NEWSLETTERS

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Gaze upon pixels in the service of sound.


Wednesday November the 17th ~

Swingin' at the Speakeasy hovers forever, ensconced in a secret sandstone cellar by the buried remnants of the Tank Stream.
Tonight, for the first time in a nigh on a decade of work down below, I will discover what lies upstairs in the Hotel. Staying so close will no doubt see me sideways. Computer says fun! Add yr mess to the mix. 10PM til around 2AM. Admission is without charge.


Friday November the 19th ~

The Allawah was likely built to cover another portal of dimensional decay.
Ostensibly I'm there to play entertaining songs at the start of the weekend. Could there be a more auspicious agenda achieved?

See/hear for yrself. Free entry. 7 til midnight.


Saturday November the 20th ~

Jack Off utilises the latest technology, pairing it with Actual Intelligence to transmit a signal that simultaneously services both our cosmic overlords and mere mortals here on Earth. 3 til 5PM. Forever.

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Celestial clockwork rings out a radiant refrain.


Wednesday November the 10th ~

Swingin' at the Speakeasy skips the light fantastic with live sounds from The Faculties Trio between 7 and 10 (with Miss Pia on the decks between sets) then my glad self til close around 2 in the morn. Dance, dine, drink and discuss. All free, always.


Friday November the 12th ~

After Justin Hemmes last-ditch rescue of Redfern's ancient neighborhood boozer The Alexandria we can at last welcome the public back to this historic location. Backyard at The Alex launches as an almost-entirely outdoor affair at this stage, making the most of the brilliant beer garden. I will be cranking up local tunes from 3 til 6PM. Bring it!


Saturday November the 13th ~

On Saturday arvo, just a block down the way at FBi Radio, Jack Off will be humbly requesting yr financial support of our volunteer-run (and funded) champion of emerging Sydney culture. After an immeasurably tough couple of years (for everybody) we hope to end the year with affirmative action so that we start 2022 in sustainable stead.

Whether yr an existing supporter who can renew now, or someone contributing for the first time, the cost is low given the utility this facility provides for us all. I'd love to thank you personally on air - not to mention shower you in prizes! Join or donate online here between 3 and 5 to be in the running.
After that extra-terrestrial effort I think I'm gonna need a stiff drink. so it's lucky that I have my debut outing at the utterly styling Maybe Sammy to play from 6 til 10PM. Pop down to The Rocks to soak up a little luxury. Admission is free.


Sunday November the 14th ~

By this stage I will be at the point of collapse, I'm just not match-fit for this level of ceaseless toil post-pandemic! If yr interested to hear the sonic manifestation of an escape from a sinking ship join me out in the fresh air between 3 and 6 as I return to Backyard at The Alex. It's free!

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Irresistible audio action for Sydney spring flings.


Tuesday November the 2nd ~

Free front bar fare at The Paddington from 3 til 5.


Wednesday November the 3rd ~

Salacious late night wiggles and heavy breaths unfold during Swingin' at the Speakeasy, the perfect place for a nightcap if yr attending the opening of the Sydney Film Festival at the State. 10PM til 2AM.


Thursday November the 4th ~

A not-so-passive reprise of my customary pose/s behind the decks at Palmer & Co. 5 til 7. No charge.


Saturday November the 6th ~

Jack Off craps on endlessly about cinema betwixt extreme musical polarities. 3 til 5PM. Forever.

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Wave hello to all the good (and bad) times you can count on several severed finger bones.


Wednesday October the 27th ~

At Swingin' at the Speakeasy, after the Faculties Trio play live from 7 til 10 (interspersed with DJ brackets from Pia Andersen), I'll spin til close at around 2AM. The entire joint was singing Unchained Melody at around that time last week, ironically shortly after spontaneously forming into a whole-venue conga line. Finally the damn dam broke. Free!


Thursday October the 28th ~

Revisit Palmer & Co the very next day for a more sedate set of empathic oddities from days of yore. Wonders never cease. 5 til 7PM, gratis again.


