Streets of Your Town

There's a little patch of paradise in Queensland's south-east corner - in some ways not far away from the big city lights of Brisbane, but when you get there, you feel like you could be at the end of the earth.The Scenic Rim spans more than four thousand kilometres with landscapes ranging from lush rainforests to rolling paddocks and serene lakes, with stunning views and an increasingly world renowned foodie scene.This June is Scenic Rim's Eat Local Month - and Streets of Your Town is taking you there to the cornucopia of pleasures on offer from the region's farmers, who are increasingly teaming up with local chefs to create unique experiences from farm to plate.Eat Local Month is a great opportunity to meet the makers - as I did at the launch of the event to whet the appetite for the 100 unique culinary experiences just an hour's drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast that fill June with joy - ranging from a Long Lunch under the Jacarandas to High Tea and Cocktails in the Rainforest.So sit down with me and Executive Chef and Owner of restaurant Roastbeef and the Frog Olivier Boudon, and then Theresa Scholl from Valley Pride Produce to hear about how they are diversifying into agritourism and making meaningful connections with customers right on the farm.For more shownotes and links - please go to my substack for this episode at soyt.substack.comhttps://www.eatlocalmonth.com.au/nancehaxton.com.au

Recently I spent a gloriously rare fine day in Glasgow for Streets of Your Town, wandering around the city's renowned concert halls and gig venues with music journo Fiona Shepherd - who's also the co-founder and lead guide of Glasgow Music City Tours.She's been taking tourists back stage around Glasgow's renowned live scene for ten years now, sharing many stories from decades past right up to the present about the iconic performers who have come to the city to perform, or who made their big debut here.And even though Australia is about as far away from Glasgow as you can get - she hears that rich vein of musical influence clearly - going both ways across the seas.So come get your walking shoes on and join Fiona and I at the celebrated Glasgow live venue King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, to chat about how Glasgow became so celebrated that it became one of the first three cities in the world to be given the title of UNESCO City of Music.For more shownotes and links - please go to my substack for this episode at soyt.substack.comhttps://glasgowmusiccitytours.com/nancehaxton.com.au

On my recent travels through the UK and Ireland for Streets of Your Town, I was amazed to find how strong the cross pollination between Australian and Indigenous music and Gaelic traditions were, and how it continues to evolve.While I was in Glasgow, I was lucky enough to meet Graham Mackenzie from award winning instrumental folk trio Assynt. Sitting in his Glasgow living room, his fiddle sits between us, never far from his thoughts, as we chat about the band's recent Australian tour.The band launched in 2018, and had long held aspirations to play in Australia. Even the pandemic - while delaying their plans - couldn't hold them back for long, and last year they came to the Woodford Folk Festival to perform and do workshops. The trio also toured down the East Coast on a hectic trip for the Festival of Small Halls.Inspired by the great piping, fiddle and Gaelic traditions of the Highlands where he grew up in Inverness, McKenzie's self-penned melodies for Assynt have a contemporary edge while rooted in centuries-long musical traditions.Graham tells us on Streets of Your Town how he is relieved to find their workshops and performances both in Scotland and Australia are now filled with young people embracing their fiddles and traditional Celtic instruments, and wanting to pick up tips. One of his favourite aspects of coming to Australia was hearing First Nations performers at Woodford Folk Festival, seeing it as a rare opportunity for two age-old cultures to learn from each other.For more shownotes - please go to my substack for this episode at soyt.substack.com

For this episode of Streets of Your Town, wander with me Nance Haxton to County Kerry on Ireland's west coast, to discover how close Australian and Irish cultural traditions are beyond the musical sphere.Tim Hanafin has lived in Kerry all of his 85 years, in a tiny village called Inch. The town is still known by many as the location where the epic Oscar-winning movie Ryan's Daughter was filmed, putting County Kerry on the tourist trail in the 1970s.Tim is known throughout the Dingle Peninsula as the man who recites poetry from a deep well of decades of learning, with a poem appropriate for every event, whether it be wedding, funeral or spontaneous celebration.When I speak to him in front of a cosy fire at Foley's Bar overlooking the miles of sand dunes constantly evolving on Inch Beach, it doesn't take long for the Australian influence on this far-flung county to appear from his extensive back catalogue of poetry.Tim tells us how he thinks the affinity the Irish have with Australians goes back to the days of British rule, and continues to be expressed to this day.and for more shownotes please go to my substack for this episode at soyt.substack.com

It's not often that we get to watch a musical star on the rise. A performer whose passion and talent has enabled them to rise from tentative beginnings to starring in one of the world's most beloved musicals.Here on Streets of Your Town, we've been lucky enough to watch Vidya Makan's singing and writing prowess be recognised over a few short years. We first met her in the pivotal role of Catherine Parr in the juggernaut Australian production of Six, then as the creator, writer and performer in her musical The Lucky Country at Hayes Theatre in Sydney, and now we catch up with her again in one of the most competitive and sought after roles around the world - as Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton.And for those who can't get to Sydney for this run, make sure you watch ABC TV on December 20 at 730pm or the digital broadcast on Iview, to see Vidya's part in A Very Musical Christmas, recorded in Sydney and with all proceeds going to mental health charity Beyond Blue. Her greatest joy is watching her fellow performers shine. Sit back and enjoy our chat on Streets of Your Town, with Vidya Makan.and for more shownotes please go to my substack for this episode at https://soyt.substack.com/p/makan-creamer-mcgrady

If you thought that a play about post-apocolyptic zombies couldn't be compatible with meaningful and hilarious social commentary and analysis of colonial occupation, then you haven't heard of the radical new production Eat, Slay Zombie.Emerging First Nations playwright Alinta McGrady tells us on this episode of Streets of Your Town how she took her idea born in covid lockdown and created this fast-paced action packed show that is about to open in one of Brisbane's most prestigious theatres.This is just the start for this talented Aboriginal woman who has been storytelling in various forms her entire life.Eat Slay Zombie shines a spotlight on modern Blak and queer experiences through a horror/comedy lens, with a fresh take on the hero narrative that places historically marginalised characters at the forefront of a dangerous world.Will our Blak women heroes survive this nightmare, and navigate a world that is actively trying to kill them? Let's sit down for a chat with Alina to get some insight into her creative process….

