Author: John

UNDER THE INFLUENCE
with special guests, Nigel McRae and Beth Tully, the owners of Smith’s Alternative, advocates of live and local music

Smith’s Alternative celebrates 10 years since it morphed from independent bookshop to live venue. It is home to gigs by local musos, music legends, and lesser known touring acts, as well as jam sessions, arts and crafts gatherings, cabaret, political conversations, poetry, belly dancing, and more.

Since 2015 it’s been in the hands of Nigel McRae and Beth Tully, themselves musicians, and passionate advocates of live and local music.

Shortis and Simpson feature them in the next episode in their Under the Influence series in which they highlight the musical influences of their guests.

Anyone who’s been to Smith’s will have seen Nigel and Beth behind the bar and checking tickets. Now here’s a chance to hear them sing songs and tell tales of yodelling vaudevillians, buskers, school punk bands, family singalongs in cars and around pianolas, culminating in the rarely told adventures of the Canberra music scene of the last 30 years.

Under the Influence with Nigel and Beth is informative, entertaining, surprising, delightfully subversive, and chock-a-block with great music.

SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
76 Alinga Street, Canberra
Saturday May 13, 6pm, $40/$30 concession
https://www.smithsalternative.com/events/under-the-influence-80887

AND…
John Shortis is leading a series of songwriting workshops for anyone who has written, or would like to write, a song.
Room 11, AINSLIE ARTS CENTRE, 30 Elouera St, Braddon
Tuesdays May 30/June 6/13/20, 7-9pm
$100/$90 concession- covers all 4 sessions
To register, contact me at moyajohn@shortisandsimpson.com

SHORT, SHARP and SHINY
Satire from two perspectives
Our end-of-year satire this time is with our old friends The Shiny Bum Singers, a brilliant political satire group made up of public servants who satirise the Public Service as well as politics. They are the shiny of our title, we’re the short, and the satire is sharp.

There’s plenty to sing about as we bid farewell to ScoMo and hello to Albo. Between secret portfolios, tax cuts, a ‘bread and butter’ budget, Barilaro’s New York venture, the Teals, climate, integrity, submarines, and Dutton,. Not to mention Optus, Putin, Truss, Her Majesty, the Republic, the Voice, and much more.

The show is being performed three times only- twice in Canberra, once in Sydney.

Sat Nov 19, 2.30pm/7.30pm, The Artists Shed, 88 Wollongong St, Fyshwick, $30. Bar available, drinks only.
Bookings- https://www.artistshed.com.au/product-category/events/

Sat Nov 26, The Loaded Dog Folk Club, Back Hall of the Annandale Neighbourhood Centre, 79 Johnston Street, Annandale. $20/$18 (cash at the door). BYO, light supper available
Enquiries & bookings-kxbears@ozemail.com.au

AND….UNDER THE INFLUENCE, with special guest DJ Gosper, is being repeated at The National Theatre, Braidwood on Sat Dec 10, 7.30pm. Not yet open for bookings. Details coming soon.

Shortis and Simpson have now presented two episodes of Under the Influence, based each time on the musical influences of a special guest. First cab off the rank was Keith Potger of The Seekers, followed by journalist Karen Middleton.

Coming up soon is their third guest, Dorothy Jane (DJ) Gosper – bluesy singer, songwriter, harmonica player, an integral part of Blues and Roots music in Canberra for a quarter of a century. In Under the Influence, Shortis & Simpson lead her through the songs, the singers, the songwriters, the stories, and the seminal moments that have influenced her life of music. Where their stories overlap, S&S introduce songs and stories of their own.

Find out how girl who grew up halfway between Newcastle and Dubbo discovered the blues. In a town with one TV channel, one radio station, and no record shops, how did she discover Miriam Makeba at the age of four? Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee at the age of nine? Winifred Atwell’s boogie bass lines by ear at the age of twelve?

Her musical journey spans folk, country, boogie, blues, ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll, vaudeville, and much more. There’s even a bit of yodelling, some great harmonica playing, and thanks to Moya’s world music passion, songs in Maori, Xhosa and Bulgarian.

Under the Influence with DJ is informative, entertaining, surprising, dramatic and chock-a-block with great music. Don’t miss it.

