Greetings to you all from sunny Brisbane, Australia..

My name is Scott and I discovered one of Great Big Sea's songs on a music video channel here a few years ago. A Canadian workmate of mine told me that not only did he know the band, but they were REALLY GREAT..!!! (As if we didn't know that!!)

Since then, I'm sad to report that my 'Road Rage' CD - which Reg brought me back from a trip home - has been completely destroyed through over-use, and I'll shortly be in the market for another copy. I know that album never fails to cheer me up and get me singing - even when I'm feeling at my worst..!!

So - a big g'day to you all from our fair country. I'd love to find out whether there are any more Aussie fans out there - perhaps we can get the guys out here for a visit, and share some of the joy that you lucky people get from seeing the guys live.

Cheers
Scott

Hi Scott and welcome! So glad to hear word of the b'ys is spreading down under! Have you got any more of their albums yet? There ain't a bad one out there, I highly suggest buying the lot. :)

There are a couple other Aussies here as well..first and foremost my beloved boyfriend, Wild Colonial (Mike, who has a band that rocks!), his fabulous cousin, Aussie Girl (Mac), AngieForEver (Angie, obviously), who hails from Newfoundland but lives in Oz, and Paulawalla (Paula I assume!), who hails from down under but lives...actually I'm not sure where she lives now! The US or Canada I assume. And I'm coming to visit Australia this Christmas, but I guess that doesn't really count.

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"We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us."
-Charles Bukowski

"Bad as I am, I'm still here."

Hello there Branwyn..!!

I'm afraid the collection extends only to Up and Road Rage, but that will grow.. To be honest, I didn't realise there was a live DVD available - my order will be sent shortly..!!

Enjoy your time in Oz this Christmas. I'm sure you've been told that it's quite toasty over here at that time of the year - make sure you bring plenty of sunblock (or do you guys call it sun-screen?) and a hat..!!

C'mon you other Aussies - let's make some noise and see if the lads'll come out to visit us for the Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival or the Port Fairy Folkie..!!

Cheers
Scott

Hiya Steve! *waves* :) You gotta get the Great Big DVD, it's FANTASTIC! And you know the b'ys are releasing ANOTHER DVD this fall...er, spring for you, rather, right? I was at a couple of the shows they were taping for it, it should be AMAZING!

Thanks, so I've heard. :)  I'll be staying near Melbourne with Michael and Mac, so I'm hoping and praying that maybe since it's on the south coast it won't be too viciously hot...I know, in my dreams, right?

 Folk festivals??? In Oz?? Where? When??? Any around Christmas? :)
 

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"We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us."
-Charles Bukowski

"Bad as I am, I'm still here."

Howdy Steve, Welcome to the Kitchen

Nice to know there are fellow Aussies with knowledge of the Greatest Band in The World!

Mac and I hail from Victoria.    There's an ebay seller In aus with The Great Big DVD, dude, you got to buy it!

Did you manage to catch the Doyle when he was touring with TOFOG last year?

Cheers mate.

Michael.

 

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.... where do you go when you're lonely, I'll follow you. When the stars go blue..........

Hey Sweetie. *HUG*  Looks like there's more of you eh? :)

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"We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us."
-Charles Bukowski

"Bad as I am, I'm still here."

Ah - hello Michael.. This is good to see.. I've actually just relocated from Melbourne to Brissy, and am enjoying the sunshine..!! Would like a little of that rain you guys had the last couple of days though..

 In the words of a famous Australian music identity I'll definitely "do myself a favour" and get the DVD - I'm sure it'll be fantastic..!!

In answer to your questions Branwyn - I wouldn't count on it being too much less hot down south. Generally - the heat in the country is just as intense - in the south it's generally hotter in temperature, but it's a drier heat. In the north - where I am - it's a wetter (tropical) heat.

With regards to the Festivals, the two I know about are the Port Fairy Folk Festival (in Western Victoria) - which is on the second weekend in March - and the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival which is on over the Easter weekend in Byron Bay, which is in northern New South Wales. The lads would fit in well at either of these, I reckon..!!

