12/10/2026
Ok, ay, it's been a year since we decided to travel and play festivals as musicians in Queensland and NSW.
We had the range of experiences that come with travel: broken-down vehicles, bad weather, and less-than-stellar opportunities to be comfortable, while also meeting new people and creating memories that are part of a life well lived.
It seems the word amateur has shifted from someone who does something for love to what is now often used as a derogatory term for someone who isn't very good at what they do.
Our travels showed us that the walk-up artists at the events we visited are the epitome of people who show up for the LOVE of being on stage and performing.
People quickly label those who get up on stage as “walk ups” at most of the events we attended.
Yes, most of these people are learning their art or are motivated enough to share what they have on stage for their own growth and to show others that if you want to put yourself out there, you can play, sing, or recite poetry and transcend the fear that keeps most people from taking action.
Unfortunately, bureaucratic entities are putting more pressure on festivals, making them increasingly difficult to hold.
We can only hope that the spirit of connection among like-minded people will keep live music events strong, without interference from those who seek to make it difficult for us all to commune at a grassroots level.
I hope patrons of the LIVE music understand that your influence of supporting the not-so-stellar ( including us) means we can gather around campfires and keep humanity alive one song at a time