Friday October the 29th ~

Come the weekend I'd suggest busting outta yr domestic abode and joining me for a five-hour excursion through pop culture past and present, upstairs by the balcony of the Allawah Hotel. Kicks off as the sun goes down at 7. Free for all.


Saturday October the 30th ~

Jack Off in your face. 3 til 5PM on FBi Radio.

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How I have missed you. So much has changed. Yet our most vital elements endure, perhaps refined by such prolonged isolation from what we hold dear.

There is so much to say and share but I want to do that in person now. This long-suspended missive is sent mainly so that you'll know where to find me from hereon in. I hope that I will see you soon. Love and mercy to you, dear friends.


Wednesday October the 13th ~

Naturally my first gig back will be in the CBD basement bosom of Palmer & Co, where for nigh-on a decade I have envisaged civilisations collapsing in crisis whilst playing music borne of some of the most dire challenges of the last century.

Swingin' at the Speakeasy is obligated to return sans dancers for now but patrons can sit and share food and drinks to the tune of our profound perseverance. Entry is free as ever - and I spin from 10PM til late.


Thursday October the 14th ~

If nocturnal carousing of that nature is beyond yr ken after so many months of domesticity you may prefer to join me at Palmer & Co for the sunset shift of 5 til 7PM the next evening instead.


Saturday October the 16th ~

Come Saturday, after an unprecedented spell of 5 weeks, where I was obligated to record my radio program (for the first time in it's two-decade-plus history), I return to the FBi studios live.

Jack Off airs between 3 and 5PM. Please join us for due deference to our indomitable spirits as we farewell the worst of the pandemic and baptise the impossible to anticipate era ahead.
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After an exultant, yet exhausting, weekend - that involved farewelling the wonderful denizens of the Hotel Hollywood one night and then hosting an emotionally rich dinner/dance at Great Club the next (it was so beautiful to hear songs like Chicago and Maps on a dancefloor again) - it is fortunate that, by some absolute miracle, I at last get to travel south and experience Dark Mofo in Hobart this week.


Thursday June the 17th ~

It's looking like temperatures in Tassie will be mid-way beween the Hawkesbury (pictured top-and-tailing this edition) and Braidwood (the frozen centre). This is good news as I'm playing X-Cathedra in the Hanging Garden, which appears to be a rain-sheltered but open to the air, fire-saturated oasis.

Even just the smell of smoke transforms life for me, let alone the scent of the sea. If you are travelling to Dark Mofo please join us between midday and 5PM. Entry is free, subject to capacity.


Friday June the 18th ~

You wouldn't believe how many Fly Agaric mushrooms were beside the road (and a famous winery) when we journeyed to a sub-zero wedding reception recently.

Damn it was tempting to take either of two routes (one, surprisingly, legit). But I had work to do.

Will I behave as well, further from home, especially on my second day spinning trashed 7" vinyl and utterly unheard of emerging fare? Time will tell.

Same time. Still free. Pope Alice after me.


Saturday June the 19th ~

I'm aiming to arrive back in the big smoke to transmit signals of elemental awe on Jack Off betwixt 3 and 5 on Saturday. My aim is true!

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It's a giving thing.

Today's edition is exclusively illustrated by Liz Ham's photographs from Recovery On The Rocks part 2.
My deepest gratitude goes out to Liz for graciously co-producing both events with me  - and to every person who shared space and songs with such aplomb.


Wednesday June the 9th ~

Swingin' at the Speakeasy sees Queenie and The Cavaliers playing live for the dancers between 7 and 10 at Palmer & Co. I'll take to the decks after, til close in the early morn. Entry is always free.


Friday June the 11th ~

DJ Soup will minister to the minions of his Shire from 7 til 9 the next night, before fleeing for the Inner-West and leaving me in charge of gratis audio outreach at the Allawah Hotel. Wraps up at midnight.


Saturday June the 12th ~

After enabling a massive 3 hours of power from The Snacc Pacc by virtue of my absence from FBi last week I must no doubt lift my game this time around. Tune in to Jack Off from 3 til 5 to see what flies.

