A meeting of rivers – Albury 2023

All photos by Peter Charlesworth.

The river of song flowed into the river of story at our sixth appearance at Write Around the Murray, in Albury on Saturday 16 September.  The guest writers, all new to the format of our show, embraced narrating their stories as  the band weaved in the particular songs.

Debra Dank told us about her father’s horse-wrangling expertise. The song? Slim Dusty’s Ringer From The Top End.

Gemma Keating recalled taking the adventurous steps from childhood to adolescence, via the Jason Mraz song I’m Yours.

Band member David Barton won the audience over with his tale of having no idea about Boz Scaggs. The audience duly sang along to a rollicking Lido Shuffle.

Paul Dalgarno told the story of his infant son possibly being a fan of the Nina Simone version of Here Comes The Sun, but not so keen on Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together.

Irma Gold remembered her attempts at being, in her last year of primary school, a Material Girl.

Rijn Collins charmed us with a story about hearing an Icelandic goth/punk/feminist trio while working on her novel – set in Iceland. Band member Martina Medica sang the song – in Icelandic.

Martina Medica recalled falling in love with a young woman at university, while listening to Jeff Buckley sing an Edith Piaf song.

A pensive moment for drummer Matt McGrath as he checks the script and waits for a cue.

Band member Chris Phillips invoked Into The Mystic in her micro-memoir about her new-born daughter’s first journey.

Julie Merritt  (accordion) and Laura Sheridan (cello) rightfully regard themselves as the ‘orchestra’ of the band.

Give Peter Maskell a song and he’ll sing it: Forever Young, State Trooper, Let’s Stay Together… Give him a guitar and he’ll play it: Lido Shuffle, The Chain, Like A Rolling Stone, Werewolves of London…