November 28
Well this month has been a gas with the varied shows and festivals, covering Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and Home territory Queensland, starting with a great O'l time in Melbourne at the Retreat filled with a mascaraed of great folk, we love it, keep it coming, was good to see some familiar faces there too!
At the Piping Hot Chicken Shack was a blast loved it as we were playing there was the spicy flavours of Hot Chicken being passed round filling the room with a deep south feel as the sun went down from the hill just outside the coastal view, beautiful and man can I say what a delicious Passion fruit sponge to top it all off.
Was good to be back again in Way Out West where we were warmly greeted with a great crowd of heads and quite an interesting interview check it out on the news page...
Of Course Bridgetown went off this year again the highlight for us was the "Ten Cent Shooters"
And to top it all off we got a session in playing with them up at the Cidery, was a wonderful evening, one to put safely in the memory drawer for many years to be told. Thanks guys was great craic, hope to see you again in the not too distant future, so with a fair few good ones under the belt we headed home to the sunshine coast to play our annual Joe's Waterhole, The joint was jumping as the old wooden floor got a right old hammering of feet, Thanks Dan for looking after us and the Sheep dogs did a great support with just the two of them Steve and Leroy Cheers guys. Well its time to head off towards Sydney for the last tour up to christmas, looking forward to seeing you all with bells on!
Cheers to you see you out there and keep'er safe!
Hat & Cara
November 3
Well were still on that road, where it leads us is quite a mystery sometimes, as we were this time heading to Kempsey after indulging ourselves at the 33 on Hickory's selection of Pizza after a sell out show we were playing at the Odd Fellows Hot club and what a hot wee club the night became as the lights dipped down low before show time not forgetting the alluring art on the wall well done! We were greeted by our own personal deck of cards with our beaming gobs on them after a win of the O'l raffle?
After a few more stops we ended at the Caloundra festival, which went off its rocks....
Watched "Tower of Power" and boogied till they left the stage Thanks you Guys you rocked!
It's Amazing when your on the road and you get to catch a band that you have held yeah high since you were a babe. Anglesea festival was great too and really enjoyed ourselves there being by the coast was a bot windy would have blown your socks off but a good cleaning out of the old cobwebs never does you a button of harm neither?
So far the month has been an up and down one for us and may they grow from strength to strength, thanks to you all for your tremendous support that you show. We have by far a wee wild story that came from the morning after playing the National theatre when there was a knock at the door and there stood the entire family of Paul and Kate from the gig the night before with a picnic hamper filled with freshly squeezed juice, just out of the oven pumkin and cheese scons hhmmmm and creme cheese, Grapes and a fresh flask of coffee.......WOW just when you think sometimes your luck is down as was a wee show that night and a long travel to get there it changes with a sincere kindness from mere strangers. Thanks to Paul and Kate and their wee son we had a feast fit for a king and Queen and off to the next show with a full and happy belly aahhhhhh a happy ending!
Many thanks keep tuning into our adventures
Cheers Hat n Cara
October 13
Off on the road again just about as we had a few hickups along the way as we were meant to leave two days early heading to Yackandandah but the Van's water pump blew and between stopping every 3 Ks sliding down huge verges to get water from the creeks to keep the van going we made it to Johno's the engineers at Tewantin who did a real good job so that we could boot down to Yack to keep on track for the gig. 18 hours later were there fed and watered and at the gig at the Star Hotel, it was well worth it, what a great crowed of people in Yack and suburb Vintage shops.
Would like to add that we have now played in a licorice factory too. Just when you thought it could not get anymore out there well it has?
So with Glove box still filled with licorice were now headed to Belgrave to Ruby's Lounge home of the mightly talented Matt walker, where last time we recorded at his 8 track shack we were lucky enough to have him and Grant playing on our Beauty n The Beast album, total justice was made that day. Well on to Melbourne we go to the Old Fitzroy then up to Angelsea Blues festival. Stay tuned and keep in touch
Cheers Hat n Cara
September 9
Greetings Folks,
Well, its come around so quick like you would not believe, we have managed to squeeze in a few extra shows and festivals into our jam packed European Tour, and it is now just 4 days till we head back on the big metal bird in the sky....
So far we have played in a yurt, a marquee, a castle, a haunted library, many fields and more, all of them, would you believe, have been different every time?
We would like to thank everyone’s hospitality and for welcoming us into their homes. Thanks also to the hairy ones on the hill and Rushby. Special thanks to Lisa and Marcus for allowing us to use for their beautiful estate at Narrow Waters Castle where we made our video, Wiley Ways.
Of course not forgetting our family and friends who have had us landing in the early hours of the morning all bedraggled and weary looking.
Now in Torquay Festival till Sunday, on to Ireland to finalise everything, then, up, up, and away. Back to Oz, then on the road for our Spring Tour, kicking off beginning of October.
Cheers and thanks so much for your support without you would have been half the craic.
Keep'er safe
Hat n Cara
August 21
Greetings to all,
Well now, we had one more gig in the south of Ireland before we headed off to France, this was a surprise show in Navan at the Lantern Backroom where we were warmly greeted by Gerry and the crew. Had a cozy gig and topped the night off with a Chinese lantern send off to celebrate the opening of the Backroom Live Music Sessions.
