Gig Guide - 19 July to 1 August

Each fortnight I post any gigs that I think might be worth a look. The list is usually heavy on folk, blues, jazz, country, punk and singer/songwriters but sometimes includes a surprise. This is not a guide to everything that is going on in Hobart just the gigs that appeal to me. It will be continually updated as the fortnight passes by. I will also post gigs on my Patron of the Art Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/michelleleecastle/


19 July - Coyote Serenade - Bright Eyes Café - Free
19 July - Black Swans of Trespass & Hui - Moonah Arts Centre - $10
19 July - Middle Kids - Uni Bar
19 July - Liam Johnston - Willie Smiths - Free
21 July - Tiff Eckhardt & Dave Steel - Frank's Cider, Franklin - Free
21 July - Inscape Fundraiser (Singles Bar) - Republic - $5
21 July - The Vice Captains - Salty Dog - Free
21 July - The Foley Artists - Story Bar - Free
24 July - Reeba Von Diamond - Homestead - Free

26 July - Bridget Pross - Central Bar - Free
26 July - Patron Saints - Bright Eyes Café - Free
26 July - Robert Forster - MONA - $45
26 July - Olivia - Willie Smiths - Free
26 July - Ryan Garth & Heath Richardson/Dave Elliston - Homestead - Free
26 July - Sleepyheads/Tinderboxes/Monique How - Altar - Free
27 July - The Singles Bar - Irish Murphy's - Free
27 July - Black Swans of Trespass - Homestead - Free
27 July - Tim & Scott - Story Bar - Free
28 July - 120ys - Republic - Free
28 July - The Foley Artist - Story Bar - Free
1 August - Trad Celtic Tunes Session (Luke Plumb) - Fern Tree Tavern - Free

Northern Tasmania

19 July - Thomas Mitchell & Henry Rippon - Wharf Inc, Ulverstone - Free
20 July - Grim Fawkner - Moutain Mumma, Sheffield
26 July - Pete Cornelius & Claire Anne Taylor - Wharf Inc, Ulverstone - Free

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Live music has limitless ability to trigger an emotional response. It can make you cry, it can make you angry, it can bring you peace but best of all it can make you laugh. There is nothing in the world quite like naughty lyrics that make you look differently at the world or lyrics that reveal the foibles of human kind. The connection that you feel when you realise that your ridiculous secret thoughts and behaviours are actually shared by others is something special. This was brought home to me when I went to The Homestead to see The Tuck Shop Ladies.

The Tuck Shop Ladies are two Melbourne girls, Rosie and Sam, with a ukulele and a bass uke singing folk/bluegrass inspired tunes that cut to the core of the modern Australian life. I consider that it is a good sign that a gig is going to be fun when the sound check has you laughing and, by those standards, this gig was going to be cracker. The show was a rollicking good time from start to finish. It is not every day that you find songs that express the real pain of having five keep cups in your cupboard but you want a coffee now so you’ll have to buy another or being away from your love and having ten missed calls from them only to discover that they only want the Netflix password. We’ve all been there.

The Tuck Shop Ladies also take to you to intellectual depths with “Nothing Rhymes with Orange”, and share the trauma of adulting with “My Dog Won’t Lick”. They pose the big questions like why don’t we ever see baby pigeons and what to do about cheese addiction. The song writing is brilliant in its simplicity and these girls can really sing. Their harmonies are beautiful and without flaw.

Just when you think the fun is at its zenith then they pull out their covers. The 90’s hip hop medley was fun, I mean there’s nothing quite like a folksy/bluesy version of Kriss Kross making you go jump. The trashing of the bridge in Beyoncé’s “All the Single Ladies” or as they would say putting it in the fridge was side-splitting fun but my favourite was their uproarious version of George Michael’s “Faith”. I mean who cares what words you sing in the verses? You got to have faith, faith, faith.

Despite the fabulous musicianship, the highlight of the Tuck Shop Ladies’ show is the banter between Rosie, Sam and the audience. The genuine love and affection between the musicians is spread to the audience and you feel more than just onlookers but part of their show. You feel as though you are in the gang and they are letting you in on the secret – life isn’t worth living without a good laugh.

Gig Guide - 28 June to 19 July 2019

Each fortnight I post any gigs that I think might be worth a look. The list is usually heavy on folk, blues, jazz, country, punk and singer/songwriters but sometimes includes a surprise. This is not a guide to everything that is going on in Hobart just the gigs that appeal to me. It will be continually updated as the fortnight passes by. I will also post gigs on my Patron of the Art Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/michelleleecastle/

28/6 to 14/7 Festival of Voices

29 June - Rogue Folk Cruise - Coles Bay - $42
30 June - The Merindas - Spring Bay Mill - $35
30 June - The Songbooks - The 90s - Salty Dog - Free
2 July - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts - Brunswick Hotel - $30
4 July - Kerryn Fields Solo - North Hobart Uniting Church - $25