On this episode of Streets of Your Town, we feature someone I've wanted you to meet on this podcast for years. I've written about him for national media outlets such as The New Daily and National Indigenous Radio Service, about his achievements acting as a Barrister on some of the most challenging human rights class actions across Australia. Joshua Creamer is a proud Waanyi and Kalkadoon man, who still sees himself as the boy from Mt Isa. But his role now is Chair of the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry in Queensland - which has been gathering the history of the state since July 1 this year.He tells us how significant this Inquiry is for Queensland and Australia, and what a privilege it is for him to lead this once in a generation investigation to give Indigenous people a voice in Queensland's history.

Just before I head overseas to the land of my ancestors in Scotland and Ireland, I was lucky enough to stumble into an Irish music session in Brisbane. The Irish accents flew thick and fast, to the accompaniment of the bodran, Eilean pipes, tin whistle and fiddle. Jack O'Leary is one of the musicians who makes this weekly quest to reconnect with his homeland. He tells us on Streets of Your Town, how Irish music and Australian culture have intertwined, to the degree that you can find a similar Irish music session, at most cities and towns throughout Australia. Contact Streets of Your Town host Nance Haxton AKA The Wandering Journo and find socials links HERE Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not often we get an Australian jazz singer legend on Streets of Your Town, but we are lucky enough to enjoy that on today's episode.  Vince Jones is well known not only in this country but throughout the world as one of Australia's most renowned jazz musicians.  He tells us how the love of his craft started young, in the lively jazz surrounds of Scotland. And after half a century of performing, and a lifetime of loving music, Vince is gladly still on the road, performing and creating his distinctly Australian take on jazz music. Contact Streets of Your Town host Nance Haxton AKA The Wandering Journo and find socials links HERE Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Paralympian athlete Gerrard Gosens, taking on the challenge of swimming across the English Channel is more than just a physical one. It's also mental, as the blind swimmer confronts the elements and conditions of the day and then figures out how to overcome them.  Gerrard tells us on Streets of Your Town podcast how he is well into an intense training regimen preparing for his attempted channel crossing in August - swimming from the UK to France in his quest to become the first blind person to do so.  It's a big leap from his previous sport of running - having represented Australia in long distance running in three Paralympic Games and three IPC World Athletic Championships from 1996 to 2011, as well as the Paratriathlon at Tokyo 2022. Contact Streets of Your Town host Nance Haxton AKA The Wandering Journo and find socials links HERE Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some people when they visit Australia, simply can't stop themselves from coming back time and time again.   So it is for Irish performer Ciaran Olohan, who is bringing his show The World of Musicals in Concert back to Australia for the fourth time.   And he's not just taking it on the well worn route to the capital cities, Ciaran and his crew are doing the big lap of Australia, taking their show that has graced stages across the globe to some of Australia's most off the beaten track locations as well.   Ciaran tells us on Streets of Your Town, how music has always been a part of his life from his childhood in County Wicklow to today with a career taking him to the US, Canada, Germany, Norway, Spain and China. And he ponders how much Irish music and Australian musical traditions have in common.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Streets of Your Town Elise McCann gives us insights into her creative process, particularly of late in the musical adaptation of Groundhog Day which had a season in Melbourne.  Elise admits that despite her success as a musicals performer, like anyone, there are days that get the better of her, and that's how she decided to create the stress and motivation app Hey Lemonade. Together with her fellow performer friend Lucy Durack they hope to turn around people's woes with the Hey Lemonade app that they designed and built. As Elise explains, the app offers three-minute talks on various topics, written by a team of writers and psychologists, and delivered by a diverse range of well known voices from the entertainment industry. A bit like a portable pick me up in your pocket. Contact Streets of Your Town host Nance Haxton AKA The Wandering Journo and find socials links HERE Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broken Hill-born country singer-songwriter Raechel Whitchurch spent most of her childhood travelling in her family's country music band, before establishing herself as one of Aussie music's most recognisable country artists.   But her path to songwriting was far from guaranteed. In fact, it wasn't until her family saw Kasey Chambers' family group The Dead Ringer Band perform in Broken Hill that country music became a family career. Her Dad thought it would be a great way to make a living, so they all became self-taught musicians.   After several local talent quests, the Lee family packed their lives into a caravan and hit the road on two laps of Australia and a six-month stint in Arnhem Land performing in their travelling country family band, The Lees. Raechel, the eldest, was aged only 12, but it's a lifestyle she has taken on as her own into adulthood with her husband Ben and three children on the road as well.   And as Raechel tells us on Streets of Your Town, her songs don't flinch from telling the hardships as well as the fun times of life in rural and remote Australia.   Contact Nance AKA The Wandering Journo and find socials links HERE   Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Meanjin/Brisbane band Yirinda is widening the scope of Indigenous music with a unique take blending Aboriginal language and songs with classical genres.   Yirinda combines ancient Aboriginal language performed by Butchulla songman Fred Leone with dramatic soundscapes from Samuel Pankhurst, accompanied by a string quartet, to invoke thousands of generations of story and culture through music.   The band has just released its debut album on vinyl, CD and digital following on from their performance debut at last year's Brisbane Festival, before going on to play at the Woodford Folk Festival over New Years.    Fred and Samuel tell Streets of Your Town about their unique evocative sound evolved,  and their excitement taking Yirinda on the road with a tour up Australia's east coast, finishing in Cairns on May 31.   Contact Nance AKA The Wandering Journo and find socials links HERE   Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's only two people who have made it onto Streets of Your Town podcast more than once. And journo and author extraordinaire Trent Dalton is one of them.  