OUTBACK MACK

It has been a little more than a year since my Aussie wife Bonnie and I arrived in Australia.  We have had a very exciting & successful year thanks largely to the phenomenal generosity of the Aussie country music fraternity, to whom we send a big THANK YOU. One of the main people we would like to acknowledge is Clelia Adams.  Clelia and I both released singles on the Canadian compilation CD ‘Hillcrest’ and were acquainted through email & a few phone chats prior to our arrival in Australia in late 2005. Since I had no musical track record in Australia, Clelia knew I would have difficulty getting in front of an audience so she gave me the fantastic opportunity to perform an opening set for each of her gigs at the 2006 Tamworth Country Music Festival – a great introduction to the Australian country music scene. Clelia showed me the ropes & thanks to her I met loads of Australia’s great players & performers many of whom kindly invited me to share their stages as a guest artist, allowing me the exposure to build my  profile. Things just seemed to blossom from there.

During 2006 we managed to finish up our new CD ‘Ride Me Down Easy’ - started in Canada, with three songs completed and the drum and bass tracks for six more in the can. We had met Bill Chambers at the 2006 Tamworth Festival and before long Bill and I were co-producing and finishing up the CD in his studio.  We are very proud of this record which was officially released at the 2007 Tamworth Festival and the reaction to the music has been extremely positive. We were lucky enough to have some great Australian contributors to the recording. Bill Chambers did a fantastic job on lead, dobro, lap steel & slide guitar: Michel Rose on pedal steel: Simon Johnson on bass: Katie Brianna, harmony vocals: Justin Brady on harmonica & mandolin.  Justin Brady is a multi-instrumentalist (harmonica, mandolin & fiddle) from the Aussie band ‘Things Of Stone And Wood’ who I also met at the 2006 Tamworth Festival where we became friends and continue to do shows together. Throughout 2006 I was lucky enough to perform at festivals and at my own shows up and down the east coast from Malacoota in the south to Gympie. I was also thrilled to be invited to go to Western Australia to play in Bunbury. I’ve seen many beautiful & interesting places in my great Australian adventure & have had the privilege of getting to know & perform with some outstanding, world class Aussie musicians.

2007 started out with a great time at the Tamworth Festival - our gig at the Southgate Inn being a highlight. We were lucky enough to score one mighty fine band which included Michel Rose (pedal steel), Brad Bergen (Guitar), Mal Lancaster (drums) and Simon Johnson (bass).  It was an honour to play with these talented musicians who really understand & appreciate what I call ‘Country’. THANKS DUDES!!! My friend & Tamworth legend, Wanita also joined us for one of her fantastic vocal performances. Wanita is an incredibly talented singer/performer and she certainly brings that “IT” factor to the stage. Later in the festival, I was lucky enough to get to sing with Wanita at her famous Albert shows.

I would like to thank Bill Chambers and Stuie French for their kind invitations to join them on stage during their respective shows at the 2007 Tamworth Festival.

To be associated with musicians of the calibers of Bill & Stuie is a total knockout.

Thanks again to everyone who generously made me feel welcome in Australia!