The Steel Guitar Forum

Next January I am realizing my bucket list trip & going to Australia (want to be there during their summer, as our summer & winter are opposite theirs)

I am going to rent a camper, as I will NOT camp out in AU since everything that crawls,slithers or swims there will kill you). I have a female pen pal there that I have never met, but she has graciously offered to be my tour guide. I plan on hitting all the major cities, Including Alice Springs & Darwin, and I know this is kinda far in advance, but I would love it if any of you Australian steel players would let me know if you will have any gigs next January, and I will try to be in your area to catch your gig as I really have no itinerary other than to just wander . Also going to try & catch Martin Cilia, AU's #1 surf guitarist, if he is playing anywhere. Also going to try & make New Zealand, too. You can message me here on the forum when the time comes.

I really don't know where you guys get the impression that Australia is full of nasties that will end your life . Yes we have all the lethal snakes here, fish that will kill you, octopus too, spiders are very dangerous. The Sydney Funnel web spider is not confined to Sydney at all but found everywhere. OK that spider will kill you. Sleeping off the ground may not save you from that one either. Check your bedding before you get in.
You may see a snake occasionally and will most likely be brown in colour. Do Not approach this snake. This Eastern Brown snake is the second most venomous snake on the planet and is seen all over the continent. Black snakes are not as bad. Tiger snakes are nasty. the Taipan is a big long brown snake. RUN. Of course the Death Adder is named with good reason. But..... Most snakes will keep away from you. (except the Brown snake that killed my dog last year at my back door. Dog killed it too)
In north Queensland do not swim in summer. Box Jelly fish will ruin your holiday and confine you to a hospital for a spell. There are few sharks in North Queensland as the Saltwater crocodiles ate most them. Don't eat the puffer fish and if you see a cute small octopus with blue rings that change colour, DO NOT pick it up under any circumstances.

Snake bite is not common. Shark attacks seem to be in the news a lot in the last few years. Just be sensible. I have an agreement with sharks: I don't go in the water if they dont go to the pub. Works fine.

Otherwise OK. (Kangaroos and Koalas are just lovely. Emus are just dumb). Enjoy your trip.

Yeah, but what about robber crabs?

The last week of January each year is Australia's largest country music festival in Tamworth NSW. It has the usual mix of has-been and wanna-be rockers but some good western swing and "proper" country can be found with a smattering of nice PSG. Hopefully the covid restrictions will allow it to go ahead next year

Never heard of Robber Crabs, Frank. But looking at them I think we can add them to the list. Christmas Island is rarely if ever visited by most of us on the mainland. It is a long, long way from Australia and actually closer to Indonesia. Who knows what happens up there!

Find out where Lucky Oceans is playing. I think he lives near Perth.

Rich, check in with me when it's closer to your trip and I'll point you in the direction of some steel players here!

PS - I've lived in the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney for 44 years and have never been attacked by anything worse than a mosquito or a small child...I think you'll be fine on the deadly creature front.

Rich:

Are you planning for a 14 day quarantine?

Darrell Criswell wrote:Rich:

Are you planning for a 14 day quarantine?

No; I have my vax card & already had the 'Rona last month, so I should be good to go.
Just heard from my friend last night & she said she thought that AU was going to be quarantined till '024, but she said she wasn't sure & I would imagine there would be exceptions.

Yes; I plan on making the Tamworth festival. Also want to visit Steve Irwin's place; I always followed his exploits.

I can identify all the nasties & crawlies; the ones that scare me the most are the funnel webs & Taipans. Definitely NOT going swimming!

Damien; I will definitely PM you about a month before I go; thank you.

Look up Lucy Oceans. He is on Facebook. Wonderful guy. I am sure he would fill you in on where to go and when and where and when he will be out and about playing, that is, if COVID hasn't totally shut things down, down under.

Any trip to Australia should include seeking out Michel Rose. Wonderfully nice man, and a beast on pedal steel.

https://www.facebook.com/michel.rose.9083

Been there twice! Have fun!

Sincerely,

David Spires

What David said! Michel is amazing! He plays with such fire! And a nice gentleman indeed!

Yes Michel is a top bloke and wonderful steel player --- he is now living on the Gold Coast, Queensland - after decades in Sydney !! you should be able to get hold of him via facebook to see what he's doing if your in that area of OZ

:-}

Rich I am jealous of your trip. I went in conjunction with The Army Band in 2000 and stayed after three weeks (red enter and top end). As a tuba player, the didgeridoo came natural and I brought back six.

I remember flies, flies, and flies-biting flies. There was no end to the flies and we had to buy one of those hats with the mesh that goes down over your face.

Also in Brisbane they let us just rent a car and off you go. Probably the single most frightening experience I've ever had in my life.

Looking forward to hearing about your trip next year.

Jon Voth wrote:
Also in Brisbane they let us just rent a car and off you go. Probably the single most frightening experience I've ever had in my life.

Looking forward to hearing about your trip next year.

Why was it so frightening? Sounds interesting!

Having to drive on the other side in a car with the wheel on the other side as well!

In a fairly big city right out of the gate. Pure craziness!

Jon Voth wrote:Having to drive on the other side in a car with the wheel on the other side as well!

In a fairly big city right out of the gate. Pure craziness!

One of my favorite scenes from a movie is in European vacation where Chevy Chase is told my his wife "You are on the wrong side of the road" and he says "I am on the wrong side of the car".