music

The power of the intro… (no not that one)

Posted on by Brian Loffler

If you’ve ever played in a band you’ll be familiar with the MD calling “last 8 bars intro”. It’s an easy sure-fire way of getting a song started in the right key and at the right tempo. But it’s also a bit lazy and boring.

A truly great intro can be so much more.

So what are your favourite intros?

I’m going to jump straight to an intro that for me ticks every box: it’s stunningly beautiful; it epitomises the song without giving it all away at the start; it powerfully reappears as an outro; in a handful of bars it deliciously melds the collaboration of arranger, rock artist and orchestra.

Read More

WOMADelaide 2024 – doing my homework!

Posted on by Brian Loffler

It must rank among the most pleasurable homework in the world: previewing the performers who are on the bill for WOMADelaide in March 2024. With just over 100 sleeps to go till opening night on 8th March, it’s time!

It’s so easy to get into the swing of it because WOMADelaide have already released a playlist for the 2024 artist lineup on Spotify.

Read More

Fossils folk concert at Victor Harbor

Posted on by Brian Loffler

We asked you to save the date – 2pm 10th September 2023 – for our Fossils concert at Newland Uniting in Victor Harbor. Bookings are open now, so please do book to be sure you don’t miss out. There should be tickets available at the door, but remember that our concert last year was so heavily booked that we had to move to a larger venue. So booking now is highly recommended.

You can get your tickets at TryBooking here:

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1096564

Read More

Music – Society – Planet

Posted on by Brian Loffler

A guide to this website

Music

  • Gig guide – My upcoming adventures on stage with my friends in folk music and trad jazz are detailed on my Gig Guide.
  • WOMADelaide – This is my favourite weekend of the year, and you’ll find some WOMADelaide stories here.

Society

  • Inspirational activists – I’ve been lucky enough to meet and interview some extraordinary people, activists who work tirelessly to be on the right side of history: people who know the inequity of the status quo simply isn’t good enough and must be challenged. You’ll find some activist stories here.

Planet

  • Saving the planet – It’s a slightly silly phrase – “saving the planet” – because the planet is quite capable of looking after itself. In fact if humans disappeared off the face of the earth, the planet would doubtless do better without us. But what we urgently need to do is to preserve our fragile life-support systems for the sake of future generations. We have a lot of work to do in both climate activism and practical emissions reduction projects. There are some examples of climate action here.
  • Urban Ecology Australia – For a couple decades I’ve been a member of Urban Ecology Australia, an organisation that invented a cohesive theory of ecological cities, defined Ecopolis Development Principles, and then set about building a living example of an inner-urban eco-village: Christie Walk. You’ll find posts about my most recent sustainable living adventures here.

Planet Talks at WOMADelaide 2023

Posted on by Brian Loffler

WOMADelaide is best known as a glorious long weekend of music and dance from around the world. But Planet Talks also gives some special opportunities for sharing ideas with some of the world’s most inspiring thought leaders and activists who are working on key global environmental and justice issues.

Big ideas to share

For 2023 much of the focus will be on the First Nations Voice to Parliament, the Race to Netzero, Rights for Nature and Crimes Against Nature.

Read More

Don’t miss the special live jazz we have for you

Posted on by Brian Loffler

South Coast Jazz Festival – Goolwa

These are huge months for jazz around Adelaide and SA. The South Coast Jazz Festival at Goolwa – which was packed out last year – promises to be even bigger next weekend (14th-16th Oct 2022) as we welcome interstate bands to the Festival for the first time since borders reopened. There will be plenty to choose from, spread across four stages in beautiful Goolwa.

Pippa Wilson

One not to be missed is Melbourne’s Lady of Jazz, vocalist Pippa Wilson. Her velvety voice is a treasure. She’ll be featured at the Festival at 6pm Friday, 1pm & 7pm Saturday and 4pm Sunday.

