Extraordinary concert tours ahead! July 2019 - March 2020
- please help spread the word!

my own last gig was opening the latest Open Air Cinema in Berlin (SommerKino) by 40 degree heat, now heading north from Melbourne for a contrast of temperature, Concerts & workshops. 

Berlin visit
            In Berlin this time I'd had a great mixture of adventures with folk like Heta the Finnish fiddler, Yves the French Banjoist, Gero the Deutch Bassist (joined the Pigs on their recent Euro Tour), Kevin with his mid American voice of the heart, and Chris from Scotland who wander by drawn by the jam developing under the trees in Lausitzer Platz, Berlin and asked if we could use some rhythm guitar (turned out to be a dream player & coincidentally very handy sorting out computer problems!).  Amazing Katharina Gade & the Songwriters of the Hubertus Lounge, with the Narnia cupboard of Kreuzberg. See the street gig I briefly filmed at http://www.youtube.com/user/andrewclermont  She may well turn up next Tamworth Supper Club too! Also a must is Roland Satterwhite, violinist extraordinaire with whom I played Clarchen's Ballhaus in Mitte, Berlin. He has a dynamite gypsy band called Django Lassi (found easy on the web).

        One Monday night at Bassy Club, one of the many remarkable tiny clubs of Berlin,  and featuring mainly pre '67 music, were Roland (ex-New York), myself & eventually, Aron (a rocking, big bearded, USA player).
 I rolled in early through the door hearing the shout of
      "Hey!"
to which the standard response is
      "It's alright, I'm with/in the Band"
and head to the bar after dropping the Fiddle & Gourdolin off at the stage. Bar-lady says
      "So you'd be Aron?"
I says
       "Close enough, pretty sure I'm fiddling here tonight".
 It seemed to be the correct response as she replied
       "Can I buy you a Beer then" Always a welcome development in gig processes. (I was actually just dropping in to a friends birthday party there but he did ask me to bring the fiddle). A few tall Wheat Beers later and a few very theatrical, dressed to kill (in the nicest way) lady performers later and it's getting time to do some serious fiddling. I'm outside with members of The Beez (2 Oz tours under their belt). A fella screams to a halt on his deadly treadly bycycle and jumps off, fiddle strapped to his back. I yell towards him "So you'd be Aron?" as by now I had made a bit of realisation.
He said a tad cautiously
      "Yes".
I reply,
"I don't know you, but I like you a lot already! Thanks for your Beers!"
He was in a hurry and only used a split second to raise his eyebrows in confusion as he dashed in (conveniently, just as they were calling his name from stage). We met properly a little later, on stage, as is the usual way, and between the 3 of us played my once a year version of Orange Blossom Special to pieces, a rip-roaring treat. No holding the reins back here, Roland & Aron are truly scary players and was a great chance to play unrestrained. Roland also played pure acoustic, from the dance floor and was equally loud as we plugged in ! A symphony violinist had seen him play not long back in Berlin and approached him saying,
      "I have something for you"
She could see his own violin was not matching his his skill, and arranged a loan of her violin with stupendous projection. A definite compliment to his skill & soul in performance.
       SO that was the extreme night of Peter, from The Beez, birthday party (his words "The Best I've ever had!")

The night gave me a heap of presentation ideas for The Supper Club. Perhaps 2 chandeliers and a velvet pelmet above the stage for starters, hmmmmm!

ART

here's 2/3s of it !
Bettina sold her largest recent painting (4 x 2 metres) after being spotted hung in an Austrian Restaurant around the corner from her Lausitzer Platz 12a Studio - we rolled it up and delivered it to Oostende, Belgium.  And I have brought home the cover to my next solo CD (1.8 x 1.5 metre) - more inspiration from Bettina to get it happening!! See Newsletter 22/11/2008 below. My "Being There" Big Pics are growing with many having bought  http://www.panoramio.com/photo/14748004   just click on the pic to see it bigger. Was a gig with legend Lulo Reinhardt & Oz Golden Fiddle Award winner Daniel Weltlinger in midwest - Germany - but what a setting ! Made from about 8 photos!
       
      Well I'm back in Oz and Ragas2blueRiches (part 2) Tour is underway.
Andrew Clermont & Josh Bennett + Parvyn Kaur Singh plus CD Launch for Bennett  "Echoes of You"

 "Jeff Beck meets Ravi Shankar on the set of 'Oh! Brother Where Art Thou' while dancing in Rio!"

do join us or at least tell your friends!
Gigguide

July

Wed 28 July Newcastle Uni Bar On The Hill lawn stage 12.30pm til 1.30pm

Thu 29 July Royal Exchange, 32-34 Bolton St, a wonderful secret of Newcastle http://www.royalexchangenewcastle.com.au/comingshows/

Fri 30 Surprise 'nearly secret' acoustic session at Sleepy Monkey Cafe (Special monthly food night) TAMWORTH


August

Sun 1 Aug Barraba Playhouse   - Only Gig near Tamworth this time !! With wonderful extras - Theatre star Brooke Schiemer & Jess Stocker from Turkish Delight

Thu 5 Aug Greenhill on Tweed - 131 River Street Murwullumbah $37 with exceptional 2 course diiner by Chef Thel Hillis . Multimedia drinks @ 6 Show@7 Dinner@8 Sweets @9 Dance feature@9.30 though to finale with surprise guest/s

Fri 6 Aug House Concert @ Donna Reynolds Home below Tambourine Mt QLD Gold Coast contact Ron Dymick & Donna Reynolds <leapinglizards@reachnet.com.au>

Sat 7th  5 pm Powerhouse Brisbane BEMAC World Music program 119 Lamington Street New Farm

Sun 8th 5pm Turntable Falls Hall (near Nimbin) Bollywood Dance Session & Concert $10with Curry Dinner School Fundraiser

Wed 11th Aug in the Shortland Union Newcastle Uni 12.30pm til 1.30pm

Wed 11th Aug evening House Concert Kirribilli via Jilly Robinson jillybeans@ozemail.com.au

Fri 13th House Concert @ Jock & Paula's, Congo, South NSW coast    howejp@bigpond.com

Sun 15th 2- 5pm Local Fundraiser @ Yackandadah

Wed 18 Beechworth Bluegrass arrive - andrew teaching till fri, jamming between with a Mini Mowers  gig Fri night

Fri 27 Aug House Concert Castlemaine TBC

Sunday 29th  House Concert @ Annies Nth Geelong


September

Dya Singh @ Woodford Folk Alliance Conference QLD 2-4 Sept

back to Ragas2blue Riches Tour
Thu 16th Settlers Gig Mildura

Fri 17th  Ouyen RSL Club

Sat 18th Wentworth Art Gallery

Sun 19th TBA

24th - 30th Josh Bennett in Adelaide www.myspace.com/joshbennettmusic

Thu 30th Prometheon Adelaide with Josh, Chris Finnen & Paddy Montgomery


October

Sun Oct  10     Trinity Sessions -  Church of the Trinity, Goodwood, just north of Cross Road,  SA.  A treat of a performance space.

15-16  Oct   Jim Golding's 60th Bday weekend  Jam  Melbourne

22 Oct Totally Gourdgeous recording new CD & appearing at Kangaroo Valley Folk Fest  NSW south coast

29 Oct   Maldon Folk Fest with Dya Singh   VIC


November
early Nov - South Coast NSW
Nov 23 AC soaring to Berlin till late Dec
December

26 Dec - 2 Jan   Woodford Folk Fest with Dya Singh & The Supper Club

Jan 15 - 22   15 shows!!!   6pm & 9pm The Supper Club - North Tamworth Bowlo

18- 20 th Feb Blackwood Fiddlers


Happy Endeavours All
Andrew , Josh & Parvyn

Guitar News! It's BACK! Thanks All for keeping a eye out
Tour  News - "Blues to Berserk" from Melbourne round SE coast to Dorrigo/Coffs Harbour and across to Adelaide in May through June
with Josh Bennett (Dya Singh Group plus recently performing for Ravi Shankar & opening for Jeff Beck in Adelaide)

Stolen Guitar!
My precious Terada Guitar came back just before the Easter Weekend. Apparently a not so young lad did an early morning snatch of the guitar from under the stage at Frances Folk Gathering but eventually word got out of a guitar where no guitar had been before. Pressure was exerted and as was quoted, "It was sorted locally"!
 Dya Singh was driving passed just after it's  return to Frances  (1 & 1/2 months later) and he kindly picked it up and delivered it back to me in time for the National Folk Fest where it's first performance was a loan to Carl Pannuzzo for his first 'Pot & Kettle' concert there with recent wife (congrats) Penny.

Tour (gig guide below)
Finally free from their bands (briefly), they've come to tell it all.....
A twisted taunt of Celtic Blues Swing Bluegrass Jazz Indian adventure.
The roads and flights between Kenya and Calcutta, London, Vancouver, LA & Oz weave a soaring night of music, song and story between Josh Bennett & Andrew Clermont
 - Both in Dya Singh World Music Group (twice World Music Group of Australia), The Supper Club & The Lawnmowers (at the cutting 'hedge' of Bluegrass!)
Andrew Clermont -  http://www.myspace.com/andrewclermont
 has finally settled down, nestled in 6 (or so) bands / 5 or 6 instruments appearing in Austria/ Kenya/ USA/ Canada/UK/ Germany/ Taiwan/ Malaysia/ Hong Kong/ Singapore/New Zealand/ and Australia wide! Pumpkin powered in Totally Gourdgeous (Voted Best Live Folk Band '08); 3 time Bluegrass National Guitar Champ; flying with the Fiddlers Feast; very Australian as Terra Australis (Heritage Award & BushBand winners); and Celtic Conundrums - to be sure, to be sure!
     Andrew initiated the NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Contest and is a Director to the Golden Fiddle Awards. These are both sponsored by Epoch Violins with Andrew touring the unique 5-string models while also sponsored/ assisted by Maton Guitars, Gilchrist Mandolins and White Swallow Banjos.
 Josh Bennett      www.myspace.com/joshbennettmusic
fresh from a rocking Jeff Beck support appearance in Adelaide and playing at Ravi Shankar's George Harrision Birthday 66 tribute concert in India - and closing music for 'Stateline'
 "I've been doing this for as long as I can remember, but a starting point I suppose was when I started performing on stage when I was 15. I played Guitar Blues back then, and still do, but now it's mixed up with whatever music I find that speaks to me. More often than not that's been culturally significant (or roots I suppose you could label it) music from all over the world, in particular India, Africa and Ireland.
     Also been playing Sitar, Tabla and Dilruba - a bowed instrument similar to Sarangi, for about eleven years.
I play all over the place, in different guises. These days I'm playing around the world with Dya Singh, a world music group that's been around longer than the term "world music". I play solo, with jazz musos, blues, folk, experimental, film scores, ... the list goes on, which is why it's so much easier to just say I play music from my soul and leave it at that.
 But, I'm also occasionally seen on stage with including Chris Finnen, The Silk Road Project, Guitar Safari, The Universal Jazz Band - you get the idea

Thu 30 April  8pm  The Lomond  , Nicholson St Brunswick  VIC

Sun May 3rd 1pm
 Hickinbotham Wines  @ Dromana Sunday , Melb south of Frankston   194 Nepean Hwy Dromana 3936
194 Nepean Highway (Near Wallaces Road)
Dromana 3936
Victoria, Australia
Melways Reference 160 K2
Just one hours drive south from Melbourne
Phone (03) 5981 0355
Email info@hickinbotham.biz

Tuesday 5 May 2009 at 8.00pm  Cardinia Cultural Centre, Lakeside Drive, Pakenham, Victoria
Blues to Berserk(via India)!
Andrew Clermont & Josh Bennett with special guest ...Parvyn Kaur (Singh Sisters)
 THE last 10 years has seen Andrew Clermont’s International Supper Club grow to full swing with unique World artists. Back from 2 months across Europe, this 3x Guitar Champion, together with Bennett, fresh from performing for Ravi Shankar & opening for Jeff Beck in Adelaide, they'll combine with the swirling Kathak dance style of Parvyn also fresh from India performances. A treat with up to 10 instruments with award-winning flair.

