new review

I have just posted a new review of my latest album, The Forest Dark, from a webzine called Heathen Harvest. The review was contributed by Henry Lauer of Ironwood, an amazing musician himself, who also kindly reviewed my Self-Titled album. Check out the Press page of this site to read

Click here to visit the Heathen Harvest website

Frondolica Azzopardi

I am stoked to be the proud new owner of a wonderful new musical instrument, whatsmore, a unique instrument designed and made exclusively for me!!. You all know I play guitar and if you have any of my albums you'll also know I make noise out of a whole stack of other instruments. I love the soundscapes that other instruments can evoke and for a long long time now, I've dreamt of having a room full of them that I could easily get lost in

So if you're wondering about the heading of this news item. It's the name christened by its maker, Bruce White. Bruce makes musical instruments out of Palm tree Fronds. Each instrument is as unique as the Fronds used to make them. Bruce lovingly fashions these instruments, each one different to the next, from double bass to balalaika to guitar to you-name-it

My Frondolica is a six stringed instrument of four notes (ie: two single strings and two coupled strings) which can be plucked or played with a bow (also made from Palm by Bruce). The sound is exquisite, part Cello part Mandola (or Irish Bouzouki) but that description doesn't do it justice. I guess you'll just have to wait until it pops up in one of my recordings

Whilst Bruce named it the Frondolica Azzopardi I've shortened that to simply Frondolica. I can't wait to be able to record with it

You can check out some of Bruce's other instruments on his website which you can get to by clicking here

gig update

I have a couple of local shows to announce, besides M.A.S.S. that is. Namely Thursday 2nd of July I'll be performing at Absolute Soirees held in Absolute photography Studios 66 Bondi Rd Bondi. This is run by some very talented musicians in their own right and should be a pretty special evening. Click here to visit my Gig page for more details

The other show be a Sydney Launch fundraiser for the Turning Wave Festival that I will be performing at in September. This gig is on Saturday 15th August at the Gaelic Club Surry Hills. Details are still to come Click here to visit my Gig page for further details closer to the date

I have not played at either of these venues before so it should be great

festival update

I am pleased to announce that I have been accepted to perform, once again, at the Turning Wave Festival 2009 to be held in September this year in the beautiful historic town of Gundagai. I played this festival last year for the first time and really enjoyed it so needless to say I'm looking forward to returning there. Exact details are still to come. Check back on the gigs page of this site later on or click here visit the festival's  website

new album

I have just released a brand new album titled 'The Forest Dark'. This is another folk based album recorded primarily for the folk circuit and is the second fully self produced album. It contains originals alongside traditional songs and a few instrumentals

To listen to samples of the album click here

To read the lyrics click here

To read song notes for each track click here

And to purchase the album click here

more festivals

April (2009) been a busy month festival-wise, with performances and guitar workshops at the National Folk Festival in Canberra over the Easter weekend and at St Albans folk festival over the Anzac day weekend. Much fun was had and I received much praise from the very kind patrons of both events Judging by the attendance and feedback, my workshops seemed to have been a big hit, which is wonderful and very heartening

new review

I have just posted a new review of my Self-Titled album from a webzine called Heathen Harvest. The review was contributed by Henry Lauer of Ironwood, an amazing musician himself. Check out the Press page of this site to read

Click here to visit the Heathen Harvest website

festivals

I have had the good fortune to have performed at two festival in the last month, Peats Ridge Sustainable Arts Festival and the 24th Illawarra Folk festival. Both successful ventures I might add

I'm finding festivals and other venues outside of Sydney most fulfilling. The Audiences are appreciative and I get a chance to meet and network with fellow performers

session playing

I have had the good fortune of becoming acquainted with Mahri Autum, an extremely talented singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and have had the honour of playing some session guitar on a few of her songs 

Check out Mahri's music here and here

 website update

You may have noticed this site has been revamped. Unfortunately some porno cyber scum decided to infest the entire website with links for Viagra and wipe about ninety percent of the data from the site just for good measure. You may have even noticed the same your self

You will note some changes to content of the site, such as the removal of the Gallery page. The site will be under construction for a little longer whilst I consider alternatives. Stay tuned for updates

album update

My long overdue new album “Here Beneath the Sun” unfortunately is still unfinished due to unforeseen circumstances and an inability to find time. That said, the album is in the  final edit stage, so hopefully not too much longer

gigs

On the live front, most of my performances of late have been at festivals and folk clubs etc and not much in the way of local pub-type gigs. I do however have a couple of more local shows coming up, click here to visit the gigs page for more details