I broke myself trying to keep pace last week. Couldn't pike at the death as had to host the finale of FBi's supporter drive despite barely having a voice after a month of swings and roundabouts in health terms.

Was the last straw for me. Had to get off the hamster wheel for a bit after that. Turning the corner now but had to bail on last night at Palmer (thanks Soup for filling in). Back at it from tomorrow. Fingers (and legs) crossed.


Friday September the 30th ~

What could be more Sydney than spending the first night of a second consecutive long weekend at the Hollywood dancing til the early hours for free?

Sin City Soirée never fails to bring debaucherous variety and irreverent reverie to the fore and - this being the final evening of the fortnight-long Surry Thrills Festival - one can expect excess!


Saturday October the 1st ~

It will be bliss to resume transmission of uninterrupted music alone on Jack Off this week, after the hard yards of two hustles for cold cash running.

That said, despite the sideways state I was in (and the subsequent collapse of any remaining capacity) I'm really grateful to have had the opportunity to broadcast such a rapid-fire and necessarily improvised public program from Atomic Brewery last week. It was a tonic to team up with both the Snacc Pacc plus wider station staff and listeners to deliver entertainment and serious rewards all at once. If you missed it and want to sample the sheer madness of the scene listen back here.
Following a more sedate and considered show with an ebullient 9 til 12.30 set at Dean and Nancy on 22 is a perfect way to segue back to nature and life on the river til next week. Entry is free, as always.

Burst beyond the binary in yr best sporting finery!


Wednesday September the 21st ~

Alongside all of my other engagements this week Swingin' at the Speakeasy is absolutely free to attend. Live music and Pia on the decks from 7PM then my good self spinning til around 2AM.


Friday September the 23rd ~

Another cosmic stroll back in time accompanies any journey to the Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre. Witness accoutrements from the era alongside audio artefacts hyperlocal and far gone. 8.30 til 11.30PM.


Saturday September the 24th ~

Saturday is absolutely massive this long, long weekend. The annual FBi Radio Supporter Drive is to close with an extended joint program from myself and Bek and Del from the Snacc Pacc, live from Atomic Brewery in Redfern.

After a decade and a half in radio this will be my first outside broadcast - and all are welcome to join us. Not only is there no charge for entry but FBi supporters will receive a free beer on arrival. It kicks off at 2 and rolls through til 6. I dearly hope you can join us there because between us we are gonna bring this game home hard.
The whole station and a substantial part of the community we serve have dedicated this drive to getting listeners off the bench and actively into the team. That's what volunteering is: participation. We all financially support FBi too.

We don't want to be overly dependent on sponsorship income, or begging up grants from unreliable governments. We want to be driven by you. It only costs $10/month to join us (or $5 if yr concession, $15 passionate, $30 a band or business). You can donate too, anonymously if you prefer. All of these options are available here.

The best thing about the Jack Off component of this Closing Party and Simulcast is that at 4.30PM I'll personally be giving away all of these incredible major prizes from across the drive. We're talking perhaps $10G worth of e-bikes, band packs, audio gear, merch, recording opportunities, golden tix to the Ritz and a year's supply of beer. It's beyond belief this year and all of these generously donated gifts are gonna make a lot of people hella happy.

To be in the running make sure you join online or, better yet, call us on 90306945 before that time. I will happily give you or loved ones a shout, plug enterprises and play tunes you wanna here. Ideally just rock up to Atomic, hang in the audience and yell out / heckle! Radio is at it's best when local and live and that is essentially our reason for being at Free Broadcast Incorporated.
Tell you what I'm gonna be completely sideways by the time I make it to The Rocks to play in Australasia's most-awarded bar, Maybe Sammy. If you are also in it for the long haul hop down for some superb cocktails, magical music and bubbles of every form, from 9PM til 12.30AM, if not beyond!

High rotation and poor floatation in the wild west.


Wednesday September the 14th ~

After a surreal excursion to the absolute apogee of country hospitality, art & architecture, the Palace Hotel, for the Broken Heel Festival, it's time to descend instead to the Tank-Stream-adjacent basement that is Palmer & Co - for Swingin' at the Speakeasy.

Live music and dancing from 7, then crazy creaky tunes from me til around 2 in the morn. Always free.


Friday September the 16th ~

Social justice and cultural context comes gratis at the Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre as the weekend begins. Local music and more. Half 8 til half 11.