Vist www.andrewclermont.com.au for more info.
Tickets: $25.50 Adults and children
Online bookings click here
Phone bookings call 1300 887 624

The Cardinia Cultural is a state of the art facility located in Melbourne’s largest expanding corridor and the gateway to Gippsland. The Centre is unique offering stunning views over the 6ha lake on Lakeside Boulevard Pakenham.
http://www.cardiniaculturalcentre.com.au/coming_attractions/cardinia_live_shows.php


Wed 6th  Yinnar - Lyrebird Arts

THU 7th May House Concert BRIAGALONG 

FRI  8TH MAY
MINGLING WATERS CAFE -  MIKE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Princes Highway
Nowa Nowa Victoria 3877
Phone: (03) 5155 7247  Mobile: 0409 515 572
Fax: (03) 5155 7247

Nowa Nowa/ Lakes Entrance - Josie Jacobi  5155 2464  - local philanthropist - must ring
bungalook@bordernet.com.au

Sat  9th  7.30pm  Mallacoota , Workshops 4pm  The Mudbrick
WORKSHOP/CONCERT AT SCHOOL Lisa Broom  0428 586357


Fri 15th May  7.30  Candelo Arts Society , South Coast NSW   0401180749  

Sat 16th May  7.30  Cobargo, Yuin Folk Club,  House Concert -  Graham Friar & Coral Wobach  0264936758


Fri 22 May Karuah (North of Newcastle, NSW)
Jam time at  "River of Music Festival" - Bluegrass Feature
Sat 23/5
banjo wkshop (Dave Hellens) - 9.30 - 11.30
mandolin / fiddle wkshop (Andrew Clermont)- 11.15 - 12.45
 Concert - The Lawnmowers 3 - 4pm  or 4 - 5pm
Sun 24/5
guitar wkshop - Andrew Clermont  - 9.30 - 11.30
 Harmonica Wkshop - Christian Marsh - 11.15 - 12.45
Concert  - The Lawnmowers
For more info - 0407 071 417


Thu 28 May The Armidale Club, 91 Beardy St. Armidale, NSW

Fri  29  Uralla Arts Performance  , Old St Davids Church

Sat  30 Old Gazette Theatre, Dorrigo, - main Street 


Thu June 4th The Armidale Club, 91 Beardy St. Armidale, NSW

Fri June 5th  Percussion Workshop Willow Tree School (Andrew's Birthday!) Ph 0267 471793

Sat June 6th Bush Dance - Willow Tree  Heather Ranclaud Ph 0267 471793

Sun June 7th  4pm   The Supper Club - North Tamworth Bowling Club , Cnr Bligh & Piper St

Tue  9th   Griffith Riverina Recovery Party
Wed 10th The Sandbar  Mildura
 Thu 11th Ouyen Club


Fri June 19  Cafe Komodo       118 Prospect Road, Prospect | T 08 8344 7448.
Fri June 26  Wheatsheaf Hotel    39 George Street. Thebarton. South Australia. Tel.: 08 8443 4546.

July 20 - I fly to Germany till Oct 28
Based in Berlin

Dya Singh - A last Tour!
The Nth America/ India route with Dya Singh has waaay too many folk to thank as we made our 'final tour' there. However it seems that is the phrase to absolutely guarantee our return before long!!! We already hear of plans being put into action! I love being able to say 'we managed to clinch a music tour that took us from the Grand Canyon to the Taj Mahal' ! Such has it often been with the Dya Singh group - big love to yas.  Also taken in were most of Arizona, New Mexico near the 4 corners with Colorado, Utah & Arizona; Orange County, LA, Mt Diablo & around San Francisco, Atlanta (Georgia), Detroit (Michigan), Madison (Wisconsin), Toronto India Film Fest, Geneva (New York), Chicago (Gotham City meets Brisbane), Rockford (a mighty Wine & Cheese house & Chocolateria!) and more.

I stole 2 days from the USA side & 2 days from the India side of the tour to snag a 4 day soak in autumn blazing Germany near Stuttgart. A time nere to be forgotten with a most special people. Even caught up with Irish band Grada for a few stories & finale jam to my last night in Europe (their agent lent me his 1914 (or so) Gibson Mandolin for the occasion - very sweet) . Can't wait to get back!
Two 'scarily' large portraits of yours truly now hang in Berlin. One somewhat surreal, from an energy perspective and the other all too real! - see artist Bettina Düesberg on  http://www.bettinaduesberg.de  look under new paintings - A & Andrew.

India
Today the  sun has climbed halfway up from the horizon seeking a clearer view, but the surrounds of New Dehli, India are relentless as the final rains have given way to the ever intensifying drying season ie. dust. The symphony of car/truck/bike/tempoost(mini 3 wheel-taxi) horns is intense, funny and critical to traffic success... like sonar is to bats! The back of every commercial vehicle demands you to 'blow your horn'. Must also be about the only place in the world where it's ok to beep your horn at the police so you can go passed them! 
I've been from Nairobi to Taiwan and there is no better system for organic movement of mass traffic. Taipei continually ground to a halt where you simply have to give up your plans; Germany expects you to always carry a picnic basket with for the delays; USA just builds another lane beside you - or above! India is 10 times more intense catering to a far more diverse traffic population from elephants to push-bike gas bottle deliveries.
Ten years after joining Dya Singh World Music Group we come to an epoch, poetically & coincidentally put.  Dya himself announced retiring and suddenly the requests and offers for tour and concert possibilities flood in and....we finally play India!  And as much as one could suggest, it be like taking tea back China; the reality is - the recognition of the achievement of Dya and the group, is in its unique, universal communication to youth, through to heads of community & politics across a total inter/multi faith environment. From the Royal Albert Hall, London, to the Smithsoneum in Washington DC. Even a Resolution from the Californian Government in appreciation of community contribution.

The group (playing largely sikh relevant music) helps represent modern Sikh progress with acknowledgment to all 7 or so major religions. This may seem a long way from The Supper Club in Tamworth  but in a group comprising 4 or more 'religion' connections,  and with it's sense of 'Hats off' to the international spice of music, it can get no more relevant. Here deserts were reclaimed and turned into the 'bread basket' of India - world wide, sacred related music has a similar potential, if not role, for the spirit and soul in societies. 
The small amount we as performers get to touch in/on this potential and see it's soaring affect always leaves a reminder that change and progress are willing to be near at hand  - if a little obscured at times!.


So it already begins on arrival - my baggage is way laid back in Frankfurt, but I was given an upgrade to business class for the trip across (the lady winked as she said "I found you some extra leg room!"). That's happened only twice in 20 years of flying! But of course, nothing is a problem. The main 'handler' was dealing with 6 people at once with my helper lady just firing questions at him while he was in firm discussion with another and without batting an eye lid, gave her answer & solution in the next breath. The bags all arrived at our hotel the next morning.

    
The Golden Temple 
 As we head north there are endless trucks of rice and a steady increase of farm animals like camels & donkeys on the arterial road to the Kyber Pass - the GT  (Grand Trunk) Road. The Golden Temple is our quest now - the 'Vatican' of the Sikhs - however, where they feed daily, thousands of visitors, community & devotees. This has gravitated of it's own accord, into the Guinness Book of Records! Endless eucalypts line the roads in - brought in to 'green' the country. As evening falls the sun disappears well before the horizon on this cloud free day. Smoke, dust and the most industrialized cities of north India dissolve into the soupy mix as Amritsar awaits therein!

We first visit the  homeland of Dya Singh, himself,  Ludhiana. A modest house on the corner of a garden block with a great Mango tree in the middle with squirrels dancing constantly about.
For the first time the Dya Singh World Music Group performed kirtan (sacred programs)  in Delhi and Chandigarh celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Guruship of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (The Holy Book of the Sikhs). Temples included were Bangla Sahib, Rekab Ganj, Sis Ganj, and Moti Bagh in Delhi with a Sikh spiritual 'concert' at the Chinmaya Centre, Lodhi Gardens. We also performed kirtan at  the Sector34 Gurdwara in Chandigarh.
 Imagine an octagon temple situated between a modern Mall and a looming IMAX Theatre where one of those huge high-tension power line  towers also scrapes the sky in amongst the bedazzling lights of consumerism. Hundreds of hungry locals are being fed every hour from the Temple directly below the power tower, where the hallowed words & music are being broadcast through those classic mega-horns on poles arrangements, and that includes our  own  performance that evening. Ah the incongruous pictures of multi-level society and technology. We did have some lovely, if historic Bose speakers in the temple itself and as usual had to totally restructure the mixing desk to achieve a performance without what seems to be a staple preference of distortion  (they are 'sooo' adept at turning any great speaker into an age old racecourse horn speaker - seems like a matter of tradition or 'equality leveler' where every voice can sound identical through the substantial application of distortion)

A more generously helpful mob you will rarely find. Everything is always straight ahead and around the corner, no matter where it really is and you can get a cup of chai tea thrown in for your trouble as well. Even the cycle taxis are quite happy to ride a while then ask someone, ride a while, then ask another, until seemingly by gravitation you arrive at your destination, or one very similar!


In a land where most folk speak about 4 languages, the subtleties can get a little lost. For example, you are most welcome to study at the LPU - Lovely Professional University. Certainly one of the most advertised universities we saw!

We arrived at the Golden Temple, Amritsar just after theoretical sunset. Traffic is intense and our drivers magically land places to park beside the temple.

