The Queen of Bungee

Early one Saturday morning, three little musos went on a trip. They travelled over mountains to reach their destination… Woodford Folk Festival. It was time to set up camp. The womenfolk were well prepared to show off their tent assembling skills, despite much mocking by the man-folk (aka Paul).

Ok enough of story time. Let me just say, I am Queen of Bungee! Even Paul was impressed with my skilled use of the bungee cord. It was a fun day. Very hot and very dusty, but fun none-the-less. We missed Mannie again, our second trip to Woodford without him, but the three of us managed to secure a great camp site and rope off a spot for Mannie’s van (should he decide to join us on our next trip up).

And of course in true Sunas style (as I am fast learning), we stopped for a quick bite, which ended up being gourmet scrambled eggs ala Paul. We were surprised to see though, that the always friendly Woodford folk had ripped us off with only 11 eggs in our carton.

Aside from a missing egg, a blistered finger and the scorching heat, we are definitely feeling the Woodford vibe and are very exciting for the festival next week. See you there!

Fiddlers.....(Sigh)

So on Sunday night we were starting on one of our last tunes to record. Bridget was in the booth this time. The pressure we put on ourselves to get it right first time is enormous, and we were all feeling pretty frazzled (Mannie & Bridge from lack of sleep, Paul because he is Paul & me because my stomach was still very frag from my party the night before).

But Bridge being the trooper she is was ready & waiting. Snaps for Bridget!

Paul sets her levels, yep, everything's good to go, so he presses the record button and we sit back and try to be quiet. 30 seconds later Bridge stops, then shakes her head at Paul. 'I can't hear anything!' Methodically (or anally - pick one), Paul checks sound levels, headphone levels, mic levels & can't find anything wrong. He gets up and hunts down cords looking puzzled and a little frustrated. Then he laughs:

'Plugging your headphones into the jack extension might fix it!'

Bridge looks down at her headphones and gives us this adorable sheepish little grin. Well; Mannie, Paul and I just about wet our pants from laughter. Bridge, being the good-natured soul that she is, held up the offending jack so I could take a picture. It broke the frazzled mood nicely, I might add

She then proceeded to nail her fiddle take!

Green Thoughts

So I'm sitting with my back to a gum tree in the Minnippi parklands in Southern Brisbane. The lake is pitifully dry, with just a smattering of ducks scratching around in the centre, but Bulimba Creek to my left is flowing nicely. It's hot, but there's a cool breeze (that Summer will soon swallow I fear). Charley is wiggling in her pram like a fat spider monkey and a couple just walked past with a cat on a lead. I'll probably see a talking crow in a moment. It's that kind of day.

Tonight I'll be laying down my guitar parts for the as of yet unnamed new tuneset on the album. Three reels, moving at quite a crack. Once they're done, then there's only one more set to do. The artwork is chosen, so all that'll be left is the final mix and the layout.

It has taken a long time, but in our defence, circumstance hasn't always been on our side. We've been close before, very close actually, but then something always seemed to happen (usually someone leaving) that caused us to stall. It would usually go something like this:

We'd have maybe half or so of an album recorded (which is many, many hours of time), then someone would leave. We'd have to set about finding a new member, whilst at the same time having to tweak our sets to accommodate the fact that all of a sudden we were a person down with gigs outstanding. So that's more time spent not recording. Then we'd find someone, and of course then they'd have the task of learning a lot (over five hours at least) of reasonably well arranged material, and that doesn't happen in a vacuum either; we all need to be there. So now not only are we not recording, but we're also not learning new material for a time. Then comes the dilemma of do we start recording with the person as soon at they're able, or make sure they're going to stay the distance first. That's a tricky one, as it's really hard these days to commit to long-term projects, and especially as some as mercurial as a band. Okay, so we start recording again, but then we come across the fact that there's a whole lot of stuff already recorded. Regardless of whether the person departed on good or bad terms, we can't really use it as they won't be around to help sell and promote it, and also, it's not that fair on the new member. So we start rerecording tracks only to find that the new person has a different style and some of the other things like guitars or mandolin need to be done again . . .

Anyway, it's not meant as an excuse, it's just the way it is, and why it's taken us so damn long.

But like I said at the beginning, only a little bit left to go. And besides, I've just told Woodford that we'll be having cds for sale so they must get done :)

Album News

We are 1 ½ tunes away from finishing the album. It will be complete by the end of this month! It's odd; we've spent such a massive amount of time recording that I don't know what we're going to do with ourselves afterwards. Possibly; Paul will play Warcraft, Mannie will inhale chicken, I'll get some sleep & Bridge will think 'What the hell have I gotten myself into??'


Naming our first album has been interesting. At first we're all serious thinking up artistic funky names and themes, but by the end of it we're howling with laughter trying to outdo each other by thinking up the most bizarre and completely non-related names J Mannie normally wins, by the way!

Some suggestions are:

Maguire This! (Bridget – formally known in another reality as one half of the Maguire Sisters)
It was a Dark & Stormy Coffee (Paul)
The Ice Queen Cometh (me)
The MaShannie Sessions (you can guess who thought that one up)

We do have a few names that we're trying out, which generally involves each of us stubbornly holding on to our individual favourite names and not agreeing with anyone else's. And NO Mannie, we're *not* calling it Rip Out Mandolin Style (the accompanying actions are hilarious). 
 

Shameful plug: Get your Mannie Mando Doll Action Figure exclusively from the Sunas site! Rock out on your Mandolin Mannie style, complete with accompanying DVD featuring inspiring mando licks and instructions on the intricacy of posing. Accessories such as chicken, big white van & hair sold separately. Batteries not included.


Mannie's gonna whinge for a year after reading this. Oh, I just love this band!

Woodford Program Launch

Wow. Woodford was simply amazing! We received a phone call from Bill Hauritz , the Festival director last Friday explaining sorry for the late notice, but were we were available to open the Program Launch Party?

Hell yes, we were!

Unfortunately Mannie was unable to make this gig due to prior commitments. There was a lot of set list rearranging to accommodate his absence, let me tell you! So Paul made up a 'road trip' playlist on the iPod, and with myself and Bridget, cruised up to Woodford on Saturday afternoon. The first thing that I noticed when we arrived was the smell. Eucalyptus. So fresh! The tent we were playing in was enormous, and people were milling everywhere. The lanterns were lit and the moon was out, which made for a magical evening. Everyone was lovely and accommodating to us, as we weren't exactly sure what was expected of this gig. Basically Bill came over and told us that we were to open the launch party, but not to expect applause as the 250 plus organisers get together four times a year and are too busy catching up to actually acknowledge any music.