Saturday September the 17th ~

Jack Off was graciously hosted by the ever-generous Jonny Seymour in my absence last week. Hear his fab flow of audio on-demand here. My live report from Silverton comes in via the blower around 1:16 in.

This week we were hoping to have Danika playing live for us as our supporter drive kicks in but typical Sydney venue problems (they shut down) have put a spanner in the works. We're trying to wrangle a plan C but time will tell.

Either way we need yr love and support. If this program and the artists' work that we relay means anything to you please call us on 90306945 and explain to fellow listeners why. It's this cycle of communication and community that evolves and sustains us. It's also my annual opportunity to thank you, play requests, plug businesses and shower you in luxurious prizes. 3 til 5PM. Forever (now).
Afterwards I'll be joining my brilliant friends and colleagues at the newly crowned Hotel Bar of the Year, Dean and Nancy on 22. The Stefano who runs this joint is in good company with the Stefano who runs that and Maybe Sammy and more as in the same week he was awarded the peer-voted titled of Most Influential in the Australian Bar Industry. They are both the funniest and most lovely people and I kinda pinch myself that I get to work with them weekly. Come raise a toast between 9 and 12.30. It's free!


Sunday September the 18th ~

I'm gonna be utterly spent after not only doing all of these gigs post the triad of Broken Hill engagements but also celebrating a double 50th at the Hollywood in the early hours of Sunday, so it is perhaps apt that the Festival of Dangerous Ideas has had the notion to book me at all.

The entire line-up is of a peerless calibre this year so it is beyond my ken to summarise even the highlights of the two days here. That said I will both publish and reference on air the sessions I feel are most worth yr while in the Diary on Saturday. If you need to plan ahead I suggest perusing the full program here.

I'll be trying to take in several events per day around all of my own commitments this weekend, then I'll tie the whole palaver up with a shapely sonic bow of dubious taste and mirthful merit at the death. That part of the experience is (naturally) free of charge and takes place from 2.30 to 5PM in the Carriageworks Blacksmiths' workshop.

Natural remedies for actual history.


Wednesday September the 7th ~

A long week of hard yakka begins in the olden days as Swingin' at the Speakeasy reanimates shellac-era songs for free between 10PM and 2AM.


Thursday September the 8th ~

The Sydney Underground Film Festival has moved on from it's past home at the Factory Theatre to the bright lights of the big smoke, kicking off a new era in Event Cinamas George St.

The Opening Night world premiere screening of I Love My Dad is book-ended by some suitably sinematic musical brackets from me - beginning at 6 and wrapping around 10.30.


Friday September the 9th ~

The Sydney Sacred Music Festival has high hopes for involving a wider community of all ages in a musical experience beyond the borders of any venue, staging a street parade - led by Sam Golding and The Glorious Sousaphonics - from 4PM this Friday arvo.

By 5 everyone will rock up to the styling surrounds of the Pratten Park Bowling Club, where I will spin an uplifting set of spirituals (possibly even joined by live musicians) til the advent of The Rhythm Hunters onstage thereafter. It's absolutely free!


Saturday September the 10th ~

Jack Off will be graciously hosted by Uncle Jonny Seymour this weekend, as I take a well-earned break to enjoy a working holiday in Broken Hill so as to to play for the iconic Broken Heel Festival.

I'm so excited to be reuniting with my old Novocastrian pal Esther, who now helms this phenomenal regional celebration of drag and diversity, centred on Esther's astonishing and iconic Palace Hotel (surely the Sistine Chapel of country pubs in this wide brown land).

If you can make it out that way (by car, bus, train or plane) I'll be spinning the climactic set of the Saturday Night Shindig from midnight til 2AM.


Sunday September the 11th ~

By sunset on Sunday I hope to have already journeyed in opposite directions to both Silverton and the (currently flooded) Menindee Lakes. I need to get back to town by 5 to kick off that evening's festivities back at the Palace for Broken Heel.


Monday September the 12th ~

The Broken Heel Festival gig I'm most looking forward to is a Monday Recovery from midday til 2.30, taking place at Mt Gipps Outback Resort.

There may even be ambient banjo songs and eccentric stories apt for the area, as represented above by Al Duvall playing live from my RPA ward down my old phone to my radio show, as I awaited surgery for a broken neck a decade back.

For me this trip is a chance to at least have my wounded wing out of a sling, though I've gotta take tender care of it for another month or two at least.

Life is a strange long haul isn't it? What a wonder.