Dya Singh with elders plus Josh & Parvyn as I snap the shot before the golden Temple

Every inch toward the inner sanctum reveals more and more order, grace and reverence. You remove your shoes, cleanse the feet in a shallow stream across each entrance and up the steps to open into the immense golden shrine in the centre of a great reflecting pool. Everything that seemed normal around you ceases and walkways are under constant sweep. Walls are are on constant wash. repair and food is constantly on offer at the Lungar Hall - as it is in most Sikh Gurdwarras (temples) world wide. Certainly the most generous to the public religions in existence.
As you walk around India you are always aware of colourful gems sparkling in all directions - every woman is intensely dressed in colourful saris and the sacred areas are spotless. It seems everything else can crumble, fall and fade where it stands but that which is most close at hand & heart can and is very preciously controlled and cared for. Hardly a pair of jeans in view despite much company efforts. It's all formal shirts and slacks/suits across the board.


Monty Python

Then the final straw in the comedic hat was the visit to the change of guard between India & Pakistan across from Amritsar. For those familiar with the Monty Python realm, The Ministry of Silly Walks, well it appears to have been born here! We received access to the 'VVIP' seating area by grace of the Golden Temple administraters. Now at this guard change there are typically around few thousand onlookers. The Pakistan side split into males left, females right with exceptional choir tendencies, whereas the Indian side was a fun melee of allsorts with both sides battling out chant versus chant. And at one point it seemed the title phrase yell of "Good Morning Vietnam" was in full swing. But the absolute aggression expression via extreme march antics had us in hysterics. I've got it on film for the keen some time, lol.


The New Film 'Australia'
And finally, after a very careful tour re expenses, I spent the last day with a trip to the Taj Mahal - 4 hrs there, look with astounded eyes, shop for hand made carpet, marble & bejewelled things, nearly die in the traffic and 4 hours back, straight to the airport.

However there had been a somewhat frantic call from the music directors of new film 'Australia' who recalled seeing The Supper Club at TamworthFestival and the bluegrass sound of The Lawnmowers & Mark Atkins on Didgeridoo. It seemed to be the missing ingredient to the soon to be released film. So while I was wandering about the Taj Mahal in shoe coverings to protect the surface of the amazing structure, I had phone to ear going 'wow' with my eyes and 'wow' with my ears! By the time I finished the lap of white marble grace, I had also found most of the guys needed for the recording as I landed back in Oz. More luck of the angels with timing. So keep an ear out for some Supper Club twang in this lil blockbuster film, with dearest Nicole Kidman and team!

I'm dramatically short of time - ha - aren't we all! Would love to write more & you'd love to read less! LOL

Been a while since writing such a long read, eh ! Thanks for taking the time. Below is a moment spotted by a friend, a warning and a request for support of a family issue.
Much Love, Light & hope you've helped someone in their time of need,
Andrew Clermont


"Hi Andrew,
 
I spent last Friday at home wanting to watch some stress-free, mindless but not too annoying TV and ended up on a program showing 101 things to do in Victoria which was apparently established by the RACV. They went through the Top 10 in detail but listed the other 90 or so and showed a little snippet to illustrate each point, for example Yarra Valley wineries was illustrated by a picture of vines, regional markets showed tables with jams, etc.
Well, when they got to “music festivals” – you popped up, playing your fiddle…. So – that makes you the face of all Victorian music festivals I guess.
Cool…… :-)
Katharine"


Cancer Update from John Hopkins Hospital
No plastic containers in microwave.
No water bottles in freezer. 

No plastic wrap in microwave. 

A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer. 

Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic 
Bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. 

Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , 
Was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. 
He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. 

He said that we should not be heating our food in the 
Microwave using plastic containers... 

This especially applies to foods that contain fat. 

He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin 
Into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body... 

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic 
Containers for heating food... You get the same results, only without the dioxin. 
So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., 
Should be removed from the container and heated in something else. 
Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. 
It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.
He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away 
From the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons... 

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when 
Placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high 
Heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. 
Cover food with a paper towel instead. 
This is an article that should be sent

To anyone important in your life!

Bottled water in your car Very dangerous.
This is how Sheryl Crow got breast cancer. She was on the Ellen show and said this same exact thing. This has been identified as the most common cause of the high levels in breast cancer, especially in Australia .

A friend whose mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and the Doctor told her: women should not drink bottled water that has been left in a car.

The doctor said that the heat and the plastic of the bottle have certain chemicals that can lead to breast cancer. So please be careful and do not drink bottled water that has been left in a car, and, pass this on to all the women in your life. This information is the kind we need to know and be aware and just might save us! The heat causes toxins from the plastic to leak into the water and they have found these toxins in breast tissue. Use a stainless steel Canteen or a glass bottle when you can!

LET EVERYONE WHO HAS A WIFE / GIRLFRIEND / DAUGHTER KNOW PLEASE. 
 

 If you feel strongly about the unfairness of the decision on this family please sign and forward to others the petition below . 

Dear Adam

Thank you for your expression of support for Dr Moeller and his family. Down Syndrome Victoria is supporting Dr Moeller and his family in their fight for permanent residency. We have mounted a significant media campaign to highlight the plight of the family and the issue of discrimination against people with Down syndrome more generally. We firmly believe the practice of automatically excluding families with a member with Down syndrome from migrating to Austr ali a is prejudicial and discriminatory and are calling on the Federal government to immediately r evie w their policy and practices. Both the Human Rights Commissioner Graham Innes and Victorian Premier John Brumby have agreed that the practice is unfair and discriminatory. In addition to our media campaign and petition, we are writing to the Federal Minister for Immigration Senator Chris Evans and Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Bill Shorten to express our disgust and press for change.

Please take the time to sign our online petition at www.downsyndromevictoria.org.au to express your opinion or alternatively you can call our office on 1300 658 873.

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards

Catherine McAlpine | Executive Officer | Down Syndrome Victoria
219 Napier Street Fitzroy VIC 3065
1300 658 873
www.downsyndromevictoria.org.au
Down Syndrome Victoria works to empower individuals to achieve a lifetime of meaningful inclusion in the community.

The Hawkins of Frances water hole - of great solace & gatherings!

L - R Pete Fidler, Jess Stocker, Carl Pannuzzo, Peter Denahey, Liz Frencham, Tami Neilson (Nth America) and Mark Mazengarb NZ,

Montz Matsumoto (Japan), Parris Macleod, Clermont & Robbie Long's Guitar!

THE NEXT WEEKENDS AHEAD
For anyone near Tamworth this weekend, come down to The Vault on Peel St for Sunday's St Valentines Day lunch. I'll be sharing music time with the notorious Matt Scullion.
And I'll likely drop in on Matt Zarb at The Diggers tomorrow (Friday) as well.
Otherwise in the deep South are a few festivals coming up where I'll be.
19-21 Feb Yarra Junction Fiddlers Convention (the Blackwood version Nth of Melbourne! as the Yarra Junction version has moved to the first days of May)
26-28 Feb is the France Folk Gathering, just south of Bordertown on VIC/SA border.
5-8 March is Pt Fairy Folk Fest at the end of The Great Ocean Road, Victoria passed Warnambool.


Sally's waters near Frances

APOLOGY & THOUGHTS
I didn't write for Xmas, didn't write the usual year summary. I was too deep in life's running too succeed in telling about it as I sometimes do!
Extra-ordinary the year was for sure, soared higher than ever before experienced and sat quiet with quite a few friends through difficult times as well.
eg Leaving Pauline was a sudden moment after so many years and gravitation to that point. Understanding that I had reached a point of no return in my own path.
And I thank a quiet behind the scenes group of friends who were uniquely formative in strengthening my path, wittingly and unwittingly!

TOURING
However, within the year of 2009 came the tour with Josh Bennett (opened for Jeff Beck in Adelaide and was the only left handed Sitarist in the1000 Sitar concert in India last year!), solid partner in the last years of Dya Singh world tours and now we combine climbing Australia's outcrops and performing in the many and out-of-the-way spots. Adelaide around the coast to Coffs at least if not to Hervey Bay & beyond this year. But do be in touch, if you would like to attend/ have us at a House Party/ inspire a local show or want to show us a really funky rocky outcrop to climb! We'll be touring his first (and absolutely must have) Solo CD, launched this year.
April to June and then to near Sept is being sorted as you read! Let us know your possibilities.



Welcome to our Fav walking zone, Treptower Park, kind of near the Gallery/Studio Lausitzer Platz 12a - opp the big church near Görlitzer Train Station

BERLIN
I also spent 3 months residing in Berlin in the latter half of last year with more taking place as can be organised. Table-tennis rules in Berlin, where the last month has seen temperatures down to -22 degrees!! And it's now back to being 'warm' enough to snow! Performance time featured with powerful Rob Longstaff and The (ever creative) Beez . Even managed to stun Michael Fix by appearing at a last show for both of us in central Germany !!
'My' group Totally Gourdgeous spent 2 months in 2008 across Europe on the wings of being named 'Best Live FOlk Band' by our peers in the Folk Alliance of Australia. Planning a fine return in 2011.

However and meanwhile, check out the portraits in http://www.bettinaduesberg.de/ out of Berlin, and the plot thickens!

THE SUPPER CLUB
Many of you managed to make it to Tamworth last month for the festive time there, and many made it that one step further to this year's Supper Club.
www.myspace.com/andrewclermontssupperclub . Check out the slide show - over 200 photos (truly a best of from the near 2000 taken by Ross Waldron!!) Just click on them to see them bigger & /or quicker!

NEWS
So 2009, the year of defining new Love, Touring, Arts and...... tolerance of shifty fingered mankind.
Ah so thankful that my precious Terada Guitar of over 30 years was returned after 2 months sojourn last year from a southern festival with someone who was 'sorted locally' ! And have finally recovered from last August's Laptop, Phone & Video pinch in Europe. Man that did mess things up for a while - chasing down files & email addresses lost & such! But good things grow from adversity, and adventure is well ahoy, including the star filled nights that transpired @ The Supper Club and the end of Moore Ck Valley in the spangled heavens each night as & lay in my beloved swag on the trampoline 'bed'!

Around 70 individuals shone at the Supper Club this year!!
Chris & Stephanie Rogers & Jess Curran (Mildura), Pot'nKettle - Carl Pannuzzo & Penny Larkin (Melb), Megan Cooper QLD, Brooke Schiemer, Wu PuYu (Taiwan), Coolgrass (Melb) , Jay Scott Berry, Susanna Carman, Sara Tindley, Jess Stocker, Pete Fidler, Peter Denahey &Liz Frencham (VIC), Tami Neilson (Nth America), Mark Mazengarb & Marian Burns, NZ, Montz Matsumoto (Japan), Parris Macleod, Clermont & Robbie Long, Bushfire (Gold Coast), Matt Zarb, Mark Oats, Clare O'Meara, Andrew Toner, Ronnie Rindo, Ross Waldron (Photography), Adam Bodkin, Mark Atkins, Lawrie Minson, Tony Eyers, Chloe, Blackbirds, Brent Larkham (Spain), Karen Lynne, Nigel Lever, Kat, Martin Louis, Steve O'Hern, Tallara Conner, Lana Kress, Bronnie Ware, Kerry Hayward, Hiroko (Japan), Minnie Marks, Connie Krisanderson, Rory Ellis & Tim Hackett, The Texettes, Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith (SA), George Jackson (QLD) The Wishing Well & Willow (VIC), Karin Schmidt (CDs) &Rosemary Herd (SA), Jenny Burke & Val Wood (on the Door)


L - R Pete Fidler, Jess Stocker, Carl Pannuzzo, Peter Denahey, Liz Frencham, Tami Neilson (Nth America) and Mark Mazengarb NZ, Montz Matsumoto (Japan), Parris Macleod, Clermont & Robbie Long's Guitar!
"It's an Oasis of creative music-making in a sea of country music cliches" Lisa Shea - Mackenzie Theory
"Thankyou for lighting up my life/soul! " Jacquie Ross & Dianne Goldsmith
"It's always Food to attend" John White
"A place where 'blue humour' is not tried to be passed off as wit!!" Carolyn Salvog
"Just keep doing what you are doing!" most of attendees

We thankyou all for sharing in the Fellowship of The Supper Club

for some topical discussion on the present festival developments you can read my thoughts in my

Answers to a few queries -
*Yes you can get a Season Pass for The Supper Club - just $180 will now get you in for just over half price each show.

