Australian friends

I have my idols. But I will never see Rick Nelson, Gram Parsons or Sandy Denny perform. But ever since I found Anne Kirkpatrick's greatest hits album in a second-hand record shop, I fell in love with her voice. She's absolutely the best Australia has to offer to me. So I dreamed of seeing her perform and that happened in 1996, and as you can see on these pictures it was far from disappointing. We had

a lot of fun at her place in Sydney. We had some secrets we didn't share with the rest of the world.

So Ad and I had to travel to London to see Anne and her dad, the great Slim Dusty. I never saw a show so good on such a low volume, which takes a lot of skill. We could talk on the front row if we wanted, and still didn't have to shout.

This is from The Weaver's Arms, where I also got acquainted with her father, Slim Dusty, and mother Joy Mc Kean, probably Australia's most succesful songwriter. Anne asked if there were any Australians in the crowd, and when the answer was no, she said: "At least (pointing at me) there's a half Australian", which made me feel real good.

This is The Man and his wife. She was as gentle as my mother, the biggest compliment I could give anyone. Slim is over 70, recording for EMI for more than 50 years (world record), and has just completed album # 103, along with daughter Anne. Their first one, Two singers, One song, is from '89, and the new one shows Anne as a songwriter. Get your kicks on "Always travelling, always will". By the way, one of the highlights of my life in music!

The guy on the right is my mate Ian Betteridge, who stayed with me several times, along with his wife Phyllis (they love my cookin'). At this moment we are preparing for EO's Country Trail show, hosted by Wim Pols, to teach him a little about Australian country music. Ian also doing some songs live, well appreciated by Dutch listeners.

And then Ian released his new album "My way" and asked me to launch it officially at the Mildura festival. It actually happened in Wentworth, and it was much bigger then I expected. Coming to Mildura was announced in newspapers (nationwide), I was a guest at Mildura's country station. I even did interviews on national radio and got on TV as well. I also met the Major of Wentworth, who thought it would be a good idea to invite me to a special reception at the town hall.

Wherever I go, I go for the music and the people, not to see things. You can't call me a typical tourist. I won't hang out at the beach, or see old churches. But I had to behave like one when Ian and Phyllis were staying with us. So, we drove up to Holland and Germany to show them things. Ian, take a good look at this picture. You won't see this again. Prices will be in our new currency, the Euro. This was all in between shows he did in Belgium and France.

This was real fun. You must know that my favourite wake up sound is Libby Jones. Because of the time difference she finishes her job when I wake up, and nothing's better than the voice of Libby Jones. Always in a good mood. We had a fantastic lunch, invited by Libby, who is head of promotion for ABC. Also present were some ABC artists. On the picture left to right: Darren Coggan, Tina Martyn, Ian Betteridge, my wife, Mitchell Shadlow, Phyllis Betteridge. Front row: Stacey Frazier, me and the one and only Libby Jones.

He is fun to be around with. He's a terrific journalist, a fantastic producer (check Cameron Daddo), a veteran and the king of country soul. Had the Honky Tonk Band, the Tumblers and for his back up on his last albums The Amazing Rhythm Aces, when they were touring Australia and they backed up Keith in Nashville last autumn. This picture of Keith Glass was taken in Mildura when he was rewarded for album of the year by an independant artist. When I met him again Nashville he came from Canada where he did some shows, inclusive TV, with Canada's Keith Glass, who is a member of Prairie Oyster. Check out his last effort, Australian Soul, in my Top 50, and released in the US through IGO Records.

Of course, you'll recognize Ian on my left. But the guy on my right is a phenomenon in Australia these days. His name is Adam Brand, and he is as hot as an artist can be. Just released his third album, and already got more Golden Guitars (CMAA Awards) than any newcomer in Australian country music history. He writes most of his songs, has been in Nashville to write with some tunesmiths over there, but still records in Australia, with producer Graham Thompson, who owns Compass Bros. and is married to Melinda Schneider, whose album My Oxygen was recorded in Nashville: producer Mark Moffatt.

Adam Brand lived with his partner Ann Marie in Perth, where not much is going on, and he didn't know what to do, staying there or going to Sydney. After I got a demo from him, I asked if everybody in Australia was sleeping, overlooking such a great talent. That made him decide to move to Sydney, so they sold their house, Ann Marie gave up her job. Not long after that he signed for Graham Thompon's Compass Bros. label and hit the big time. And about a year ago, they moved to Queensland for the weather.

This is not a familiar face to most Australian country music fans, but it's super producer Mark Moffatt. He did a lot of great albums, a.o. one of my old time favourites: Out of the blue by Anne Kirkpatrick. He is now living in Nashville, working his way to the top. When released, Deana Carter's new album will have his signature. And he takes care of Australian artists visiting Nashville.

Michael O'Rourke showing his Independant Award for Mining dust burning sun, the title track was written about working in a mine in Mount Isa, where temperatures hardly get below 40 degrees Celcius.

       Three Australian sweethearts.

   Left to right: Kate Ballantine, Lynn Bowtell and Tanya Self. Three consecutive winners of "Starmaker", Australia's biggest talent contest.

He deserves to be named, but I forgot. But he played some didgeridoo during a technical break and it gave me chicken skin. This guy was cool as so was his music.

Links to some of these artists websites can be found on my links page.