With the Netflix series adaptation of his first breakthrough novel Boy Swallows Universe now number one in Australia and top ten in the US, it's time to revisit this Brisbane born and bred talent, whose gritty but hopeful representations of the wrong side of town in his novels have thrust beloved Brissie icons such as the Story Bridge onto the worldwide map. He knows this underworld because he grew up in it, and Trent tells us on Streets of Your Town how he never could have envisioned as a young child how a story he wrote could one day make it onto screens around the country and around the globe. Contact Nance AKA The Wandering Journo and find socials links HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With all the agitation and conflict in the world at the moment - I thought what we need on Streets of Your Town to start this year - is whimsy. Something to make us smile and stir a sense of childlike awe in us again. And so off I meandered in Mildred the Cantankerous Kombi to the Woodford Folk Festival. It's on every year in the foothills of Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland helping hippies and hippies at heart to spread harmony and see in the New Year with three minutes of silent contemplation. The festival attracts more than 130,000 people to the pop-up town of Woodfordia on the site of a former dairy farm, making it the largest gathering of artists and musicians in Australia. Amidst this glorious muddy throng of people and throbbing music is a contemplative corner of Woodfordia called the Lettering House. It's where festival goers can go back to times gone by, and connect to their fellow Woodfordians the old fashioned, non-digital way - by writing a letter or typing it on an old fashioned type-writer. A team of Woodfordian posties search out the identify of each letter recipient, often based on the vaguest of addresses and identifies, then get on their bikes to find them and deliver the letter by hand, or notify the recipient by text that they have a letter to pick up. So sit back, and let's ponder the magic of the Lettering House through the words of Postal Clerk Aaron, who explains how they spread their little bit of writing wonder through the festival. Contact Nance and find socials links HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can't be what you can't see. It's a saying that prompted a former AFL player to create a children's band, so that his kids could be exposed to more than the bland musical world they were offered. Nick Gill is the founder of children's band The Quokkas, with a mission to show children a modern and inclusive Australia through song. After his AFL career Nick went on to become a Channel 7 news reporter and then Breakfast radio host in Newcastle, but it's writing songs for his twins that reflects the diversity of Australia that now keeps him awake at night. He recruited an elite group of musicians to form The Quokkas, with the attitude that they're learning as much from the kids as the kids are from the music. They've just released a new album called Songs for Everyone, and have had their videos downloaded millions of times all around the world, on themes such as body positivity, cooperation and kindness. Nick Gill and fellow Quokkas member Matt McLaren talk to Nance Haxton about what's coming up in the future for this exciting children's music band.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wandering Journo has just returned from one of the most exciting secondments of my now three-decade journalism career - from the Cathedral of Sport the great MCG, where I was part of the National Indigenous Radio Service team covering the 2023 AFL grand final. And I have brought back a glimpse of the action for Streets of Your Town from behind the scenes of the National Indigenous Service broadcast box, where the incredible NIRS commentators call the grand final live. From this tiny booth they broadcast the finals action to some of the most remote communities in outback Australia. Indigenous players are the backbone of this great Australian game, and I speak to two NIRS broadcasting legends - Ron Rogers, and former Collingwood player Chris Egan. They both give their insights into the magic that Aboriginal players bring to Australian Rules Football, and the privilege they feel broadcasting ball-by-ball to hopefully plant the seeds of dreams for more Indigenous players from remote communities to become part of the great game. NIRS AFL commentator legend Ron Rogers has 25 years calling grand finals under his belt, and as he reveals not only does he do the commentary, he sets up the microphones and equipment before each game to broadcast on the AFL website, and to NIRS affiliated radio stations around the country. While Chris Egan brings his experience as a former footballer for Collingwood to the broadcast team, giving insights into how players prepare and cope with the the big pressure games.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We made it Streets of Your Towners - the 100th episode of the Streets of Your Town podcast!!! This episode we return to the man who so kindly kicked off this crazy Streets of Your Town adventure! The man whose storytelling is equally masterful with words or with the palette knife -  who is bookending this series by featuring in episode 1 and 100. This internationally renowned artist - harking from a family of journo's - generously started this podcast series by telling his story - from his idyllic country childhood to rebellious teen, and on to becoming Deputy Mayor of Brisbane, before rediscovering his creative talent anew. Today we re-visit David Hinchliffe in his inner Brisbane city Fortitude Valley home - to find out what's changed for him on the street where he lives, what's different post pandemic, and what has remained the same or even more important than before. The same themes that all of us have pondered, as we reflect on our how our lives have changed too.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Streets of Your Town we're revisiting Vidya Makan, who you may remember meeting on this podcast in December 2022 when we featured her as one of the talented performers in the smash hit touring musical Six.  The show broke all attendance records at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre during its 2022 season.  But this Somerville House and Queensland Conservatorium graduate has not left her run there, and has now debuted her own musical written in collaboration with Sonya Suares, at Sydney's Hayes Theatre, again to rave reviews. The Sydney Morning Herald described Vidya as “a gifted storyteller”, and her show The Lucky Country as “remarkable” - where “national myth-making gets a well overdue shake-up”.  We go backstage at the Hayes Theatre on Streets of Your Town to speak to Vidya after yet another standing ovation for The Lucky Country, and find out how this acclaimed Brisbane actor, singer and composer/lyricist came to realise a dream that she could be seen for who she truly is on stage.   Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a shy kid on the fringes to years later bringing together an eclectic group of musicians in an orchestra bearing his name, Matt Hsu has found the power of music and passed that joy onto dozens of others. The Matt Hsu Obscure Orchestra has quickly established a following as one of Australia's most respected ensembles, bringing together a diverse band of BIPOC, First Nations, disabled, non-binary queer and trans artists at the intersection of art and activism.  Streets of Your Town takes you behind the scenes to one of the orchestra's recent musical imaginings at the Museum of Brisbane, bringing the exhibits to life with a roving performance. The 22-piece ensemble challenges many of the assumptions around traditional orchestras, replacing pomposity with dancing the night away to a range of world instruments made out of found objects. And as the award-winning Taiwanese-Australian composer and multi-instrumentalist Matt Hsu tells us on Streets of Your Town, his otherworldly and joyful compositions aim to celebrate difference, promote inclusivity and bring together cultures.   Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's Streets of Your Town takes you into the world of fast and slow fashion, and what we can all do to lessen the burden of clothes waste on the world. Have you ever looked down at what you're wearing, or into your wardrobe, and wondered where those materials came from?  Who made your outfit, and at what cost to them compared to the cost you paid for it?  Or pondered what the true cost of that bargain t-shirt is when fast fashion wastage is taken into account?  These questions are what drive sustainability consultant Jane Milburn on her quest to get as many people as possible thinking about the way they dress, and how to make better choices to become independent of fast fashion.  She tells us on Streets of Your Town how low cost unethical clothes are creating pollution and contributing to modern day slavery, and how her recent travels for her Churchill Fellowship meeting 55 slow fashion practitioners from around the world has given her tips on how we can all play our part to reduce the burden of clothing waste on the world. Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You never know who I am going to meet on my travels in Mildred the cantankerous kombi. In this episode of Streets of Your Town, we enter the creative wonderland of artist, teacher and jack of all trades Angus MacDiarmid.  He lives in a converted church in the little town of Boonah in Queensland's Scenic Rim.  Despite its close proximity to the bustling cities of Brisbane and the Gold Coast, much of the Scenic Rim remains untouched.  So if you are lucky enough to go for a road trip through this magical area, make sure you keep an eye out for Angus, and if you're lucky, he may even paint your portrait.  On this day in Boonah, I was lucky enough to cross paths with Angus at his home - a beautiful old restored church in the middle of town, that he shares with his partner Jenny.  He happily tells us how he and Jenny came to settle in this quiet corner of The Scenic Rim, and create their perfect colourful creative home to pursue their lifelong love of art. Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Performing in the national spotlight is far from a passing phase for Julian Kuo - whose dedication to his craft since a young age has been rewarded with a prized place in the Australian cast of Hamilton.  The multi-award winning musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda is winding up it's Australian run with the Brisbane season ending on April 23.  Before the show continues on its worldwide run, Julian reflects with us on Streets of Your Town, what it's like to be part of a musical held in such esteem, that many of these Hamil-fans know more about the show's intricacies than the cast.   Such is the dedication of fans to the show that they have become something of a tribe - known universally as the Hamil-fam or Hamilfans. One of the many great quirks of the show is that it relies heavily on rap as well as sung lyrics to tell the story of Alexander Hamilton - one of America's founding fathers. It also features a diverse cast from a range of cultural backgrounds. Such is the dedication of fans to the show that they have become something of a tribe - known universally as the Hamil-fam or Hamilfans. Julian has arguably one of the most difficult roles in the cast, as swing. As well as learning half a dozen parts in his role as a swing, he is also the cast representative for the worldwide Hamilton social justice initiatives Ham4Progress and the Racial Justice Taskforce - which he tells us is one of his most passionate projects as it fits so well with his sense of social justice. And as Julian explains, being such a pivotal part of giving back to the communities that both inspired Hamilton and supported its success, has been one of his greatest rewards. Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's rare that a musician makes such a mark with her first EP that Rolling Stone US magazine raves and international world music festivals beckon for you to play. But that's exactly what has happened for Brisbane born and Melbourne based artist Tiana Khasi, whose eloquent and distinctive music will grace the WOMADelaide stage this weekend. Her debut EP, Meghalaya – titled for Meghalaya, India, the land of the Khasi tribe whose name she proudly bears – is a testament to the power of her storytelling and ability to weave themes of family, self-empowerment and identity into the contemporary vernacular of Australian music.  And as she tells us on Streets of Your Town, Tiana credits finding her voice at such a young age to her life's journey honouring her Samoan and Indian heritage. This combination of influences makes for a unique sound that was further honed from expert teaching at Brisbane's Conservatorium. By exploring and integrating her past, Tiana creates a new take on soulful r and b that sets her apart.  Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's not many awards he hasn't won for his groundbreaking musical theatre work, and now Lin-Manuel Miranda has shown he keeps his promises too. The Tony, Grammy, Emmy, Olivier and Pulitzer Prize winning creator came to Brisbane this weekend, to watch the Australian company perform Hamilton - his worldwide musical juggernaut that combines jazz, hip hop, R&B and Broadway musical styles to tell the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton. He also made a visit to the Brisbane Ludo studios where they make Bluey for a guest appearance on the Australian children's show phenomena, and gave a press conference for selected media while in town. For the first time on Streets of Your Town, I will play the entire 20 minute press conference with Lin-Manuel Miranda, because it's so unusual to have this sort of access to someone who is essentially musical theatre royalty with a worldwide following.  To say I was excited when I got the press conference invitation with a day's notice is an understatement. I was not throwing away my shot on this one. Lin-Manuel Miranda was delightfully frank giving insights into why he came to Australia now, and breaking down his song-writing process. While COVID threw his initial plans to visit the Australian cast into chaos, even forcing their auditions for Hamilton onto zoom, he said he could not walk away from his commitment to meet the cast and see the show as soon as he could. Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The long awaited bio-pic paying tribute to the incredible feats of Jessica Watson has finally been realised, highlighting the struggles she overcame to become the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world. The movie True Spirit was mostly filmed in south-east Queensland, with Jessica Watson's courageous feats navigating some of the world's most challenging stretches of ocean now tapping into a worldwide audience through Netflix. Speaking to me by Zoom, Jessica Watson tells us on Streets of Your Town how the movie has taken many years of development with director Sarah Spillane and working closely with the star Teagan Croft, but she's thrilled with the final results. Watson says she hopes now more than a decade after her amazing feat, that if another young woman wanted to do something like this, she wouldn't have to face the same obstacles she did. Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Streets of Your Town comes to you (again!) from the streets of the Woodford Folk Festival, where the sublime singing of Punjabi Australian singer and dancer Parvyn Kaur Singh drew me into her orbit. As it turns out Parvyn had just completed a cross country adventure from her South Australian home, bringing all her family up in her Subaru wagon so she could perform at the Festival. She brought her new solo expression to Woodford audiences for the first time, synthesising a lifetime of dance and song into into her debut record ‘Sa'. Her eclectic influences range from electronica and jazz to her background in Sikh devotional music and her training in Indian classical music and dance.  But while Parvyn was one of the farthest flung artists performing at this year's festival, she's actually also one of the longest participating - having come to the Woodford Folk Festival since she was a child. As Parvyn says - she's been coming to Woodford before it was known as Woodford. And as she tells us on Streets of Your Town, Parvyn feels grateful to be giving back to the Woodford Folk Festival post pandemic, just as her solo career is taking off, having been featured in Rolling Stone India. Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Callan Purcell is taking on one of the most renowned roles in musical theatre - Aaron Burr - in the Brisbane season of the Australian production of the worldwide phenomenon that is Hamilton. Aaron Burr is Hamilton's nemesis in the show, and this young Indigenous performer tells me on Streets of Your Town how he is rising to the challenge of fleshing out this pivotal character. He has shown his performing chops in the show for the past two years in a range of understudy and swing roles in Hamilton, overcoming covid disruptions to show his ability and now be given the responsibility of lead. It's a story that's come full circle for Callan, showing his determination to succeed right from when he first got standing room only tickets to see Hamilton on Broadway, and came out buzzing with the belief that he would one day perform in the musical. He even has the ticket from the show, with the promise he made to himself written on the back to prove it. Let's sit down for a chat with this incredible performer. Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Streets of Your Town comes to you from the streets of the renowned Woodford Folk Festival, an annual gathering in the week leading up to New Years Day that transforms this peaceful rural idyll into a thriving community of more than 130 thousand people, larger than the nearest Sunshine Coast town of Nambour. As I wandered through the many stages on this land now known as Woodfordia, which was purchased almost 30 years ago to give the festival a secure and ongoing home, there was one band that stood out and beckoned me into the Pineapple Lounge. They are The Moving Stills.  And as The Moving Stills vocalist and guitarist Tom Mahler tells us on Streets of Your Town, their dedication to getting to their next gig from their Central Coast base knows no bounds - hitting the road through 2023 as part of their Volcano tour as well as promoting their new album coming out in August. Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Performing in Six the Musical's Australian tour is the culmination of a lifelong journey for Queensland Conservatorium graduate Vidya Makan, and the realisation of a dream that she could be accepted for her true self on stage. The critically acclaimed Brisbane actor, singer and composer/lyricist has forged her way quickly into the ultra competitive world of musical theatre not only as a performer, but also as a writer, winning awards for two musicals of her own creation now in development, one of which is slated to debut in Sydney's Hayes Theatre in May next year. She stars as Catherine Parr in Six the Musical, and as she tells us on Streets of Your Town, it's a show close to her heart. Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com Watch and listen to Vidya Makan's song I Need You To See Me which she mentions in this interview, on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99WPIneNxG0See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's Streets of Your Town podcast I speak to an Australian treasure. The thrill of performing has never left Marcia Hines, not since she started singing in her church choir as a child in Boston more than 60 years ago. She first moved to Australia from Boston to Sydney at just 16 years old, to star in the Australian production of Hair. Since then, she's become one of Australia's most beloved musical treasures, with a career spanning more than five decades, 22 albums, and countless chart topping singles and multi-platinum records globally. In fact her need to connect with live audiences, has only grown stronger after the limitations of the pandemic. "To be honest, Nance, it's just good for the business to be getting back on its feet, my business, my industry,” she says. “It feels like we're coming home. And after what we've all gone through in the last few years, I'll have to say now, we need some joy, and that's what performers really like bringing to the table, joy.” Marcia is an inspiration to women and Australians everywhere, constantly reinventing herself and setting industry benchmarks. And as she tells us on Streets of Your Town, her urge to perform on stage is rebuilding anew as she starts the national tour of her latest show Velvet Rewired, which kicks off its run at a the Wynnum Fringe this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes you meet someone whose dedication to their craft is so meticulous and thorough, you just have to find out what drives their passion. So it was with international award winning photographer Erick Regnard. He and his twin brother Ian have travelled the world doing high-end art and advertising photography.  