Cheers
Scott

sstevens99:

In answer to your questions Branwyn - I wouldn't count on it being too much less hot down south. Generally - the heat in the country is just as intense - in the south it's generally hotter in temperature, but it's a drier heat. In the north - where I am - it's a wetter (tropical) heat.

Bugger.   Oh well, a girl can dream eh? I'm a wannabe-Newfoundlander...give me cold and sea-wind and snow! I turn all wilty in the heat.

Darn, wish I could see some music fests while I'm down there! Although I reckon (so that's a general Aussie term, not just something my boy says all the time?) Michael's musical family will keep me plenty entertained.  So Scott, art thou familiar with Eric Bogle? He's an Aussie fave of mine!

 

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"We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us."
-Charles Bukowski

"Bad as I am, I'm still here."

Well I'm not an Australian, but greetings to you from Canada, Scott!  Welcome to the kitchen.

Cheers!

 

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~ Cathie ~

Live ♥ Love ♫ Rock

"I finally found my way, Say goodbye to yesterday
Hit the gas there ain't no brakes on the lost highway"

Hiya Cathy - and thanks for the warm regards.

I know of Eric Bogle, Amanda (Sorry - I missed your name at the bottom of your posts!).. I'm not really familiar with a lot of his work - but he is popular on that circuit here. If you're into Eric Bogle, the folkies here would be great for you to get down to..

Now I think about it - there's a folkie at Woodford (in Queensland) over Christmas/New Years, too.. http://www.woodfordfolkfestival.com/main/index.html

Check out these links for some of the links here:
The Port Fairy Folk Festival: http://www.portfairyfolkfestival.com/
The East Coast Blues and Roots Festival: http://www.bluesfest.com.au/

Cheers
Scott

No worries on the name missing, I've met enough folks from the OKP that I'll pretty much will answer to either screenname or real name. :) I'm not familiar with alot of Eric's work either, honestly, but I do very much enjoy what I've heard of him, on the occasion when I'm down for something quieter than GBS. I think his writing is beautiful and I love his quirky sense of humour. I actually first found out about him when I was visiting Newfoundland last November, oddly enough. Jim Fidler (amazing Newfoundland musician, check him out, he used to play with GBS when they were still called Rankin Street in the early 90s) and his wife took me to Eric's concert in St. John's and it was great. We all hung out at the pub afterwards, and Darrell Power, formerly of GBS, had a pint with us too. It was a good time for sure. :)

Thanks very much for the linkage! I'll provide some in return. If you're in love with GBS, you should DEFINITELY check out these other bands/musicians from Newfoundland:

The Punters (Mike can attest to their awesomeness. :) Their version of the trad song "Heave Away" on Fisherman's Blues is like GBS meets The Beatles or something. Killer stuff.) 

Shanneyganock 

The Fables 

The Navigators 

The Irish Descendants (Mike Hanrahan, one of the members, also has a great solo cd!)

Ron Hynes (the Granddaddy of all Newfoundland singer-songwriters, regarded as one of the best songwriters in Canada, everyone has covered him, Alan Doyle adores him, he's great...his music is country-folk...as opposed to trad and trad rock like all the other stuff I've listed so far)

I'll think of more if you want some other less-trad stuff to check out too. I figure that list will keep you busy for a while.   You can also peruse Fred's Records Online, if you hear something you like and can't buy directly from the artist's site. :)

*shameless promoting Newfoundland artists*  

 

 

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"We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us."
-Charles Bukowski

"Bad as I am, I'm still here."

Hi Scott Welcome to the OKP :) *waves from Southern Ontario* grab a chair and raise a jar

Hi Scott.  Welcome.  So glad you joined us.    Mike, Mac, Angie sure are real nice, great Aussies and I am sure you are also.  I hope you do get more of GBS cd's etc.  They sure are awesome!!  Hope they do go to Australia for you all to see live.  Hope you post often.

GBS Rocks!!

~Diane~

 

 

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~Diane~

Welcome aboard, Scott!

And a big "Rocky Mountain 'Hi'" from out here in Colorado!

Cheers!

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Helen




I'm goin' Straight to Hell-On-Wheels!

..and hello to you all..!!!

Cheers
Scott