Mullum Music Festival Showcases
Mullum Music Festival is a wonderfully diverse event which happens every November in the northern NSW town of Mullumbimby. Over the past 7 years, it has grown (not too much) and now there is a sister festival happening in Bellingen.
A couple of years ago, Glenn Wright (MMF/Bello Winter Festival Director) approached me about presenting local performers in acoustic mode on the verandahs of The Middle Pub and the Ex-Services Club: The Verandah Sessions were born. I selected wonderful musicians, who were not already on the bill - to add even more local participation.
Down From The Mountain is a filmed concert performance of songs from 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' I have wanted to present these songs in a Showcase with Bellingen's Bluegrass band The Mid North and various artists from this year's Mullum Music Festival for quite sometime.
It all came together beautifully in the Civic Hall around a single home-made microphone!
"I particularly enjoyed the Sunday this year, kicking off with Bay FM’s Mary Cannon’s Down From The Mountain Concert. Years in the planning, Cannon orchestrated a rotating cast of locals and festival performers to run through the songs from the soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou? With heartfelt performances from the likes of Sara Tindley, Suzannah Espie, Jenn Grant, Jimmy Dowling, Hat Fitz, and a massive all-in singalong, all staged around the one microphone, old-timey style, the show was a real treat and played to the Civic Hall’s acoustic character perfectly." Marty Jones, Rhythms Magazine 12/15
This last MMF I was offered the opportunity to create whatever I wanted. This became the Duets Showcase
"Local DJ Mary Cannon put together a Duets’ concert in the local Courthouse Hotel, which challenged the musicians with unorthodox settings and collaborations. Local and festival artists were paired up in one-off combinations, which provided thrilling results. Locals Jimmy Dowling, Kim Cheshire and Sara Tindley stealing the show (along with honorary local Marlon Williams, who was everywhere!)"
Marty Jones, Rhythms Magazine 12/14
To Live Is To Fly Two Texan Troubadours Together: Celebrating The Songs of Townes Van Zandt & Guy Clark