It’s been a rich and varied couple of weeks with lots of different gigs. Today at the Mark Hotel with DV8 was lots of fun and great to see lots of faces that we haven’t seen for a while along with some enthusiastic dancing . Last night solo at the Stroud Central Hotel was also a great night and I’ll be back there again soon. I spent some time at Stroud checking out the general store where my mum grew up. Her mother was a great piano player who played lots of local dances in the area back in the 1940’s so it’s a sort of a return home when I go there. My Grand parents and Uncle Jack used to own and live in the heritage home of Alderley House nearby as well and I used to visit them there when I was a kid. Stroud School of Arts was also one of the first gigs that Meccalissa ( the name of the band before DV8) ever did. My grandmother’s photo is below. She’s standing in the bush near Girvan which is close to Stroud holding a violin.

I’ve written a few new acoustic songs over the last 2 weeks and I’m starting to sprinkle them into the sets. There’s some new Hot Yogi songs and DV8 songs coming along too.

Saturday 18th I have a duo with Len Samperi at Wests Leagues in the Marble Bar.

Such a great last night at the Gunyah. My new amp combo is sounding magnificent. Such a pleasure to play the old ’72 Tele through the Twin and Blues Deluxe. So many people and lots of enthusiastic dancing. Our next show is not until Sunday July 12th at the Mark Hotel at Lambton. I’m solo at the Mary Ellen tonight Sunday June 21st and next week all solo gigs at Criterion, Swansea and Stockton Bowlo. 

What a fantastic long weekend I had. Playing in front of a full house at Caves Beach Hotel solo and warming up the crowd for Jon Stevens was a real joy. So glad everyone was in the mood to sing along and appreciate the acoustic tunes. Jon Stevens and his acoustic guitarist and bassist really rocked the house in a brilliant show that had everyone singing along enthusiastically. Cooks Hill Surf Club was a beautiful view and a perfect warm up for the Wicko where I played a short acoustic set and then 3 hours of jamming with Grant Walmsley Freebird to another enthusiastic full room. Thank you all for coming and sharing the joy with us.

 

This weekend is full too. Friday night at Shortland solo and Rutherford on Saturday night solo. Harrigans at Pokolbin from 1-4pm on Sunday 14th June and then a great benefit gig for the SES who are incredibly tireless saviours of our community in such times as when the cyclone hit Newcastle last month. The benefit gig will have many great Newy musicians and I’ll be playing with Trav and Mark in DV8 from 7.15-8pm on Sunday. Fun for all the family.

 

I’ve been busier than usual over the last couple of weeks which is great for this time of year. Coming up this Saturday long weekend June 6th I’ll be opening for Jon Stevens at Caves Beach Hotel from 8.15-9pm. Friday 5th I’m at Potters Brewery at Cessnock from 8-11pm and Sunday 7th I’m solo at Cooks Hill Surf Club from 1-4pm then playing from 5.30pm at the Wicko with Grant Walmsley and Freebird. Here’s a shot taken by Paul Parsons last Sunday at Bonnells Bay. It was fun to get so many DV8 requests at this gig….I even played an acoustic version of Hitch Hiker for the first time amongst others like Doorbell, Down to the Sea, Lighten Up Your Load, Surfing at the Gibba, Dry Your Eyes, Back to Basics, Darby Street Blues and Kings X…I’m mostly using the Martin acoustic these days with heavy gauge strings tuned down …through the BBE Sonic Maximiser which gives it a lovely deep clear and rich tone.

DV8 played on Friday night at Dora Creek Workers for Paul Parson’s birthday….it was such a good night that the club have asked us to come back and play again…we’re looking forward to being a part of Operation Cyclone at the Croatian Club at Wickham on June 14th and also to another show at the Gunyah on June 20th.

Hello everyone!

DV8 have been working on 2 songs in the studio with a view to do more and compile a new album…the new songs have been going great live and we have some more that will be revealed at a later date.

We did 2 shows up in Tamworth May 8,9th and followed it up with Mothers Day at the Premier on the 10th….a whole weekend of DV8. The 2nd show at Tamworth was especially well received and it was a good feeling to hear positive response and dancing to lots of songs that were fresh to the local’s ears. The Premier really rocked and it was fabulous to see so many people out on Mothers Day…

It was another great night at the Wicko last Friday…thankyou all for coming and rocking out and making it a success. We’ve started laying down tracks in the studio as of last Thursday and it’s sounding great already. We’ll be re-doing some classic DV8 tracks as well as some completely new tunes.

Here is a Youtube link for Back to Basics and Come to Bed from the Last Stand DVD at Belmont 16’s….we’re currently working on re-releasing this 🙂

I had a wild night at Mavericks a couple of weeks ago. Lots of exuberant singing and dancing from the crowd all night while the Sunday at the Exchange was a relaxed lunchtime affair.

This weekend April 10th I have a duo with Len Samperi at the Marble Bar at Wests from 9.30pm to 12.30am and on Saturday 11th I’m playing a solo gig at Stroud Central Hotel for the first time. It’s the same day as the local show so I’ll be starting early at 7pm. Sunday I have a solo gig at Toronto Hotel from 2-5pm…if the weather is good I’ll be outside with the beautiful view over the lake and possibly being filmed (if it’s a fine day) by my friend Trevor.

 

It’s been a few weeks since our last gig at the Wicko but the Yogis will be playing again on Saturday April 18th at the Kahibah Sports Club from 7.30-10.30pm. Rosie has written a new song about a holiday in Bali which we’ll play amongst other new and old ones. 

Wow! April already…the year is flying by fast. Last Saturday April 4th at Warners at the Bay  was a magical night. Travis was in top form on drums and Mark and I rode on a wave of tight drum grooves. The dance floor was full and we had lots of requests for our original songs.

One of our Facebook friends “Kirra Lee” posted this after her night out.

“These guys have been belting it out since I graduated high school & they’re still killing it.”

DV8 are on next at the Wicko on Friday April 17th from 8.30pm.