News

This is now my third foray into the USA in about six months via the generosity of the American folk organisation, Hudson Harding Music. Erik Balkey and Bill Coyle are artist’s representatives for CD distribution and promotion to folk radio across the States. The first connection was through my song Waited Too Long.. then a collaborative album with my old friend Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul & Mary fame – three songs each from him, me, John Stuart and Kevin Roth. This time they have put two new songs into circulation.. Same Science and Coat of Many Colours. Fingers crossed Tronald Dump gets to hear them! You can watch video of all three songs HERE.

BIG NEWS: My big Christmas present was a visit from our old friend and music legend Brendan Gallagher to embed himself in the house for three days while we laid nine bed tracks for my next album, the fifth and first in 26 years. We fought of corellas, dogs, trucks, children and the coffee machine to set the foundations for a release in April all being well. Watch this space

Just a week out from Christmas and the Robertson Public House and Kitchen was hosting Loki Hines Open Mic as it does every month. Invited to perform I felt that a little Christmas cheer was required so turned up as PeterClause with the appropriate shirt and trousers.. the hat is by others.. well.. somebody had to do it! The audience assembled joined me in a rousing chorus of the classic Australian Christmas carol The Three Drovers and a great night was had by all.

Had a terrific night with Craig Sinclair and Lara Norman who run the Lookout House Concerts in Blackheath. Wonderful group of people gathered in the warm atmosphere of their home.. a very generous way of bringing joyous music to the Mountains.

Wasn’t playing at the BFF in 2024 but still deeply embedded as brand partner and official photographer. I designed the brand assets for the year, produced the program, signage and other collateral, and was an official photographer for the event. I have to say that it’s a lot less effort being a performer – note to self! But, I got some simple wonderful shots.. this is Ais O’Neill making her festival debut after winning the NSW Folk Federation’s under 19 Young Folk Musician of the Year. Accompanying her on Irish Bouzouki is her dad Ken O’Niell from Kejafi. I love the warmth of the communication between them.

Never been to Humph Hall before this event.. the night after the Leonard Cohen event in Canberra. Arrived to find an old Uniting Church that had been converted into a rehearsal/concert space and a private home.. just terrific. Went on to do a good long show with a wonderful audience which included the hosts, Wayne and Gial and a group of members of ‘Loosely Woven’, an a cappella choir based at the Hall. This is Wayne, Gial and me after the event.. I’m the boring one in the middle.

Back in 1979 I toured across America with my little family (well.. four kids under seven, nine suitcases, two guitars and four teddy bears) to record my second album with folk legend Noel Paul Stookey (Paul of Peter, Paul & Mary). Two months living in a cottage across the duck pond from Noel’s house in Blue Hill, Maine, recording in his Hen House Studios, singing around Maine (that’s him and me together in Maine in the pic), meeting extraordinary people and having lots of fun. 45 years later Noel is releasing a CD with three songs from him, me, John Stuart and Kevin Roth.. three songs each. The CD is called Neworld Sampler and will be distributed across the US by Hudson Harding Music. I’ll keep you posted.

An interesting connection has been made with Hudson Harding Music, Erik Balkey and Bill Coyle. Together they are artist’s representatives for CD distribution and promotion to folk radio across the USA. We connected through our mutual friend Noel Paul Stookey (Paul of Peter, Paul & Mary) as Noel and I were discussing releasing a CD with tunes from him, me and a couple of other artists who had recorded with Noel in his Hen House Studios in Blue Hill Maine back in the 70s and 80s. Erik loved my song Waited Too Long and asked if it could be on their next compilation CD to distribute across the States. Obviously I said yes!

I was so pleased to be part of the Irish & Celtic in September. Aside from having 4 shows in three days I also designed the brand and program for the festival, so I was in it up to my eyeballs. Such a pleasure to be sharing great music in such a beautiful part of the state!

So.. that long post about the 4th of August has happened.. 40 people, 5 cameras, 12 mics, two cinematographers, 2 guest instrumentalists and a lot of food and wine and we did it. Videos are up on the site now so go take a look in the MUSIC Tab.

