BACK AT IT !
This week sees me back in Melbourne, what was I thinking to tour to the south in winter? haha, we're supposed to go north are'nt we? Well I'm being brave and taking my tropica wings back south for very good reasons. Kaspar Merrall's Annual Fundraiser is back on, it's a private party and if you want to donate to the cause you can. Just go to his blog. LOMOND, Friday night, Saturday a private party for a couple of 50 year old teenagers, and Sunday sees us in the ST ANDREWS HOTEL 3 TILL 6PM. Please come along let everyone know as soon as you can. IT'S THIS WEEKEND! 8th to the 11th July. All these shows are with my dear friend SWEET FELICIA on the bass and the usual Melbourne Gallery of Enlightened Rogues. Guaranteed fun. Rory, Big Boy Lemonade and Robbo. See you there.

Well life has been interesting to say the least. I am now back on the boards as it may be, I've have had a bit of time off from music, healing from the fires and the move north and now I'm all set with a great little band up here in the north. We have been having loads of fun getting a whole new lot of songs together and the harmonies are just lovely. Jim Dyson has offered his guitaring prowess and Grant Bedford (Remains) on the drums, Stewart Bowford (double bass) and Ana Petrie on Backing Vocals. It's a hoot. This is the lineup we'll be doing at Tyalgum pub on the 31st July.

“Music has a way of finding the big, invisible moving pieces inside our hearts and souls and helping us figure out the position of things inside us” (Ancient Greeks)

KASPARS Blog spot still needs help of course....http://kasparsfundraiser.blogspot.com/

PP.S. - I have put the words to my songs up on the guest book link at the bottom of the page. Lyrics to all songs that I have written on "Time and Love" and also "Magic Door" cds...Enjoy

.....a review in the Leader written by a John Jenkins it said "What a performer.... Fi's halogen smile and exhilarating style soon lit up the room. She's a lass with sass all right, she slapped at the drums, banged on the piano, she lassoed the high notes, then got down mean and throaty. She's a spirit-raiser, with enough natural charisma to electrify a morticians' convention. Every toe was tapping to her original songs...."

Here's an article I recently wrote about the Importance of Musicians. Just me trying to explain to people not in the music industry how so many musicians are taken advantage of in our society.

The Importance of Musicians.

By Lil’ Fi 11th May 2009

As an accomplished musician who has been performing in Australia for the past 20 years I feel that I have some authority on the importance of musicians to our society. In this article I will outline to you some of my observations on the healing effects of music and the essential need for the arts and music – as I strongly believe that it is as important as food and the air we breathe.

I am what I would call an “ear” player, I play music for the average person. I don’t read music, I play music from my heart - an Australian Blues/ roots musician. I am a songwriter and I sing my songs to people to help them laugh and feel their folly to help people to escape from the drudgery and discomforts of their daily lives. I like to think of myself as an antenna of society. I notice people, I observe them and I put it into music. Then we all can cry or laugh at ourselves and feel better for it.

“Blues music is all about making life better on earth – Gospel music is all about a better life in heaven. (Willie Dixon a famous blues songwriter who wrote over 500 titles)

Life in 2009 is hard, but then it’s always been hard, that’s just how it is. Musicians help people to cope with the trials that they find themselves in.

“Blues blues heal me, Blues is the healer” – (John Lee Hooker – Blues man)

I am a Queenslander born and bred, I have been living in Melbourne for 5 years now and I like to live in the bush. So I have been living in “the fire zone”. In Victoria there is a “fire season”, not a “wet season’ like we have up north. The fire is much much more terrifying I would say.

I have been evacuating from my home for the last 5 years every summer when there is a total fire ban day. I live in a tinderbox, environmental zone, there have been no burn offs where I live and as a renter I always pack up and go.

Recently in March 2009 the worst fires in the history of fires came through and burnt the communities directly to the north and east of where I live. There have been hundreds of families affected and I have become a part of the healing for these families. A bit of escape from the harsh and cruel reality of losing everything and starting again. The shock of having all of these people changed forever has a rippling effect through the community. People care about other people and want to help, they feel powerless and want to comfort. There are so many issues and emotions that need to be expressed and healed and remembered.

“Music has a way of finding the big, invisible moving pieces inside our hearts and souls and helping us figure out the position of things inside us” (Ancient Greeks)

I have been so proud of my fellow musicians since these fires. Immediately after the fires every musician I know put their hands up and did free gigs to raise funds, but more importantly to help people try to make sense of all the sadness happening around them. I have met musicians from the fire affected zones who have played at 10, 15, 27 funerals in a month – for free. I just have to say here that performing at a funeral is extremely difficult, let alone so many in a month. I see such generosity, that it makes me lie awake at night and cry I love these people so much.