I looked at the guys and we were all thinking, whoa. Tough gig.

So we started with a set of fiery reels, but for all Bill's warnings about no-one listening or responding, not only did the organisers clap and cheer, they also danced! It was a cracking gig, and we all had an absolute blast. We came off the stage after an hour, knackered and overheated but ready to do it all over again. The adrenaline was pumping for me, and Bridget looked for all the world like a carefree spirit. It was so warm onstage that her carefully straightened hair went curly (and personally I thought it looked amazing)!

Afterwards we came down to earth with a few drinks and found a table to watch the speeches. The feedback for us was incredible. Bill thanked everyone for coming, and then gave us a special mention, which was lovely. Apparently in the history of the program launch parties over the past 18 years, not one person had gotten up and danced until now. We were the first band that had done it. As everyone applauded us, I looked over at Bridget and Paul, and their incredulous expressions of delight matched mine. Not bad for a band who was a man down!

The actual program launch was just amazing. The Woodford crowd don't do anything by halves, and a procession of people with fire lanterns made its way through the tent with an alternative dancer holding the first copy of the program, which was presented to Des, the Festival President. We all lit candles and sang. I felt so humbled to witness such an incredible ritual. The Woodford people love what they do; they work hard, but they play equally as hard!

So then everyone got down to some serious drinking to the funky sounds of the Black Market Rhythm Co, who also got the crowd on their feet which was wonderful to see! Afterwards Paul, Bridget and I set up camp in the drinking tent (as you do) to play a session. The additions to our mix were incredible. We had Kenny the didgeridoo player, and a lady who came over with an enormous drum and confessed that she'd been wanting to jam with us all night :) It was a wonderful few hours, we sang, we played and people danced again. As the time came for us to depart back to Brisbane (at 3am, no less!), we left to a roar of cheering, clapping and whistling. Once again I witnessed the stunned and exhilerated looks on Paul & Bridget's faces. We drove home through dense fog, which only heightened the experience for us. What an amazing night. Bring on the festival, we look forward to seeing you all there!

Mannie's Year so Far Part One

Well it must be time once more to let my fingers do the talking! What a year it's been so far and my God it's gone so quickly. The year started off for Sunas with a trip to Tassie, which was brilliant. We caught up with old friends and made some new ones. Got to play at the Cygnet festival and were in awe of  the great music and  talent.
 
We ran into the ever impressive and all round lovely guy Mick Flannagan. Well known around the folk scene with a voice that will stop you in your tracks and stories that would put a smile on your face no matter how bad your day may have been. Couple that with a memory bank of tunes he would play for you on his squeeze box.  It's a great thing to be thought of as a friend by this man. Cheers Mick.
 
Brian Owens, thank you for your bountiful hospitality and kind words. This man could blow air into a dead man and get a tune out of him. A big Sunas thanks must also go out to Roy, Dot and Peter who were so welcoming and were spreading the word around, we really enjoyed watching Peter and Roy smoke up those strings while playing in the big ten gallon hats. Great set guys.
 
Georgetown was next! What can I say that hasn't already been covered by our habitual blogger Sarah. We all loved that festival, I really felt like a part of something very special. The Highlight of the festival was having Helen back up on stage with us, she never missed a beat. She epitomises the soul of this band, with a heart the size of a small African country her arms are always open to welcome you. Helen and Mark just eased into the great festival consuming alcohol the volume of a small African country (I just said that)
  
It was there that we ran into Kevin Doyle, a horse of a man! Like Mick Flannagan ,a lovable guy with a great talent. Kevin runs the Goulburn, NSW Fleadh Nua Festival in June each year. So get your bad self down to one. A big thanks must go out to the Pooleys who where just the best. They fed us, watered us and washed us! Oh no, I meant watched over us. I don't think I laughed so much and so hard (Rum will do that to you every time) since Paul got that Luke Skywalker haircut. We had a handful of friends who flew down for the festivals which made this trip all the more special for us and of course the trip wouldn't be complete without the click click of Alan's camera. He even managed to capture Sarah's human side. Alan, your talent is showing.  
 
Helen and Mark, we love ya. Thanks

Congratulations!

A huge Welcome to the World to Cian Anthony O'Malley, Dave and Karen's new son. Mannie is very upset that you didn't call him Mannie O'Malley as agreed, but that would be just plain unfair and would set the poor boy up for a life of ridicule and mandolin playing. And he has more hair too.

Congratulations guys! Hope to see you all soon.

Recording, Autopsies and Half Bits...

Firstly, hello! This is my first ever blog (aren’t we all excited!) and I thought it was only fitting to talk about my first ever recording.

We got together on Tuesday night so that I could have a go at some of the fiddle parts for the upcoming (and apparently long awaited) CD. I went surprisingly well for a while before making some huge mistakes. Oh well… we can’t be perfect all the time.  We had two other recording sessions and managed to get quite a bit done, despite many jokes about ‘Autopsy Wednesday’ at Sarah’s new work. This led to a recount of my early days of uni studying human biology, and my utter disgust when they placed a human leg on the table in front of us, and even more disturbingly the fact that there was only half of a bit that should definitely be whole! Mannie didn’t cope quite so well with this fact.
 
There’s not too much I can say after that. See you at the Meadowbrook on Friday :)

Tales from the Booth

Hello and welcome to another Sunas recording session, proudly brought to you by various knobbing, numerous caffeinated products and the letter 'M'. I'm in my element here, verbally taking the piss out of both boys. Hey, it's survival of the fittest in this band :) *ahem - serious now*

Bridget is in the recording booth for the very first time. Her only demands so far are fresh cut flowers & a custom built Mannie wardrobe (doesn't want much, eh!). Bridge's first take was almost flawless, save for the loud *thunk!* where her shoulder rest FELL OFF and spiked the track - gotta love that professionalism! Listening back, I honestly thought Bridge's opening fiddle sequence was someone singing. She sounds amazing. Holy Mother, she's finished her take for Beyond The Fields already! Smart caoi :)

Mannie's barking freckle has appeared several times complete with hysterical facial expressions. He looks like he's gonna give birth. We're into Cruel Sea naoi, and Bridge made the biggest most beautiful off-key fiddle blunder! Cue us: Woooaahhhay!! If you're gonna bugger it completely, do it LAOUD, dammit. And thus we shall take thine mickey, for we are Sunas, Masters of the Mock. This is the Nuala, signing off until next time . . . :)

Blog-o-rama

Ok, this is gonna be a huge blog, but I have lots to say, so I order everyone to get comfy.