*Yes there are DVDs to the concerts - eventually from this year will be some (but then I've yet to have done 2006!!) but at the moment there is a 12 DVD collection from 2005 in a show by show/ night by night - often full length 3 camera shoot of the performances up close and personal! Twas the last year that Michael Fix joined us & with a string-section through Jo Lack - who led to us, Colin Brooks (Texas, USA and one of my favorite surprise guests to ever grace The Supper Club!!))
They were mainly available to the players but there are a few copies left. $20 each & $150 for the set - includes a bonus 'Best of' DVD

2005 SUP DVDs Which Player Where?

Barney Wakeford 9,10
Belinda Walmsley 1,5,11,12
Colin Brooks 2,3,4,5,8,9,10,11,12
Christian Marsh 3,4,7,10,12
Darren Mullan 5, 9
Darryl Walker - 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12
Eldridge Sisters 1,2,3,4,5,6,12
Gary Brown - 6, 10
Gary Steel - 12
Kirk Steel - 10
Gypsy Hot Club - 1,2
Jackie Marshall - 6,9,12
Jess Randall - 7,12
Jo Lack - 2,3,4,6,8,9,10,11,12
Kata Haye - 6
Karen Lynne & Pat Drummond - 6
Karen Waters - 6,9
The Lawnmowers- 1,11
Leslie Avril - 9
Marcus Holden - 6, 12
Michael Fix - 6
Quentin Eyers - 5, 9
Ronnie Rindo - 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
Randall Wilson - 1,2,10,12
Paul Wookey - 4, 10
Sophie Raymond - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12
Steve Teakle - 1,3,4,5,8,9,11,12
Wendy M Jackson - 1, 6,11,12



* And for those wanting to show a quick cross-section of the nights there is the Sample DVD from 2004 - showing the concerts in 7min or so clips of favourite moments through the evenings and associated performance moments from that era.   see   http://www.andrewclermont.com.au/e-movies.htm  and scroll down


PHOTOS - MORE INFO IN REGARD TO THE PHOTOS THAT WERE ON DISPLAY this year @ The Supper Club. These photos are all about capturing the way one feels when standing before a particular view, moment. Combining a number of images (sometimes up to 24) produces a real 'being there' emotive response (hopefully, Ha!) They are selling well. The 2 most popular I have included (in small versions) here.

* This year I introduced my "Big Pictures", if you noticed, on the wall near the CD table. I'm chuffed to see a few of you invested in prints up to A3 oversize. particularly these two shots
See attachments

and


The first is in the Antarctic Beech forest at Point Lookout near Ebor in the New England National Park (note Josh Bennett standing beside the fallen log!), and then my first concert with the Lulo Reinhardt quintet (lineage to Django Reinhardt) at an astonishing theatre in Wiesbaden, Germany - note the white Epoch fiddle in the centre. Now there's a backdrop!!!

Prices are $50 A4, $100 A3 and $120 A3 oversize - printed to 5000 dpi on highest quality archive photo paper/ink. Full Lamination is 10% extra, Postage $5 in Australia
The Panorama Photos (and the above) - can be seen at
http://www.panoramio.com/user/2010087
are priced individually. It displays by no means all the photos in the collection - but will come close over time!

THANKS
Thanks again for attending the Supper Club. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Next email will have details of the Easter to June plans from Melbourne to Coffs Harbour at least
Tall Hugs from Andrew & the many

Howdy Hi from the Tall one.
Yes, somewhat late on the years end mailout of Words, perhaps Wisdom and What's ahead. Ha, an alternative www meaning!

You are on my 'friends' list via Dya Singh, Totally Gourdgeous, Terra Australis, The Lawnmowers, The Supper Club, Fiddlers Festival, and a number of Festivals & associate acts/friends - let alone chance rendevous across the planet. But if you are too confounded being here and unlikely to become intrigued... then do put 'Please Remove' in a return subject line.

Big Hugs to the gracious (if not often totally random) folk met & re-met along the way, many of whom put extra relevance to why we do what we do! And to the all important friends who tend to question/ support/ laugh/cry and generally catchup from time to time, Bravo and much love.

Quick Summary
It was a gargantuan last year of stunning life changing love (see www.bettinaduesberg.de for her extra-ordinary Art) -

Father passing on at 86 years in Adelaide - Karl Heinz Clermont, you have my absolute respect and appreciation. You inspired all of us to search beyond the obvious (got the news of his passing  arriving at my Aunty's funeral at the top of Germany with all his brothers & sister standing with - astonishing timing!);



3 months in Berlin (Busking with ol' Rob Longstaff at Mauer Park - it goes off!) and bumped into Michael Fix mid -Germany in the last week there while performing with The Beez (also previous Supper Club performers) ;
large Oz tours from Singapore to Southern WA (much thanks to Michelle,Linda,Teresa/Bruce,John/Jude,Steph,Judy,Simon&LouisaWorld and the incredible WA seaside for an unforgettable 9 days) to SA in the Barossa across to amazing Mallecoota (the SE corner of OZ mainland) & up to Woodford, QLD with all sorts in between;
including a fun Turkish Bushdance at the Warrah Ck Hall near Tamworth - Classic fun!
Add to that my precious Terada Guitar - stolen for 2 months - then Laptop/New vid Camera (with a precious collection of film moments) & my phone, get taken out of the Berlin apartment along with other peoples gear - alas no recovery on them. Quite the horrors - which must be philosophically dealt with - thankful for what was backed up and remiss at what wasn't. Quite the Yin & Yang for powerful learning curves - laugh good and loud on that one!!
Great sections of time enjoyed with the Grandkids & daughters spread now from Brisbane to Adelaide with particularly good parties thrown in across the board from Oz to Germany for 30, 40, 50ths and a Wedding with one of the biggest gatherings of Clan Clermont. Very grateful to be able to share in that.


Touring near you?
I'm in the throws of assembling the April/ May tour 2010 with Josh Bennett (Just released his landmark new CD of wonderous music) on the tail of last year's "Blues to Berserk" tour that went so well. So if anyone is keen for a performance nearby through their Arts group/ friend with large house or garden/ groovy Cafe/ hillside/ happening Pub/Club etc , let us know and we'll try to work it in.

The Supper Club - just seemingly days away
Most important just now is the looming new Supper Club 2010 at Tamworth's Country Music Festival - see http://www.andrewclermont.com.au/specialevents.htm#tamfest
- quite the Fringe Fest with it's usual Nights of Fiddle/Harmonica/Banjo/Guitar/Piano/Bluegrass & more with

ANDREW CLERMONT - Celebrating 12 years of the Supper Club - bringing often up to 70 players together through the week - here the music really gets to soar and surprise audience & performer alike! 3 times a Bluegrass Champ, Director to the Golden Fiddle Awards, World Touring/Recording with 3 Bands, on Fiddle / Mandolin/ Guitar/ Didgeridoo and elated at this year’s line-up blending favourites with new spice - let the Magic, literally, begin!!

JAY SCOTT BERRY & MATT ZARB -Magic,songs & the adventure of ‘Incantations’ - All Week
As a creator, performer and teacher, Jay Scott Berry is recognized as one of the Masters of the Art."The most Magical Act I've ever seen!" Matt’s unique style of guitar playing and songwriting has landed him on stages with everyone from Tommy Emmanuel to Willie Nelson - recently spending 3 years living/touring from Kentucky in the United States. This will be special!!

BROOKE SCHIEMER - a dance of Vocals - All week
from theatre scores to an original look on life. Her power belies her appearance. We are all the more enriched from knowing & performing with her.

MONTZ MATSUMOTO - Worlds of Banjo & Song - All week
He has glean much from his world touring and delivers from the heart. Appearing on the The Pigs & Borderers recent CDs he’ll bepowering with many shades of Bluegrass to Woody Guthrie

MEGAN COOPER - fresh songs & stories from Queensland vibe - All week

TONY EYERS (HARMONICA), PETER FIDLER (DOBRO), PENNY LARKIN (MAGIC HANDS)(suspect Carl Pannuzzo on Drums)  , LIZ FRENCHAM (BASS), MONTZ MATSUMOTO,  ROB LONG (GUITAR) , MEGAN COOPER & BROOKE SCHIEMER, CLERMONT (on knee!)

CARL PANNUZZO & PENNY Larkin - tantalising Vox/Guitar/Piano/Ukelele/Drums/Percussion - ALL
- (Carl was with us as Totally Gourdgeous in 2006 & 2007)
Having spent a whole lot of life on separate paths, the two are now weaving in and out of each other's in a most magical way. Carl's multi-instrumentalist abilities along with his sinfully, soulful voice provide the perfect bed for penny's pure tones and exacting story-telling. They soothe and surprise, inspire and encourage. It's a simply beautiful and beautifully simple thing.

RONNIE RINDO - the pinot noir drummer from up nearby Moore Creek Valley, appearing over the first weekend.

STEPHEN O'HERN (stunning young Armidale guitarist recently back from USA) featuring on the first weekend. Very special

WU PU YU - Taiwan - an more emotional sound is rare to hear. Soaring Flute and tumbling Flute in Bluegrass & Celtic through to pounding & gentile Piano!

SARA TINDLEY & SUSANNA CARMAN
Back by demand after a riveting Songwriters in the Round, performance last year at the Festival.
Sara had audiences and critics alike heralding the arrival of a major songwriter. Her sound is uniquely Australian, wide-open, funny and true. Her roots are country with enough folk/soul influences to keep things fresh and vital. “This is compulsory listening for all supporters of Australian roots music" 4 stars Dan Condon “Time Off”. Susanna, fresh from USA touring, "with a voice of heartbreaking purity, lyrics that cut to the bone and a new release that shimmers. Carman's attractively relaxed voice, touches on some real pain, lets you feel it without histrionics, then finds an optimistic route out each time." Bernard Zuel, The Sydney Morning Herald. Together again with duets & delving stories. Main show is on Friday 22

LANA KRESS - USA - opened for Dierks Bentley, Billy Currington & Travis Tritt. A truly passionate performer from Portland, Oregon.