I know musicians who can’t sleep for the hounding of songs that demand to be written, channelled through to help make a difference to the earth and her cruelty.

What I don’t see is a generosity to musicians. I see an expectation, a neediness and a blindness to the artists who take the job of music therapy so seriously that they fund it themselves. The Australian public are so very lucky to have such generous people to look after them. However I think it is time to turn the tables.

The average mans musician needs some respect and with that some financial remuneration. It’s not the 40 minutes of entertainment a musician is paid for. It’s the $50 worth of petrol to get to the gig, the $250 PA to play though and the 75 years of combined experience of how to play like that. You wouldn’t expect a mechanic to fix your car for free, neither should the musician be expected to perform for free. They both have to make a living.

I propose that there is a fund set aside to assist the assisters, the help the helpers, to care for the carers who lovingly and willingly look after the heart and souls of our communities. These are the volunteers we need to care for, they are precious, precious as gold, ever more so, because the “music helps us to find the big, invisible moving pieces inside our hearts and souls”.

.....

Email review of the Arthurs Creek BIG FUN NIGHT

Hi Georgina and Wes, thanks heaps for being a part of a wonderful evening. Here are some photos from Hugh McSpedden for all to share. We have created some really great memories together on Saturday night, the BIG FUN NIGHT was all it said it was going to be. The rain was falling and it didn't stop any of the party from gathering. A crowd of nearly 500 turned out to celebrate, gather and remember those who couldn't be there. A much needed time together the Big Fun Night proved to be the timely gathering it was predicted to be. The evening started of with a traditional welcome and recognition of the Wurrundjeri people and some amazing mouth music by Araya and the Crystal Bowls singing their curious and divine song. Hugh McSpedden started his light show and next thing you know there were Belly Dancing by Zabelle and here troup. Well by this stage we all knew we were in for some fun. The crowd was growing and they were hungry. The Paella lady was stuck at home with her keys locked in the car, so Max - the sausage man - and the girls with the soup (thanks Emma and Sacajawea) were all there to keep us all fed. Thanks heaps. Rob had his Chai and the local wines from Lovegrove and Hildebrand Ridge kept the spirits high and warm. The Chocolate Lillies raised the spirits and we were off on a journey of beautiful sound, thanks Nerida. The Honey family were our Von Trapps for the night - wowing and delighting and paying homage to "Ray a Carter who we love". Good on you kids your violin playing was terrific. The Caniptions - including Lil' Fi, Bobby Bright, Chris Wilson and Robbo were next on the stage and some old favourites were aired and given a jolly good shake. Tina Turners River Deep will never be the same again. Ian McKimmie came on and played our heart strings and his flute as always a man of mighty words. Thankyou Ian. Spectrum were next and we all danced and enjoyed one of our national treasures from our very own valley. Bill played his signature song with the Sparkles - Really Terrible Choir - In the valley of Ewen, everyone sang along to this McKimmie tribute and many hugs and smiles were shared. The Choir surprised and delighted everyone. Over the 10 weeks of rehearsals much learning and fun was had together, we have forged some great friendships and been able to support each other even on the nights when we haven't felt like singing. But the night of Big Fun was the zenith of our time together. I had never head the group sound so wonderful, proud and full of voice. Congratulations everyone, please keep singing with Sue Arnold at the St Andrews Community hall on Monday nights, she's tarred with the same brush and I am sure it will be a whole lot of fun. Local lad Jack Brown was up next and he did some contemporary tunes that just knocked everyone out. Leslie Avril took the stage in her inimitable way and the house started to really rock then. Heaven help us all. Then Sue Arnold - Miss Panton Hill played her darling ukelele and made some fun with Hugh and his lighting. Black Cat Bone helped us all to finish the night off with a bang. The hall was jumping and there wasn't a seat left sat on by this stage. A Fabulous night was had and I want to thank and congratulate everyone involved. We gathered and helped make new memories together and we honoured the ones who couldn't be there. We'll do it again one day. I'm off to live in the north in a couple of weeks to be closer to my father and my family in the north. I am honoured and privelidged to have been able to help facilitate this event with the help of Victoria Regional Arts and their Grant, Auspicious Arts (who administered for us), Sacajawea of Jockelberry Farm, and all the other volunteers and choristers who made it all so wonderful.

Thanks heaps Love Lil' Fi