To update everyone since the last time I blogged, I'll start off with Kate Rusby. Her new album Awkward Annie is wonderful and incredibly melancholy (similar to Underneath the Stars), but not in the usual sense of Kate's style. She lost two close family members in the last few months of making this album, which has flavoured this album a little darker, understandably.

Musically speaking though, it's stunning. Kate's brother Joe provides backing vocals, and anyone who's heard my sister Hailze sing with me at past gigs will understand how sibling's voices just seem to *match*. So 'High on a Hill' is a definite favourite of mine for that reason, as is 'Planets'. Also the beautifully lilted story song 'The Old Man' and at Jennifer Saunders's request, Kate's cover of 'The Village Green Preservation Society'. I just love how Kate's brilliant Barnsley accent shapes the way she phrases her songs!

So now you've heard my two pence, I'd like to mention a few things about last Saturday's gig.

One: We've all arrived to set up as usual, and things are progressing as they normally do. I'm taking the piss out of the boys and instructing Bridget to avoid Paul when setting up, Mannie is anally soundchecking everyone down to the most minute of knobbing, and then Paul stops dead with an ashen panicky face, and simply says, 'Insert Expletive Here'.

Trust me when I tell you if Paul says something with that intensity then things have gone *drastically* up the creek.

No bodhran! Yes, he actually forgot his bodhran!! Could he gig without it? A quick check of the set list indelibly placed the bodhran in the Must-Have-For-Gigs column, so 40 minutes before we were due to begin I threw my car keys to Paul and ordered him to go home and get the bloody bodhran.

So, ten minutes before the gig is due to start and no Paul in sight, Mannie sits across from myself and Bridget with a set list, nervous, but sets a smile on his face and dictates what we'll start with.

For those who are interested, we started with Maid of the River into Maggie's Pancakes and then were halfway through Perfectly Comfortable, 15 minutes into the gig when Paul walks in bodhran in hand, with a very relieved and sheepish expression on his face! :) He also mumbled something along the lines of 'if you get a speeding ticket I'll pay it'.

!!!!! My poor car!

(Note from Paul: it moves okay once it gets a good head of steam up. It reminded me of the train from the end of Back to the Future III)

Two: Welcome back Ben! It's so good to see you back home :) Loved the frog-in-a-blender dancing, Mannie was laughing so hard he nearly coughed up his spleen! Welcome back also to Tony, Kimmi, Amber, Shane, John and Paula :)

Three (last one, but no less important!): I have to say a huge congratulations to Bridget, who has proved to be an invaluable asset to this band. Case in point: When we played Ready for the Storm. This song is always a crowd pleaser, and I love how the ending depends on a musical yet continous performance from our fiddle player. As we began layering the tune after Storm, The Gael, I once again lost myself in the music. Sometimes I come back to earth briefly after I finish my parts before disappearing again. This time I actually opened my eyes and looked at the audience.

I was absolutely *amazed*. The entire pub was stock still, their attention focused on Bridget, who was in her own melodic world, playing so beautifully. As Paul and Bridget finished playing, there was a beat of silence and then the audience went crazy. She did a brilliant job, I was so proud!

We played our gig on Sunday afternoon for Thomas Kenealy at the State Library, on the terrace. It was bloody hot, but the afternoon breeze was lovely and soothing. My wonderful sister Hailze was performing with us as well, I've really missed singing with her. The good part was that Tom liked us, so we breathed a sigh of relief after his lovely acknowledgement! A big hello and huge thank you to the lovely Sebastian Flynn who was our information source of the day (and thanks for the car park & letting us out at the end of the day!), and to John of the *delicious* catering - I can still taste those beautiful lemon lime tarts & apple fig crumbles. What an interesting unforgettable gig :)

So next up for us is Sharon Shannon tomorrow night! *happy dance* For me especially, because Mike McGoldrick, uber flute player is touring with her! And then our gig at the Meadowbrook Hotel this Friday 5th October, from 6 - 10pm. We look forward to seeing everyone there, your support is invaluable and greatly appreciated.

PS, this was something we had been talking about for ages but hadn't had a chance to do anything about until now, but we'll be releasing a monthly newsletter soon. The actual date hasn't been decided as of yet, but we'll keep you all posted.

Currently listening :
Kate Rusby - Live from Leeds
Release date: 29 June, 2004

Tasmania

And in some more smashing news, we've been invited back to Hobart next year as guests of the 2008 Fleadh Ceol which takes place over the weekend before St Patrick's Day. More news and specific times etc as soon as we get them.

Listening to: 'Like a Hurricane' by Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Woodford

We are very very pleased to announce that we'll be performing at this year's Woodford Folk Festival. Dates and times as soon as we can conform them :)

Better get cracking on that album...

Listening to: Let me be (live) by Xavier Rudd

Recording Again...no really....

It's been an interesting night! We're back recording. No, seriously - we are! One bonafide, complete and shiny Súnas album will be launched by the end of the year :)

Our everchanging lineup has delayed things somewhat, but now Bridget is on board we're back and raring to go. This afternoon the boys and I headed back into the studio to lay the beds down for our new song Travelling Man. After the first pristine take of Mannie's bouzouki track we had a listen back and could hear an odd thumping sound between picked notes. Mannie looked like he was going to vomit, and informed us that the noise was his pinkie finger hitting the side of the bouzouki and he couldn't change his playing for this song. But then he brightened and ran downstairs to the first aid kit, returning with a roll of surgical tape and a handful of serviettes. I sighed. Mannie was planning on mummifying his pinkie to 'muffle' the sounds. After a few great takes we could unfortunately still hear the pinkie 'servi-thumping'. Paul, moderately concerned at this point, devised a plan of lending Mannie his clean hanky to muffle the servi-thumping. I've never seen anything more comical in my life, Mannie looked like a maimed soldier bravely struggling through the pain of an enormous white bandage. Amazingly, it worked, and Mannie's final take sounded beautiful sans the thumping. I had to take a photo of Mannie's 'injury' in all its glory! Sets the scene nicely, I think :)

Watch this space for more recording gossip. And believe me, there will be!

