age when she arrived herself, so if tradition continues a great great great grand by 105! (I'll pass on any congrats) And I'm even another year older this week on the 5th
Conveniently many friends are coming to Tamworth for the mid-year Country Music Festival, you beauty! And as my sweet grandson came 2 weeks ahead of expectations, I'm even home with the weekend free to enjoy it. (First time in 5 or more years! You can call me on 0407753809 if you get here)

Now the hard part, the next 3 months touring away - but of course plenty of blessings therein as well.

The Bands are Fiddlers Festival (CD Launch June 23), Totally Gourdgeous (Austria in June), Dya Singh (USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Kenya till mid Sept) and The Supper Club (October)

Alas I can't be in 2 places at once, so at the Fiddlers Festival CD launch in Sydney, The Basement, please go in my stead, as I'll be heading over the Atlantic at the time.

Totally Gourdgeous in
AUSTRIA - EUROPE contact Ali - albert.foeger@wienxtra.at
DYA SINGH - USA
Arrive June 25 into Newark - New York
A few days saying G'Day there then -

Richmond, Virginia
Friday 27 June pm Cultural Center of India
6641 Ironbridge Parkway
Chesterfield, VA 23832

St. Louis Programmes
Saturday 28 June am Morning Programme at St Louis Gurdwara
Saturday 28 June pm Evening Programme at St Charles Gurdwara
Sunday 29 June am Morning Programme at St Louis Gurdwara

CANADA

Vancouver Region, B.C.

Vancouver Island Folk Festival

Saturday 5 July & Sunday 6 July Vancouver Island Folk Festival
Courtenay Exhibition Showgrounds BC
www.islandmusicfest.com. Tel: 250.336.7981

Sunday 6 July pm Vancouver Island Gurdwara - Victoria

Calgary & Edmonton

Tuesday 8 July - Thursday 10 July Calgary Programmes details to be announced
Friday 11 July Edmonton Programme
Saturday 12 July Edmonton Sikh Youth Conference
Sunday 13 July Major Concert - Winspear Centre - Edmonton

Toronto

Monday 14 July - Wednesday 16 July Toronto Programmes details to be announced
Thursday 17 July Peace Concert Toronto

USA

Michigan Gurdwara Programme

Detroit/Albion

UNITED KINGDOM

Thursday 24 July to 30 August

EUROPE

Germany Programmes 1st September to 7th September
Berlin

AFRICA

Kenya Programmes - Nairobi
8th - 17th

AUSTRALIA
Thursday 25 September Byron Bay/Mullumbimbi Concert NSW

Friday 26 September Concert - Club Zamia Main St.
Tamborine, Queensland

Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 September Brisbane Peace Symposium
Contact Jan: jgudkovs@gil.com.au

Friday 3 October - Sunday 5 October Bellingen Global Carnival
Bellingen NSW

****************************************
The Supper Club (Special Guest Dheeraj Shrestha (Nepal Tabla Master) appears again in NSW
Fri Oct 17 Armidale Cattlemans Motor Inn
Sat Oct 18 North Tamworth Bowling Club

Workshop Week - A Crash Course to Musical Freedom
Andrew's week set aside to teach YOU
Tue Oct 28 - Sun Nov 2 near and in Tamworth - reply email for more info

Sat Nov 1 Supper Club appears at the BarraAbor Arts Festival , Barraba, NSW (near Tamworth)

Sun Nov 2 Workshop Day at Tamworth Regional Music Centre

SOLO
Sat Nov 8 The Crossing 100% Organic Festival - Cobargo (Sth Coast NSW)
see http://www.mumbulla.org/thecrossing

Well that'll do for a bit! Thanks to all those who have helped along the way -
may your year smile upon you.
I do hope I or one of my fav bands comes near your way.
It'll be a treat to see you on the way,
yours ever in the light of music
'Gramps' Andrew Clermont

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March 2003

Hi Everyone, a fine year ahead despite some of the governmental efforts (we pray for peaceful wisdom).
Mind you it does make it very hard to talk positively into the immediate future!
However as I write, my fellow folk musicians are entertaining 700 school kids in the south east of SA. They are giving workshops, all of which have one over-riding message of positivity through inspiration toward craft, language in song, cultural sharing and acceptance, plus the soulful messages in melody.
This particular presentation is due to the efforts of the Frances Folk Gathering, end of Feb each year - 4th year now.

Clarfication - whereever I say 'my' band I am actually refering to a group of musicians which I have joined, helped bring together etc and not meaning ownership or leader of. Just in case you wonder! eg. Dya Singh is my Adelaide band; Totally Gourdgeous my Melbourne band; Fiddlers Festival - Sydney (ie where they are based)
Thus I offer a roundup of the last months musical landmarks - all driven by the amazing youth we've met.

Woodford Folk Festival - where we met The Gypsy HotClub (all under 17 yr old) who then proceeded to amaze all at the Supper Club at Tam Fest. 'My Adelaide band', Dya Singh, soared the hearts of all with multi-faith/ cultural inspiration from Nth India(n) flavours and wisdom collected via the last 4 world tours and the Sikh understandings so insightfully worded by Dya himself and danced / sung by his daughters - both well under 20.
Totally Gourdgeous introduced the very animated Jody on Oz Land sign language interpreting the entire TG performance around Woodford stages. Some extraordinary videos were taken and available to requests. This Festival totally motivates the youth to explore/ build/ watch/ and generally help in all processes of the Arts.

