A veritable feast for the eyes and ears this week. The panel I partook in regarding modern festival culture can be seen on The Mix via iview. It begins around 12 and a half minutes in and is surprisingly entertaining viewing. Peruse music missions below!


Tuedsay February the 5th ~

Directly after a mystical concert experience with a fabled Estonian Choir and the ACO playing Pärt down the road I'll spin some ancient atmospheric audio at Palmer & Co from 10.30PM til around 2 or 3AM. Free


Wednesday February the 6th ~

This week Swingin' at the Speakeasy features our marvellous matriarch Pia Andersen and her Combo live between 7 and 10PM. Thence yr saddled with me til around 3. Dress fancy, even though it's free


Friday February the 8th ~

Friday will be a tonic for me and all in attendance I hope. At last an energetic and egalitarian approach (rather than another dire corporate devolution) has manifested in a key Sydney pub.

The Duke (just up the way from the Enmore Theatre, on the same side of the street) recently re-opened under the auspices of Jaime Doom and a few other key cats - who originally revitalised The Forresters, The Norfolk and the Oxford Tavern (before flogging them for a mint to a Melbourne mob, who've since struggled to maintain quite the same humour in hospitality and thus have begun to divest).

Jaime has long been a champion of musical diversity and on the way to Lily Allen last night I was stoked to see the DJ booth has now had a chunky NO REQUESTS decal emblazoned along the front. Fuck yeah! Get along between 9PM and 2AM as the weekend really kicks into gear and take a trip through time and space with a million new best mates. It's free!


Saturday February the 9th ~

Saturday's Jack Off remains a mystery as yet. Mooted guests exist yet I'm tempted to clear the decks so as to bang out some more bizarre beats and pieces. We air, as ever, from 3 til 5PM, on FBi Radio.

Afterwards I'm happy to be headed east again, this time to play a private birthday party in Coogee.

Sunday February the 10th ~

Lastly I'll ascend to the skies, a week earlier than usual (we are hatching a big bill for Fair Day next Sunday), to spin a splendid set of sunny tunes at Imperial Up. Join us between 3 and 8PM for motion and music, food and fancy drinks. It's entirely free - and 5 til 7 is an extended happy hour too.

This notoriously visually cagey cat has been cajoled into going on telly today, so I'm racing to write!


Wednesday January the 30th ~

In between the shooting and screening I've a serious amount of musical mixing to do - beginning with the usual 5 or so hours from 10PM for Swingin' at the Speakeasy. Mary Heart's band are live til 10 from 7 so get there early to cut a rug. It's all free!

Thursday January the 31st ~

I'm back at Palmer & Co the next day - tryin' to make hay after my week away. I pledge to play sultry songs for smokin' lingerie lasses and the rivetted workers who watch them. 10 til 3 and free again.


Friday February the 1st ~

By Friday I'll be casting a wry eye as the pace picks up above the Marly Bar - relaying yet another free 5 hour set - from 7PM til midnight.

Saturday February the 2nd ~

Saturday appears deceptively simple, if not entirely innocent. First a rare guest-free edition of Jack Off between 3 and 5PM on FBi Radio.

Listen back here if you missed the sublime live performances by Luluc and Roger Knox last week.

Afterwards I've a small private birthday party for a mate in a Kings Cross gallery. Pry and fry!

Sunday February the 3rd ~

Come Sunday I'll bounce over to Laneway Festival for my annual set in their PIP Bar. If yr heading to the Sydney College of the Arts at Callan park - and have access to the cool and hallowed space within - you'll hear me spin there from half three til 5PM.

Oddly enough this almost exactly coincides with the initial airing of the aforementioned television show - where I was imported as a 'festival veteran'. True, there have been a few. I'm grateful to all of them for showing such ardent opposition to ageism!

Writing from across the ditch in Aotearoa today. Got a gig in the main town square of Auckland tomorrow - then I fly back home on Invasion Day.

There are many differences here, most for the better, though the worst white behaviour remains.

As the poster-nations of 'Western Civilisation' (the US and UK) teeter on the brink of intractable, as-yet-undeclared, civil wars - bred equally of arrogance and apathy - it's apparent that evil continues to prevail on this corroded old globe.

In the face of sinister violence and manipulation those of us with more empathetic aspirations do harder yards, striving through the incremental process of creatively building consensus.
Some would say we're pushing shit up hill - and let's face it we may not prevail - but it's better than letting it slide. We wake, we clean, we remake.

Friday January the 25th ~

Long-term readers would know my love of this country - and recall almost-annual pilgrimages to play here.

