Month: June 2013

A Punter’s Perspective #40: Don’t Mention The Wall! (Interview)

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Don't Mention The Wall! Rob and Deta Rayner. Image courtesy of Rob and Deta.
Don’t Mention The Wall! Rob and Deta Rayner (Germany). Image courtesy of Rob and Deta Rayner.

A Punter’s Perspective

Random observations on the wide, weird world of folk from the side of the stage

#40 Don’t Mention The Wall!

First published on the Timber and Steel blog on 2 January 2013
Second published in Trad and Now magazine, January 2013

Berlin folk pop band The Beez have been frequent visitors to Australia in recent years with their latest tour taking place at the start of 2012. The band is now taking a short break at the start of 2013, however, band members Rob and Deta Rayner will be coming to Australia very shortly with a new show: Don’t Mention The Wall! – songs and stories  from the fall of the Berlin Wall and beyond.

On a variously muggy mid-summer’s Australian morning or frosty Berlin midnight hour, depending on your hemispherical perspective, I spoke with Rob Rayner on the line from Berlin about the show.

Bill Quinn: The Beez left our shores back in April, was it?

Rob Rayner: It was May. It was the epic tour of four months. We never thought we’d get through four months but we did. AND the amazing thing is that we’re still talking to each other! Continue reading →

A Punter’s Perspective #39: Warren “Arch” Bishop: Bush folklore for the kids

Overheard Productions Interviews, Music general, Trad and Now , , , , , , , , , ,
Arch Bishop (centre) at 2012 Illawarra Folk Festival with Peter 'Pearl' McLeod, Rick Saur, Rosie McDonald and Billy Arnett
Arch Bishop (centre) at 2012 Illawarra Folk Festival with Peter ‘Pearl’ McLeod, Rick Saur, Rosie McDonald and Billy Arnett. Photo by Bill Quinn.

A Punter’s Perspective

Random observations on the wide, weird world of folk from the side of the stage

#39 Warren “Arch” Bishop: Bush folklore for the kids

First published in Trad and Now magazine, December 2012

When I was introduced to “Arch Bishop” at Cobargo Folk Festival in 2007, it took a while to confirm there wasn’t some sort of wind-up going on. (After I’d genuflected, crossed myself, mumbled ‘Your Excellency’, and kissed his ring – just in case).

Warren Bishop (universally known as Arch or Archie) is a master of the straight-face. He even got me hook, line and sinker when I rang for this interview, though I can’t repeat the story here until ‘Trad and Now’ magazine develops a sealed section.

“Arch” is a larger than life part of the New South Wales folk festival scene as a poet, story-teller and raconteur. He’s a man who loves to laugh – especially if he’s sharing the joke with others.

And stories. He’s got more stories than….. a very tall building that has lots of floors. Lately he’s been finding new horizons for this mastery of the spoken word, and it was these developments and potential new pursuits I was keen to talk with him about. Continue reading →

The BordererS (SA) at Wollongong City Diggers, Saturday 15 June

Overheard Productions Music general

The BordererS (SA) at Wollongong City Diggers, Saturday 15 June

Alex and Jim from The BordererS

The good people from the Illawarra Folk Club are currently preparing for the Snowy Mountains of Music, but once back at sea level they’ll then be gearing up for the next in their regular concerts with the next one on Saturday 15 June at Wollongong City Diggers Club featuring The BordererS from South Australia.

The BordererS are always very welcome visitors up north, presenting as they do a heady mix of emotional ballads and high energy/highly danceable original music (and one or two covers and the odd singalong).

Late last year I spoke with Jim Paterson ahead of a couple of Borderers gigs and you can read that interview here:

https://overheardproductions.com/2012/10/25/the-borderers-performing-for-the-young-old-and-in-between-in-canberra/

See you at the Wollongong City Diggers on Saturday 15 June. More details on Illawarra Folk Club goings on are available in their latest June newsletter.