Discovering - 7 new music finds

Last weekend the planets were at the Blue Mountains music festival - not too far from here.
We've been going for a few years and one of the joys of it is that you never know who you might discover.
There are 7 stages, it's not a huge festival, it's easy to get around. So if you are not taken with the act you are watching you move on.......

There were no really huge big names playing the festival this year but that doens't mean that the quality was any less or that it wasn't fun. Hey! it was heaps of fun!

We also caught up with a few old favorites - Lior, Eleanor McEvoy, Jeff Lang.....and here are my new finds for this year.

Flap!
Something old but in a new way.
1920s dance meets calypso.
So cute and so fun!

Blair Dunlop
I like folk - oh yes I do.
A mix of old school folk with a touch of David Gray.
I'm smitten kitten.

(Have a look at thisfor some bleak old english countryside)

The Tiger and Me
Another heaps of style, heaps of energy, heaps of fun.
Described in the program as "cabaret/circus/euro indie folk-pop"
We were all smitten by the guy up-front who is a dark-haired dead ringer for our son.

The Good Lovelies
I didn't think I would like them.
Meh! Banjo - I said.
But we popped in and happened upon this number >

Swamp Thing
Great energy blues duo.
Great to listen to at 10.30 in the morning - well someone has to do it!
I couldn't find a youtube clip to do them justice, but if you get the chance - check them out if you like raucous blues with grunt.

Jesse Valach & Blues Mountain
These guys were Mr planet's festival pick.
Blues, soul, tightness.

Ash Grunwald
OK, so Ash isn't that new....he si just new to me.
My daughter recommended and we obeyed.
Fabulous high energy and so good to see the new generation of bluesmen coming through.
This is a really cool film clip with surfing as well as singing.
Have a look.

Fave albums - 7 Things Saturday

It's a funny thing with music isn't it? It all depends on the time of day, you mood, where you are, who you're with etc etc!

So choosing just 7 albums is hard - but here are 7 that I'm enjoying listening to at the moment without getting tired of them

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

How about you?
What are you listening to at the moment?
Got any recommendations?

Tubular Bells for 2

Hands up if you remember Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells!

Me, me, me - I do!

It takes me back....way back.

Way back when it was released in 1973 it was a very unusual piece of pop music, but Richard Branson who was just starting Virgin Records believed in it and it the first record on the crispy-new record label.
It was unusual in that it's structure is one long piece of music per "side" and Mike Oldfield played most of the 27 instruments himself and layered the recordings over each other using a home-made multi-track recorder. That sort of technique is very commonly used these days but was unheard of 40 years ago.

Anyway these 2 young guys Daniel Holdsworth and Aiden Roberts decided to create it for a live performance using just themselves and 20 instruments.
This involves them playing instruments at the same time and racing around the stage to reach other instruments.
They describe it as a cross between sport, physical theatre and musical performance.
It is totally amazing!

Here is a sneak peak from their website.

You can read more about Tubular Bells for 2 here.

and more about Tubular Bells on wikipedia.

But I recommend if you get the chance go and see it for yourself!

Remember if you would like to leave a thoughtful comment you will have a chance to win this weeks giveaway.

Happy Anniversary to the Beatles

 It's 50 years since The Beatles released their very first record - a single, as you did back then.

Ok, so I know I'm showing my age here, but I grew up with The Beatles.
They were the soundtrack to my youth.
I used to know every word of every Beatles song - sad, eh?

Who is your favorite Beatle?
I was a Paul girl back then.....but not now.

Fave Beatles song?
That's a toughie!

And I Love Her?
Eleanor Rigby?
I'll follow the Sun?
Michelle
Yesterday?


Fave album?

Rubber Soul - yeah!

But then within 8 years after that first single it was all over - The Beatles split up in 1970.

So here it is - sing along if you like.

The Beatles were the most significant musical influence of the 20th century.
Discuss.

If you would like to leave a comment you will go into the draw to win a pair of planettreasures earrings, drawn Tuesday 9th October.

7 things sunday - 7 bands/performers I saw this weekend

at the wonderful blue mountains music festival.

I have selected 7 of the 50 or so performers over the weekend. We saw many of then but you can never quite see them all!


So we have the sweetly engaging -



tinpan orange


A new favorite -


Halfway to Forth



Everyone's favorites -



the waifs


The sweetest song -



leah flanagan


My favorite -


David Bridie


My favorite guitar virtuoso

tony mcmanus


And charming story teller -



keirin halpin

What have I been up to this week and we have a winner!

It's been a very springy week - beautiful one day, the pits the next!

Luckily we chose a great day to go by rivercat to the city.
As I've said in a previous post the Opera House is one on my favorite places, and what a splendid view as the cat floats under the harbour bridge towards circular quay.


I went with K, K and H to see a couple of exhibitions - one, Flora - an exhibition of botanical art (where a friend was showing for the first time) was in the Palm House in the Royal Botanic Gardens.

This is the aptly named Spring Walk in the gardens -


At the weekend we visited our daughter and went down the coast to Kiama - which is known for it's blow hole.

Due to the pitsy weather and ferocious seas the blowhole was really blowing!
Despite that there were still some very brave surfers out there!


On another lovely spring day I went on one of my favorite little local walks.

The bush was full of blossoms - boronia -

and peas -
The bees were buzzing the birds were tweeting!

This is a tiny flower called a phebalium -


There were new fern shoots as well.


One evening my son took me to the jazz club where Pete Mcdonald was launching his new CD.
What a great evening of funky, mellow, jazz.

Legend Sandy Evans played sax!


Oh, and I went to the Sydney bead and gem show - but I'll tell you about that another time!

And before I go I'd like to announce that this week's winner is Beryl!!
Yay! for Beryl!

Remember to leave a comment to have a chance of winning a surprise!

Tuesday tune - Tim Minchin

After seeing The Pope song by Tim Minchin on tumblr last week, I thought I would bring a bit of fun to my blog today.
The Pope Song is not appropriate!
And there are a few others that may be offensive.
Whatever - I think he is very funny and very clever.

Enjoy!

Tuesday music - Once

My lovely son left me this music to listen to today.
I loved the movie which I saw a couple of years ago.
And I've always wanted the music.




Isnt he sweet?