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Thursday, 15 September 2005 |
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I'm back in Fremantle at last!
I always love my adventures in the west & have played three
Fairbridge Festivals, one Nannup & am here to play my second 'Songs
From the Mountain' concert at the Fly By Night. I feel like it's a
place that I may even end up in one day when I'm ready for the pace of
life to slow down a bit (& I can finally afford dinner at the
Indiana Tea Rooms at Cottesloe Beach!) This is Steve's first trip here
& we are staying at 'Hotel Hyams' just a short walk from South
Fremantle beach where we have already been littering his front step
with beautiful shells we have found. It's quite a heady experience
walking up Dave's front stairs & smelling the orange blossom. He's
a great host- freshly squeezed orange juice, cable internet & good
jams & conversation. It almost feels like a holiday! Right from Day
1 when my good friend Steph took us to the Left Bank to drink great
local wine & beer & soak up the late afternoon sunshine
reflected off the Swan River. It's hard to think of the gigs as work
either. Our first two house concerts continued the theme of new
friendships, warmth & lovely red wine. Right from when Johnno
picked us up I had a flash back to Fairbridge festival riding on the
back of the ute between venues smiling & waving like a model on a
parade float. The subsequent concert at Kerry & Mick's house was a
spirited affair with lots of laughs (mostly at Johnno's expense- there
really is someone in the world who can talk more than me- we love you
John!) My highlight was everyone singing the entire refrain of 'Find me
a lover' I really have to send the minidisc recording to Fred...The
second concert was no less memorable with Pinky the dog bookending
every song with loud barks every time there was applause. It was all so
enjoyable right from the moment we walked up the tea-candle-lit front
stairs. Thanks guys. Songs From the Mountain was another unadulterated
success! A sold out crowd & so many amazing performances. I was
priveleged enough to accompany the amazing Chris While on bass &
harmonies which had to be the highlight for me. This was closely
followed by the the immensely enjoyable sight of Bluegrass Parkway
walking out to sing 'Man of Constant Sorrow' in fake beards that I had
manufactured earlier in the day from some fake fur I picked up from
Spotlight. I was bursting with pride when the MC announced amongst the
end credits "Beards by Liz Frencham". (I also kept one aside that I,
myself, wore during the finale- good look, Frencham.) My set of 3 songs
was also really enjoyable & big thanks to the Duffs, Dave Hyams,
Dave Clark & Reuben Kooperman for backing me up- we made sweet
sounds together! Now after a good monday rehearsal it's time to head
for Margaret River for another album launch. Til next time...x |