They heard about the wonders of underwater photography in Niue, a tiny island off Tonga, with water so clear it was like being suspended in space. And so they designed their underwater polaroid camera and housing, and after many months of planning took off on their adventure. In a true twist of fate they went searching for whales but instead came back with astounding underwater photos featuring a female model that make you question the laws of physics. These photos have won awards from all around the world, and are now on display in a special exhibition called Floating Bits, in Brisbane's Maud Street Photo Gallery. Erick tells us in this episode of Streets of Your Town, what keeps driving his creative quest, after decades of taking astounding photos all around the world. Get the full story, see more of Erick's incredible photos, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Streets of Your Town is a story of hope and reconciliation, through science. The people of the Torres Strait Islands in far north Queensland have known for thousands upon thousand of years how their people have journeyed far across the Coral Sea, and now - finally - that First Nations knowledge is being more widely recognised. The Queensland Museum exhibition Connections Across the Coral Sea: A Story of Movement,  brings together First Nations knowledge with archaeological research, showcasing for the first time a part of Queensland history that has not been previously acknowledged. It shows how extensive international trade and relationships between ancient seafaring cultures of southern New Guinea, Torres Strait and the northeast coast of Queensland went back thousands of years, much further than science traditionally gave credence to. I was lucky enough to interview a traditional owner whose expertise was pivotal in bringing this exhibition together, Dingaal spokesman Kenneth McLean, who explains how significant it is to have their extensive history given the platform it deserves. I also spoke to one of the key archaeologists involved in this research, Professor of Indigenous Archaeology Ian McNiven from Monash University. He says this exhibition is a pivotal development in science finally recognising the oral history of this region that has been handed down through hundreds of generations, giving it the scientific respect it has long deserved. Get the full story and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not often you talk to someone whose love for what they do is so infectious that it draws you into their world and makes you want to be part of it. That was how I felt after speaking with Maestro Umberto Clerici - the world renowned cellist with a vision to take the music of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra to the world stage. As he tells us on this episode of Streets of Your Town, he defied the traditional route of how to become a conductor by being appointed the QSO's Chief conductor designate, starting his three year term in January 2023. Maestro Clerici's approach as conductor is unique, not only rising from the orchestra to conductor in a highly unusual progression, but also as he describes, taking on his conductor role like an architect - giving the vision, but making the orchestra more independent.  Get the full story and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising from impoverished beginnings in communist China, to international ballet dancer and author of best selling autobiography Mao's Last Dancer, Li Cunxin has lived an enormous life on stages around the world. But as he tells us on this episode of Streets of Your Town, he is still full of gratitude for the opportunities he's been able to embrace, particularly his present role as Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet, a tenure which has just been extended. Mao's Last Dancer became an international best seller and movie, but Cunxin says the role which he is most proud of, is leading Queensland Ballet and its dancers. To celebrate his tenth year at the helm, he has personally curated a triple bill of his favourite works the company has performed. And in a wonderful confluence of historic events for his beloved Queensland company, he is also about to open its new home, fulfilling a transformation he envisioned from when he first began.  Get the full story and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly two decades on from her meteoric rise to fame with her surprise Australian Idol win at just 16 years of age, Casey Donovan is enjoying a renaissance in her musical career. She's on a national tour around Australia starring as Judy Bernly in the musical production of 9 to 5, attracting many accolades, with spontaneous standing ovations after her showstopper solo Get Out and Stay Out. And she won't stay still once that tour's done, going back on the road in September with a series of live and intimate shows in her solo tour dubbed BluesDay - featuring her favourite bluesy tracks. On Streets of Your Town Casey tells us how thrilled she is to be back on stage after the pandemic years, and how she can feel the excited energy from the audience from being together again as well. What I love about making audio stories like this, is you can hear the joy and the energy in their voice. I defy anyone to hear Casey's giggle, and not get a smile on their face. Get the full story and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reviving Indigenous languages through song is the driving force for Rochelle Pitt-Watson's music. Her Quandamooka and Meriam heritage underlie all of her songs, and she hopes that performing them brings some relief from the stresses of these post-covid times. Rochelle is one of the First Nations artists taking centre stage at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in May for Clancestry—A Celebration of Country. She tells us on Streets of Your Town about the significance of being part of a festival that showcases and celebrates First Nations artists, on land that for thousands of years has been a meeting and cultural place for Indigenous people of this land next to the Brisbane River, or Maiwar. Join the Wandering Journo tribe to see more details on this episode of Streets of Your Town and the back catalogue at soyt.substack.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Streets of Your Town, we speak to renowned author and proud Wiradjuri woman Dr Anita Heiss, who is a special guest of the 60th Brisbane Writers Festival coming up in May.  It's a pivotal year for Anita, as its ten years since the original edition of her book "Amy I Black Enough For You" was released, and it's also the 60th anniversary of the festival itself. In Brisbane, and many areas around south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, floods have inundated our homes, towns and cities It hit local communities hard, particularly artists who received little help from the government during the pandemic. While Australian artists may have been largely abandoned during the pandemic, they are now gathering to raise money for those inundated by flood.  Some may say that gathering to talk about art in the midst of a crisis is flippant. But Anita tells me on the podcast, many artists are gathering to raise money for those inundated by flood. And gathering together again she says is actually crucial for communities to recover.  