Welcome to this week’s edition of Musical Musings.
Cassar-Daley heading to Shepparton
It's going to be a huge day featuring some of the finest performers in country music when the Goulburn Valley Country Music Festival returns in April 2023 at the Shepparton Showgrounds, with a line-up headlined by Kasey Chambers and Troy Cassar-Daley.
“They will hear an energetic set of music that will lift you up and inspire!” Cassar-Daley told me last week of what audiences can expect from his show.
“That is our job, and we can’t wait!”
Cassar-Daley has performed several times over the years in Shepparton and loves the region. He recalls one post-gig party on a previous visit to Shepparton.
“I remember we stayed up all night playing and partying with the band after the gig back at the motel,” he says.
“We had a noise complaint at about 3am, and the bloke said ‘Listen, I love the music you’re playing, but the wife and I need some sleep!’
“Gave us a really funny night!”
With the surge in popularity of country music in recent years, I asked Cassar-Daley what he thought was the reason behind it.
“It’s because country has never ceased to be authentic no matter which style it takes on, and people like its honesty and its stories,” he says.
“I think people will continue to connect as long as there is a story to hang your hat on.”
Cassar-Daley is looking forward to April’s festival and in particular performing to a rural audience.
“I think people allow themselves to let their hair down a bit sooner in the bush and believe me, I’ve seen plenty of shows where this happens!”
Aussie Hotel keeps rocking
On Saturday, December 3, the Aussie Hotel will be rocking out to the sweet sounds of Reece Mastin when the 2011 X-Factor Australia winner makes a welcome return to Shepparton. Over the course of his decade-long career, Mastin has morphed from teenage pop idol into one of the country's hardest working and finest rock and rollers.
And the rock and roll will continue at the Aussie Hotel with Brian Mannix, he of 1980s band Uncanny X-Men, and The Androids, who are famed for their 2002 hit Do it with Madonna, teaming up to provide the live entertainment at the hotel’s 25th anniversary of Carols by Barrels on December 10.
Grigoryan returns
After the success of last week's performance by the Grigoryan Brothers at Riverlinks Westside, one half of the brothers — guitarist Slava — together with his cellist wife, Sharon, will be returning to Shepparton on Friday, December 2 to perform a concert for guitar and cello at St Paul's Lutheran Church in Poplar Ave. The duo will be performing a set that features standard works for guitar and cello (Vivaldi, Granados, Piazzolla) and creations by contemporary composers, along with their own compositions and arrangements that will shine a new light on some familiar favourites.
Rescheduled shows
Due the recent floods in the region, many events and live shows were cancelled or postponed. The Chantoozies show that was originally scheduled for October 16 at the Railway Hotel, Murchison East is now happening on Sunday, January 8. While the Russell Morris show that was due to happen on November 20 at the Railway Hotel too, has also been postponed until early 2023.
Fun fact
Did you know that in 1971, Aussie icon John Farnham, then known as Johnny Farnham, and still more than a decade away from achieving fame and commercial success with Whispering Jack, performed three shows at the Shepparton Civic Centre. Local pop band Rave, which featured Steve Jeffery on guitar (he of Lyric Music fame), performed as Farnham’s backing band on all the dates, and without any prior rehearsal with Farnham.
The band were given a tape of all the songs they were to learn, which they did without Farnham present. The first time the band got to perform the songs with Farnham was when they hit the stage together for the performance.
The weekend shows were over two nights and one afternoon, and saw Farnham play to a small but appreciative audience each evening, with the afternoon show featuring a handful of people in attendance. A total contrast to the huge audiences he would perform to later in his career.
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Until next time, keep the music flowing.
Joe Matera is a local singer/songwriter, recording artist, guitarist and music journalist, providing readers with all the latest music news.