I've come early to visit recent-returnee Rich (who used to run my fave bar ever, Mighty Mighty in Wellington) and family. They've traded Bondi for the Bay of Islands - taking a huge turn from city life by purchasing a jet ski tour business in Paihia.

Having always found the bogan tools that ride those things such a hideous turn-off it has been bizarre to find myself stunned by the speed and freedom they provide out on the water.

On my first day here Rich ponted out the headland where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed and I ducked over for a closer look at this beautiful historic site. I've always been impressed that any treaty was signed here - yet since researching further I've discovered that it was followed by countless betrayals. A bitter duplicity, so typical of the way colonial power manifested across this planet.

I'm not sure how these threads will knit together when I play a four hour set from 5 for Auckland Live in Aotea Square tomorrow. It's a very central and public performance, happening for free at the beginning of a long weekend. Hopefully it will be faithful and fun - stirring soles and souls.

Saturday January the 26th ~

There will be scant hours for sleep prior to a dawn flight back - and after a reset at home I'll be broadcasting a vital counterpoint to the pathetic posturing of our thwarted bogan nationalists.
In this endeavour I'll be joined by sublime and sensitive expatriates Luluc - who have kindly deigned to come in and play for us after their sole Sydney gig on Friday evening.

They will be followed by a rare return visit from indigenous icon: the Koori King of Country, the Black Elvis - Roger Knox, fresh from his 2.40PM set at Yabun in Victoria Park.
Jack Off airs from 3 til 5PM on FBi Radio.

Directly afterwards I'll be hopping the nearest cab to Bondi Beach, where I will stir as much original indigenous music as possible into a sweet and subtle cross-generational set on the balcony of Hotel Ravesis between 5.30 and 8PM. Entry is free.


Sunday January the 27th ~

Lastly, my swim-sodden feet will trudge towards the verdant pastures of the Petersham Bowling Club - seeking to conjure a communal respite for people of all ages prior to their weekday routine resuming.

Find us all there, soaking up the cool breeze by the greens, from 3 til 6PM. It's always free.

We began this year by going back to the future on Free Broadcast Incorporated. If you wanna hear direct from one one of the few people (beyond the founders of the proposed Universal Power World Society) to have seen the infamous (now-completed) Western Sydney abode above listen back here.


Wednesday January the 9th ~

Too much gothic golf laid me up in bed from Saturday on, after quite severely injuring my lower back.

I'm mainly mobile again though - so consequently you'll find me christening this year's first Swingin' at the Speakeasy tonight from 10PM (directly after Wes Pudsey and the Sonic Aces and DJ Pia Andersen) til close at around 3AM. Palmer & Co is always fabulous fun - and forever free.

Friday January the 11th ~

As Friday night falls the s(l)ick sport continues - with a one-off return to deejaying up on the smokers' balcony of The Rose, so as to entertain a ridiculous retinue of reprobates celebrating the umpteenth birthday of local music-man Le Stoltz.

It's a private party in a public place, so crash it! Will be far more wild than a regular night in Erko I can assure you - and the sounds I spin between 7 and 11 will be pumped throughout all levels of the joint anyway. Like everything this week, it's free!


Saturday January the 12th ~

On Saturday I'm honoured to be welcoming one of Earth's most sublime harpists to the FBi studios, as Mary Lattimore joins us all the way from LA.

Mary is performing three concerts at the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre for Sydney Festival, where her harp will be amplified via speakers submerged in the pool, so attendees will literally be swimming in the sound she creates.

These events are long sold-out so do not miss this precious opportunity to hear from a consummate artist, live on Jack Off between 3 and 5PM.

Afterwards I'll be experimenting with an even-broader-than-usual sonic pallette as I play a free five-hour-long set from 7PM upstairs at The Marly.

Sunday January the 13th ~

Sunday affords an ideal context to experience another warm and sunny weekend, with the Petersham Bowling Club open again for 2019.

I missed the chance to settle in by the greens with songs for all and sundry in December, so I'm stoked to be performing on the first Sunday of the year.

Bring yr dogs, yr kids, yr mates and kick back with some of their ever-rotating tap beers. It's a great chance to relax and relate amongst a heartening slice of our people. Hope to see you there!

Ice-cold options to keep you cool through what's left of this heatwave, from this year til the next.


Tuesday January the 1st ~

Start 2019 high on (a) high - with another of the Imperial Hotel's infamous day-after-the-night-before Hung AF parties.

Doors to this rooftop paradise open at midday. Entry is free. Happy hour(s) kick in from 3 - when I begin to spin my 5-hour-long set.

