CENTRE STAGE Brian Nankervis

Photo by Eric Algra

Brian Nankervis has long been curious about the relationship between songs and personal stories, going back to his days on RRR-FM.

These days he hosts a Saturday morning program on ABC Radio Melbourne, Songs and Stories, with a stellar cast of guests.

In a similar vein, Brian – a long-time supporter of Stereo Stories – will be onstage with us at Memo Music Hall on Sunday 9 January, along with fellow guest writers Carmel Bird, Jenny Valentish and Danny Katz, all backed by the Stereo Stories band.

Brian was part of our very first gig, at the Williamstown Literary Festival in 2014, with a story about schooldays and mischief and friendship, wrapped around The Beatles’ We Can Work It Out.

Among his many commitments – RocKwiz and ABC Radio to name just two – he has found time to be part of half-a-dozen of our shows, the most recent the 2021 Bendigo Writers Festival in May.

While the audience usually expects – and gets – a humorous story, Brian’s story about preparing for his father’s funeral saw many a tear flowing at the Williamstown Town Hall in 2018. And the song? Sooner Or Later One Of Must Know by one of Brian’s favourite artists, Bob Dylan.

Brian sees his role at Stereo Stories as being part of the ensemble. He likes the fact that, for our shows, he is not the MC, he is not the producer. He enjoys being one of several guest writers and loves picking their brains when backstage, talking books and literature, talking stories, talking songs, talking music. (And swimming, and sport and life…)

He is, yes, an obvious drawcard, but also a wise counsel behind the scenes, bringing his vast performance experience to rehearsals and soundchecks and to chats and conversations with the band and with – over a meal a few times a year at The Waiters Club – director Vin Maskell.

Thank you Brian.

Memo Music Hall tickets