CHRIS & STEPHANIE ROGERS - Dobro, Octave mando, Guitar & sweet contemporary Vocals. The strength behind much of Mildura’s LIve Music events will also joined by Jesse Curran from Monday and all not long back from touring Europe.

BRONNIE WARE - with a more trad sound - joins many on the Girls Night TUE 9pm

JESS STOCKER - percussion & Drums with a Macedonian/ Belly Dance twist throughout the week & on the Fiddle Night, with ‘Arco’-Bassist’ Arlene Fletcher (Turkish Delight)

LAWRIE MINSON featuring on Harmonica - SUN 9PM
with his new Video clip at No. 19 on the charts he was forever the dobro sound behind Slim Dusty, his multi-instrumental ability drew him together with Clermont in the mid 80s with a GoldGuitar win with the Three Chord Wonders while 25 years later they stood together again at Hohner in Germany for the Guiness Book of Records for Harmonica (2 in a crowd of 3000!! players)

ROB LONG + LIZ FRENCHAM both ex-Lawnmowers and Liz , double bassist from multi-awarded Jigzag and many more; Rob a Guitar Champion, deliver absolute class from Monday till Thu if not further. And likely bring in Pete Fidler on Dobro.

PARRIS MACLEOD - an original Supper Club player, originally meeting Clermont at the recording of Troy Cassar-Daley’s first album! It was Parris’s Studio and now Clermont & Macleod have 2 studio CDs and the live Supper Club Oct 2004 recording don’t miss his dream to berserk keyboards, drum, guitar and much more. TUE - SAT

KAREN LYNNE - Golden voiced with legend bluegrassers Acoustic Shock close by THU 6 & SAT 6pm She did receive Top Honours winning the ‘Bluegrass & Traditional Country’ category in the VIC & National CM Awards and she had also picked up the Award for Top Female Vocalist in the Australian Independent Country Music Awards.

COOLGRASS Theatrical Bluegrass WED 6/9 THU 6/9 FRI 9pm
Their antics are the stuff of legends and lunatics - Rocky Horror Bluegrass - you’ll be laughing out loud with - Doug Wallace (guitar, dobro) began in the Hayes Brothers (one of Australia’s first bluegrass bands). Jim Golding (banjo) challenges the traditionalists with bebop-banjo, rock’n roll-banjo, bossa-banjo, Mozart-banjo, and comic songs like “The Banjo Picker from Hell”. Angus Golding (double bass) the youngest but already mixing Acappella with heavy rock and ‘music-for-children’ shows round the state. Bruce Packard (mandolin) flying in “New Dogs Old Tricks”, folked-up jazzers “Straight Ahead” & trad bluegrass “Sleight of Hand” or swung with the “Moonee Valley Drifters”. Firing on double bass, mandolin, or mandocello. See them all up close @The Supper Club.

Season Passes get you in at near half price! Take advantage at $150
Available at the Door or Contact Andrew on 0407753809
andrewclermont@gmail.com www.andrewclermont.com.au

In February I look forward to some reflective time ......LOL...well I'll try - a few stories to relay then.
May you all find some reflective time. Big tall hugs< Andrew

his new Tour Project - Blues2Berserk

Introducing Josh Bennett around the Oz countryside!



2009 Blues2Berserk Tour (gig guide below)

Finally free from their bands (briefly), they've come to tell it all.....
A twisted taunt of Celtic Blues Swing Bluegrass Jazz Indian adventure.
The roads and flights between Kenya and Calcutta, London, Vancouver, LA & Oz weave a soaring night of music, song and story between Josh Bennett & Andrew Clermont
- Both in Dya Singh World Music Group (twice World Music Group of Australia), The Supper Club & The Lawnmowers (at the cutting 'hedge' of Bluegrass!)
Andrew Clermont - http://www.myspace.com/andrewclermont
has finally settled down, nestled in 6 (or so) bands / 5 or 6 instruments appearing in Austria/ Kenya/ USA/ Canada/UK/ Germany/ Taiwan/ Malaysia/ Hong Kong/ Singapore/New Zealand/ and Australia wide! Pumpkin powered in Totally Gourdgeous (Voted Best Live Folk Band '08); 3 time Bluegrass National Guitar Champ; flying with the Fiddlers Feast; very Australian as Terra Australis (Heritage Award & BushBand winners); and Celtic Conundrums - to be sure, to be sure!
Andrew initiated the NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Contest and is a Director to the Golden Fiddle Awards. These are both sponsored by Epoch Violins with Andrew touring the unique 5-string models while also sponsored/ assisted by Maton Guitars, Gilchrist Mandolins and White Swallow Banjos.
Josh Bennett www.myspace.com/joshbennettmusic
fresh from a rocking Jeff Beck support appearance in Adelaide and playing at Ravi Shankar's George Harrision Birthday 66 tribute concert in India - and closing music for 'Stateline'
I've been doing this for as long as I can remember, but a starting point I suppose was when I started performing on stage when I was 15. I played Guitar Blues back then, and still do, but now it's mixed up with whatever music I find that speaks to me. More often than not that's been culturally significant (or roots I suppose you could label it) music from all over the world, in particular India, Africa and Ireland.
Also been playing Sitar, Tabla and Dilruba - a bowed instrument similar to Sarangi, for about eleven years.
I play all over the place, in different guises. These days I'm playing around the world with Dya Singh, a world music group that's been around longer than the term world music. I play solo, with jazz musos, blues, folk, experimental, film scores, ... the list goes on, which is why it's so much easier to just say I play music from my soul and leave it at that.
But, I'm also occasionally seen on stage with including Chris Finnen, The Silk Road Project, Guitar Safari, The Universal Jazz Band - you get the idea


2009
Thu 30 April 8pm The Lomond , Nicholson St Brunswick VIC

Sun May 3rd 1pm
Hickinbotham Wines @ Dromana Sunday , Melb south of Frankston 194 Nepean Hwy Dromana 3936
194 Nepean Highway (Near Wallaces Road)
Dromana 3936
Victoria, Australia
Phone (03) 5981 0355
Email info@hickinbotham.biz


FRI 8TH MAY
MINGLING WATERS CAFE - MIKE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Princes Highway
Nowa Nowa Victoria 3877
Phone: (03) 5155 7247 Mobile: 0409 515 572
Fax: (03) 5155 7247

Nowa Nowa/ Lakes Entrance - Josie Jacobi 5155 2464 - local philanthropist - must ring
bungalook@bordernet.com.au

Sat 9th 7.30pm Mallacoota , Workshops 4pm The Mudbrick
WORKSHOP/CONCERT AT SCHOOL Lisa Broom 0428 586357


Fri 15th May 7.30 Candelo Arts Society , South Coast NSW 0401180749

Sat 16th May 7.30 Cobargo, Yuin Folk Club, House Concert - Graham Friar & Coral Vobach 0264936758


Fri 22 May Karuah (North of Newcastle, NSW)
Jam time at River of Music Festival - Bluegrass Feature
Sat 23/5
banjo wkshop (Dave Hellens) - 9.30 - 11.30
Concert - The Lawnmowers 3 - 4pm or 4 - 5pm
Sun 24/5
mandolin / fiddle wkshop (Andrew Clermont)- 11.15 - 12.45 Check times
guitar wkshop - Andrew Clermont - 9.30 - 11.30
Harmonica Wkshop - Christian Marsh - 11.15 - 12.45 (TBC)
Concert - The Lawnmowers
For more info - 0407 071 417


Thu 28 May The Armidale Club, 91 Beardy St. Armidale, NSW

Fri 29 Uralla Arts Performance , Old St Davids Church TBC

Sun 31 Old Gazette Theatre, Dorrigo, - main Street with Indian heart warming food


Thu June 4th The Armidale Club, 91 Beardy St. Armidale, NSW

Fri June 5th Percussion Workshop Willow Tree School (Andrew's Birthday!) Ph 0267 471793

Sat June 6th Bush Dance - Willow Tree Heather Ranclaud Ph 0267 471793

Sun June 7th 5pm The Supper Club - North Tamworth Bowling Club , Cnr Bligh & Piper St


Wed 10th Ouyen Club VIC
Thu 11th Mildura Sandbar TBC


Fri June 19 Cafe Komodo 118 Prospect Road, Prospect | T 08 8344 7448.
Fri June 26 Wheatsheaf Hotel 39 George Street. Thebarton. South Australia. Tel.: 08 8443 4546.

July 20 - I fly to Germany till Oct 28
Based in Berlin

Pointer Sisters to Punch & Judy -
all in a day's possibility with Clermont Tours Inc !!

HI Mike, a Postcard story if you will! Hope it finds you well. You know, in all the tumbling chaos of last January, I never got to see the article you wrote in my direction. And dare I say why I've never written an adjectival thanks for it. Perhaps I'll be able to grab a back issue at the Tamworth CapNews hub - I might get a chance in November! Ah the embroiled lives some lead. Hey and BackBeat, my rockin' Bluegrass band from 17 years back (!!!) is having a re-union at the Dorrigo Bluegrass Festival this month's end and continuing at The Supper Club next January - we'll look at other possibilities there after. But i'll send you a CD to give you the flavour soon- meanwhile.....

Below is largely a story I sent to Anna for the Leader but thought you might find some Cap News worth parts to it. Visiting Merritt, CM capital in Canada, and Lawrie Minson & I joining 4000 for the Guiness Book of Records for Harmonica in Southern Germany!! Any way some catch up background and pics too.

" Well there we were, once again in India(n) guise through North America, as Dya Singh World Music Group, bounding along the British Columbian freeway, snaking through the outskirts of the Rockies, when up jumped the need for lunch and general pause on the 9 hour, drive day, from Seattle, north to Salmon Arm. On reflection, I had wondered, just how, we were going to manage this leg of the North American tour given that in one moment we were the diagonal other side of the Continent one day, in Orlando, Florida, and then the entire last week ricocheting the North West quadrant and wanting to be sane and fit for the concerts there in - enter the spontaneously materializing driver, Simon Harder. Each story needs a legend and here he came in spades.
Eight years back on our first USA tour, wandering Aussie, SImon Harder had been our driver by being at he right place at the right time and agreeing to put his own peculiar life on hold! Coincidentally his Dad spent his last years in Uralla. Anyway, a number of rendezvous, years and laughs, later, he appears on email suggesting he might need a break at the time of Salmon Arm - Roots & Blues Festival and would meet us there. I rapidly replied a plead for him to be our driver again thus bringing the happy entourage back together - where he arrived just before us, to pickup the hire van, drive us to the far reaches of tour management and after dropping us at Vancouver Airport, 9 concerts and a couple of thousand miles later, return the van to Seattle airport to return to San Diego and computer programming-ville!