Listening to: The Pearl by Harold Budd & Brian Eno

More Changes

Hello avid Súnas readers! I'll start off with bad news/good news. We are sad to inform everyone that due to uni & teaching committments Renee has decided to leave Súnas. We'll miss ya Ren, & wish you all the best in the future :)

Fortunately Ren's place has been ably filled by our newest member, the lovely Bridget Masters. Bridge has already proven herself by taking the piss out of Mannie and playing a gig at the Irish Club having only been a member of Súnas for one week - moreso because I was sick with the Black Lung & could barely stand up, letalone sing! Go girl :)

For you eager gig attendees, you can catch Bridget in action with us at the Meadowbrook Hotel this Friday 14th Sept from 6-10. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Listening to: Bidh Clann Ulaidh (Men of Ulster) by Alasdair Fraser & Tony McManus

Timb's Track

Today changed my life.

It's 8pm, and I'm sitting in Helen's living room trying to work out what I'm going to say, because I have a mountain of words and images building up in my head. I have actually made up a playlist to help me write about my day.

Here are the tracks:

Reflections in Suspension - Steve Roach
Paddy Fahy's Jig/Sean Ryan's Jig - Martin Hayes
Lament for Frankie - Solas
The Lark Ascending - Ralph Vaughn Williams
Dear Irish Boy - Eileen Ivers
The Green Place - Steve Roach

Today a friend of Helen's and Sunas, Alan, invited me to go hiking in the Tasmanian rainforest. I immediately accepted, and my trusty boots made an appearance once again. Helen dropped me off at his place, and off we went. I asked where we were going. A place called Timb's Tracks, he replied, and then proceeded to tell me about the logging in Tasmania and the impact it will make on the state.

Now anyone who knows me knows I detest politics. I hate voting and couldn't give a shit about politicians. They're a bunch of whinging girls bitching and backstabbing and making big promises they never keep. Why would I want to support that?? No thanks.

But when we arrived at Timb's Track located an hour west of New Norfolk, politics came up and slapped me in the face. Big signs about Howard and Lennon in each other's pockets. Tree sits and lookouts and protestors's hangouts. I'd heard about the logging problems, but being a political ignorami and a Queenslander this was very confronting. The section of forest Alan was taking me into is officially public land which is declared to be clearfelled come January next year (clearfelling means to clear forests of trees by use of chainsaws and other machinery for woodchipping, then burn the remainder by helicopter dropping napalm, leaving no useable soil to grow anything for years). To add insult to this, the old-growth forest which is to be clearfelled will end up being paper in Japan because Japan have protected their own forests against clearfelling!

Well if that lovely description wasn't already an eye-opener, then what happened next was. We entered Timb's Track, and Alan chose that moment to tell me we were illegally tresspassing an exclusion zone and could be arrested if caught. I hadn't seen a soul, even the protesters were away for the day. I kept that in mind as we began making our way into the forest.

I have *never* seen anything so beautiful in all my life. I was instantly and humbly reminded how insignificant I am on this planet, and that I'm a part of something so much bigger. Eucalyptus, sassafras and myrtle trees towered above us. The trippiest part of this was seeing all the snow there. I've only ever been in humid tropical rainforests, so wearing two pairs of woollen socks and a weatherproof jacket in a cold snowing environment certainly changed my perceptions somewhat! There are ancient ferns which live there. Ferns which only grow one centimetre per year. There were some enormous ones which were quite possibly 800 years old. And *everywhere* I saw strange red markings on the trees. I asked Alan what these were for, and my heart broke when he replied that the logging companies had marked them for destruction to build a road through the forest to begin the clearfelling (see my Tassie photo album, I only took a few of the many red markers).

The wind was blowing, but it was so calm and luscious down on the forest floor. There was so much room to walk around. Apparently this is the problem. The undergrowth of the Styx Valley is home to many species of endangered moth and fungi. Once this is napalmed, they're gone forever. The forests will eventually grow back in an estimated 80 years, but the results will be that the new undergrowth will be so dense that no-one could possibly even *walk* there, letalone organisms living there!

We eventually came across a tree-sit *50* feet up in the treetop. The protesters were away today, so it was empty. Alan affectionately refers to them as the ferals, but these people are anything but. They aren't dole-bludgine spliff-smoking tree-hugging hippies. These people come from around the world to protect forests. They take holidays from their jobs to come and support something they believe in. I was dumbfounded as to how they got that thing up there, and my respect for these
people deepened.

The part which people misunderstand the most is that the protesters and Green politicians aren't protesting to stop all forest logging, only the old growth forest, which has never been logged. Nothing can be salvaged from this. Instead they ask for the logging companies to undertake sustainable logging of dense forests which were cleared by settlers 100 years ago.

Alan being a photographer, decided to take some pics while the wind had died down. The silence was indescribable, the closest word that comes to it is heavy. I know many people say this, but I felt like I was being watched. To quote Legolas from The Two Towers while he was in Fanghorn Forest, 'This forest is old; full of memory'. Alan took a 360 degree shot of me in the forest, in my daggy jeans and boots looking up into the light. My soul *felt* beautiful being in there. It truly lends itself.

There are some things that you can't put in a picture. One is the smell. It was like I was breathing fresh air for the first time, so crisp and clean and pure. The sounds were soothing. Rustling of the trees, small birds chattering away, but an odd silence, as thought the forest knows of its fate and is waiting with baited breath. And the temperature. Not freezing, but cold. Cold enough to retain the snow in the undergrowth, and the forest floor was cold enough to numb my feet through thick rubber soles and two pairs of woollen socks!

At that point in time it clouded over and started to rain, so we put the cameras away and off we went again. It's not all glamorous and romantic in there - it was wet and cold and very muddy. I was covered in mud and water, and my boots took a total beating! The funny thing was, numb feet aside, I didn't care. My eyes hurt from so much to take in. And the *colours*. So many muted greens and browns mixed with the unblemished patches of white snow. I instantly fell in love with the place, but it will most likely be gone by the time I go back down to Tassie in March next year.

The protesters won a small victory in that the logging has been delayed due to their efforts of tree-sitting, blocking the roads and the upcoming federal election. However, it's a hollow victory, because they logging companies can't do anything as the forest is too wet, so they were happy to agree to their demands and wait - it's what they want. As soon as the election is over it will be business as usual.

I feel like I want to cry from what I witnessed today. The forest isn't hurting anybody, yet the amount of legalities and money being poured into a campaign to clear it is utterly *staggering*. The most disgusting factor in this situation is if the government run into a legal problem which may take them to court over this matter, they simply change the law to overcome the problem. I am someone who cannot stay silent from seeing such greed with my own eyes. I am not an instantly converted greenie, but I don't want to be a political ignorami, either.

What a powerful day. I'm looking forward to the music that will pour out of me once I clear my head of the images and thoughts. I feel like I've watched a movie backwards.