SO WHY FLOOR SPOTS, AND WHY BOTHER? Well.. a close cousin of the famous Open Mic, for many they’re just a way to fill the never-never land between the arrival of the audience and the start of the feature acts. But it’s also an opportunity for young artists to test their musical mettle in front of a crowd, for songwriters to gauge responses to a new tune, and for organisers to see unfamiliar artists in action. Sure, sometimes it can be a bit irksome but it teaches you to be patient and tolerant, and you learn something from everybody! At its best it’s a time where a dynamic collection of cameo performances kick off a big night of music with a few highly focused mini-sets that tease and engage the audience, building expectations for the talent to come. I’ve been making a bit of a feature of floor spots and open mics recently, wherever I can find them – gets you amongst the folks, you find old and new friends, it gets your music heard in tasty bite-sized chunks, gets the name onto a few more lips and keeps you humble. I’ve missed you at the Illawarra Folk Club, Camperdown Commons and the Dunkirk Hotel.. The Robertson Public House & Kitchen, The Loaded Dog, I’ll be at The Troubadour in Empire Bay on July 13, and wherever I land in between – it’s lots of fun and I’ll keep you posted.

Yep.. same guy.. same 12 string.. different haircut! It’s been many a year since I performed up in Newcastle.. half a century I reckon, but that’s where this pic was shot. I was born in the Hunter and have always felt a connection to the place so great to firm it all up with a show at the Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club – June 1st at 6.30. I’m bringing lots of new music.. plenty of laughs and things to think about. I’m sharing the night with The Bicycle Busker aka Matthew Clarke.. (half of Two Voices in the Crowd). He’ll be leaving his bike at the door and bringing a wealth of original and borrowed music.

Really looking forward to this one.. sharing the afternoon with Nerida Cuddy.. a wonderful singer songwriter with a great sense of humour and life, along with an active social conscience. A perfect pairing of musical inclinations to bring you all a special experience in the beautiful town of Braidwood. Please BOOK TICKETS soon, either via the following link: https://events.humanitix.com/autumn-concert-featuring… or by emailing us at braidwoodfolkclub@gmail.com

Really happy to be performing at the St Albans Folk Festival, held over a weekend close to Anzac Day, is home to quality trad and contemporary folk, bush music, sessions, workshops, dances, poetry and kid’s activities. It showcases local and international performers, song writers and musicians and runs a market of food, produce and other stalls. Patrons travel for the day or camp on the banks of the McDonald River 20 kms from Wisemans Ferry in the beautiful Hawkesbury River area, North of Sydney and West of Gosford. The village has one of the oldest pubs in Australia, the Settlers Arms and a Historical Cemetery.

Must have been about 20 years since I played at this club.. and thousands of people and worlds of wonderful music have passed through its doors in the meantime. Great to be going back for a night of strong songs, lots of laughs and a chance catch up with the folks in the north of Sydney. For more information visit https://hkfolkclub.au/ or contact hornsbyfolk@gmail.com

For the first 20 years of adult life I was a musician of the indie-folk variety.. took me around the world a few times.. made four albums.. gave and got a lot of pleasure. I sang at a lot of festivals from the Edinburgh Fringe to the Australian Longford FF and National FF, to the Common Ground Country Fair in Litchfield Maine, USA. Pleased to say that I’m on the lineup for the inaugural Bundanoon FF at the end of November. 11am to Noon on Sunday 26th.. come and join me.

Back in the day I was a finalist in the Declan Affley Songwriting Award a couple of times when it was a thing at the National Folk Festival. 35 years later, with so many unheard songs in my back pocket I’ve started putting them out there to see what happens. I’ve just heard that I’m a finalist in the first one I tried.. the Roddy Read at the Maldon Folk Festival in Victoria. So I’m heading down to the Festival to sing Waited Too Long and how it fits into the folk sensibility in the 21st century. You can watch it HERE

Three generations of Campbells are heading for the Gasoline Pony on June 22 at 7pm. With deep musical roots in the socially conscious 60s and 70s, Peter C brings his infectious indie folk together with Bow C’s metal inclinations and Jude C’s hip hop chops for a one-off event that’s going to leave us all wondering what just happened. P, B & J will be joined by Brian Rapsey on harmonica and Ben Nightingale on guitar – they’ll be the ones with hair. This is going to be a night you shouldn’t miss! Bookings here.. https://www.facebook.com/events/822847345361509

Back at the Robertson CTC Music Café on Saturday February 11. Bow Campbell (guitar) and Brian Rapsey (harmonica) are coming too so there’ll be some fun for sure. Get down to the CTC by 2pm, $10 at the door.