Then on to the ferry over to France from Rosslare to Cherbourg and our first show was in Rennes, a beautiful old medieval city buzzing with atmosphere. Played there with the Slim Wild Boars till the early hours of the morning where we stayed at the wonderful Nico and Carole’s who looked after us so well we did not want to leave.
With a visit back to Berck where we enjoyed the familiar faces of Philippe, Christine and Gilium we had a jam packed show at the Cote Mer.
To top it off we had the pleasure of playing a great festival called the Blues n (a) Out at Montreuil Medieval Village, where we were playing in the actual grounds of this magnificent castle and were seated at an incredible feast fit for a Queen and King.
With a thousand strong we partied enjoying every moment. Like all good things it came to an end, then off to Paris our last stop in France.
Thanks for all your great support France hope to see you again next year……
Cheers for all your support folks
Keep’er safe
Hat n Cara
July 27
Well folks it has been a while, so a little catching up to do I
guess
Had a beauty sun rinsed day at the Belgium Goor Blues Festival
and heard some real good blues guys, one being Tim Lothar from Denmark, great
big voice and good picker.
Next was France as part of the Main festival of La Rochelle,
great people, and plenty of bottles rattling on the table with feet stomping on
the floor at Le Barbarella Club. It had a great vibe and we had a party there.
On to Niort, what a beautiful place off the canal were we had a
great crowd full of fuel for the night.
Crazy night in Bourganeuf as it was the Bastille day, a great firework
display backed by very courageous French music and a sea of over three thousand
heads going aaahh and oooh together, spectacular!
Berlin was amazing, what a city of culture, oozing with a great
buzz that lasted the day and well into the night. Thanks to the talented
Trinity Sarratt and Lloyd we made for a grand night at the Club Bassy.
Not a fan of cities ourselves but this one has a great vibe
filled with wild and wacky people!
Oh what a night at the Musiquarium in Leeds, back to a second
home filled with such an electric feeling in the room it was such a special
night, it operates on word of mouth like going back to the days of the speakeasy
club scene and the Duke Joints.
Was good to be back, thanks Mr Spongy and the crew.
Till next time all the best and keep 'er
July 16
I raved about our visit to the Isle of Sark and the wonderful festival that we performed at, words like wonderful really don’t do the place or the festival justice.
However just don’t take our word for it, I’ve attached a link to a well known critic, like I said, just click on the link and get another opinion.
http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=5504
Keep ‘er safe,
Cara and Hat
July 8
Hey folks, well
where do we begin?
It all started on
a small island called Guernsey where there is a hotel called the Imperial Hotel
run by very dear and long lost friends Gav and Sab.
Let’s just say
that while we were there we were treated like Kings and Queens.
The Island was
graced with long walks along the coast, old ruins and even a fairy ring, would
you believe?
We then set sail
for the Island of Sark Folk Festival where we were greeted by Jimmy 1 on his
tractor and ready to take us and all our gear to the festival.
The Island itself
is breath taking and the site for the festival could not have been more perfect,
with the beautiful cliff views, while also listening to great music, life could
not have got any better. Then there was the wonderful Cyril and Dermot’s honeymoon
cottage dating back over 400 years with full floor to ceiling views of the sea,
hang on, life did just get better! Hand on Heart, with out sounding like a
travel guide.
We met some
amazing people and made some amazing friends, a corker of a weekend, would
definitely go back at the drop of a hat.
Cheers to you all
good folk and keep’er safe
Till next time….
June 29
Well folks, it has been a great adventure as you know, something different every day, and that's besides the weather.
We have been off to Donegal for a stint, what a beautiful part of the country. Rugged mountains with beauty wee water spots and the real smell of peat bog burning along the way, great for stopping and heating up a wee cup of tea on our Kelly kettle, Rock'n Roll, till the hilt!
What a view though, played some cracker joints and got looked after totally by Black and all the gang. Thanks guys, was mighty as the Ole van was starting to chafe a bit.
Off to Sark Folk Festival now where they have no cars, they’re coming to get us on a horse and cart or a tractor? So bring on the music and dancing Folks, till next time.
Keep'er safe
Hat n Cara
June 20
Greetings good folk,
Well, the adventures so far have been interesting to say the least.
Life can be extreme on the road, you find your self one minute luxuriously lounging in a four poster bed having salmon and scrambled eggs with tea served in cups and saucers, to, a box room with a toilet that won't stop flushing practically in the room with you and a fire alarm that constantly goes off from 3am. And breakfast, bread that you could seriously do some damage if you beat someone round the head with it.
But the main thing that has remained constant through out our tour is that you good folk have remained dedicated and passionate to the hilt and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Keep up the great support
Keep'er safe till next time,
Hat n Cara
June 9
Been a while away from the Ole blog, we been having problems getting hooked up to the internet, with the hours we keep, travelling arrangements and language problems. You all know what I mean.
So where do we begin eh? From the beginning I suppose, back in France where we spent almost the entire month of May, which was a beauty time had by all. Great to hear the crowd singing your songs back to you with full gusto and passion even when it's not their native language!
Their English is definitely better than our French!
Back to the Battle of Hastings where we had a great gig in Crowhurst Park, in the grounds of the fourteen hundred year old mansion.
So thanks to you all for making our nights warm with laughter and great craic, be seeing you soon.
Taker easy and keep'er safe
Cara n Hat
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