Join The Wandering Journo tribe at soyt.substack.com and read all the background stories from these little gems of Australian life. This week's newsletter can be found at:  https://soyt.substack.com/p/anita-heiss?s=w   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I figured we all need some light and hope in the world right now, so I'm bringing Streets of Your Town to you from Daylesford in regional Victoria, where the Chill Out Festival takes over the town from March 10 to 14. Many of you will know plenty about the party that is Sydney Mardi Gras. What you may not know is that little Daylesford is on the map for its own pride festival, which this year celebrates its 25 year silver jubilee. The town comes alive with a Carnivale, champagne and Chill Out Street Parade, that transforms the central highlands of Victoria into queer country.  Come sit with me at Larder, one of the town's most well known coffee haunts, where I meet Mathew Charlesworth, who tells me how Daylesford is the gay capital of regional Victoria. This isn't just a recent phenomenon, Daylesford has become well known for being a friendly space for LGBTQI communities from around the country, for decades. Join The Wandering Journo tribe at soyt.substack.com and read all the background stories from these little gems of Australian life. This week's newsletter can be found at:  https://soyt.substack.com/p/chilloutfestival?s=w See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karen Jacobsen's voice is familiar to the users of more than a billion devices worldwide, as the voice of Siri. But her movements in the past year are less well known than her voice, which has directed people to their destination through GPS devices around the globe. The pandemic meant she picked up from her home of 20 years in New York, and returned to Australia. She tells us on Streets of Your Town podcast, that she thought this would be a short sojourn. But more than 18 months down the track, Karen and her family are still living in the Whitsundays, and Karen has just released her latest album “Ready for What I Came Here For”, which she started recording in New York before Covid-19 hit, and finished by recording remotely from her island home. She tells us in this episode of Streets of Your Town how she feels she is now embarking on the most exciting chapter of her life as an independent artist in her 50's, embracing the positivity of her music and message. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While many people have heard of the Torres Strait Islands at the northern tip of Australia, not as many know the fascinating history and influence this archipelago paradise has played in Australia's history and future. From the tip of Cape York to the borders of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, the Torres Strait—or now increasingly known as Zenadth Kes—covers an area of more 200 islands over 48 thousand square kilometres. The Queensland Museum is bringing a touch of this beauty and complexity to Brisbane until the end of April 2022, giving city people a rare glimpse of these remote islands in the exhibition: Island Futures: What lies ahead for Zenadth Kes? This episode of Streets of Your Town podcast takes you on a behind the scenes tour of that exhibition with co-curator, renowned broadcaster and proud Torres Strait Islander Rhianna Patrick. She explains how hard it is to capture such a complex society of interwoven stories—the interconnectedness between people, place and knowledge which is the foundation of their identity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're going to North Stradbroke Island in the sparkling jewel that is Moreton Bay in Queensland's south-east. It's known as "Straddie" to some. But to the Quandamooka Aboriginal people, who have a connection to the island going back more than 20,000 years, it is known it as Minjerribah, meaning “island in the sun”. Delvene Cockatoo-Collins is a First Nations artist based here, like generations of her family before her. Her works are now sold around the world and were featured in her designs for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games medals, and her representation of the white whale Migaloo floating high above the audience in the opening ceremony.  Today Delvene takes us on a walking tour of the island, which she does regularly for day trippers keen to get a First Nations perspective of the important artistic and cultural sites on this patch of paradise. We start our conversation for Streets of Your Town under the trees on the beach near Dunwich, or Goompi, where Delvene finds many of the materials she uses in her evolving arts practice. Streets of your Town podcast would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians on whose land this story was gathered. I acknowledge that for tens of thousand of years Our First Nations people have walked this country and shared stories on this great land down under, and I walk in their footsteps today.   I pay my respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Read more about Delvene's work, see the back catalogue of episodes and learn more about my work as The Wandering Journo at the Streets of Your Town website at https://soyt.substack.com https://cockatoocollins.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Tucked away in the hustle and relentless movement of Cairns' famous Rusty's Markets on Sheridan Street, is a local institution.  Billy's coffee has its own loyal gathering of locals every market day, and behind the coffee machine coordinating the barista symphony is the ever smiling Billy Hoade. He's been serving up coffee from his beloved Papua New Guinea for more than 15 years, expanding now to running his own roastery. And today, on Streets of Your Town, we're going to find out from Billy himself, what keeps the locals coming back." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Streets of Your Town straddles two continents on opposite sides of the world - Ireland and Australia. Where the wild Atlantic ocean whips the rocky cliffs of Ireland's west coast, the people of the small county of Mayo are contemplating whether they can overcome a hoo doo of 70 years. Is it a Coincidence or a curse? I delve into the mystery of how this county has not won an All Ireland Gaelic Football Final since 1951, despite making it to the finals of arguably Ireland's most important sporting contest, ten times.  Some blame an infamous curse apparently placed on the entire football team by an angry priest.  But as our guest Stephen O'Grady so eloquently explains, Gaelic football is more than just a sport. It's about identify, about Irish emigrants and the longing for what was left behind, and about where we call home. Is it our memories, or where we live presently? Stephen O'Grady grew up in Mayo, with the imprint of his county's woes in Gaelic football finals a constant companion while growing up.  