What's on in Cairns, Australia?

Subject: What's on in Cairns, Australia?
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 05:57 PM

Have just received an invite to a wedding in Cairns, Queensland, Australia at the end of August this year. I'm therefore planning a trip out there approx. 20th to 31st August.

Can anyone tell me if there is anything happening, especially folk music wise, at that time or if there is anything happening then that I should try to avoid!.

Thanks.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: What's on in Cairns, Australia?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 07:04 PM

Deirdre-

Where are you based now? Are you now living in Australia?

We were in Cairns a few years ago made connections with the local folk club before we flew out only to discover that the location and date of their gathering had changed by the time we arrived. We found that frustrating. However, we were arriving in the December holiday seasons and things get crazy at that time.

We had much better luck in Sydney, Newcastle, and the Blue Mountains.

Good luck!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: What's on in Cairns, Australia?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 08:09 PM

G'day Deirdre,

An icon of the "Folk Revival" in Australia - Ron Edwards - lives up the mountain behind Cairns in Kuranda (where they like to call their little town: "The Air-conditioned Suburbe of Cairns"). Ron's great contributions were in the earliest publications of folk songs as "broadsheets" (... to be sung!) wonderful illustrations, prodigious collecting work ... and, as a result, a stack of publications you couldn't jump over with a long run-up and vaulting pole!

Ron did run various folk clubs (on a very successful "benevolent dictator" basis!) but I hope he has found someone else to do that sort of thing, nowadays. I'll see if the email address I have (on my home computer) still works and I'll ask him what he would recommend for late August.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: What's on in Cairns, Australia?
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 05:01 AM

Thanks Bob.

Charley, I'm based in the UK. Owing to time and money restrictions, I'll only be in Cairns or the surrounding countryside - shan't be able to stop off anywhere else unfortunately. I'm looking on finding some folk stuff as a bonus to the holiday!. Thanks for your info.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: What's on in Cairns, Australia?
From: gecko
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 05:06 AM

Hi Deirdre, The Folk scene here in the Cairns area has been a bit on the sparse side for some time but I'm pleased to advise that a new club is about to open its doors at the Gordonvale pub (Park View Tavern)a week tomorrow - Tuesday 6 February, and each week thereafter - God willing and if the water doesn't rise! The organisers are Mick and Bron Hodgkins of Mangrove Jack fame and the club is advertised as 'Live Accoustic Music'.

Please feel free to PM me nearer August and I'll let you know what the state of play is and also if there are any concerts or other events you may be interested in while you are here.

My place of employment is only a few doors away from Ron Edward's gallery and store but I understand from Anne, Ron's wife, that he has not been very active in the folk scene for some time now.

YIU
gecko

Subject: RE: What's on in Cairns, Australia?
From: GUEST,Allen in OZ
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 05:25 AM

Gecko, did you know Harry Slee up in Cairns?

I used to play cricket with him in Concord ( Sydney) 40 years ago. He was a wonderful musician and died several years ago I believe

Allen

Subject: RE: What's on in Cairns, Australia?
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 12:04 PM

Gecko,

Thanks for that, brilliant info.

I'll certainly contact you nearer the time.

Cheers,

Deirdre

Subject: RE: What's on in Cairns, Australia?
From: gecko
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 07:10 AM

Hi Allen in Oz, My husband had a nodding aquaintance with Harry but I'm afraid that, other than reading his column in the 'Barfly', he was unknown to me, which is a pity as he must have been one hell of a bloke.
Following is what I've garnered from good old Google for your information
YUI
gecko


Harry Guy Slee, a former Sydney musician and a leading figure on the Cairns music scene, died on 4 September 2002, aged 53. In his obituary for Harry, music columnist Christie Eliezer described Harry in his youth as "a fine sportsman, a keen cricketer who played in the same state under 19 side as the legendary fast bowler Dennis Lillee".

Harry began his career in music as a piano tuner then turned to running music stores in the southern suburbs of Sydney in the late Sixties. In the Seventies he was the singer for Sydney band Soul Generation, followed by a stint in Maple Lace (a pop band originally formed to capitalise on the success of the 1970 novelty single Gimme Dat Ding). Harry's best-known gig was fronting nationally-known blues band Stormy Monday with his long time friend, guitarist Roger Gold.

At 40, Harry moved to North Queensland, started his music agency Tropical Talent and also began working for Cairns street magazine Barfly for whom he sold ads and wrote a hard-hitting opinion column called 'Slee's Bag'. Harry also did work for numerous charities and worked tirelessly to promote the music scene in and around Cairns.

Harry's friends held a wake at his 'office' (the balcony of the Fox & Firkin Hotel) and he was buried in his favourite blue 'Relay For Life' T-shirt and pink "hippy" pants. A tribute concert, Harry's Last Hurrah, was held at the Brothers' Leagues Club on 2 October 2002, and featured many of Cairns top musical acts. Quoted by Christie Eliezer, Barfly's Tony Hillier offered this tribute:

"Harry was a no bullshit person, one who cut quickly to the chase. There was no pretence, no hidden agenda ... what you saw was what you got with Harry. He was a man who had the courage of his own convictions, with a well honed sense of humour."

Harry is survived by his wife Linda and his mother Ruby.

At the time of his death, it was reported that he was suffering from cancer. Linda Slee recently contacted MILESAGO to correct that:

"Harry was a wonderful person and I miss him dearly. There is however something that I need to correct. Harry didn't die of cancer -- he died of liver failure, due to years of alcohol abuse."

"He was lucky enough to survive a cancer scare five years ago. I think that it is important that people know the truth about what killed him; so many people abuse alcohol and just don't realise the damage that they are doing to themselves."