The forecast is mercifully slightly cooler. There are air conditioned indoor rooms and umbrella-shaded rooftop spaces to choose from - all of which are linked with quality sound. See you there!

Friday January the 4th ~

Ascend the stairs again on Friday evening and you'll find me playing Upstairs at the Marly (previously known as Miss Peaches).

Once again there's the choice of indoor air con or a beautiful balcony with a view of King Street's busiest corner. Half 9 til midnight. Free!

Saturday January the 5th ~

Jack Off begins the year with a bang, fizz and warped wail as the ultra-accomplished David Chesworth joins us to play a few of his 50 Synthesiser Greats live in the studio between 3 & 5.

Whatever yr up to this week I wish you peace, prosperity, health and happiness.

Take care out there!

A healing retreat for silly seasonal hysterics.


Wednesday December the 19th ~

It's the final Swingin' at the Speakeasy for the year and we're going out with a bang! Mary Heart and band will be tearing it up live from 7 til 10 with Pia Andersen on the decks between sets.

Thence you've my malarkey from 10PM all the way til at least 3AM. Shit has been getting cray cray down at Palmer and Co. of late. If you wanna cut loose mid-week in Sydney this is yr last and best chance for 2018. As ever, it's utterly free!


Saturday December the 22nd ~

Our final live guests for the year on Jack Off are up there with the best yet.

First we will hear a new collaboration between Dean Manning and Stella Mozgawa - then we welcome both Darren Hanlon and Kankawa Nagarra (Olive Knight) to the FBi airwaves.

Olive is a respected elder from the remote WA community of Wangkatjungka and this is her first tour of the east coast. I can't wait to hear her raw and soaring gospel songs ring out over Sydney and surrounds. They will be a spiritual tonic, gracefully countering the capitalist mania that consumes community each Christmas.

Soon afterwards I'll be sailing through uncertain waters to Misfits in Redfern. The last year or two as a resident there has been a real pleasure - and I felt it was building towards being a more integrated hub of conviviality as time went by. However the new manager has informed all existing deejays that we may not be a part of future programming.
So if you'd like to experience the place functioning in the same witty and warm way it has of late, best duck in this Saturday evening somewhere between half 7 and midnight. I aim to keep my signal strong - and it would certainly help to have a friend or two present during the process. Entry is free.

Whilst the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune have been flying thick and fast recently the enlightened staff and punters at The Imperial have been making life rather a delight. Sunday arvo on the roof was so much fun that I've been asked to play New Years Day from 3 til 8PM up top too.

I know we don't usually flag occasions so far in advance but it will naturally be rammed and wild so if yr planning to kick on, or just bypass the NYE bullshit by basking in the absurd energy of NYD, consider making a booking now. It's divine and diverse up there - a silver lining in the sky. Free!

Took a beautiful road trip out to Molong - over the mountains one day and back via back roads south (then north) the next. Was a little window of liberty and luck, as you can no-doubt see.

Coming home has been harsh however. Sydney's perpetual devaluation of culture continues to wreak havoc. On top of an errant NYE issue, I've just lost a valuable and promising residency at one venue due to changed management deciding to import their own crew before even listening to what we've built for the community there over a year or so thus far. Suddenly having the rug pulled out from under you at this time of year is a cruel blow.

Discussing the closure of the World Bar on ABC Local with Robbie Buck and Wendy Harmer the other day really brought home to me how much this city has devolved. During my 5 til 7PM Friday residency there almost every track I played had either been released that week or was yet to be available publicly. Most came from our city, our country. Sounds and songs from countless genres were invariably welcomed by everyone: old diggers and residents; nurses just off work; kids heading out to party.

That would simply never happen here now. Not because multiple layers of society wouldn't embrace fresh local culture though, only because of paralysing institutional timidity. Even already successful venues owned by the handful of companies that rule nightlife in Sydney largely contract further and further into a handful of hackneyed hits til there is very little left to differentiate one place from another. It's a tragic abdication of ambition and representation, that patronises punters and cements our woeful reputation as a global embarrassment.

I'm still profoundly grateful to have the freewheeling career in music that I do - but dead-set it is becoming near-impossible to maintain my complete commitment to it and feed a family.


Wednesday December the 12th ~

It seems fitting that I'm guiding you to a sandstone cellar above the Tank Stream under this picture of Cox's Rd, which was the first passable track built between Sydney and Bathurst. Incredibly just 30 men, later lauded (justifiably) as heroes, cleared and built it (including multiple bridges) in 6 months.