I'll be gathering and garnering strength as I get set to mark the end of a golden age of enlightened and community-minded hospitality at one of our most treasured institutions later that evening. I feel very privileged to have been the final selector resident at this establishment and will send it off in style. Sadly the sheer pressure of numbers necessitates that this will be an invite-only event.


Sunday June the 13th ~

On Good Friday we gave Great Club it's first spin around the dancefloor, mere days after restrictions on dancing lifted for the first time. The pronounced passion of the diverse folks who populated that swathe of space was a joy to behold.

A decision was taken then and there to make this a long weekend tradition. Thus we are back this Sunday for another sublime early evening experience of culinary and musical delights.

Melinda Dimitriades' Girls Gotta Eatery will be serving the hungry hordes from doors at 4. I'll play preposterous pop and utterly underground absurdities between 6 and 10 (curious parties can hear almost all of the Easter set here).

Don't even think about batting an eye at the smoke machine, it will be in full effect. Dancing Queen is free for all - but register here!

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Precious little to share beyond the fair, free air.


Wednesday June the 2nd ~

Just a solitary public gig this week, playing on into the wee hours after The Dovetails shake theirs for Swingin' at the Speakeasy.

They perform, with Pia Andersen on decks between their three sets, from 7 til 10. There's no cost.


Saturday June the 5th ~

Jack Off will be back in the hands of a special guest this week, as I'll be away to play the wedding of Alisha and Ash outta town.

Wherever you are you can catch the program live between 3 and 5 or revisit past episodes on-demand at yr leisure (here is last week's whole show - and here is a serendipitous and haunting improvised mix of a Youtube monologue by Lhasa de Sela alongside a stunning Max Richter composition). Please listen.

I want to send my love and gratitude out to my mum Mary to wrap up this week: both for every act of steadfast love over a lifetime and also for this beautiful picture she took of folks fishing at sundown on the Noosa River (which ended up accompanying the weather on ABC News up there).

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Delirious from lack of sleep and wary of AstraZeneca side-effects from my shot this morn I'm barrelling through this busy week with too few words to start.


Wednesday May the 26th ~

Traverse the slick city streets to Swingin' at the Speakeasy and discover Brad Child's Quartet playing several sets for the dancers for free from 7 til 10. I spin til at least 1AM directly after.


Friday May the 28th ~

Wash away the inertia and misery of the daily grind of living and caring and tap in to the profound healing power of memory and music.

Today sees the launch of Forever Young - a debut Dementia Disco created through the passion of Lana Zilla, the encouragement and documentation of Liz Ham and the facilitation of Betty Grumble.

I am honoured to be able to select sentimental songs of days gone by for people to enjoy and relive. If you are a carer or sufferer you are welcome to join us between 10AM and 1PM at Wattle Grove Dance Hall.

This is a free event and refreshments are provided.


Saturday May the 29th ~

Jack Off doffs our hat to Jonny Seymour for last weekend's sterling job of hosting (whilst I was up in Byron for another wedding) and gears up for only our second international guest in over a year - a man of such grace and talent he really requires no introduction. Please tune in between 3 and 5PM to hear the marvellous Marlon Williams live.
Later that evening Good Space - the astonishing cultural facility (created by Perran Costi and Cameron Little) that hosted both of our Recovery events in The Rocks - is going out with a bang.

Check this insane line-up and get cracking on tickets as all will be gone in no time. There will be hundreds of people dancing between the building, courtyard and park and I've the pleasure of playing the final 2 hours with Perran through that wicked soundsystem once more. Midday til midnight.


Sunday May the 30th ~

What things we'll have heard and seen by Sunday! How is it possible to contain such multitudes - and survive without bursting? I guess there's still time (only an aching knee as I write). JOKES (sorta).

Well either way I'm keen, as ever, to make the most of each minute, hour, day, week, month or year.

By Sunday arvo you'll find us winding down (between 2 and 5) with beings of all ages, out by the greens of the Petersham Bowlo. It's always sweet, lively, peaceful and free. As are we.