Legendary singer-songwriter Graeme Connors takes The Road Less Travelled on his My Lyrical Life Tour in mid-October, with a performance at the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre on the cards.
Graeme continues his celebrations of 50 years in the music industry with shows up and down the coast from October 15 to 19.
‘My Lyrical Life’ the book, contains 217 songs from the Mackay artist’s pen, recorded by himself, or by artists including Slim Dusty, John Denver and Jon English, plus autobiographical reflections from various phases of his long, colourful career.
The live show sees the APRA, ARIA and multi-Golden Guitar Award winner showcase the lyrical element of his career, particularly the story songs that he wouldn’t normally do with his big band at a festival.
“In some ways it’s like I’m starting again with a massive repertoire behind me: 20 albums, 200- plus songs, and still feeling like a 30-year-old, though it is now 50 years since I left my hometown and went off with Sherbet to play the Capitol Theatre in Sydney straight out of school,” Graeme said.
“I pinch myself sometimes and wonder ‘how did that happen?’.
But when you’re passionate about something, and do it every day, you can’t help but win.
“I love the re-connection with an audience that has made my life the life it is, and it’s a reminder that there is no end point really; we can keep doing these things as long as we have our vital energy and can still contribute to the human spirit,” he said.
Compiling the book gave Graeme the chance to discover gems he hadn’t revisited for decades, due to the sheer number of songs he’s penned.
“I had sort of forgotten just how many songs I’d written, maybe it’s because I am always focussed on the future, rather than the past,” he said.
“But it has been a wonderful trip down memory lane, albeit exhausting.
“I couldn’t hand over the book until the miscellaneous section was complete and that took some detective work.
Thank goodness for Discogs. You think you have a good archive, then you do something like this!”
Ranging from the ’70s through to now, the songs showcase an incredible career that continues to shine a light on the Australian psyche, life and love, and world events.
“I rediscovered one song I wrote called ‘I Love You Always, Sometimes and Maybe’ recorded by both Nev Nichols and Darcy Le Year,” he said.
“It reminded me that at the beginning of my song writing career being so hungry for a cut, I would often write to order.
“If you heard an artist was going into the studio you would call his producer and ask what they were looking for – I’m amazed by some of the songs that came out of that period.”
Look out for Graeme travelling at The Speed of Life in Queensland in October, celebrating ‘My Lyrical Life’.
Bundaberg show
When: Wednesday, 16 October:
Where: Moncrieff Theatre Bundaberg
Tickets: Here.