What a wonderful wake-up call!

Childers by Hayley

Well Childers. Where to begin….

First of all, Sarah is right. (For once hehe) The seats in the back of the van are not conducive to long trips. After a while, I forgot what it was like to feel you had a bum :P But it was a fun-filled four hour trip despite that. And, it was Flook I was bopping along to, not John Butler. The boys were in fine form, we laughed and talked, and I had a great time catching up with Seh in the back. The trip was great.

We stayed with Jan and Col Perrin in Bundaberg all weekend and we couldn’t have asked for a lovelier couple to have welcome us into their home! They were gems, truly. Our first gig wasn’t till 4:30pm on Saturday so we just settled in and walked around, checking out what there was to see in Childers.

So then we did our first gig at the Cultural Centre Stage. I have never enjoyed performing so much! It was fabulous. Kristy was walking around advertising the EP and promising that we would sign them for free. Sure enough, we sold heaps! She did an awesome job. Thanks Kristy! Love your work :) We did another gig at 7:00pm which was fantastic as well. I particularly enjoyed singing Dreams and Galileo. Mine and Seh’s harmonies were really together. And it was almost a full moon, which was beautiful.

The next morning our first gig was at 9:30am. It was a gorgeous day, quite warm but still breezy. The festival was in full swing with the main drag being shut off for HEAPS of stalls. There were heaps of people already! If I had any choice I wouldn’t be up before noon, but it was a great morning despite some technical difficulties with sound. If it hadn’t been for our brilliant sound team, we wouldn’t have been able to perform to the best of our abilities. They were awesome! We sold all of the EP’s and were seriously considering auctioning off the last one as there were so many hands up for it! Lol It was a pleasure to sign them for all the people, who were lovely and supportive. It was a first for me as I’ve never sign my autograph and I could definitely get used to it! We were on a high after we finished our noon gig and walked around the festival for a while, checking out stuff. We saw a Sand Mandala completed by some monks of the Dalai Lama. It was so cool! The intricacy of it and the detail with just sand was unbelievable. Also the band bought me the coolest and most beautiful scarf made out of coloured, shredded bits of wool, satin and silk. I was so glad to have a memento of such a wonderful experience. Thanks guys! I love it :)

One of the highlights of the festival for me was seeing Walisuma no less than four times! They are an incredible four piece band who play music from the Andes. They play (and with much gusto and loads of talent) pan pipes, flutes, little guitars and those things that look like a bunch of nuts strung together on a rope that sound really cool when you rustle them. Lol. You know the ones? Anyway, no matter how many times we saw them, they almost always slowed us in our tracks just so we could listen to their music. If you ever catch them at a shopping centre, or at a festival like this one, count yourself lucky!  And come to Childers next year, it won’t disappoint!

Cheers. Over and out.

Ooop North

So. Childers. It was absolutely amazing :) Once again I've split my blogs into three, to cover what happened over the weekend.

Friday: I’m currently in the back of the van, it’s 10:30pm and we’re on our way up to Bundaberg to perform at the Childers Multicultural Festival. 

The first thing I was entertained with was a hysterical story Hailze told about our Nanna’s friend. She spilled coffee on her new cordless Telstra phone, then rinsed it under water to wash off the coffee. Incredibly, she then microwaved it to dry it off (I kid you not!!). Amazingly, she took this black smouldering mass back to the shops for a replacement & even more amazingly, she received a replacement, because there wasn’t anything in the manual that said not to rinse or microwave your cordless phone.

After Mannie, Paul and I finished wiping the tears from our eyes we got on with the impending drive.

It set the scene for a Sunas road trip nicely :)

We stopped at Gympie for Fat Maccas (there really isn’t any other way to explain, is there?), and are back in the van ready for the next leg. Paul is driving now, and Mannie is taking full advantage of this break by snoozing in the passenger seat with his hoodie on. He looks like a trendy monk :) Paul is blissing out to Vangelis and off in his own little driving world, while my sister Hailze is sitting next to me listening to songs on her phone and bopping her head away. I'm guessing John Butler is inspiring the bopping. I have my lovely latte, but I just can’t get comfortable back here. I’m very appreciative of the beloved van, but the seats weren’t built for long distance travel. 

We’re staying with Jan & Col Perrin in Bundaberg. We met Jan through my friend Kristie while performing up at Bundaberg North State High School a few months back. I’m looking forward to catching with Col & Jan, they're the lovliest people, and I know the boys & Hailze will get along with them famously! 

Not too fond of this sleeping vertically business - this is shite! Bring on the horizontal spaces. More later.

On the Road Again

Well I'm writing this in the near darkness of the Sunas tour bus. I'm only able to type when we tick under a streetlamp and I can actually see the keyboard. We're on the Bruce Highway, heading north to Childers for the Festival of the Cultures. Arrgh and now the streetlamps have vanished so I'm kind of using the Force here. Nope, no good. I'll have to come back later after my drive shift.

Sodding semi-trailers. Maybe there's a 10pm curfew or something, as every single one of them has screamed up behind us (and we're cruising at the speed limit here and not dawdling). They come up behind, literally so close that I can count the bugs squashed on the bull bars, then just sit there. Am I supposed to just pull off onto the dirt at 100kmh? And aren't these things supposed to be speed limited?

Anyway, enough whinging.

I had a 'moment' earlier, around midnight. I was driving along, The Waterboys whispering from the iPod connected to the stereo, under a near-full moon. The road was bordered by the indigo of cane fields, and the air was cool yet still scented with sugar (it's harvesting season too). I think Mannie, Sarah and Hayley were asleep (Renee is away in New Zealand), and it suddenly occurred to me that we were driving through the night to play music at a festival. Doesn't sound like much really, but there can't be too many better jobs going.

I wonder what the weekend will hold...?

Listening to 'Peace of Iona' by The Waterboys

A Happy Wee Dude

*IMPORTANT SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT**IMPORTANT SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT**IMPORTANT SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT*

The MaShannie is now the proud owner of a beautiful Davy Stuart mandolin.

Try getting him off the toilet *now*, Annette

Happy Birthday Mannie & a very big thank you for the gear use over the years :)

Love Paul, Sarah, Helen and Annette.

The story of how we managed to secretly have the mandolin made, shipped over then cunningly concealed within a pink ukelele will make its way to these pages soon.

Davy now has a total of five instruments in this band. A bouzouki, mandolin, Paul's new guitar & 2 bodhràns. It might be time for a sponsorship deal... :)

And we shall call it...MiniMe....