Celebrate in timeless style as Miss Pia's Swing Combo play 7 til 10, before I spin from then til 3AM. Swingin' at the Speakeasy is always free.


Friday December the 14th ~

I'll be enjoying a creative and thematic respite from the usual haunts during my annual contribution to the APRA AMCOS Xmas party, this time a garden affair in lush surrounds I've long wanted to see.


Saturday December the 15th ~

Jess Locke sings live on Jack Off between 3 and 5PM.

Thence there's a free two-hour-long seaside set from 10.30, on the ground floor of Bondi's Hotel Ravesis.


Sunday December the 16th ~

I saw constellations on the ceiling of this cave, deep below the earth. As above, so below.

So what will we discover at Imperial Up between 3 and 8PM this Sunday? Something free. Something me.

Stay cool in the uppermost atmospheres this summer.


Tuesday December the 4th ~

Ascend incrementally then mirror mountains. Enduring audio images available over an epic 8 hour set from 7PM til close at 3AM at Palmer & Co. All for free!

Friday December the 7th ~

Drift ever closer to the beyond at Miss Peaches. Mysterious live acts play three sets from 8. I'm interspersed after 9.30 and spin til midnight. Free.

Saturday December the 8th ~

Jack Off is honoured to transmit the final interview of the founding line-up brilliant Sydney band Bloods - featuring FBi Radio legend Sweetie, as she gears up for her final bracket with the band. Tune in after 3PM for emotional exchanges akimbo.

Afterwards I'll be applying myself exclusively to another huge birthday party at Lazybones.

As the final droopy blossoms of the Jacarandas fall to earth - and the white-out of summer gets set to wash Spring's vibrant colours away (til next time) I bid you a safe journey across the crevices of time.

Music and mixing in actual reality at home & beyond.


Wednesday November the 28th ~

Fire flies find the secret sanctuary that is Swingin' at the Speakeasy for live fare from 7, thence recordings of merit to move to after 10. There's food (and delicious drinks) til 3AM. Free.

Friday November the 30th ~

Set forth and boldly trek towards The Cutaway in The Rocks for the umpteenth Finders Keepers summer market. I kick off the musical programming with a two hour bracket from midday but there are multiple other selectors and live artists to imbibe whilst you peruse the wares of the makers present.

Later that evening I'll double-down on the DJ front - performing a gratuitous (well, it's free) five hour long set at Miss Peaches in Newtown. Change is a foot. Shake it before you break it!

Saturday December the 1st ~

Jack Off trudges on with terrific tenacity. Check last week's program featuring the effusive energy of The Grates for evidence - or experience Ella Thompson live between 3 & 5 this Saturday arvo.

After nightfall I'll materialise in the salubrious surrounds of The Paddington to play a gratis series of songs between 10PM and 1AM. Ingest and enjoy!

Sunday December the 2nd ~

I could be a little addled by Sunday but at least I'll be within paces of fresh, life-giving, harbour air as I do the closing set of Finders Keepers from 3.30 til 5PM. Turn up by 2.30 for Moniker live too!

 
Colourful conniptions for curious cats and that.


Wednesday November the 21st ~

Swing into the city's subterranean Speakeasy for live music by The Faculties from 7 til 10PM - then dated discs from my collection til 3. It's free!


Saturday November the 24th ~

Expand endlessly outwards in time and space, enveloping all that precedes and post-dates us simultaneously, via the magic of radio.

After the eccentric hilarity of England's Wreckless Eric last week - this time around we welcome the infectious energy of Brisbane legends The Grates.

Beyond their Tea Room and Craft Tent creativity Patience in particular continues to inspire with everything from her podcasts to social media - always keeping it real and from the heart throughout the exhausting erosion of caring for young kids.

Tune into Jack Off between 3 and 5PM for the very first live sample of the band, prior to the debut gig of their reformation tour that evening.

Afterwards wayward souls looking for a free space to imbibe music oughtta make a bee-line for Redfern's Misfits, where I'll spin a hefty free set of sweet and sordid sound from half 7 through til midnight.


Sunday November the 25th ~

Sunday unites the somewhat unlikely combo of pizza and greens via an even-more-all-ages affair at the Petersham Bowlo. Inside you'll find The 3'n'3 Jazz Combo, The Rollin' Rockers, Burralow, The Likes of You and The Sticker Club launching the latter's new album as part of It's A Family Affair.

Outside in the open air I'll be celebrating the beauty of Spring in our city - knowing that by the next time I play the last purple petals will have fallen from the Jacarandas that have dabbed vibrant colour across our lush landscape of late. It's free to come, converse, listen and layabout.