Melbourne’s Pippa Wilson

If you can’t make it to the Festival, Pippa and her Jazz Notes band will be the feature band at the remarkable Southern Jazz Club on Tuesday 11th Oct.

I say “remarkable” Southern Jazz Club because this club meets every Tuesday at the HWY (corner Anzac Hwy & Marion Rd), and continues to thrive with a big enthusiastic crowd each week. Jazz is best enjoyed live, and the Southern Jazz Club does it so well.

Read More

Fossils live – concert to aid Bridgewater Arts Centre

Posted on by Brian Loffler

POST-CONCERT UPDATE: Thank you so much to the enthusiastic audience and volunteer supporters who joined us for the concert on July 2nd; it was marvellous to see so many appreciative, smiling faces in the auditorium. Thanks to you all we raised over $2,000 for the Bridgewater Arts Centre; a big boost for the Centre’s program.

Since Fossils formed in 2014, our concerts have now raised $39,000 for welfare, health equity and arts programs. And we’ve had so much fun doing it!

UPDATE: Due to popular demand, Fossils has now moved Saturday’s concert to a larger venue. It will be at the Aldgate Village Well, 54 Strathalbyn Rd, Aldgate SA 5154.
Tickets are still available, so bring your friends:
– TryBooking: trybooking.com/BYVNH 
– Moshtix: https://umbrellafestival.com.au/events/multi-aria-award-winner-peter-combe-oam-and-fossils/

It’s been a very tough time for musicians, arts-workers and performance venues during the pandemic, so we’re delighted to help with this fundraiser for the Bridgewater Arts Centre on Saturday evening, July 2nd 2022.

Local venues like the Bridgewater Arts Centre are hugely important for the development of new talent; the next generation of artists and musicians. These Centres have ongoing costs, no matter whether they’re open for business or closed for COVID, so fundraising is vital for their survival.

Buy your concert tickets now at trybooking.com/BYVNH and get ready for a wonderful evening of stirring harmony singing and exquisite acoustic guitars, as we bring you the best of music from Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Simon & Garfunkel and The Beatles.

Read More

Goanna: superb at WOMADelaide 2022

Posted on by Brian Loffler

The Goanna reunion performance was a wonderful emotion-charged event. It was clear they were having the time of their lives on the main stage at WOMADelaide 2022. Respect was flowing freely from and to the band.

Together and in their solo careers Shane Howard, Rose Bygrave & Marcia Howard have made Australia a better place through their music and activism.

Goanna at WOMADelaide 2022. Photo: Brian Loffler

They’re great storytellers, in their songwriting, performing and in person. 

And it’s storytelling with a purpose. They helped clear a path forward for First Nations audiences and performers. 

Read More

From Ecocide to Eden: learning from luminaries

Posted on by Brian Loffler

With WOMADelaide 2022 coming up fast, it made me reflect on previous festivals.

Might it be that – in simplistic terms – there are two types of people: those who use their talents to enrich themselves, and those who use their special skills to enrich the lives of others?  My experience in media leads me to think so.

I’ve been very fortunate to interview some special people over recent years, people who have dedicated their lives to ensuring they contribute to safeguarding our planet and improving social equity, and have been guests at WOMADelaide as part of the superb Planet Talks series. Here are some of the best.

Read More

Is this the greatest piano solo?

Posted on by Brian Loffler

In 1985 Gordon Sumner aka Sting took several huge risks. With The Police he’d ridden an enormous wave of success, with memorable hits such as Roxanne, Message In A Bottle and Every Breath You Take. Then in 1984 – at the top of their game, The Police broke up, and Sting set about converting his fame to a solo career.

That was risk enough, but he combined that with filming the experience of forming a new band and rehearsals for their premiere concert in Paris. As Sting says in the resulting movie Bring On The Night, most movies about pop bands are made towards the end of their careers when they’ve had years honing their craft as a combo. Filming a nascent band in the early stages of becoming comfortable with each other was truly a leap of faith.

Read More