Parris & Pu Yü Macleod married on Jan 4. Parris has been an amazing musical partner of mine over the last 4 years on the CDs "Dance of the Good Life" and "Happy as Larry" and we met while recording Troy Cassar Daleys first CD.
Now Pu Yü, joins us on "Flat Out like a Lizard Drinking" in the continuation of seemingly 'film score style' music releases. They are selling very well.

Ananda Marga Mela (Festival) Here near Stanthorpe, the focus is again for the youth to gather responsible attitudes with the end point being a group of devotees and volunteers helping communities in difficulties. Most recently the Ananda Marga provided a networked computer station for struggling Papua New Guinea area to assist in bringing all manner of education tools to the community. Annually one or another of 'my' bands contribute to this festival
Tamworth Festival - The Fiddlers Festival during the afternoons, Bluegrass for Breakfast and 2 layers of the Supper Club at Night which included...

A stunning NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Contest grandfinal thanks again to Epoch Violins. The Gypsy HotClub of Armidale took out all placings with Willow Kemp winning convincingly with the attitude, 'the look' we saw in 13 yr old Stephanie Eldridge during last years winning performance, and very pleased with her Silver electric/ acoustic Epoch violin she is as well.
The Supper Club Girls Night which ran an hour over time
Ah the hit of this year's Supper Club with 11 acts electrifying the night. From Problem Pony (4 sublime Adelaide lasses) to Merry May Gill's knock'em down where they stand, impact. And that was just one of the 13 shows which presented quite a "Fringe Festival" flavour to Tamworth's country fair.

Coach loads are coming to the Sup Club to see the 80+ unique performers and with that many performers attending the Supper Club it has clearly become its own festival! And fully flavoured from Blues to Jazz, Baroque to Bluegrass, and all nestled in a country spice.

Tamworth & Sydney Peace Marches - 500 turned out in conservative Tamworth but a first all the same, 5000 in Armidale (and the Uni was yet to start!) and 500,000 in Sydney. I took a mini bus of enthusiastic peace makers down from Tamworth and the large dove back drop from Tamworth's march, to an amazing gathering in Sydney. Including wise words personally delivered from USA's Jackson Browne. May the pollies take note.

Cobargo Folk Festival - with Totally Gourdgeous(TG) & Solo - A big Hoot (even if it did rain the whole time) Pauline & I have been penduluming Victoria this month - Tamworth through Sydney,
Cobargo, Melb (more tracks on Ross Ryan's eventual CD), Pt Fairy (visiting) and...

Frances Folk Gathering (last weekend) - SA/Vic border.
Now this is a fun one. Competitions for all and workshops for the local kids as well. A great lil' pub - thanks Nigel & Sue. The Tonkin clan established this beauty and they come from far & wide. Qld & Tamworth to Melb & Adelaide plus guests from Tibet & Japan. In the second year the friendly contests began and yours truly with artful John Francis won dual first. This year - its 4th saw our Japanese banjo master guest, Monza, win while Paul Wookey & I took out equal second. I've looked after sound for the last 2 years and always come away after the week with very sore smiling muscles. Thanks to All there.

To come now is
Port Fairy Folk Fest (VIC) with TG and various friends
The Blue Mountains Folk Fest (NSW)with TG and The Borderers
St Patricks Day at the Surry Hills Gaelic Club, (Sydney) before finally arriving home.

Amazing months indeed, thanks very much to the many we got to share it with,
and hearty hopes of seeing more of you soon.
http://www.andrewclermont.com.au has received a large increase of visits too, ta very much
- new pics and info going up soon. And for those with any interesting pictures of our encounters,
there's a spot for them too! (Keep file size under 50k though please)
National Fiddle Fest in Richmond (Sydney as a Supper Club Band exerpt), Nat Folk Fest (Easter in Canberra with Dya Singh) and Mt Beauty in Victoria (with TG & Jeanette Wormald)- one weekend after another.

And The Supper Club to go on tour in 2003
We are undertaking to involve Jigme Namgyal, a Tibetian multi - artist with a small
"SupperClub" tour on the mothers day weekend in May 9/10/11 in Armidale.
Tamworth and Mothers Day undecided somewhere between Tamworth & Sydney - together with Didgeridoo master, Mark Atkins, Pu Yu (Taiwan
Flautist/ piano) and David Hellens on hot Banjo! It just gets more multi - cultural! Feels good.
Austria, USA & UK Tours to follow becoming a GrandDad in early June - you can wish my daughter well. And see many of you soon
Love & Light in the Magic of Music
Andrew Clermont

Thought for the day
Just remember one thing -
to laugh and smile more
http://www.andrewclermont.com.au new pics & info all the time.

Xmas 2002

Hi fine friends, those who come to the shows, the merry supporters of musical undercurrents and even those who just think about it occasionally.
Year End Party in Adelaide at the SA Folk Centre South Road Thebarton Sat 21st Tel: (08) 8354 4606 E: info@folk-sa.asn.au Website: www.folk-sa.asn.au
and a Xmas Day Free Lunch & Concert in the Tamworth Town Hall (NSW) - come share your good company
My musical & assorted close family bid you all a hearty Year's End celebration - to those who made it through(!), a solemn remembrance to those who passed on and the biggest hugs to those who helped in any way to make the year a better time for all - and that's a pretty big miracle in itself.
Should you want to read & see the years general progress from this side of the fence, check out ye ol' website http://andrewclermont.com.au and of course, you'll also find that which is coming up.
However to really get a musical celebration, click on this site