"The Oz Pub in Seattle" - Parvyn Josh, Simon & Andrew

Not only did we also link up with the delightful 2002 Japan tour guide, Akane (Fiddlers Festival (Feast)); The Pointer Sisters; the Aussie Pub in Seattle; Stunt Man extraordinaire via my early days in Taiwan, Justin Sain (also the Wolverine's stunt double in the X-Men!); perform under the azure Canadian sky line with up to 4 bands (inter-linked at once!)! Yes indeed, you too might join one of Clermont's sojourns in life but, in the meantime, it unfolds here... and man were we in need of a break!
And so we came to be on the outskirts of Merritt, the Country Music Capital of Canada! Unknowingly entering a parallel universe, to Tamworth! Though no Golden Guitar, there were the immense murals of the stars and Walks of Fame, with various shops sponsoring large plaques of gratitude to the various CM luminaries.
Tamworth has had it's share of minimally adorned Chinese Restaurants and Merritt has trumped them. Here one appeared more like a dental surgery than Eastern cullinary venue! ...But the food was still considerably good.


"Multi-cultural touring - Hindu, Sikh & beyond in the Heart of Country! Merritt, Canada"

Well the tour started near Disneyland in California - fundraising close to $100,000 for interfaith/ peace projects at one dinner function alone! Big thanks to the California Sikh Foundation. We were able to invite Joanne Lack (ex Brisbane with Michael Fix, now writing string sections out of San Francisico) who appeared in Tamworth as well with John Wibberly, The Supper Club and Texan, Colin Brooks. The night also gave opportunity to include Sax & Trumpet dude, Kevin Ray Putzier from east of Orange County - you get the idea that as with The Supper Club at home, my tours are always about gathering the fun players to then cast new magic with the resultant music. Kevin was met through a Sunday Jam in OC that we'd heard about at the local 'hole in the wall' bar near Tuscan Boulevard. His two at once trumpet harmony technique is freaky! Ha! And yesterday Jo Lack appears in Berlin on my last day there! Uncanny timing AND rings from just 2 blocks away - even though Berlin is such a large city!
Back to Nth America and for 2 months we jigzagged from Winnipeg Folk Fest to California World Music Fest; Hillside and Blue Skies Fests near Toronto to St Louis and Detroit, Festival of Colours; Orlando including the Endeavour Shuttle lift off(!) and finally across to where this missive began, near Vancouver. Boy, do those rockets make a racket!!

A week in London with Tamworth's own Tom Donald and Armidale's Gypsy Hot Club Fiddle Champ, Willow Stahlut-Kemp, included new studio recordings from the gathering! Stay tuned for it's release in the next while.
The Dya Singh Tour this time also included their manager, Keith Preston presenting his historic Punch & Judy Show. Naturally this required quite extensive soundscapes from yours truly and the fun of expanding puppetry with live music was eagery taken on. We also caught up merrily with Australia's fav Guitar son, Tommy Emmanuel, following each other on stages throughout the California Fest weekend.

Canadian Festivals are a little unique in that they love to present multiple band workshops, eg Dya Singh meets The Bebop Cowboys, or Madagasgar Slim, and/or Quebec Ska Kings or... you get the idea. See the YouTube website and search for "Dya Singh Nth America Tour". There are three videos covering the last two months of touring. Yes of course our little ensemble does love to mingle! There is also a jam in the back of the bus back from the Winnipeg Folk Fest where it all just went off!! My camcorder was rarely far away - let alone handing it to occasionally willing audient! Our final, main stage concert, for the tour was at Salmon Arm. One of those 'BEST EVER!' gigs. When people compliment you by saying "Lucky it was your own sound guy" when it was the festival guy all along - it means you know they were doing the right thing for you out front. Even legendary 'impact' man, That 1 Guy, was taken aback at the presentation. A definite going out with a Bang!

At last year's Tam CM Fest, The Supper Club was able to welcome The Beez (very funny & theatrical) from Berlin as special guests. Last week Lawrie Minson & I became their guests at a very Retro Venue, LUX, in East Berlin. The building is a cross between a bunker, machine shop and from the inside, like a huge dark lit hippy bus! The Berliners came and filled the place and a hoot of a night was had. The Beez will return to Oz in 2009 after touring my folk funk group, Totally Gourdgeous, thoughout Europe in 2008. Not to be missed

Lawrie is here for the 150th Birthday of Hohner Harmonicas in Southern Germany - great timing that we could link up in the same week in Germany and perform as well. I'm now on a fast train from Zurich, Switzerland to rendevous with Lawrie, just south of Stuttgart - adapting my world ticket to parallel Lawrie's path for a moment. (Loz had a somewhat long & trying trip over, so his first recovery Beer was a major moment - I'll include that photo, too, Haha)


However the reality was, that Lawrie & I were destined to join just short of 4000 Harmonica players in Trossingen near the Black Forest for the Guiness Book of Records for Harmonica! And the biggest 'bouncing ball' effect above the stage to keep all in line with melody and timing! 5 minutes altogether. Imagine if you will!! A small town with mighty big central area to accomodate the throng from China & Japan to Aussies and American folk though all over Europe. And made a special batch of Harmonicas, just to use at the event!!


and a close up of the girls under the sign in the middle!



SOOOOOO cute!

It's been a joy to catch up with cousins & new nephews/ friends babies during this Deutch sector.

Nairobi followed and a sublime beach north of Mombasa awaited for a 2 week cultural contrast, helping out, and recovery before returning to Tamworth.
See you at a Supper Club at TamFest or anyone in Thailand early Nov?

Regards in the magic of Music - tumbling our world borders, Andrew Clermont and bands Inc!"



new pics at
http://blog.myspace.com/andrewclermont

Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right. - Henry Ford

"God is a little too big for just one religion! "
Andrew Clermont

"If you are going to strike out at someone, first walk a mile in their shoes.....that way, you'll be a mile away from them, and you'll have their shoes!!"
Indian 'wisdom'

A most special endless energy of 2005 No Holds Barred Fiddle Winner, Jess Randall,
for gathering the many together for the Supper Club 'Orchestra' in this years
'symphony' performance on "The Girls Night". On Utube before too long!

Hi Folks, hope you had a great effective start to the year. Free hugs here if you didn't... or did!
A BIG THANKYOU to the contributers and a little run through the joy that was Tamfest and the Supper Club this January, 2007 - Much more than your usual Country Music Fest - bringing together players and styles from around the world,

plus news for those near Melbourne TOGETHER AGAIN TOUR - Canadian Fiddle Champ, young Tania Elizabeth (Grammy Nonimee with The Duhks!) with yours truly - details further below (Guildford Hotel Music Hall 8pm Wed 21 Feb - with Workshops at 6pm if you ring 0407753809), Horsham, Cafe Bagdad 22 (TBC) & Adelaide Tue 27 Feb Jive on Hindley St(TBC)
see http://www.myspace.com/andrewclermont for gigguide updates - watch for US & Canada Tour with Dya Singh in July/ August ( if you are near)
If you have friends near any up coming shows, please feel free to advise them

THE SUPPER CLUB
Over 50 musicians contributed & shared in the 'fringe festival' that is at the North Tamworth Bowling Club for the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival
each January, plus a few choice times through the year. In particular this year the warm interplay of young and less young musos around the club, city and Festival was much more than usual and that be a healthy sign for the future of the Festival.

The hardy creative core of the Supper Club this year was :-

Totally Gourdgeous
The Lawnmowers  "the cutting 'hedge' of Bluegrass"!

The Eldridge Sisters - my dear string section and friends, and in the Sydney Morning Herald TamFest review


 

Wu PuYu -   Flute emotion & concert piano
& Alex Gordon - mandolin magic

Plus the amazing Turkish Delights, Crooked Fiddle Band, The Beez (from Berlin, Germany - very special),
Reason to Breath (woven harmonica, Flute & Digeridoo with Keyboards), Sarah Carrol, Karen Lynne & Acoustic Shock, Fiddlesticks (New Zealand) and the many individuals - 15 yr old Guitar whizz Smokin' Joe,
Ross Waldron(Finger pickin' adventure), Cary & Brookie (harmony bliss), Leslie Avril, Daniel & Bee B (NZ Banjo lass whizz kid) , Andrew Scott(Double Bass power), George Washingmachine, Garry Steel(amazing Accordian), Tim Turner (sublime Piano), WuPuYu (Piano & Flute emotion), Sophie Raymond, Steve Teakle (keyboards), Rodney Ford(drums via Fiddlers Feast), Mal Webb & Penelope Swales plus Blues Harp legend, Doc Span.

And please a big cheer to NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Contest Winners - Connor Macgregor (Youth) & George Jackson (Senior) and all the brave entries
plus warm thanks to the judges, George Washingmachine & Golden Fiddle Award Winning Teacher, Kylie McIvor and Marcus Holden & Fiddlers Feast for hosting the finals.

And the wonderful patrons who housed our players - we can't do it without you - we are ever grateful.

FIDDLERS FEAST
A powerhouse of fiddledom was presented at all the Fiddlers Feast shows, from the finale of the Opening Concert to thousands in Bi-Centenial Park to the NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Finals at the Regent Cinema - the magic of Mark Oats & Clare O'Meara (Bushwackers); George Washingmachine & Marcus Holden (2 different Jazz) plus Rodney Ford, John Coker & Garry Steel dressing the Fiddles in musical finery while I get to dance between them all!
www.fiddlersfestival.com

The fun and depth of music grows each year. Please enjoy the results & views in the websites below


TOGETHER AGAIN TOUR
(Yarra Junction Fiddlers Convention/ Guilford/Horsham/ Frances Folk Gathering/ Adelaide/ Pt Fairy Folk Fest)
Canadian Fiddle Champ, Tania Elizabeth, is briefly in Australia
and will start her "Together Again" tour with Andrew Clermont at
our oldest restored Music Hall in charming Guildford, just north
of Melbourne on Wed 21 Feb.

We last saw Elizabeth about 5 years back when she was just 18, casually at Yarra
Junction Fiddles Convention, then at Brunswick Music Fest/
Apollo Bay and then featured at the National Fiddle Festival at
Richmond, Sydney before joining & touring with The Duhks across
the globe.
"I've been playing with The Duhks for just over 5 years now,
and during that time we have toured relentlessly, signed with Sugarhill
Records, won a Juno and been nominated for a Grammy."

Few are unfamliar with Clermont's chameleon music life with
Totally Gourdgeous (Theatrics), Dya Singh (Indian), The
Lawnmowers (Bluegrass),Fiddlers Feast (ex-Festival) and The
Supper Club (World) to name a few world touring groups (all
active!) Now see him with his favourite music partner. "There's
no limits with Tania - passion, technique, laughs and surprises!"
Just google their names for further background info.

Both are very open to teaching as well. This will be available
in workshop form at the Guildford Hotel Music Hall at 6pm prior
to their first concert at 8pm. Those interested in workshops
from Clermont or Elizabeth or both should ring 0407753809.
Concert is $10 and Workshop details still being arranged.

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.



 

February 2005 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.

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

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 OMeara, 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!

