All things must pass. Thank you, Williamstown.

Williamstown 2022.

Williamstown Town Hall, 2014 to 2019, 2022 to 2026.

I announced to my older son the other day, “I’ve farewelled Williamstown”.

“What?” he said, “the whole suburb? The beach you love, the footy team at the Fearon, the school-crossing where you work?”

“No, the literary festival. I’ve decided the show has had a pretty good run there. Extraordinary, really.”

*

Stereo Stories’ first performance was in 2014 in the Town Hall Council Chambers. Sixty people there on a Saturday arvo. An accordion, a few acoustic guitars.  Half a dozen stories.

We then moved to the Town Hall Ballroom and year after year the numbers increased…100, 200, 300, 400. Such local loyalty was never taken for granted.

Word got out. Gigs across Victoria and into New South Wales. (The Write Around the Murray festival in Albury for the past 10 years.)

Writers got onboard. Toni Jordan, Melanie Cheng, Jacinta Parsons, Andy Griffiths, Paulie Stewart, Brian Nankervis, ‘Smokie’ Dawson, Lucia Nardo, Rijn Collins,  Nick Gadd, Jock Serong, Danny Katz, Katherine Kovacic, Maria Majsa and so many more.

Musicians got onboard. Stephen, Nils, Shorty, Peter, Rob, Julie, the two Davids, Matt, Reuben, Chris, Gemma, Laura, Martina, Luke…

The gigs got bigger than Texas. Eight-piece band, stage manager, lighting director, production company…

It’s been quite a ride but as the band sang one June night in 2019, all things must pass.

Thank you, Williamstown Literary Festival. Thank you, Williamstown audiences

*

“So, will you do other shows?” my son asked.

“Hopefully. If I hear from anyone. But, you know, smaller venues, shorter shows.Not so many musos and writers.”

“Pare it back?”

“Yep, and maybe base the gigs around launches of new volumes of the little Stereo Stories books.”

 “Like you did in March at Kindred Bandroom?”

“Yep, that sort of small concert. Intimate.”

Williamstown 2018.

Williamstown 2025.

All photos by Eric Algra.