In tune in June

Now that the Clem7 project is almost wrapped up, am looking at some possibilities for out-of-town jobs in a week or two. There may be a couple of opportunities of these up north in Central Queensland.

If these options firm up, I will need some ‘driving music’.

To the local library then to trawl the shelves, stands, trays and trolleys.

"Mojo" magazine comes up with some good features every few months or so. The January 2010 issue reviews the best music albums of 2009.

"Winners 2010" is the annual release of the country music awards in Australia.

The "Bluesfest" in Byron Bay (NSW) during the Easter weekend in April is a good festival to relax and listen to some quality music.
 I went to this blues and roots festival one year - to see Emmylou Harris and Kasey Chambers. Sadly I did not see them. Tickets were sold out and myself and friend and two kids had to make do with a tent outside the stage, drinking rum while rain pelted down. Since then i have been collecting the annual 2-cd release.
The Bluesfest 2009 Blues 20th Anniversary (CD) features some great acts including: Jack Johnson, Bernard Fanning, Michael Franti, James Brown, John Butler, Ben Harper, Kasey Chambers/Shane Nicholson (playing their CD Rattlin' Bones), Midnight Oil, Sinead O'Connor, Terrance Simien , Bonnie Raitt,Tony Joe White; Buddy Guy.

There’s a selection of Tom Waits’s recent concert performances off his "Glitter and doom" album. Waits is an acquired taste so don’t expect any sweet voiced warbler here.

Another troubadour with a rough-edged voice is the legendary Bob Dylan who is again featured by "Uncut" magazine.

There are sweet voices in the Foster & Allen CD.

And an old CD from KD Lang is worth giving a spin.

"The essential guide to folk" is a must for serious lovers of eclectic music.

If music isn’t your cuppatea, then check out the latest novel “The Infinities” by the Irish novelist John Banville. The subject of this book is ‘the enigma of mortal existence’ cast in the light of lust and mischief.

This set should see me through a week or so up near the tropic of Capricorn. Apparently the port city of Gladstone is worth a visit. I might do just that.
Am not averse to a drop or two of good port. I might try some tawny port, vintage port, ruby pink white port - all kinds of ports.

Port city here I come...

Just to prolong my dream of ports, I first have to go to Ocean View near Mt Mee in some hinterland somewhere.