The inaugural Murwillumbah Country Roots Festival takes place this long weekend on the New South Wales north coast. Organised by local country music artist Lou Bradley, the festival is headlined by Kasey Chambers, Sara Storer, The Audreys and Archie Roach, with over 60 all-Australian acts taking part across four stages. Late last week I had the chance to chat to Sara Storer about the festival - which also features her brother Greg. For the full line-up and other details, visit
www.MCRFest.com.
When did you sign on
to the festival?
Last year I remember [organiser] Lou [Bradley] talking about
whether I’d be keen to be a part of it and I said, ‘Absolutely.’ And I said,
‘Why don’t I bring my brother Greg Storer as well?’ We’re sort of like a
package, which is great, because Greg’s heading up with his family, I’m heading
up with mine, and it’s sort of turned into a family gig with all the kids, and
everything’s going to be so much fun.
So when you say ‘all
the kids’, are you pressing any of them into service?
Often I head off and say goodbye and they’ve sort of got no idea – because they’re still so
young – what I do. But they’re at a great age now – well, two of them – where
they can come and watch and see what Mum does. My brother’s got four kids and
I’ve got four. They’ll probably watch for about five seconds and then want to
go and play in the dirt [laughs] and I don’t care anyway because I’m not
looking after them – my husband has to do that.
Are you still living
in the Territory?
No, we’ve moved. We’re down just out of Albury.
That makes a bit more
sense, because I thought coming from the Territory would be a big commitment
for the festival.
No, we’re not coming from Darwin any more. Too hard. And as
much as the lifestyle’s pretty unique, living up there, it’s too far. We love
Albury. Great people and it’s so central to both Sydney and Melbourne.
Quite a bit colder,
though.
Yes. The blood hasn’t really thickened up yet either. It was
freezing. We’re in this little farmhouse – there’s no insulation, the kids all
whinging. I said, ‘This is what it was like in the olden days, kids, so just
zip it’ [laughs].
Hopefully it will be
a bit warmer in the north of New South Wales over the October long weekend. It
might be wet though – it can sometimes rain a bit up that way.
Okay, there might be a bit of rain – thanks for that little
tip, because I am hopeless at what to pack. We’re going to need a trailer,
that’s the worrying thing. To put the kids in the trailer [laughs].
So you’re obviously
planning to stay the length of the festival.
We’re going to try. I’m going to try to be there on the
Saturday – my brother’s on the main stage that day. Then we’ve got Sunday off
and of course we’ll do the festival thing. And then I’m not performing until
the Monday night. So it’s really great. Normally you fly in and you fly out and
you just don’t have time to see anything. So this has worked kind of as ‘I’m
going to a festival’ – it’s a bit of both, so it’ll be great.
Does it mean – I’m
just thinking from a technical point of view – that if you’re not singing until
the Monday night and you’ve been seeing friends, talking to people at shows, so
you’ve been shouting a bit, do you have to really think about how to save your
voice?
I don’t have that problem. Because I write my own songs and
sing, my voice is never pushed too hard because I sing naturally where my voice
takes me. Whereas if I sing a cover, I get off stage and my throat really hurts
– it’s a different melody and it probably pushes me a bit. But with my own
stuff I’m pretty right – it’s not that hard on my throat. I’m not like a Jimmy
Barnes – I’d love to [be], though. It would take a fair bit out of me. I do
probably have to watch I don’t have late nights. Catching up with everyone, you
have one too many and then you’ve got to do a pretty good job the next day, so
you have to be careful of that one. Socialising.
Is there anyone in
particular you’re looking forward to seeing perform?
Well, Kasey [Chambers] – I do love her music. We’re friends,
but put that aside – I’ve got all her albums. I’m a bit of a fan. So I’m
looking forward to Kasey. And I love Mustered Courage. They’re just constantly
on in the car, so I’ll be able to sing along. Not where they could see me –
because that would be quite embarrassing.
They might be quite
pleased, though, if you wanted to join them for a number.
[Laughs] Maybe. Or maybe they might tell me to get off! I
have jumped up with [them] at Tamworth. It was after the [Golden Guitar] awards
– it was on the Sunday. The last Sunday in Tamworth is the day I go and just
have a great time – catch up with people. So I jumped up and sang a couple of songs
with them. They’re just awesome.
You’ve also just
given a tip for anyone heading to Tamworth, to hang around for the Sunday in
case there are any interesting collaborations going on.
Oh, absolutely. And Shane Howard – he’s just an unbelievable
songwriter – can’t wait to see him [at Murwillumbah]. Archie Roach is on. It’s
going to be terrific.
I noted that the
festival is being MC’d by Ben Sorensen but also by Buddy Goode – and I have to
say that makes me a little afraid for all of you!
[laughs] You don’t sit down in the front row, maybe.
Yes. But I do think
it will be highly entertaining.
Oh, he’s hilarious. For ages I didn’t know who he was and
then I worked out how it was and I was kind of embarrassed that I didn’t know.
I still don’t know
who he is.
Oh, okay. Well, that’s what happens, I guess, when you’re
having a family – you sort of get left behind a bit and you don’t catch up on
all this stuff. It’ll be good. It’ll be an awesome festival. Can’t wait.
And the festival is all
Australian – how important is that to you?
I guess that is a great thing. Music’s music – it doesn’t matter where it comes from – but it’s
kinda cool in that it showcases our talents here in Australia and I think that’s
a great idea. I love that stance – all Aussie. Great. Bring it on.
I should have said
this at the top when you mentioned Lou, but Lou is one of these quiet figures
who seems to know everyone, so you must have known her for quite a while.
Lou came on the country music scene – I was sort of new as
well. She was probably a couple of years after me. And there was talk in the
town of this Lou Bradley. And it’s always great – we always need some new
talent in country music world. So I went and had a look and she’s just a
brilliant songwriter and entertainer, and we became mates. We’ve done many gigs
together and last year she rang me and asked if I wanted to be a part of [the
festival] and I said, ‘Yes! Make sure I’m counted.’ So I think she’s gone
through and picked all the music she likes – it’s pretty much who she’d have in
her back yard. And I was just so lucky I was picked – otherwise I’d be ringing
her saying, ‘Hey, where’s my name?’
Talking of festivals:
what are your Tamworth plans and are you working on a new album?
Well, I am. I’m recording it within the next few months, so
it will be completed by the end of the year to release my first single and
video clip at Tamworth next year. And I’ve got two shows at Tamworth – one is
my own show at Blazes and the second gig is the gig that I absolutely love,
where I pair up with my brother, Greg Storer. We call it the Kitchen Sessions
and we’re doing that at the pub on the Saturday.