Saturday September 17, 6pm, $40/$30 concession
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE 76 Alinga Street, Canberra
Bookings www.smithsalternative.com/events/under-the-influence-77783

REVIEWS- DJ GOSPER
‘A singer who’s got a voice you’ll never forget, and which sounds as classic as any great 20th century female soul-blues singer you could name.’ (Andy G, Bridge FM)

‘She makes her harmonica strut like an alley cat.’ (Rory McCartney, BMA Magazine)

Gosper is one of the best harmonica payers in the country.’ (Chloe Kay Richardson, Rhythms Magazine)

‘…emotion, poetry and humour depict her fighting spirit and determination to get on with life through adversity.’ (Phil Birch-Marston, Artsound FM)

Our series of Under the Influence continues.
This time our guest is a local musician that we’ve known since 1998- Dorothy Jane (DJ) Gosper – bluesy singer, songwriter, harmonica player, an integral part of Blues and Roots music in Canberra for a quarter of a century.

Her bands and duos are many- The Blues Cowgirls, KarismaKatz, the Hot Flush Blues Band, Jeff & Deej and Divine Devilles, and many more. She’s a regular at music venues like Smith’s Alternative, Old Canberra Inn, Harmonie German Club, the Irish Club, P J O’Reilley’s, and you may even have seen her popping up at places like the Fyshwick Markets.

Her voice is warm, deep and rich. She’s the only woman we know who gives Moya a run for her money when it comes to plunging the depths of the female range where few women dare to venture.

Her songs have something to say, and she doesn’t shy away from expressing deep reflections of personal episodes in her life.

Her harmonica playing is improvised, inventive, and as bluesy as it gets

In Under the Influence, we lead her through the songs, the singers, the songwriters, the stories, and the seminal moments that have influenced her life of music.

Find out how a girl who grew up halfway between Newcastle and Dubbo discovered the blues. In a town with one TV channel (commercial), one radio station (country music), and no record shops, how did she discover Miriam Makeba at the age of four? Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee at the age of nine? And working out Winifred Atwell’s boogie bass lines by ear at the age of twelve?

Under the Influence with DJ is informative, entertaining, surprising, dramatic and chock-a-block with great music!

Saturday September 17, 6pm, $40/$30 concession
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE 76 Alinga Street, Canberra
Bookings: www.smithsalternative.com/events/under-the-influence-77783

Hello all,
It never rains but it pours!! From no shows to many. Here’s a quick list of what’s coming up.

COBARGO FOLK FESTIVAL
After one postponement and two cancellations, it’s back! We’re doing our American Pie show, marking the 50th anniversary of this landmark song. Fri May 6-Sun May 8, Cobargo Showground. (We are on at 6.15pm on Saturday 7). www.cobargofolkfestival.com

AMERICAN PIE at the Carrington in Bungendore
To see this show with a 3-course meal and complimentary drink, come to the Carrington in Bungendore. NSW Dine and Discover vouchers can be used (phone when booking- 6238 1044).
Fri May 13/Sat May 14, 6:30pm.$130/$117 (Seniors’ Card).
Bookings- https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/826628

AMERICAN PIE at Belconnen
See the show in cabaret setting in this stunning new theatre on Lake Ginninderra. Book a full table, or buy individual seats at an available table.
Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen. Fri/Sat June 10/11, 7pm. $45, or $210 for a table of 6 ($35 each).
Cheese platters available (book in advance).
https://belcoarts.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/53366

21 FORSTER STREET at The Q in Queanbeyan
An address with a personal connection to us. It once belonged to Moya’s best friend, and it’s where we got ‘married ‘. Now the subject of a new multi-disciplinary theatre work that explores what makes a house a home, And John Shortis has written the music. May 26-June 4, 8pm. $25-$50. https://theq.net.au/whats-on/subscriptions/21-forster-st/

SONDHEIM, a tribute to a legend of Broadway.
Fund-raiser for The Greater Good charity, starring Bungendore locals, with a guest appearance by us..
Bungendore War Memorial Hall, 49 Molonglo Street, Bungendore, Sat June 4, 7:30pm, $49. https://www.ticketebo.com.au/keith-young/sondheim-a-bungendore-

UNDER THE INFLUENCE at Braidwood
A repeat of our recent show with political journalist Karen Middleton at Braidwood National Theatre on Sunday 26 June at 3pm. Booking details to follow.

WORLDLY GOODS CHOIR
Each Monday night in school terms at Gorman House, 7-9pm. No auditions. All welcome.

Cheers,
Moya and John