The Supper Club Tour for mid 2004 is the following weekend (Queen's Birthday long weekend) in Tamworth, Armidale and a garden party in Barraba.(see Gigguide below)And these are the latest CDs we are launching!

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.

( 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)

Praying 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.

Subj: The Clermont 'Amazing Tour' Update Sept 2003
Date: 5/09/03

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@gmail.com
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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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
http://www.andrewclermont.com.au new pics & info all the time

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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

****************************************

Andrew Clermont's  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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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.

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.

Yours ever musically, Andrew & Pauline

 

Thoughts for the day
In the Begining there was Music of the Spheres - now look at it!
A good Hug reaches where few other things can

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So we packed our bags, headed off to many parts unknown, leaving the homely magic & splendour - were there bigger fish to fry? "Don't look back" they always tell you but we do because we never forget our friends & family at home. We take heart that always "someone, somewhere loves you". 'Tis the message to keep as a constant companion, lest we get lost or lonely, especially 4 months down the track. *
Well I didn't catch up with everyone but gave it hearty try!

Just to briefly recap: I seem hardly back from Perth/Albany/ Fairbridge of WA with Totally Gourdgeous, when Fiddlers Festival heads off for a return visit to Tokyo - with intensive appearances, video shoots, laughs & fiddlemania via the group converging from various quarters of the world. Barely 7 days later we disperse back into the air, landing in as many different airports.

I manage by the skin of my teeth to make the LA connection to Phoenix, USA, and straight into the first gig wityh Dya Singh. See the zigzag USA tour map here.
and sunsets at
here.
 

# Youth camps, festivals, private functions and gurdwarras (Sikh temples) feature across USA & Canada for the next 12 weeks. New Orleans Zoo to Vancouver Island ferry, The Smithsonian in DC to, finally, Yosemite National Park to see Yogi Bear(!) and the bizarre waterfalls, which seemingly descend from the mountain tops!
Our three weeks in UK feature two 1000 strong concerts for Dya Singh Group exclusively. We manage to see from the White Cliffs of Dover to Stonehenge; London's 'Nothin but the Blues Bar' to Manchester's Old Jewellery Quarter with a final gasp at the Hindu Temple of London an absolute world wonder as only 8000 plus years of active religion can produce.
Dya Singh Group made huge inroads across the board with imminent tours to Africa and a return to UK asap for 3000 seat venues. Arrangements for the group at Carnegie Hall, NY, this year, just missed the mark in the final steps but the film it was to be promotion for is now out. Large slices of Dya Singh Group music feature - I believe its simply called "Sikhs in America", or "American Sikhs". Not likely to be shown in Oz! But I'll be chasing up a copy. And of course the year started with the group's definitive presentation at The Woodford Folk Festival Fire Event - 20,000 plus crowd joining the 500 strong choir in our version of 'Sukmani Simeren', a Sikh meditation. The event theme was 'Pillars of Wisdom'. The perfect start, to a multi-faith promoting world peace tour.
CLick here
for the Oz run now into next year with Totally Gourdgeous, Dya Singh and ever more special events
 

All up it takes 30 flights to return me to Oz 17 weeks later! Meanwhile my folks were in Germany for their last homeland visit. I did manage to get close by, but still missed them by a narrow week - drat! This year I do manage few days in France with dear life friend, Nayia Audras (my daughter's namesake), and her fun, growing family. Some serious wine appreciation and general post concert tour wind down with, of course, a little solo Show at the local gallery. Southern France hamlets are a perfect place to relax. Bon Appetit.
Two weeks are left to explore the family tree further in Germany & Denmark, before reappearing in the great southern land for well due reunion with much missed daughters and further belated family birthday celebrations. This be the longest stretch away since 1992 (6months at the World Expo, Seville, Spain).

Hasta la vista & Sat sri akal, bis balt, ya'll come back now, 'cos - she'll be right, if we take a little more care, across the worlds.
Yours through the magic of music, Andrew Clermont

*text inspired by the Chandler Travis Philharmonic, New Orleans

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Here I update photos and thoughts, some Catch-Up/ Newsletter exerpts and the very latest info (when able!)

Golden Fiddle Show with No Holds Barred Fiddle Champ Stephanie Eldridge

A curious moment in a Hunter Valley Wine event with a rare sighting of the Gourd Didgeribone !

New CDs out now are 'Happy as Larry' with Parris Macleod (purely Fiddle & Piano to disappear into) following last year's fun 'Dance of the Good Life' (with all manner of instruments); and 'Let the Sun Shine on You' to follow the Healing / Meditation CD, 'Songs for the Soul' with loving partner Pauline.

After last October's touring of Victoria, Australia, with Totally Gourgeous and rehearsing for our new CD 'D'Vine', we recorded in Dec & March and are very close to finishing it. Hope you love it.

I've been continuing the year of turning forty with various gatherings.

We had the Acoustic 'Crash Course to Fiddling Freedom workshop Week in the valley behind Tamworth, NSW, last Nov. To book call 61(0)407 753 809 or email of course now andrewclermont@gmail.com

This month sees me enter the 'over forty' realm. Somehow my teenage memories still seem just yesterday.

However, I always have fine company on my birthday, June 5 - among them - Socrates (in history); John Minson & Liz Crago (the country scene) and some ol' Adelaide mates too.

Last year caught me in both San Fran & LA, this year's surroundings were the New Orleans Imax, Jazz Clubs & a nurse fundraising warehouse party.

Sleep? What's that? I sat in with the amazing Teresa Anderson Band - very crossover country - and also with Tony Green (a Django swing devotee).

Thanks muchly for the 'Hoppy Birdy' phone calls & emails, happy returns to all.

Don't forget the 3rdWorkshop Week/end this year - in October by the look of it (date yet to be locked in - open to
suggestion).

A time to focus on some musical freedom in all kinds of ways - a chance to get lessons, advice and musicology
from yours truly.

Stop press: Totally Gourdgeous plan to tour Melb/ Syd/Bris/ Adelaide and between during Nov/Dec, hope to see you in there.

We are also looking forward to the 6th AC Supper Club at Tam Fest 2003
plus 2nd NoHoldsBarred Australian Fiddle Contest therein!

That's January, for both kinds of music - Real & UnReal!
But ofcourse details on those will appear next time or to the curious who email in.

This update features a 10 week toss around Australaisia with fractional timings and helpful friends and a generous
dose of coincidence plus some choice thoughts at the end.

So grab a cuppa something and disappear into some of my world,
maybe two cups! Happy musing...

However..! because of the various delays in finally delivering this midyear missive, there is more
incentive to a more worldly reflection -

Today we circled The Pentagon! The damage outwardly repaired, with completion planned by Sept 11, 2003.

Our friends live so close to it, they thought something had crash landed right next door.

The communities are still reeling but spinning into a far more firmly bonded community.
The Sikhs world wide hit a big panic button
as in, wear turbans but as un-Taliban as it gets, and have suffered huge mistreatments along with the other perhaps
1/4 of the worlds population who also wear Turbans!

 

Thankfully, like all stirred up water, it will & does settle, and generally with a new shore line having ridden & learnt from the storm.

This year's Dya Singh World Tour is thus also by virtual default, a peace tour!

The blend of Dya (a Sikh singer), Deeraj (a Hindu Tabla player), Keith Preston (Scottish/ Irish and greek Bouzouki player) and with my Lutheran Germanic background and the resonant tones of the Aboriginal instrument the didgeridoo or more accurately, Yirdaki, we could hardly get any more worldly.

Many workshops, multi-faith gatherings, World music festivals, temples and many airways & highways as we
zigzag through Phoenix (AZ), San Francisco, Los Angeles (CA), New Orleans (LA), Yuba City(CA), Florida,
Washington DC, Vancouver (Canada), back across to New York, back to San Fran and back right over the Atlantic
to UK for a few weeks till mid August, yikes!

 

However response has been very strong and smiles abound.

That is of course so long as the laptop computer ( or operator?) behaves. Many are the silent screams of chaos in
cyber space. But we learn, don't we?!

Now on a lighter note, my Top 5 CD companions of the last months/years:

5. Goose (self titled and close to live). 14 piece Adelaide funk,Jazz, hornsection group

4. La Bottine Souriante (The Smiling Boot) el spectacle . A 10 or so piece brass & string band from Quebec. Their 10th CD
& live.

3. Prefab Sprout (containing 'Atlantis',' DooWop in Harlem','The 5th Horseman') UK

2. Bruce Cockburn - Best of Canadian Acoustic/ electric

1. The Wrigley Sisters - Huldreland A definitive fiddle/guitar/piano CD of immaculate quality from those gently mischievious
Orkney Island twins (North of Scotland!)

Now I'm not saying they were the best albums, but they were the ones that really did it for me.
now where was I.....

So a lesson in syncronicity

The yearly southern tour was well under way.
Dearest partner Pauline is keen to join up in Adelaide. How to get there - train, bus, plane?
 

As it turns out, her daughters Rainbow & Sunshine (a befittingly named pair), are up for a trip and swish over in smooth Toyota Camira style.

They catch up with my girls too briefly in the riverland, and join myself & eldest daughter Mandy at my folks place.

Mandy & I had had a fine week near Pt Lincoln, SA, celebrating my 40th her 20th and soon Dad at 80(!) -
checking out the beaches and some dear ol' friends.

Our multi-family gathering enjoyed a couple of nights, meals & shopping together before the transport duo continued their lap through the Great Ocean Road (at sunset - magic), to Melbourne/ Sydney & home within a week!

Meanwhile..

Pauline & I enjoy my folks & close relations before linking up with Totally Gourdgeous (TG) for the Fringe Festival (Spiegel Tent) and more.

Our new 'healing from abuse' CD Let the Sun Shine in You is replicated at ATD and on to the relaxed Frances Folk Festival - (SA/ VIC border) with workshops to 800 kids (and the unofficially longest 'didgeri-pipe' performance)!

I won the Muso Contest there last year, equal first with ol' mate John Francis. This time I do the festival sound production, lure veteran Paul Wookey from Melbourne, and a trio is born. A wonderful week/end had.

Pt Fairy Folk Fest is straight after for a fiddle summit (plus the new trio re-meets for a concert at Hanley House) and then to Melbourne where Penelope Swales takes over the van as Pauline & I whisk across to New Zealand.

We enjoy 3 weeks (and 18 shows!), while Mal Webb from TG has taken the van and all its goods & chattels to Canberra Folk Fest, re-linked with Penelope in Sydney and heading for Brisbane.

We return to Sydney (having enjoyed the company of NZ and its CM veterans Gray Bartlett/ Jody Vaughan & Brendan
Dugan & fun band, plus fine Coronation St. actor/singer Kevin Kennedy and charming wife) and by the time Pauline is back in Tamworth by train, I am in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia with World music group, Dya Singh!

Hot pools & Batu Cave walks in the mornings & temples by evening. Even caught up with keyboard whizz, Sam McNally(first Tam Fest Supper Club Piano Night), for a semester end concert at a college there.

The week flies by and I shoot back to Oz.

