Off The Record

One of the stars of the Way To Blue: The Songs Of Nick Drake concerts spoke to Brian Wise after the first two of three shows at the Melbourne Recital Centre in November, 2011.

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Brian Ritchie, member of the Violent Femmes and The Break and Curator of Hobart's MONA FOMA Festival, talks about the festival, its history and the highlights of the 2011 program. (January 14 - 23). Full details are available at: mona.net.au

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Chip Monck worked as lighting director on the Rolling Stone' tours of America in 1969 and 1972 - two of the most infamous tours of all time. The STP tour of '72 resulted in several books, the never-released film Cocksucker Blues and the concert film Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (now re-released on DVD via Shock Entertainment).

To celebrate the DVD release of Ladies & Gentlemen, Chip came into the studio to talk about his time with the Stones during that famous era. He also reveals why he didn't make to Australia with the band for the 1973 tour. Before he met the Stones Chip began his career in Greenwich Village and went on to work at the Monterey Pop festival and at Woodstock. After the Stones he went on to work with a huge array of other big names, including Bette Midler (and The Pope). Chip now lives and works in Melbourne, Australia.

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Mavis Staples began her singing career in 1950 with her father and sisters in The Staples Singers. The group became one of the most successful gospel groups of all time and were inextricably linked with Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement.

Mavis released her eponymous debut album on the Volt label in 1969 and has released at least a dozen since, with her latest - You Are Not Alone - being produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy.

Mavis will be appearing at Bluesfest 2011. (www.bluesfest.com.au)

I caught up with Mavis recently by phone while she was at home in Chicago.

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Peter Noble is the Director of Bluesfest, Australia's premier roots music festival, held over Easter at Tyagarah, near Byron Bay in NSW.

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Paul Weller’s latest tour featured songs from his most recent album Wake Up Nation, one of his most acclaimed for years. In this interview we talk about the album and other aspects of Weller’s career.

Paul Weller appeared at The Forum, Melbourne, on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 26 & 27, 2010.

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Sharon Robinson has been a songwriting collaborator with Leonard Cohen for the past 30 years; and she also sings in his touring ensemble. She won a Grammy in 1985 for her song 'New Attitude,' recorded by Patti Labelle and her songs have been recorded by Aaron Neville, Diana Ross, Don Henley, Randy Crawford and Roberta Flack. Prior to teaming up with Cohen, Sharon worked with Ann-Margret in her Las Vegas revue (she talks about this in the interview).

In 2008 Robinson released her debut solo album, Everybody Knows, which included some songs she had recorded previously with Cohen (including the title). The album also includes 'The High Road,' which was recorded by Bettye Lavette for her album I've Got My own Hell To Raise.

Robinson will be back in Australia in November with Leonard Cohen's ensemble. I spoke to her by phone while the tour was in Germany in mid-August 2010.

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Glen Hansard is one half of The Swell Season and also a founding member of The Frames. Glen was at Byron Bay's Bluesfest 2010 and spoke to Brian Wise.

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Jon Cleary was at Bluesfest 2010 in Byron Bay with a new trio that included legendary New Orleans bass player James Singleton, who has recorded or played with Professoir Longhair, James Booker, Chet Baker, Zacharay Richard, Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown and many others.

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Patty Larkin recently released her album 25, celebrating a quarter of a century of recording. The album features some special guests and Brian spoke to Patty at Byron Bay's Bluesfest about the album and some of the guests.

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