Tomorrow (July 21) iconic Australian musician and vocalist Ian Moss releases his 8th studio, Rivers Run Dry, and to celebrate he’ll be hitting the road on the Rivers Run Dry Tour in August through Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.
Co-produced by Ian and Brent Clark, who also engineered the album, it was recorded with the core band of Zoe Hauptman – Bass (Neil Finn, Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins), Clayton Doley – Keys (Joe Bonamassa, Jimmy Barnes) and Kerry Jacobson – Drums (Dragon, Mondo Rock) with special guests Julian Moss sharing vocals on the Stevie Wonder classic Blame it On the Sun, and multiple award-winning songwriter and recording artist, Kasey Chambers, on the roots inspired Bury Me.
Containing 12 songs and largely recorded over ten days at Rancom St Studios in Sydney, Rivers Run Dry is a musical feast once more displaying Mossy’s well-documented guitar playing genius and a voice that floats like a butterfly and yet can pack the punch of a Mallee bull. Either way, it is unforgettable.
Australian Musician Editor Greg Phillips caught up with Ian Moss over a zoom call to chat about the creation of his new album Rivers Run Dry.
MORE ABOUT THE ‘RIVERS RUN DRY’ ALBUM
From the beginning of the project, Ian’s manager was adamant he step up and take the producer role. “Yeah, I just needed a bit of a shove, and I’m pleased I did, but it really was a collaborative experience from everyone involved in the studio especially Brent, and that created a brilliant environment. Every day it felt like we were creating something special.
“Brent has wonderful humility, patience, incredible drive and focus and a shit-ton of empathy. Being very meticulous, he was the perfect co-producer as he wouldn’t let anything remotely sub-standard go through and really kept me on course.” But with every great album, it starts with songs and the process of selection was very deliberate and needed to reach, if not surpass, the high benchmark that had been set.
Ian added, “The song selection for Rivers Run Dry was focused on simply finding good songs, regardless of the style or genre they may have initially presented, and the result is an album that covers straight-ahead rock, Latin, funk, country, blues & unapologetic pop and yet we still ended up with an album that sounds very cohesive. I don’t think any of us feel we have any “What the fuck is that song doing on this album?” moments.”
But some songs nearly didn’t make it. The ball tearing Nullarbor Plain co-written with Troy Cassar-Daley being one. “I was a little resistant mainly because I never imagined it was a song for me, but it was a song that my manager (Chris O’Hearn) was insistent that I record, and he never once gave up on it, and I’m grateful he didn’t. Sometimes you need to open your perspective to what others might see and hear and know they only have your best interests in mind.”
On the Stevie Wonder classic that Julian Moss makes his debut on, Blame It on The Sun, “It’s a song I’ve loved forever, and we sang it together at a few shows back in 2021 at The Factory in Sydney and recording it was the next natural step. I absolutely loved doing this with my lad and, the band nailed it”.
The Rivers Run Dry Tour in August will cover Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth and feature songs from the new album and the songs that have made Mossy one of the most captivating musicians on the planet. The Rivers Run Dry Tour band will feature Zoe Hauptmann on bass (Neil Finn, Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins), Freyja Garbett on keys (Montaigne, Stella Donnelly), Ollie Thorpe on guitars (Matt Corby, Meg Mac), Juanita Tippins on backing vocals (Cold Chisel, Joe Bonamassa) and Kerry Jacobson on drums (Dragon, Mondo Rock).
Ian Moss Band Rivers Run Dry Tour
Saturday, 5 August 2023: The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD
Friday, 11 August 2023: Palais Theatre, St Kilda VIC
Saturday, 12 August 2023: Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW
Friday, 18 August 2023: The Regal Theatre, Perth WA
Ian Moss Solo Rivers Run Dry dates
Saturday, 23 October 2023: Glasshouse Theatre, Port Macquarie NSW
Friday, 27 October 2023: Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool VIC
Saturday, 28 October 2023: Hamilton Performing Arts Centre, Hamilton VIC
Friday, 3 November 2023: Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury NSW
Saturday, 4 November 2023: The Capital Theatre, Bendigo VIC
Friday, 8 December 2023: Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, Wangaratta VIC
Saturday, 9 December 2023: Swan Hill Town Hall, Swan Hill VIC
Friday, 15 December 2023: The Wedge, Sale VIC
Saturday, 16 December 2023: Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon VIC