He says Gaelic football is more than just a sport, it's a crucial part of life in Ireland. He tells us how he hopes this is the year that Mayo overcomes the weight of expectation from the entire county, and wins the All Ireland final against Tyrone on September 11." Sign up for Nance's substack email here    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Across the sparkling Trinity Inlet that separates Cairns from the southern beaches beyond, is a small Indigenous community that's successfully renewed its sacred country from years of degradation, and is now on the cusp of great success. Mandingalbay Yidinji country straddles two great world heritage areas in far north Queensland, the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef, stretching out to the Coral Sea. In this episode of Streets of Your Town Executive Director Dale Mundraby tells us stories that have been handed down through the generations, including how his ancestors met Captain Cook. Dale Mundraby explains how his people have been part of this land for many thousands of years and are now eager to show it to others who come to visit and take part in their Ancient Indigenous Tours. He invites us to come and visit, and tells how it's a great privilege to show guests where the salty water of the sea meets the freshwater flowing from the surrounding mountains, and introduce visitors to the bush pharmacy of food and medicinal plants in the surrounding rainforest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week in Bundaberg, on Queensland's central Coast, a small but significant ceremony started to turn a long history of exploitation and shame around. And we bring it to you on this episode of Streets of Your Town. Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey, took the step of becoming the first representative of any government in Australia, to say sorry for blackbirding, the practice where more than 62-thousand Pacific Islanders were brought to Australia from the 1860s to the turn of the 20th century. Many were forcibly removed from their Pacific Island homes to work in appalling conditions on cane fields in towns such as Bundaberg. You will hear from Australian South Sea Islanders in the audience on this special day, with many of them brought to tears, as the Vanuatu flag was raised outside the council chambers alongside the Australian flag and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag. It was recognition some of them had waited a lifetime to see and hear.       See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Streets of Your Town we feature the extraordinary project, called Scattered People. The documentary was a six year labour of love, following two young Iranian asylum seekers navigating Australia's immigration detention system, and the unexpected connections they make through music. Musicians such as John Butler, Missy Higgins, Dan Sultan, Archie Roach, Baker Boy, Michael Franti, and Katie Noonan all took part. Scattered People is a heartfelt story about connection and the power of music to give people a voice. All proceeds from screenings in cinemas around the country go to local asylum seeker projects in each local area. It takes enormous commitment to learn a new skill like filmmaking. But to see that project through to screenings around Australia six years later, with rolling screening dates around Covid lockdowns, takes that commitment to another level. The documentary made filmmakers out of everyday Australians John and Lizzi Swatland. Lizzi joins us on the podcast today, along with choir mistress Yani Mills.  https://www.scatteredpeoplefilm.org

This week on Streets of Your Town we feature the extraordinary project, called Scattered People. The documentary was a six year labour of love, following two young Iranian asylum seekers navigating Australia's immigration detention system, and the unexpected connections they make through music. Musicians such as John Butler, Missy Higgins, Dan Sultan, Archie Roach, Baker Boy, Michael Franti, and Katie Noonan all took part. Scattered People is a heartfelt story about connection and the power of music to give people a voice. All proceeds from screenings in cinemas around the country go to local asylum seeker projects in each local area. It takes enormous commitment to learn a new skill like filmmaking. But to see that project through to screenings around Australia six years later, with rolling screening dates around Covid lockdowns, takes that commitment to another level. The documentary made filmmakers out of everyday Australians John and Lizzi Swatland. Lizzi joins us on the podcast today, along with choir mistress Yani Mills.  https://www.scatteredpeoplefilm.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In efforts to bring you a little lock down cheer and hope in the world, in this episode of Streets of Your Town we'll meet a group of people who cook home made meals for the homeless, rain, hail, or pandemic shine. "Dig In" hasn't missed a single service to the people who eagerly await their homely meal, with hundreds of volunteers on the roster to cook every Saturday since it was started by four school mates on October 28th 2017. Come with me on this episode of Streets of Your Town to meet this joyous group of Dig In volunteers who gather to cook every Saturday, in a humble commercial kitchen at inner city Brisbane high school St James College. The wholesome meals they're creating are destined for homeless people living rough in the city, who often yearn for but cannot access a freshly cooked home made meal. Co-founder Lucas Ryals and brand ambassador and fellow lawyer Brad Marland are now looking to expand Dig In to the next stage of providing home made meals in specially designed vending machines accessible by the homeless with a special code, in towns far beyond the organisation's Brisbane beginnings. They're also looking to expand Dig In's service into high schools. Lucas tells me in this podcast how it was a shock to them to learn how extensive a problem homelessness and poverty is, and how some students go without food for days. He hopes that the nourishing meals provided by Dig In can help remedy that, and improve school grades and attendance as well. https://www.digin.org.au

In efforts to bring you a little lock down cheer and hope in the world, in this episode of Streets of Your Town we'll meet a group of people who cook home made meals for the homeless, rain, hail, or pandemic shine. "Dig In" hasn't missed a single service to the people who eagerly await their homely meal, with hundreds of volunteers on the roster to cook every Saturday since it was started by four school mates on October 28th 2017. Come with me on this episode of Streets of Your Town to meet this joyous group of Dig In volunteers who gather to cook every Saturday, in a humble commercial kitchen at inner city Brisbane high school St James College. The wholesome meals they're creating are destined for homeless people living rough in the city, who often yearn for but cannot access a freshly cooked home made meal. Co-founder Lucas Ryals and brand ambassador and fellow lawyer Brad Marland are now looking to expand Dig In to the next stage of providing home made meals in specially designed vending machines accessible by the homeless with a special code, in towns far beyond the organisation's Brisbane beginnings. They're also looking to expand Dig In's service into high schools. Lucas tells me in this podcast how it was a shock to them to learn how extensive a problem homelessness and poverty is, and how some students go without food for days. He hopes that the nourishing meals provided by Dig In can help remedy that, and improve school grades and attendance as well. https://www.digin.org.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.