Listening to 'Mo Bheannachd Dhan Bhàillidh Ùr' by Julie Fowlis

The Cider Monkey Strikes....

Just a quick tease for all my fellow band mates back in the land of the scabby cider (I'm over in Great Britain at the moment). This stuff is made by an amazing little independent brewery that also makes my favourite beer. Aged in 100 year old oak casks... Should I bring some back for you...mebbe. hahahaha



Listening to "The Green Place' By Steve Roach.

Recording Again

We're currently at Blackberry Lane studios to update the EP for promo work, and Ren is itching to get back in and finish her take. I think it's because she likes playing in the dark! Her fiddle playing is absolutely stunning.
We're all just blissed out here :)

Some statistics you might be interested in (NOTE: Updated every minute depending on particular bodily functions):

Coffee breaks: 2
Munchie breaks: 1 (due to Paul forgetting to load the MAIN TRACK onto his laptop, so he had to run home and transfer it on - way to go!). Mannie is happy because I run out and come back with Cheezels for everyone and a Whopper for him.
Alcoholic drinks: NONE! But plenty of Coke to go round, resulting in burping competitions between myself and the boys (I win), and Ren looking rather stunned.
Barking spiders: 3 (from Mannie, looking straight at me with a defiant 'wot?' facial expression that made me choke on a Cheezel in wheezing laughter).
Barking spiders from the Arse of Death (aka Paul): 2 - standing right next to me and grinning in satisfaction as I type this. Manky bastard.
Recording criticisms from me: A few. Ren is incredibly patient. Apparently I'm incredibly anal.

It's 11pm, and Mannie is feeling 'knockered' as usual. The last time Mannie was tired he fell asleep in the recording booth and started snoring, which resulted in the most hysterical audio track we've ever recorded. This time Mannie is just asleep in a chair. Tried to take a photo, but he's become jammy and wakes up every 20 seconds. They learn so quickly. We take no prisoners in this band!

It's now 3am, I'm home and utterly 'knockered'. Ren put in a fantastic effort tonight. Go girl :)

Goodnight from the wee tired Nuala :)


Listening to: 'The Drop of Nowhere' by Mirko Ruckles

The Zillmere Festival

Well Friday's gig went off because Renee's entire family decided to come and see us perform. It wasn't my best gig vocally (and not Hayley's either, she was sick with a cold, poor thing, but did a great job like the trooper she is), but I had a fantastic time and they made the most brilliant audience! Kudos to your lovely grandparents, Ren, they're lovely, particularly your grandmother who sang with us all night and wanted to take Mannie home (what is it with Mannie-lovin' Nannas?? Must be a hair thing). It was a late night as usual, and we were playing the Zillmere Multicultural Festival the day after.

Saturday morning dawned bright and far too early - well for me anyway, because I was woken up at the crack of 9am (scream!) by Hayley's boyfriend Graeme telling me that Hayley couldn't even get up letalone sing.

Shite.

Anyway, the boys and Ren picked me up on the way to the gig, and of course Mannie had his little esky cooler thingy full of cans of Bundy rum. Ren was having some and I laughed because I said to her, 'I didn't think you liked rum?', and with a completely straight face she answered, 'I don't', and proceeded to chug half the can down :)

The scene is pictured as normal - I enter the van hurling obscenities like the vulgara I am. Mannie is driving with no shoes like the gimp he is, Paul and Mannie are bantering as usual like the old ladies they are, and Ren was trying her hardest to act amused, but failing like the crap actor she is.

Woo, sets the scene for a FABULOUS Sunas gig!

I couldn't stop laughing at Mannie, because Paul kept razzing him about having rum before any sort of public gig. Mannie must have taken offense at this (whyso, my Eamon? It's true), because he said he couldn't go anywhere without getting pissed. This continued throughout the day - long after the small amount of alcohol wore off. Mannie kept bitching about it, and goddess help me, I laughed :)

So. The gig. Me being the muso I am, I forgot to bring a hat, so I ended up buying this fun-kee straw number. Coupled with my tie-dyed velvet dress I looked like a hippie cowgirl or something! Mannie mumbled under his breath about not being able to wear a hat because he was too pissed. It was disgustingly hot. Just before we went on the sound guy came up to me, handed me a bottle of water and warned me, 'Be careful up there, it's really warm'.

Yeah yeah, we've played in the heat before, let me up there.

Oh. My. Furnace.

We were playing in direct sunlight at 2pm in the afternoon. I managed one song and one tune before my trademark Medusa hair went up under that hat, and to hell with what the boys thought!! I have never been so hot in all my life. I was terrified Jem, my flute, was going to crack. As it was I had a hard time keeping everything in tune! Mannie, in his shady comfort, shouted to Paul that he couldn't play in the sun because he was too pissed, and I snorted into my whistle mid-play and made it shriek - good on ya! Paul
looked like he had run a marathon, his face was bright red.

The gig itself was great fun, just really uncomfortable in the horrible heat. The audience were fantastic, they really got into it. I got horrendously sunburnt. Ren has gorgeous olive skin and didn't seem particularly affected at all, until she confided that she thought she was dying up there. Crap actor indeed! Ren could spend the entire day in the sun, lucky cow! Mannie smirked at me when he saw my sunburn and said he couldn't get sunburnt because he was too pissed. I was too exhausted to punch his head in :) We all practically staggered off-stage from heat exhaustion - Paul looked like he was going to pass out. That one little half hour gig totally sapped me of whatever energy I had left - I had to go and recuperate in the back of the beloved van.

We headed back to my place for coffee and rest, and as soon as they boys and Ren left, I had a shower and fell straight into bed.

What a weekend!

Thanks to the Festival organisers for having us and for putting on such an eclectic day -despite the heat we all had a great time!


Listening to: 'Here Comes The Sun' - The Beatles

It Really Exists

I just thought I'd post these two pics of the amazing guitar that Davy Stuart is making me. Yep, this is the one that I've been on about for many years now (I'm an oddly patient person when it comes to this guitar. I figure it'll be ready when it wants to be ready). Davy is the genius behind my two tunable bodhráns and Mannie's sublime bouzouki, and makes instruments for the likes of Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Christy Moore and Trevor Hutchinson.

Anyway, it's a spruce small-bodied steel string with an English walnut back and sides, and the back really is something special. As Davy says, the pictures don't really do it justice.

As much as I am Mr Cool Cucumber Patient Man, I must admit my fingers are tingling in expectation!

(As I wee side note, I'm in the process of building a page for our instruments, as we seem to get quite a lot of emails asking after them).





