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Last updated 6th September, 2008
G'day there, and welcome back to the cyber-home of Ross Ward & Wards Xpress!
SO LONG 2008...............WHAT, ALREADY !!!???
We are well into the last quarter of 2008, yet another year flown! While I personally took (what seems now to have been) most of the year off, we were certainly busy from the start of the year, with the Thredbo Festival back in January, then a run of solo gigs throughout Vic. and Melb. for 2 months, finishing off in April with some band shows at the Mt Beauty Muster, a festival in the foothills of the Victorian alpine region.
When I finally got home, and got to take a good long breather and a look back, I realised it had been virtually seven years without a break from the road. It was a break I'd planned, and needed to take, as the time spent catching up with family and close friends has been both important and well-spent ... it's been great to be home for so long now, bag unpacked, and musically, well, I've not been totally idle there, either!!
NEW/OLD RECORDING PROJECTS..............
Sometimes, things go full circle. If you've read my bio, you'll notice mention of an album I played on back in the 70's, produced by John J Francis in Sydney's Copperfield Studios, for a singer-songwriter by the name of Aiden Nolan.The album is called 'Tales From The Sun', and there is quite a story attached to both it, and Aiden, and the attention it received overseas at the time, and the fact that it is now a much sort-after release, although it will be shortly available as a re-mastered CD, on Aiden's own label, now that he owns the rights to it.
I'll let you know when that's out (soon, I'm told), because it'll be simultaneously released with a new CD for Aiden ('No Straight Lines'), which has just finished the recording process, and was done both here and in the states, using a mix of players and studios. I've heard some of the rough track mixes, and this is a collection of great songs, 4 of which were recorded live with vox and guitar at the Opera House in '74.
These tracks, along with the new ones recorded from scratch, have been embellished to a very lush production. I was thrilled to be asked (on my return home) to once again play guitar (acoustic, electric and lap steel) on Aiden's CD, as I was back then, and let's also hope that these two great Aussie releases get the attention they deserve.
(The project has also inspired me to get cracking on my own stuff, now that I'm rested!)
A NEW CD ON THE WAY..............
I've recently started listing tracks for my next (over-due!) CD. Although it's been four-and-a-bit years since 'Transit Lounge', it's always a process, however I'm really happy with the the song selections so far, and I'm even more excited with the guests who have agreed to appear on it! I will keep you posted as ever, and I'm hoping this one will eclipse everything else we've done before, something of an 'Opus' for me personally. I also have to say how much I appreciate the continued airplay of 'TL' on Community radio! My personal thanks to the Girls and Guys who give up their time for the music!
PLEASE STAY TUNED..........................
I have a few gig's 'down south' I'll be telling you about in October, and around NYE, too!
We will be back on the road soon enough, with a new format, and a swag of shows!
A special thanks also to guitarist Nick Charles for the Rythm's mag inteview in August!
Don't forget to drop me a line if you'd like to be added to the regular newsletter, I hope all is well in your part of the world, and until next time, please keep enjoyin' the music!
Cheers,
RW
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