After successfully turning his Hunter Valley property Dashville into a regional hub for live music, Matt 'Magpie' Johnston last year released the debut album from his band Magpie Diaries.
Magpie and his band are currently on the road for a tour; he shares some stories from the road ahead of the rest of the tour that continues into February.
“It’s not a bad idea to organise a trip up the coast with a bunch of mates. Even better if it’s legitimatised under the guise of ‘entertainment’. With the arrival of Christmas, the final trims for Magpie Diaries album tour were made ‘a tad heavier’ after too much cake and salad.
"We eventually set off on 27 December, first stop Brisbane to collect TJ the bass player and JimJam the essential saxophonist.
"Todd is back from a stint in the UK and James, who would soon become known as JimJam, is a new recruit, so we warm up the newly formed band with a special acoustic performance at Sonic Sherpa record store at Stones Corner, Brisbane, before stocking up on supplies and rolling up the mountain to this magical place known as Woodfordia.
Sonic Sherpa - image supplied
“There’s a few exceptional festivals in Australia and Woodford Folk Festival would have to be up the top, perched eloquently aside many smaller festivals. It’s hard to maintain quality on such a large scale, but Woodford is indeed six days of living in a dreamlike society.
Woodford Folk Festival - image supplied
“The array of art and expression, the evolving generations of punters ready to sing, dance, learn, listen, express thoughts and emotion without judgement or agenda. Full of culture and fermentation, the overwhelming experience boils down to a common acceptance that this festival and its community is a privilege to be a part of.
Woodford Folk Festival - image supplied
“Some highlight moments include the Lettering House postal service, the New Year's sunrise over the valley, Midnight Tea Party, the Pineapple Lounge, closing ceremony, tempura mushrooms and having an informative yarn with gardening guru Costa.
Woodford, New Year's Day - image supplied
“After four shows in as many days, we pile our weary, yet inspired corpses into the bus and head off for the next leg in the reparative confines of Nimbin, NSW. Opting for the slightly lonelier rollicking backroads through Beaudesert, Kyogle, it was a decision well made to avoid the coastal congestion.
“The fertile soil and souls of Nimbin presents an interesting environment. Our venue, the Nimbin Bush Theatre, is a retired butter factory from the '70s, the new, live-music mecca of the town run by a bunch of creatives with a common goal.
Nimbin Bush Theatre - image supplied
"It’s a laid-back lunchtime show for a healthy mob who like to practise post-breakfast chilling, nestled among a gentle flowing river, water dragons and permaculture gardens – it’s hard to leave. Reluctantly, we accept our parting gifts and hit the high road to Byron Bay for the evening show.
“Byron Bay now carries a different kind of beauty to what I recall back in my formative years. It’s 3 January and Jonson Street is pumping. I can only imagine what New Year's would have been like.
"We arrive at Byron Bay Brewery, otherwise known as the Art Centre or the ‘Old Piggery’. Fortunately it’s pumping too. A myriad of beer conveniently perched beside a thriving backpacker hostel seems like, for most part, a viable business plan.
"Joined by a great, local band, Family Jordan and Melbourne's Coda Chroma, we play a show to a full beer garden, probably around a 100 people. The four security guards on patrol do an easy job keeping an eye on things, but after being in Queensland, the mind wanders to thoughts about how in NSW we've arrived at this point.
Byron Bay Brewery - image supplied
"More than ever, the music industry relies on live performance to function. Most artists need to play in order to survive. It's also incredibly tough to run a music venue these days with the amount of sanctions and overheads. On this occasion, it's hard not to consider how one less guard on patrol would have allowed the bands to get closer to covering costs in getting to the show.
"Morning rolls around so we sizzle down with our first taste of ocean in some time, in fact six years for Lyle the farrier of the team. It's all smiles as we hit the bakery on route to Bellingen's Federal Hotel for a big Friday night show.
Bus action - image supplied
"Bellingen is bubbling with beauty, a hotspot for the retreat-style holiday. The Bellingen river's steady flow is too much to go past, so we opt for an arvo dip ahead of a live-to-air radio appearance and soundcheck.
2BBB live radio interview - image supplied
"Tonight's gig features Coda Chroma and Baghead, so it's a big night of music and the Bellingen folk doesn't disappoint as the dancefloor fills up and the party ensues.
"A few late-night bevies puts us in prime position for another river swim, accompanied by a tailgate brekkie and some of the best cured meat known to man. (Courtesy of Thorns Gourmet Meats and Smokehouse)
Morning after Bellingen show - image supplied
"We push on down the road to Old Bar, the final show on this first leg of the 24-date Sanctuary tour. What tour would be complete without some car trouble though, right?
Bye bye green van - image supplied
"After an hour or so on the side of the road, the green van is towed to Nambucca Heads and the rest of the band pile in the other van and we make it just in time for a sold-out show at the impressive Flow Bar restaurant."
Flow Bar - image supplied
Magpie Diaries Tour Dates
Fri 18 Jan - Muswellbrook Hotel (NSW)19-20 Jan - Tamworth Hotel
Sun 20 Jan - The Junkyard (Maitland)
Thu 24 Jan - Servo Food Truck (Port Kembla)
Fri 25 Jan - Tomerong Hall (NSW)
Thu 31 Jan - Stag & Hunter (Newcastle)
Sat 2 Feb - Pacific Palms Recreation Club (NSW)
Wed 6 Feb - Transit Bar (Canberra)
Thu 7 Feb - The Old Bar (Melbourne)
Fri 8 Feb - The Eastern (Ballarat)
Sat 9 Feb - Barwon Club (Geelong)
Sun 10 Feb - Northcote Social Club (Melbourne)
Fri 15 Feb - Dashville Nights (Lower Belford)
Sun 24 Feb - The Lansdowne (Sydney)
