Since emerging on the scene last year with the laid-back rootsy folk meanderings of 'Constant', Margaret River's Sash Seabourne has quickly endeared himself to the WA music scene.
Now living in Perth, Sash's style echoes the songwriting charms of Ryan Adams with inspo drawn from Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Nicks.This mix has created an artist who regales stories about love, loss, joy and sorrow with a style that belies his young age. It has led to Sash supporting the likes of Riley Pearce, Great Gable, Michael Dunstan and Kav Temperley.
After a long summer of touring throughout Western Australia, Sash has sampled a lot of roadhouse coffee which makes him the ideal expert to rate the best takeaway coffee in regional WA.
"In the last 12 months I've done more driving than any other period of my life.
"As a touring musician living in the pandemic I found myself back in my home state at the start of 2020 with all my shows cancelled and nothing to do.
"Residing in the world's most isolated city of Perth, I realised WA's regional towns had become a final frontier of live gigs, with more gigs happening there in 2021 than just about anywhere else on the planet.
"Clocking up about 30 regional gigs between Esperance and Karratha (2,212 kilometres), it's safe to say I've seen some things.
"A silver lining of these long hours travelling has been indulging my love of coffee while on the road.
"There's no shortage of road houses and servos along the way to help refresh a weary driver, but believe me when I say I've had some bad runs.
"From burnt soy lattes to late night $1 servo coffee of shame, I'm here to share with you some some gems of the highways in the wild west.
"I will be rating these cups of Joe out of 5 for flavour, presentation and price point. Let the games begin."
Bunbury Farmers Market - Oat Latte
Bunbury comes storming out of the gate here; probably the best grocery store I've ever been to – a giant, fancy building stacked with local produce in an otherwise rubbish town.Plus, they have a bakery store with a gun barista. A heavenly brew by a master craftsman. An essential stop on the route south out of the capital.
Flavour: 5. Presentation: 5. Price point: 3.
Murchison Roadhouse - Long Black
Like an oasis in a barren desert landscape, the opening lines of 'Hotel California' come to mind.On the way to Exmouth, this family-owned business brought the goods. $4 for a finessed, large long black to ease a dusty morning start, cheers legends.
Flavour: 5. Presentation: 3. Price point: 5.
Billabong Roadhouse in Meadow - Latte
This is a pretty essential checkpoint on the way north from WA's mid-west city of Geraldton. Partly because it's a cultural mecca of truckers and coastal drifters, partly because there's nowhere else to stop for about 200kms.They have their own stubbie holders too, they say 'fill-a-bong'. I went for the cow's milk option here because last time I had a soy coffee this far out of town I received a cup of burnt froth from hell. This was a wise choice.
Flavour: 4. Presentation: 4. Price point: 3.
Fortescue River Roadhouse in Mardie - 'Coffee'
On the way to Karratha, I felt like I was truly in the sticks when I pulled into Fortescue River. They were advertising 'coffee - $4.50' and I dared not complicate my order any further than that.They also sold a lot of stuffed koalas and stubbie holders with boobs on them. It's wild country up there, but this coffee was a generous serving and reasonably priced.
Flavour: 4. Presentation: 3. Price point: 4.
Ravensthorpe Roadhouse - Boss Coffee Long Black
Not all heroes wear capes. One night I found myself coming back late from Esperance with a long drive ahead – morale was low. The shop was set to shut at 8pm and I had pulled in at 8:04. The bloke peered at me through the window, opened the door and handed me a homemade chicken sandwich. I was close to tears.The boss long black is a simple man's beverage – but combined with the act of kindness I had just received it gave me the strength I needed for a safe journey home.
Flavour: 3. Presentation: 1. Price point: 3.
Sash Seabourne launches his new single 'Jackknife' at Rosemount Hotel (Perth) 12 March and Clancy's Fish Pub (Dunsborough) 20 March.