P & Mal are ready to leave Brisbane (having had the ever able Fred Graham stand in for me in TG there - he even wore the costumes!); Mal meets me at the airport and I reclaim the faithful van. They continue south by plane while I proceed with some workshops in Bris before scooting home to Tamworth to re-stock hugs & CDs.

But you guessed it we've forgotten the steak-knife set - free with every story!

Penelope has returned to Melbourne but is soon on her way to Sydney with Mal's car and Mal is eventually getting into Sydney from Brisbane.

I, a little restored, also make it to Sydney by van via the Country in the Vines concert (a Hunter valley first),for the next leg of TG gigs which includes WA for 2 weeks.

We also transfer the large gathered payload of gourds
collected on their previous trip with the van, to Mal's beast.

But now we must leave the van & car in Sydney. Not a nice thought at the best of times and catch the 5 am flight
to Perth!

The gig didn't finish till 1am so it's figured we'd lay quietly at the airport till time BUT IT WAS SHUT! And I still
had to pick up Mal from his car park & drop mine off.

So we all squeeze in at Mal's haven (ah such tolerant friends) to sleep 2 hrs - Mal opts for the van front seat as security as our entire pack of gear is within.

All cram into the van (seemingly minutes later), I drop them at airport, return 30min to my safe park, sadly waken another faithful friend (boy do we love yus!) and deposit valubles inside the house and taxi back just minutes before the close of the flight.

But wait, surely a van in Sydney for 2 weeks is dodgy!

As it happens, Pauline's son Alkina (Aboriginal for moon - by the way) was going to Sydney as a passanger that weekend - what providence! (he's not bad on the ol' didgeridoo either, - just quietly(!) see Woodford, Tamworth & National Festivals).

Thus the van returns to Tamworth. Not to the house mind you, that leg to nearby Kootingal was another effort in itself with fine cut timing.

The great trip west encompassing cliff jumping at Fremantle, the Fairbridge Folk Fest, Albany Festival and the beautiful southern beaches & blowholes with a whole bunch of groovy people including the amazing young Lucy.

She flew over from Adelaide and went wild at all our shows and played great flute at many gatherings.
(Watch out for more of that)

Next tricky segway - Even though we had return tickets to Sydney, P & I needed to get off in Melb instead. Not a problem as the flight went via Melb anyway.

However just as we send our luggage down the conveyor belt the flight is declared closed, too late for Mal & Carl.

At the same moment (near midnight) the Fagan music family(with whom we'd had an absolute hoot) arrive to fly to Sydney - just as Bluegrass Parkway arrive back from Melb - whirls of hugs & kisses ending in the discovery that
M & C can join the Sydney direct flight.

A big time & effort saver. All travel needs satisfied - thankyou Qantas.

In Melbourne we begin mixing the (dare I say exciting) new TG CD for the few days I have before the 6.15 am
Virgin Blue flight to Brisbane to join unknown drummer (Grant Collins - who turns out to be cool & hot (what a funny language we live in) and drive straight down to Glen Innes Celtic Festival 4 1/2 hrs, set up on stage and perform with the
Borderers and again that night at the club till late! Phew!
 

Fortunately Pauline has caught the Tamworth Pipers bus to Glen with daughter Elisma (their first trip together!) who has
embraced the CD seller job with hearty attitude.

She even sold balloon animals on the side, bringing her much closer to her planned horse investment. Speaking of which, I must get back to mine - dear Gumby - who's been enjoying the longyard pasture for quite a while.

So where were we? OK, it's now Sunday, 10 weeks after Pauline's jaunt to Adelaide and near 13 weeks since I headed
south.

The final leg home comes courtesy of the Sydney Pipers coach, delivering us to the Kootingal roadside, 200m from
home!

All this ofcourse has been but the financial bolster for this years world lap (only days later) with Fiddlers Festival firstly in Japan for a week, then Dya Singh across USA, Canada & UK, till mid-August!

Home just long enough for birthdays, theatre shows (with new daughters therein), dinners and celebrations of life! Plus initial TG tour bookings for Nov/Dec via mobile phone during the bus trip to Sydney before flying out!

Only 29 hr constant travel till the Sofitel Motel, Tokyo!

So now here I am (was!) now in Arizona. The morning's hand washed shirt, singlet & hanky are dry and its not even 9am.

Arrived off the plane yesterday (2 1/2 hrs getting through customs & flight transfer - make the domestic flight by the literal grace of the flight Captain and get driven straight to the ornate gig overlooking the sunset sprawl of Phoenix - where stark hills & desert marry to civilisation (as we know it).

It's midnight where I was yesterday, perhaps more sleep would be prudent, Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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More Soon, in the Magic of Music, for you dear people who have been the heartwarming essence of these worldly tours.
 

Your many compliments, thoughts & suggestions are and have been, most welcome.

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Hi good friends & visitors, - 4 CDs to be won this time!


Keeping you abreast of the progress and adventures of this musical gypsy is often tricky, details are often days/ moments from the events. I endeavour, however to keep you informed. You have the deluxe mail out to friends. www.sfwp.com.au/clermont - is slow to update! But now there is a gig-guide site via a link to Epoch Violins,
ttp://www.epoch.supercool.com.au/

The last year's festivals & gatherings have been extra-ordinary to say the least. Just since Xmas 2000, I've been a part of 30 festivals! To this I owe a big thank you to my various music groups, who bring such joy to the 35 years of learning to be a musician/ performer/organiser.

On the 2001 World Tour front

(Dya Singh Tour) 6 weeks
May 18 - 21 New Orleans Invited by Mayor back for the Jazz Fest 2002
May 27 - 31 Ubah City , California
June 1 - 5 th Bay Area, San Francisco My 40th Birthday spread across California -
5 - 10 LA, ending up on the back of a motorbike on
Sunset Strip! Thanks James.
12 - 17 Mid West , Houston Just missed the floods. Tennis & much food -
thanks, folks.
18 - 20 Washington DC
21 - 24 New York - Albany Gurudwara June 22 7 PM to 9PM
The experience of thick traffic hurtling enmasse at over 90 miles per hour. Manhattan was a breeze with fine friends of Dya to show the way.
June 23rd 11AM to 1 PM Mata Sahib Kaur Gurudwara
100 Lattingtown Road, Glen Cove NY
For more information on Dya Singh and his group please visit: http://www.sikhnet.com/dya

28 - 30 Silverton Folk Festival, Colorado, Jammed the nights away in 'The Other
Place' with the Bruce Hayes Band - same as last year - big fun!
(Alone) 3 weeks
July 2 - 9 Nashville - Didgeridoo at the Station Inn, thanks to Roland White for the fun!
Thanks to Sally & Brian Burgess for fine Hospitality, and Bob Angelo for the Fishin'!

10 - 23 Berlin to the Baltic Sea time to checkout my family heritage. Wow! An amazing
bunch and a major language upgrade as well.
(Fiddlers Festival) 2 weeks
24 - 31 Tokyo c/o www.livecafe.co.jp This was a great treat thank you to all involved.
Aug 1 - 6 Hong Kong A very unusual place and more thanks to All
The Crocodile Club in Shibuya on 27th and 28th July, Australian Embassy (afternoon)
29th, Dubliners on 29th (evening) Shinjuku and O'Carolan's Jiyuugaoka 30th. Then we go
to Hong Kong and play at the Jazz club at 34-36 D'Aguilar St, Central, HK Thursday 2 &
Friday 3 August and Delaney's Sunday August 5th.
The personnel for the tour are: Clare
O'Meara (violins, vocals, keys, guitar), Mark Oats (violin), Marcus Holden (violin, mandolin), Andrew Clermont (violin, mandolin, guitar, didgeridoo) and Michael Vidale (upright bass) You can see bios of the personnel on the website at
www.fiddlerfestival.com or see page before for the Photo.
My hit was performing Clare's tune 'Tripperrary', a great melody & great fun
 

Hi good friends & visitors, keeping you abreast of the progress and adventures of this musical gypsy is often tricky, details are often days/moments from the events. I endeavour, however to keep you informed. The last year’s festivals & gatherings have been extraordinary to say the least. Just since Xmas 2000, I’ve been a part of 20 festivals! To this I owe a big thank you to my various music groups, who bring such joy to the 35 years of learning to be a musician - performer - organiser.

They were & are – Totally Gourdgeous - Fiddlers Festival - Andrew Clermont’s Meltdown - Dya Singh - duet with Tania Elizabeth (heck of a fiddler from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) - Solo - my Supper Club at Tamworth CM Festival - The Borderers; and particularly notable appearances with Jeff Lang (playing without a net at Woodford) - Kavisha Mazzellas (Apollo Bay) - the audience choir (Fairbridge) - all the jams at The National Folk Fest and all over, in jams with folk like The Waifs, JigZag, Bullet Proof, plus Tom Lawlor on button accordion (Frances), oh, but then there was that bar in Silverton, Colorado, called ‘The Other Place’ and how could I forget the Eldridge girls (see newsletter) or ‘Jack’ Melbourne’s consumate side man performance (Apollo Bay 2000 & Illawarra 2001) and, but, oh…… Yeah, I had a great time. Hope you were there somewhere too, for that hallowed event, the ever special ‘music of the moment’, ‘the crack’, which takes both the performer & audience, ‘out-of-this-world’.

Having family along to some festivals has been great, especially when they also become co-performers – that’s the best – thanks Alkina (didgeridoo) & Sunshine (vocals). I cherish each time the willing family joins in – looking forward to much more there. Pauline joined me for a third of the festival time and now has a new video out to go with Songs for the Soul. Truly ‘bliss out’ in front of the TV. It contains over 100 images of her coloured art plus Sunshine & my nature footage.

The biggest thanks of all goes to the fans / ‘Friends of AC’, who have offered such warming hospitality, support and suggestions. Also to the hostess on United Airlines for the fine bottle of Cab Sav - presented for not fussing on the spilt syrup earlier (the Californian Red just arrived as I type – yes, into the land of laptops I’ve returned). All the better to keep me & you up to date.

So ‘Hi’ and ‘Howdy’ from way above The Rocky Mountains below, Colorado as Dya Singh continues to San Francisco from New Orleans. We have a 95% likelihood of returning for their Jazz Fest next April – the Mayor was impressed!

The BIG NEWS : Epoch Violins have requested to make a signature model fiddle from/ for me. To be promoted as the Australian Fiddle! Their electric sound turns heads and I love the raw unadorned timber sound. Look out for them in the 2nd half of the year. The ‘Crash Course to Fiddlin’ Freedom’ will be updated, refined & promoted with those models as well. NTSC versions of the tuition video series are not far away either. Yep, the year looks big even without the ‘add ons’ still to come.

Fiddlers Festival is going to Tokyo & Hong Kong in the last week of July & first week of August. So the convenient and mutually cool step is for me to check on my relations in Germany between the West & East leg of this timely world tour. A week in Nashville to re-orientate from India(n) style - first week of July. Hopefully also see some fellow players/ heroes.