5 July - Proper Deadly Night - Moonah Arts Centre - $10
5 July - Tuck Shop Ladies - Homestead - Free
6 July - Mat Woolley - Bright Eyes Café - Free
6 July - Kerryn Fields Trio - North Hobart Uniting Church - $30
6 July - Henry Wagons & the Only - Altar - $35
6 July - kunanyi Folk Club presents Dave Steel - Fern Tree Tavern - $12
6 July - Chase City - Hobart Brewing Co - Free
7 July - Mirumo - Willie Smiths, Grove - Free
7 July - Ben Salter - Salty Dog - Free
10 July - Annia Baron - Hadleys Orient Hotel - $25
11 July - Electric Fields-  Odeon - $50

12-14/7 Huon Valley Midwinter Festival

12 July - Handsome Young Strangers - HVMWF - $45
12 July - Holy Holy - Odeon 59
13 July - Handsome Young Strangers - HVMWF - $50
13 July - 80s Chorus - Odeon - $39
14 July - AlfanAnt - Republic - Free

Northern Tasmania

5 July - Andrew Swift & Harmony James - Bridport Hotel - $25
6 July - Andrew Swift & Harmony James - Royal Oak Hotel - $25
6 July - Rogers & Hammerstein (TSO) - Albert Hall, Launceston - $80
7 Jul - Kazarama 2 (Bad Dad, Pete Cornelius) - Royal Oak Hotel - $10

10 July - TSO - Stillwater Restaurant - $120
12 July - Greg Wells & the Blackwater Band - Grinners Dive Bar - Free
13 July - Grim Fawkner - Gunners Arms Tavern - $10
13 July - AlfanAnt - Kingsway Bar - Free

Gig Guide - 14 June to 27 June 2019

Each fortnight I post any gigs that I think might be worth a look. The list is usually heavy on folk, blues, jazz, country, punk and singer/songwriters but sometimes includes a surprise. This is not a guide to everything that is going on in Hobart just the gigs that appeal to me. It will be continually updated as the fortnight passes by. I will also post gigs on my Patron of the Art Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/michelleleecastle/


6-20 June Dark Mofo including Winter Feast

14 June - Dave Steel, Ross Smithard, Graeme Beer - Brighteyes Café - Free
14 June - Vaudeville Smash - Hobart Brew Co - Free
14 June - Tim and Scott - Story Bar - Free
15 June - Mat Woolley - Brighteyes Café - Free
15 June -Vaudeville Smash - Hobart Brew Co - Free
15 June - The Hard Aches - Brisbane Hotel - $29
16 June - 120Ys - Republic Hotel - Free

19 June - These New South Whales - Altar - $29
20 June - Pete Cornelius/Billy Warner/Billy Whitton - Hobart Brew Co - Free
22 June - Dead Maggies/Stragglers/Dominic Francis - Hobart Brew Co - Free
21 June - Ben Lawless - Pablo's Cocktails & Dreams - Free
21 June - Squid Fishing/Meres/Porpoise Spit - Hobart Brew Co - Free
22 June - Mat & Annie Woolley - Brighteyes Café - Free
23 June - Montz Matsumoto - Brighteyes Café - Free
23 June - A Swayze & the Ghost - Hobart Brew Co - Free


Northern Tasmania
14 June - Susannah Coleman-Brown - The Gunners Arms - $10
15 June - Shaun Kirk - Forth Pub - $25

Gig Guide - 31 May to 13 June 2019

Each fortnight I post any gigs that I think might be worth a look. The list is usually heavy on folk, blues, jazz, country, punk and singer/songwriters but sometimes includes a surprise. This is not a guide to everything that is going on in Hobart just the gigs that appeal to me. It will be continually updated as the fortnight passes by. I will also post gigs on my Patron of the Art Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/michelleleecastle/


6-20 June - Dark Mofo

31 May - Tassie Devil's Own - Brighteyes Café - Free
31 May - HOBOFOPO Fundraiser Show - Hobart Brew Co - $10
31 May - Conservatoriums's Jazz & Popular Showcase - Founders Room - $15
31 May - Ryan Garth, Emily Wolfe, Dave Elliston - Homestead - Free
31 May - Reg Light Parlour Trio - Willie Smith Apple Shed - Free
1 June - Groove in the Grove Olive Harvest - Lauriston Grove, South Arm - $10
1 June - Fete de la Musique - Red Square - Free
1 June - Musiq Garden: Reggae Winter Party - Kickstart Arts - Free
1 June - Alice Ivy - Republic Bar - $25
1 June - Teri Young & the Bower Band - Fern Tree Tavern - $12
2 June - Ben Salter & Others - The Long Room - $10
2 June - Bridget Pross - Pooleys Wine - Free

4 June - Coast to Coast Baroque - Palais Theatre, Franklin - $30
5/6 June - The Whitlams - Republic Bar - $55
8 June - Briggs - Altar - $45
8 June - Ruby Fields - Republic Bar
8 June - Adventure Bay Blues & Roots Festival - Adventure Bay - $65
8 June - Vive Le Bad Dad Tour - Homestead - Free
12 June - Kira Puru - Altar - $29