Listening to ''Cerulean'', by Jon Hopkins

The Nuala Strikes Back...

It's been a while since I've blogged, and I think the girls have done an admirable job in the meantime!

Things worth noting:

In the 'Twiddling Her Frog' blog, Ren mentioned that I was staring up at the sky looking a bit dazed. That might have been because there was a massive storm brewing, and I didn't want to go inside, I wanted to watch this thing develop (which disappointingly never hit Meadowbrook at all!). Yes, I do love looking at the sky, I'm hopeless like that, but I love Mother Nature and all the wonderful things she throws at us :)

My crazy big-haired little sister Hayley has been such an godsend these past few months. Her voice is stunning, and she has given us lots of laughs. Cheers Hailze! The funniest thing people say to myself and Hailze is, 'I can't believe you're related!' Heh, neither can we!

Ren is only allowed a maximum of three coffees in a night, otherwise she starts getting really jumpy & paranoid. I'm fearing for Mannie's safety if she keeps it up! Kudos to Eric the Meadowbrook Barman (no half-a-bee in sight, I'm afraid) who makes the coffees :) The look on Ren's face when we took her to the 'dodgy servo around the corner' was utterly priceless. She was literally stunned. Must've felt like Alice when she fell down the rabbit-hole :) I can understand how dodgy servos can look like a fluro Wonderland with the attendants sometimes resembling a Cheshire Cat . . . sort of!

At the last gig Paul's new guitar pickups debuted, they sound fantastic. Keep up the harmony singing, btw, Paul! :) Poor Mannie, he'd flown in from Mt Isa that morning for work, and was understandably & not surprisingly 'knockered'. At times like this Paul or myself drive the van so he can chill out. I lent Renee my mirrorball silver glitter to outline her incredible eyes, and halfway through the gig she forgot she was wearing it and promptly rubbed her eye! Well. The panic that ensued! I half expected an ambulance to turn up at one point. But she bravely played on like the trooper she is :) And you go girl, the voice that came out of her last Friday during Dreams sounded completely different to the one we heard last time -she had practiced her head off and she sounded amazing. Bring on the songs!

Listening to ''Air/Border/Holmes' (With Corrina Hewat)'', by Kathryn Tickell

Another Saturday

The gig last night at Meadowbrook Hotel was amazing. We were like totally on fire! Like like. Sarah lent me some awesome glitter eye shadow, which was very cool. We decided it would be great if I could be on stage the whole night, so I just spent most of the time improvising, which was fun. Poor Mannie had to sit down for most of the gig cos he was so tired. And we missed you Hayley! However it gave me a chance to try singing some songs, like Dreams and Hallelujah. We spent most of the gig coming up with Irish names for my nickname. However most of the names weren't Irish at all. I think in the end it was between Megan and Ashlyn. Overall the gig went really well and I enjoyed it immensely. The highlight for me was when played Diggers. I love that song! Afterwards we sat around listening to tunes and fantasising about which new pieces we want to learn. Eric our favourite barman made us some yummy coffees. Mmmm coffee.

Listening to: Lisa Gerrard on Gladiator soundtrack

Yet Another Hello

(In her best Troy McClure voice) Hi. I’m Hayley, sister of Sarah. You may remember me from such songs as ‘Dreams’, ‘Jug of Punch’ and my personal favourite, ‘Galileo’. Being a part of Sunas for about two months now (Is that all?!), I’ve learned a few things in order to survive. Firstly, you must take the piss at every opportunity. This will gain you much respect and result in your secret ‘initiation’ into the band. Secondly, you must quote many movies, songs and generally ‘get’ anything talked about. And thirdly, learn Irish names and use them. If Venus is in the right house, you may have one bestowed upon you.

Moving on, to a gig from two weeks ago. This night we all wore black. Well, apart from my ‘non-black’ top, according to Paul, everyone else did. I happened to look up as I was chilling during one of the tunes, and my mouth fell open. It was like a scene from a movie. Like Zoolander, when you finally see the look ‘Magnum’, it goes into slow motion and everyone is like ooooh! It was like that. I was looking at a kick-ass celtic band. They looked so complete. And professional. It just looked awesome! That was also the night I remembered all the words to Beyond The Fields. YAY! Paul, why do you have to write such damn wordy songs!
Last week’s gig at the Meadowbrook Hotel, was a really good one. There were heaps of people there. We must’ve been doing something right because even when people had finished eating dinner, they turned their chairs around and sat watching us. It was awesome. Then, it came to that time of the night when everyone else had gone home, it was just us. I had the pleasure of hearing Renee do a roaring rendition of ‘Dreams’. She was great.

I’m unable to, but if you attend the gig at the Meadowbrook Hotel this Saturday night from 6-10pm, be sure to give Renee much thunderous applause from me! She deserves it This is Brona, signing off.

Listening to The Poozies! They rock.

Twiddling Her Frog

Well, here I am, the new fiddle player. Firstly, I'd like to thank the band and supporters for being so welcoming and encouraging to me. It's amazing to have the opportunity to perform with such a talented group. I'm having so much fun learning new tunes and getting to know everyone, you guys are hilarious!! Our last gig at the Meadowbrook Hotel was brilliant. Paul and I decided that we would both wear purple for this gig but when I got there Paul insisted that my top was plum. Yes plum, not purple, plum! I've been informed that he's currently taking training at the school for fashion police. Anyway before the gig I had the opportunity to learn a little about Sarah. She absolutely loves the sky. I was wondering why I saw her outside staring in some sort of daze into the distance but that totally explains it.

We began the night with some smooth slow tunes and as the night went on we cranked it up with some powerhouse tunes. Sarah's voice was incredible! I'm so inspired. We also got the chance to try out a few new tunes we had only just learnt. The crowd absolutely loved it when we played Sevens and especially Tony who came and kissed my feet!

The coffee at the Meadowbrook Hotel is fantastic, not to mention on the house for the band! Did I mention I like coffee? Well, I proceeded to drink about 6 cups of coffee throughout the night. After playing Sevens, Sarah came over and gave me a hug and with the most surprised look on her face said, oh my gawd you are shaking. I was literally shaking from having so much coffee!

