music | BrianLoffler

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

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.

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.

Fossils live – concert to aid Bridgewater Arts Centre

Posted on June 5 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.

From Ecocide to Eden: learning from luminaries

Posted on February 13, 2022 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.

Is this the greatest piano solo?

Posted on April 15, 2021 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.

Lindy Hop, Charleston and Shag Dance

Posted on April 14, 2021 by Brian Loffler

If you don’t know the difference between Lindy Hop, Charleston and Shag Dance, well neither do I TBH. But I’m gradually learning a little since one of the jazz bands I play with – Chicos Swing Combo – has been doing gigs for 8-Count.

Their next swing dance event is on Saturday night (April 17th, 2021). Details here.

It’s a blast to play for these shows; I’ve never seen such enthusiasm to get on the dance floor. So much so that between the band’s two sets, they turn on a dance DJ so the Eight Count crowd can just keep on dancing and having a ball. Though the typical age group seems to be 20 to 40s, there are people of all ages and abilities. There’s usually a dance teaching segment or two as well, sometimes aimed at beginners and sometimes for advanced swing steps.

WOMADelaide 2021 – Opening night review

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Brian Loffler

WOMADelaide 2021 opening night was an emotionally-charged event with Archie Roach and Lior fulfilling in style the WOMADelaide goals of celebrating cultural and creative diversity.

*The stage is set for the **Lior/Westlake** performance of the **Compassion** song-cycle. Photo: Brian Loffler*

You can read my review here.

Intensive care for arts and culture?

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Brian Loffler

In July 2008 I booked a ticket to San Francisco. I was double bass player for Gail Kingston’s Hot Foot Jazz and we were making plans to appear at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee in May 2009.

This was a big deal for us. The band was in peak form; we’d just completed a new CD “Can You Tame Wild Wimmen” and Gail was hot favourite as we toured to jazz festivals across south-eastern Australia.

Gail Kingston’s Hot Foot Jazz at Tooleybuc NSW, June 2008. Brian Loffler (double bass), Derek Dalton (trumpet), Ron Bash (reeds), Gordon Coulson (trombone), Harold Phillis (piano), Dave Sutton (drums), Gail Kingston (leader, vocals), Tony West (banjo)

Exposure in the US would be a breakthrough; we’d tighten up our stagecraft and have a chance to mix it with some of the best traditional jazz musicians from around the world.

Loxton Fossils

Posted on December 27, 2017 by Brian Loffler

Have you been to the Riverland lately? Here are 5 good reasons to plan a weekend away at Loxton in April.

1. Join us for this special one-night-only event in historic Loxton. Fossils will bring to life for you the best folk songs of the 60s, 70s and later, many made famous by the wonderful Peter, Paul and Mary and Bob Dylan.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service is the health lifeline for thousands of rural people. Have a great night out on Saturday 14th April 2018 and help us raise money for this essential service.

Tickets $20. Bookings: ph 0408325021.

Read more about Fossils previous events and more details of the Loxton Concert.

Fossils benefit concerts have raised $20,000

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Brian Loffler

We’ve had a lot of fun presenting our three Fossils benefit concerts in 2015, 2016 and 2017 for Lutheran Community Care’s social welfare programs. And it’s very satisfying that the September 2017 concert raised another $7,500, bringing the total for the three concerts to $20,000.

We’re very grateful for all the support we’ve received from fans of 60s and 70s folk music, as we’ve brought back to life those powerful lyrics, memorable melodies and and superb harmonies from the likes of Peter, Paul and Mary and Bob Dylan.

For the 2017 Concert, LCCare prepared a flyer that gives an insight into what has motivated our Fossils team to create our tribute band. You can download the flyer by clicking here.

Fossils Folk – sharing the love

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Brian Loffler

Remember the coffee lounges of the 60s and 70s, and hearing the songs of Peter, Paul & Mary or Bob Dylan? Their music was such a powerful symbol of love and peace, bringing a message of humanity, hope and activism.

It was an age of powerful lyrics, unforgettable melodies and superb harmonies.

We formed Fossils Folk group in 2014 to revive this popular folk music of the 60s and 70s.

Our first major gig was a benefit concert in November 2015. Initially we were planning a quite intimate acoustic show for around 50, but in the end more than 250 tickets were sold and we had a wonderful evening sharing our love of so many superb songs with a very happy crowd. Read More

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