The restrictions imposed on the local music industry due to the pandemic have caused no end of pain to musicians, venue operators and everyone else involved in the music business. The constant booking, cancelling and then re-bookings of shows and tours takes it toll on us creative folk.
Despite the hardships, Melbourne-based singer songwriter Bill Jackson decided to forge ahead and record two albums during the grim months of Melbourne’s lock down during 2020. Bill’s latest offering, The Wayside Ballads Vol 3 is the final instalment of a vision Bill and his brother Ross Jackson had in 2014 to produce three albums of their songs across two continents and three different musical settings.
Bill has attempted to launch the album before, only to have Covid restrictions get in the way.
However … he is delighted to inform us that the album launch has been rescheduled and we can all gather at the Brunswick Ballroom on Tuesday September 14 to celebrate our wonderful songwriters!
THE WAYSIDE BALLADS VOL 3 BILL JACKSON ALBUM LAUNCH
with Kerryn Tolhurst & Paddy Montgomery
Tuesday September 14, Brunswick Ballroom
Tickets: bit.ly/3rSRK5N
The Wayside Ballads story:
A chance meeting between an ARIA Hall of Famer and a much respected but little known Melbourne songwriter ended up in the production of two new records during Melbourne’s lock down during 2020. Kerryn Tolhurst had always been on Bill Jackson’s radar, not only because of his place in Australian music history with Country Radio and The Dingoes; but also because of his stellar work in producing independent local acts like Jeff Lang, Cyndi Boste and The Pigram Brothers. For Jackson it felt like a natural fit with Tolhurst’s experience, sublime playing skills and natural bent towards folk, country and rock music. Also Kerryn was a great writer – this had to help.
By June 2020 and countless file transfers/emails/phone calls later ‘The Wayside Ballads Vol 3’ had been completed and still they pushed on, also completing an as yet unnamed follow up. Vol 3 is folk music as Jackson sees it and a natural ending to the trilogy he envisioned with his brother and co-writer Ross back in 2014 and recorded in Australia (Vol1) and the US (Vol 2). Aside from a few special guests, ‘ The Wayside Ballads Vol 3’ is essentially Bill and Kerryn playing the songs as they were written…it’s all about the song.
Volume 3 is produced by Kerryn Tolhurst and contains 11 songs written by Bill and Ross Jackson. Bill tells us that “it is essentially a folk album, full of heroes and villains and love and hate. It asks a lot of questions about who we are and whether our history still defines us.”
Bill will be joined on stage at the Brunswick Ballroom by Kerryn Tolhurst and Paddy Montgomery to play the songs from The Wayside Ballads Vol 3. They will be joined by special guests through the set.
The launch will be dedicated to his and our great friend Peter Crone: “The House Concerts at Peter and Jane Crone’s home in Eaglemont are legendary. Peter and Jane have been incredible supporters of singer songwriters from home and abroad over a long period of time. Peter was a beautiful and generous man with a brilliant musical knowledge and collection. As a prominent architect he related to songwriters as people like him who would start with a blank page and then set about creating works to hopefully inspire and move people. Peter and I were great friends and shared some brilliant musical moments together. He heard most of the demos for ‘The Wayside Ballads Vol 3’ and it is only fitting that I dedicate the launch to him and Jane who were at the top of my biggest supporters.” Bill Jackson
Ruth Hazleton and Fiona Steele will kick the night off in fine style playing songs from Ruth’s acclaimed Daisywheel album.
We all know that times are tough for our live music venues and our musicians and songwriters. It’s not an easy time to be putting on live shows – however nothing inspires confidence and happiness more than pre-sale tickets – so please don’t wait. In pre-sale we trust! See You There…
https://www.billjacksonmusic.com/
