Small Halls - Week Three
In week three the rhythm of checking in and out of accommodation, setting up, packing down becomes a steady backdrop that begins to blur different days and places together.
This week felt strange as it was split in two by a big drive. We had two days to get from Ravenswood (near Townsville) to our next show in Veteran (near Gympie) a distance of around 1200km. I regrettably didn’t photograph Charters Towers at all, most of my time there was spent resting so I didn’t venture out with my camera. It is a very old town and there are ruins of 19th century gold mining in the surrounding hills. The ensuing wealth created some beautiful homes and other buildings within the town itself. Probably the most surreal thing that happened during our time in Charters Towers was waking at 5am to the sound of gunfire and whistling sonic rounds flying through the air. Turns out the council have been attempting to relocate a bat colony and this is how it’s done. Seems a little heavy handed to me and certainly gave us pause as unsuspecting visitors!
Our first show for the week was in Pentland, a quiet little town at the bottom of the range. We had some really young support acts this week and Dennan here was the first. It is heartening to me that no matter where you go there are people making and loving music of all different kinds.
Our second pint-sized support act for this week was Ravenswood local Laynie who sang so beautifully. One of those pure voices that hits every note dead centre. Truly amazing - and she even got up to sing a Sister Rosetta Tharpe song with us!
I could have photographed Ravenswood endlessly, it was incredible. A late 19th century gold rush town that has witnessed waves of decline and revival - now with a modern open-cut gold mine right behind the main street. We were told it was haunted and that wasn’t hard to imagine with the perfectly preserved period buildings and remnant gardens interspersed with industrial ruins. Surreal and beautiful. The first few shots are from inside the Imperial Hotel (aka The Impy) where we stayed. Virtually unchanged since 1901.
After weeks inland we were craving the ocean’s familiar horizon, so our first stop on the long driving day was Horseshoe Bay in Bowen.
All tour long I had been hoping to capture the night sky over the desert but circumstances didn’t allow it. We drove from Ravenswood to Seventeen Seventy in a day (about 1000kms) and were greeted by this galactic setting just before a much needed sleep.
Next we played Veteran, a locality near Gympie. A very beautiful outlook and a historic hall. We were privileged to be welcomed by local emerging Kabi Kabi elder Russell and treated to an opening set by Georgia Rose. It was a special show after two long days of driving.
The final show for Week Three was Mapleton, a beautiful town in the mountainous hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. We were honoured to have Shaky Razor support (John and Tom) and a room that was full to the brim, including many friends and familiar faces.
We were very lucky to spend a couple of days downtime on the Sunshine Coast. This region feels like a second home for me. It’s nice to be held by familiar mountains and waters again.
Now we enter our final week with a show today in Goombungee.
