Scraps Of Mind

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Here’s a cute story you might like.

I’ve been a fan of the Ballet for many years now and, together with my Ballet Buddies Yvonne and Sandra, we usually go to three or four Australian Ballet Company productions a year.

Well last night we went to see Destiny which was a program of 2 ballets, beautifully danced to magnificent music.

Anyway, after the production was over I decided I wanted a photo of the three of us. I had forgotten to bring my camera but I had my PDA. I knew that wasn’t going to get the best photo but it was better than nothing. So we found a handy spot in one of the foyers just in front of a suitable ballet poster. Just as I was going to ask a woman who was standing close by if she would take the picture of us, she moved off. So I moved on to a couple who were sitting on a bench. I approached and asked if one of them would mind taking the photo and the guy smiled and said he’d be happy to do it.

I take him over to the the other two and we line up for the cheesy grin. I couldn’t understand why Yvonne had gone all giggly all of a sudden. She said something like “We should be taking a photo of you.” And I’m thinking “What’s the matter with her? Why is the acting so weird?” At the same time another part of my brain is kicking in with the thought “Sh*t! That’s Daryl Somers!” Daryl Somers in the host of the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars, which is a very popular TV show in Australia.

Naturally the PDA wouldn’t work properly and we had to muck about trying to take a few before we got one that was half way decent. And he was thoroughly charming in his role as the photographer. He must have been wondering what kind of crazy fans we were because we just wanted him to take our picture, rather than trying to get a picture of us with him.

So whilst most people have photos of themselves taken with celebrities I suspect not many people can say they have a photo of themselves taken by a celebrity. So much cooler, don’t you think?

Other related Posts:

The Ballet - Don Quixote
Madam Butterfly
Turandot… or, ‘Mastermind: Chinese Style’

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The last weekend in June is always a standard booking in my calendar for the Kilmore Celtic Festival. I wrote about this last year and each year it just keeps getting better.

I enjoy Folk Festivals as a matter of principal. They always have a great vibe and I get to hear some wonderful and diverse music from acts I would not be able to watch elsewhere. But the Kilmore Celtic Festival is always special for me.

The event starts on Friday evening with a dinner and a free Celtic Old Time Dance and ends on Sunday with a Celtic Banquet including entertainment from a number of the Festival performers. And in between there’s Saturday!

Saturday is the main game. Starting with the traditional Poet’s Breakfast from 8am, the Festival performances start rolling out across three venues from 10am till 7pm. Followed by an evening Concert featuring many of the Festival headline acts.

Once again Allan and I rugged up warm in preparation for the traditional Kilmore Festival weather and headed 60km up the Hume Highway for our folkie fix. We were a bit disconcerted then when the weather turned out to be quite mild (for Kilmore in June); the only brief shower occurring whilst we were indoors watching an act. It felt a bit unKilmore-ish.

Fortunately we got over it and hopped into the music. Some of our favourite acts were there, including the inimitable Ced le Meledo and his band Bric-a-Brac, with their exciting blend of Louisiana , Quebec , Brittany , North African, Medieval and Cajun music, and Ced’s jokes delivered in his wonderful French accent. Another favourite of ours Braemar.  The duo that’s now a trio, played their great repertoire of traditional Scottish music. Their kilts combining with the height of the stage to raise the blood pressure of some of the ladies in the front row.

A performer that we heard for the very first time was Maria Forde. An Irish Australian (”packaged in Ireland, Delivered in Australia”) performing a great mix of traditional songs and her own compositions. And what a voice! Maria performed a number of songs, including Amazing Grace, without any musical accompaniment — always a great quality test for a voice. Absolutely superb.

Mandy and Helen performed a great set with a mix of traditional and their own compositions. Follow the link to hear a sample of their stuff. Mandy and I used to work together in another life so it was great to catch up with her and hear her play.

And the last act we caught, before heading off to Elaine and Greg’s place for a scrumptious dinner and a few wines, was Claymore. Claymore is a sensational Celtic Rock Band. They play fabulous music and are a wonderfully entertaining band to watch. They perform a mixture of traditional Scottish and Irish music with modern Celtic rock thrown into the mix for good measure.

So if you enjoy a bit of Celtic flavour to your music, check out the bands’ sites and sample some of their wares. I think you’ll enjoy.

And to everyone who lives in Melbourne or environs, I heartily recommend that you mark the last weekend in June in next year’s calendar and get yourself along to the Kilmore Celtic Festival. If you can’t make it for the whole weekend, get along for the Saturday. It’s a great value day.

Other related posts:

Celebration of Celtic-ness

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Went along to a great gig on Friday and I thought I’d share it with you. A friend of mine, Ross Ryan teamed up with Spectrum for a terrific night in the upstairs bar at the Trades Hall in Melbourne.

Ross is a well known performer in Australia from the 70s and 80s. Back in the 80s he parted company with his record company EMI, and unfortunately they got to retain ownership to all of his published material at that time. But now, in a watershed negotiation achieved by the legendary (or should that be mythical?) Virtual Publicity Maven Ms Connie Person, a deal has been struck with Aztec Music, EMI and Coathanger (Ross’s company) to re-release his classic My Name Means Horse album. And of course this includes his trademark song I am Pegasus

Thirty three and a third years after its original vinyl release, Coathanger and Aztec Music are proud to announce that Ross Ryan’s classic album, ‘My Name Means Horse’ is now available on CD.

Issued in the wake of the impossibly huge 1973-74 hit single ‘I Am Pegasus’, the ‘Horse’ album earned Ross three gold records; was voted Album of the Year and was only kept from the top of the LP charts by some guy called Neil Diamond and his since long forgotten ‘Hot August Night’.

From the Ross Ryan site

At the same time Ross’s old touring partners Spectrum (who have been together since the 70s under a variety of names) are also releasing their Spectrum Part 1 album. So the guys all decided to get together and have a dual CD launch.

Well the venue was an upstairs function hall/bar in a heritage listed building, complete with heritage listed paint flaking off the wall. A grungy vibe with surreal overtones as the hall was decked around with all the different union banners and posters. But it all added up to a really great atmosphere, believe it or not.

I loved Ross’s set with songs not only from the Horse album but also from his current 1 Person Queue album so he really mixed it up with the eras. He performed some of my favourites; Orchestra Ladies, 606, Blood on the Microphone and of course I am Pegasus. And he threw in some of his contemporary stuff with Chase the Ghosts Away and Cool River from the 1PQ album. it was great. I loved it. It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to see him play live. He is a great live act. Has a wonderful connection with his audience and a great style of chat. If you’d like a taste of the evening, Thatch was trying out a new little toy he just bought and his review, together with a sample, is on DugguP

Spectrum put on a great set too. With some edgy 70s techno rock. And although I really enjoyed it in a pub style venue with a couple of drinks under my belt, I have to say it’s not really my style of music to listen to in any other sort of setting.

All round it was a great night, good friends, good laughs, good music. What more could you ask for?

So if you’re interested in hearing more of what Ross sounds like, head on over to his 1PQ site and pick up the two free MP3 singles he has on offer. If you like what you hear you can buy both the 1PQ CD and the Horse CD direct from the site. Let me know what you think.

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