By the end of the night Mannie, Paul and Hayley were high from the performance, they were busy telling jokes and taking the piss. Hayley told this ripper of a joke about fridges falling on people heads. It was hilarious. Go Hayley!! Sarah was so tired she could barely walk. I said goodnight to everyone and proceeded to head out the door, when Paul said "You can't go yet, we haven't had pie." I'm thinking to myself...pie?what the? Paul went on to tell me that after every gig they go out get pie as a way of winding down. So I'm thinking we will go to a trendy cafe nearby but No they want to go to this dodgy servo around the corner that probably sells anything but meat in their pies! Mannie proudly tells us how he can eat a whole pie in only 2-3 bites. He didn't demonstrate but I've been warned not to get too close to him when he's eating pie not to mention chicken.

The night was over but our memories will last forever. It been a great introduction to gigging. I can honestly say I've never received so many compliments in my life. I am proud to be part this band. Mannie tells me that ...gigs only get better and better, so I can't wait for our next one!


Listening to Liz Carroll - The Silver Spear/The Earl's Chair/The Musical Priest

More of That Hello Thing

Ok, firstly, welcome Renee! I have already concluded a few things about our latest orgasmic addition: Renee loves coffee & Tim Tams (gets our vote instantly!). And she's hilarious on coffee. Last week when we were rehearsing before Pat's she had three coffees and proceeded to have a blinder of a night! No bloody wonder you were so knackered at Pat's

We've already had a moment, her and I - Renee holds the world record for the smallest yet *heaviest* bag on the planet. I'm not kidding.
This bag is one of those trendy things that are the size of a small dog & tuck under your arm. So you're getting that this bag is small. Well I went to pick it up and give it to her and damn near dropped it from the weight! I jokingly questioned her whether she carried weights around in it, and she promptly withdrew a pouch which was full of change. It must've weighed at least 4 kilos!! Her explanation was that she was saving change for the parking meters. Jakers, how long is she parking for, a decade? This struck me as hysterical. Renee is safe from everything now. Heaven help someone who'd want to cross her in a dark alley!

We're gonna get along just fine :)

St Patrick's Day is always enormous & overwhelming, and this one was no different. We played Gilhooleys Albert St on Saturday. The only word I can think of to describe that gig is incredible. I have never seen Gilhooleys so packed! So we were ready to go, and had my sister Hayley & Renee as backup (on vocals & fiddle respectively). I stepped up to my mic under the new lights and proceeded to cook the gig away. Those lights are hotter than Satan's furnace. Add to that the incredible throng of people literally jammed in the pub plus a generally hot day & you've got a winner of a gig! The crowd's reaction was amazing. Our highlight was during 'Dreams' when the entire pub decided to roar out the chorus as they would at a footy match. It was the eeriest & most wonderful 'swing yer pint' moment!

We also got into trouble from one pungent Irish listener who was definitely in Camp Renee - he had a go at Mannie and demanded that we 'turn down the rest of the crap, I want to hear the fiddle player!'  Mannie complained afterward that he always has to deal with people who love everyone but him - we love you Mannie!

Despite the stress, heat & exhaustion we really did have an amazing time. Hailze & Renee were so high on adrenaline they looked like they could do that gig all over again! Huge thanks to our girls, they did a stellar job, I'm so proud of them!

Karen & Dave's party was awesome. We met their wonderful family, played tunes, traded stories & generally just wound down from the gig. I actually fell asleep for 45 minutes (thank God I don't drool!) as the last remnants of energy from the Gilhooleys gig drained out me. I was utterly exhausted.

Sunday brought us to the beautiful Bearded Dragon at Tambourine.
For all the hype & adrenaline we experienced at Gilhooleys, this gig was the opposite - a lovely relaxed little gem. We played on their main verandah to families at picnic tables. Alfresco gigs are always tricky for me, because if it's really windy I can't play my flutes! Luckily there was only enough wind to keep us cool during sets, and only one big gust toward the end. The highlight from this gig was actually after we had finished and were packing up at dusk. The sky turned all sorts of ribbony sunset colours & faded to an indigo star-smattered sky - just beautiful!

Again, I just want to add how amazing Hayley & Renee were. St Pat's throws everything at you and they handled it beautifully. Kudos to Renee especially for learning so many tunes in such a short period of time (a week!). Cheers girlies! Huge thanks simply must go to:

Petey, our loyal no. #1 fan. We've missed you, buddy, and Grant. Good to see you both.

Dave, Judy, Martin & Narelle, our wonderful support crew who provide an invaluable wealth of feedback & most importantly, drinks!

And last, but most definitely not least - Tony, aka Minion #2, who spent $50 on a cab ride to the Bearded Dragon just to come and see us! We ended up buying him drinks because we felt so guilty.

Happy St. Patrick's Day - bring on 2008!


Listening to "Meyju" by Alio Die

Introducing Renee...

We'd all love to welcome the wonderful Renee Hunter to the band. Renee is a fiddler of no small water and at the moment she is ensconced with Sarah over at Three Monekys learning all our tunes and songs. We'll stick a bio up for her as soon as we winkle out some info!

Listening to "The Wrong House" by Buille

St Pats

Well as always St Patrick's day (or should that be St Patrick's weekend?) was a screamer. We kicked off with a gig at the utterly packed out Gilhooleys on Albert Street that has to rank as one of our hottest performances ever. Not in terms of music, but literally heat. I've never been so cooked in all my life. The gig was brilliant, with the highlight being the entire room singing the chorus to Dreams by the Cranberries. It was just magic.

Then it was off to a party with our good friends Dave and Karen, and though I was feeling quite the worse for wear (and I wasn't even drinking!) it was a smashing night of tunes and chat.

Sunday saw us down at the Bearded Dragon in Tamborine, for a wonderful laid-back show on a perfect Summer's afternoon. After the fury of the day before, it was nice to just relax and play. The gig went really well, and hopefully we'll be back there soon.


Listening to "The Princess and the Frog" by Winifred Horan

Another Round of Cheers

Well this is my first blog, so I should start by saying, on behalf of Sunas, a very big thank you to everyone who has listened, watched, clapped, given support by kind words or good advice, or bought a Sunas E.P.
 
A special big Sunas thank you must also go out to the friends who just keep turning up to gigs. We love to see you all whenever you can make it.  We have been so lucky to make new friends here and in Tassie who we can't wait to catch up with whenever we venture down there.  A big "we love and miss you" and thanks must go to Helen, our founding keyboard player, and her husband, Mark (alias Rabbit) who have given this band a new lease on life. To the Allens for all their support, help and love. Last but not least, to our wives, partners and children.  Without your sacrifices, love and support we couldn't do what we do.  We love you all.
 
Thank you all again for your great support and friendship. We are looking forward to an exciting year full of music, laughs and a new CD.

Take care. Mannie


Listening to ''This Is Where'', by The Wailin' Jennys