Northern Tasmania
1 June Pete Lyrebird with Ewah Duo, Meres - Saint John Craft Brewery - Free
6 June Ben Salter - Saint John Craft Brewery - $16
7 June Ben Salter - Mountain Mumma. Sheffield
8 June The Smoking Elmores - Memorial Hall, St Helens - $15
8 June Ian Collard with Pete Cornelius - The Royal Oak - $10
9 June Fire & Mountain Winter Feast - Mt Gnomon Farm, Penguin - $10

Gig Guide - 17 May to 30 May

Each fortnight I post any gigs that I think might be worth a look. The list is usually heavy on folk, blues, jazz, country, punk and singer/songwriters but sometimes includes a surprise. This is not a guide to everything that is going on in Hobart just the gigs that appeal to me. It will be continually updated as the fortnight passes by. I will also post gigs on my Patron of the Art Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/michelleleecastle/


17 May - Bridget Pross - Central Bar - Free
17 May - Chris Coleman 'Jesse' Launch - Hobart Brew Co - $25
18 May - Luke Plumb - Franklin Folk Club - $8
18 May - Chris Cain - Republic - $45
19 May - Mental As Anything - Longley International - $37
19 May - Ben Salter - Salty Dog - Free
19 May - Mat & Annie Woolley - Frank's Cider - Free

23 May - Meg Mac - Uni Bar - $40
23 May - Trad. Celtic Tunes Session fea. Luke Plumb - Fern Tree Tavern - Free
23 May - TSO Family Classics - Federation Concert Hall - $10/$35
24 May - Conservatorium Orchestra - Conservatorium of Music - $20
24 May - Tiffany Eckhardt, Dave Steel, Ross Smithard, Graeme Beer - Brighteyes Café - Free
24 May - Origami Island - Willie Smiths - Free
24 May - Countershine Trio + Isaac Gee Band - Homestead - Free
26 May - Vice Captains - Longley International - Free


Northern Tasmania
18 May - Mental as Anything with Ben Salter - Greenwood Bar, Launceston - $40
19 May - Chris Cain & Pete Cornelius - Forth Pub - $38

Voting for The Arts

Most Saturdays I can be found at various venues around Southern Tasmania enjoying the incredible live music scene that we have in this state.  Not this Saturday.  This Saturday I will be staying at home and spending my evening glued to the TV.  I am a politics junkie.  I will be watching the results of the Federal election with great interest. 

Over the 2½ years my quest to become “Patron of the Arts” has given me some of the most wonderful experiences and my life has been irrevocably changed for the better.  I have met amazing people both appreciating and creating music.  So, this election, I am particularly interested in what each of the significant parties and candidates have to say about the arts. 

Putting a cost on the individual happiness and social wellbeing that comes with experiencing the arts is difficult but check out these economic statistics. 

In 2015 the Australian Council for the Arts estimated that cultural activity makes up 4% of GDP and $1.3 billion is spent by federal and state governments on the core arts.  Australians spend almost $20 billion annually on cultural activities which is 4% of the average household income.  Over a quarter of this is tickets sales for Live Arts.  It is clear that the Arts play a significant role in Australia’s cultural and economic development

If you are not one of the 5 million people who have already voted in this election and you think that the Arts are an important part of Australian life then I have put together a little guide of who is promising what.

	Independent (Andrew Wilkie)	Australian Greens	Australian Labor Party	Coalition Libs/Nats
Artist Development	·     Living Wage for artists ·     Funding for new and emerging artist	·     Living Wage for artists ·     $30 million to establish a creativity commission	·     $5 mil for 5 music hubs ·     $7.6 mil for youth music ·     $0.3 mil for new recording	·
Industry Development	·     Restore Australia Council funding ·     Intellectual property protection ·     Trade & tariff concessions	·     Restore Australia Council funding ·     $150 mil for local content productions	·     Restore Australia Council funding ·     $40 mil for Australian content ·     Restore Regional Arts funding ·     $10 mil for Sounds Australia ·     Copyright reform ·     Ticket reseller reform ·     $0.75 Mil Manager training	·     $0.5 mil for Australia Council in budget ·     $21.6 mil for Australian music industry in budget
Arts Education	·	·     $150 mil for artists working with teachers	·     $7 mil for music education and teachers ·     Music teacher recognition	·
Other	·     Remove poker machines from pubs and clubs	·     Establish Australian content quotas for broadcasters	·     $4.2 mil for Artist mental health and arts therapy	·

I emailed each of the major parties and their candidates for the electorates of Clark, Franklin and Lyons in Southern Tasmanian as well as independent candidate for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, to ask them what their plans were for Live Arts (particularly live music) over the next term of government.  I am yet to hear from any of the Liberal/Nationals Coalition candidates or Minister Fifield.  I did have a look at the budget papers though to see what I could find out.  Don’t ever do this you will go crazy.  I was lucky to find my way out again!!!!  The figures I gleaned may be a little dodgy as a result.

Disclosure: The author of this post is a member of the Australian Labor Party.