John Fairhurst in session on Sideways Through Sound (2SER)

Just at the beginning of last month, John’s loved ones were no doubt freezing their toes off back in Blighty and cursing him for the balmy weather out in Australia- John’s current (Obnox) stomping ground. Just in case we needed proof that he’s been working his little cotton socks off out there, despite the siren call of Bondai Beach, here it is. The Sonic Assassin at Sideways Through Sound on Sydney radio station 2SER asked him in to the studio for a natter and some live fingerpicking lusciousness.

It must be unusual to hear two English Northwesterners talking on Aussie radio, but strangely enough, The Sonic Assassin and John hail from the same part of the world, so this cosy chat could just have well have been overheard in a pub near Billinge as on the airwaves of Sydney’s foremost underground radio station.

John talks about being bottled by thugs in a Melbourne backstreet, Bukka White, Takoma Records and its founder John Fahey’s extensive back catalogue, Fairhurst’s collaboration with Traditional Healthcare and Gertrude’s Brown Couch, Manchester’s vibrant music scene, radical musician led Manchester label Debt Records, and touring the world for the past three years.

He also plays four tunes from his repertoire- Blues for Bill and an improvised version of How Far, How Fast from his album Joys of Spring, Bukka White inspired Lost My Mind and Pay Day by Mississippi John Hurt.

Just before he left for the wilds of the Antipodean outback, John was invited by BBC Manchester Introducing to headline a special concert at Manchester’s Ruby Lounge, on September 6th 2009. Supporting were the dreamlike Starless and Bible Black, who you can catch on March 5th as part of Moseley Folk’s Lunar Society at The Hare and Hounds in Birmingham.

Listen in as John takes the stage…

BBC Manchester Introducing Presents John Fairhurst Live at The Ruby Lounge, August 2009

Special thanks to Chris Long and all the team at BBC Manchester Introducing for their continued support.

No doubt inspired by the constant rumbling in his belly caused by an unsatiable urge to perfect the blues, and the arid climate of his current home in Melbourne, John Fairhurst has recorded a new EP, shortly to be released on Debt Records. Just in case your belly’s a-rumbling already, here are a couple of morsels for you to wrap your chops around. Hungry Blues was recorded with the delectable Dexter and Alabaster dePlume, and Standing in the Rain was written and performed in collaboration with Dave Rybka. Yummy

Hungry Blues

Standing in the Rain

It’s official! John Fairhurst’s been confirmed for the Cabaret Voltaire Stage at this year’s Aeon Festival. The self styled “shoestring boutique” festival takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend in Devon’s beautiful Shobrooke Park near Crediton. Over the event’s five year history, organisers have strived to create a “laid back bohemian feel, in the spirit of all the original festivals before commercialism prevailed.” The Cabaret Voltaire Stage, which shares a tent with the bar, promises “world music, funk, jazzy DJs, comics and poets” and invites you to “leave your troubles at the door.” It’s promoters are known for booking acts on the cusp of great things, and they certainly have an eye for talent- their gig with Speech Debelle in Exeter last year just before she won the Mercury Prize is a case in point. Other acts confirmed for Cabaret Voltaire this year include Mama Matrix, Maybe Myrtle Tyrtle and Hong Kong Ping Pong.

Following the US leg of John Fairhurst’s tour, he’s heading over the border to Mexico for a month of gigging, recording and discovery. The highlight is a gig at Morelia International Guitar Festival. Morelia in the state of Michoacán has long been regarded as Mexico’s musical mecca. The city houses Latin America’s oldest functioning conservatoire, as well as several large music festivals, the most popular of which is its well established guitar festival.

Musicians, guitar enthusiasts and students travel from all over the world to attend four days of concerts and workshops, and to drool over an array of handmade instruments for which the region is renowned.

Following more dates in Mexico, John returns to the UK in May for a month long tour of his native stomping ground. The first UK dates will be announced imminently, so keep your eyes peeled!

As geographically illogical as it may seem, the next step on John’s Joys of Spring tour takes him to the USA. He’ll be revisiting some of the venues he toured with Humble Soul this Spring, as well as exploring new territory.

On March 20th, John arrives in LA. He’ll be visiting the guys at National Guitars in San Louis Obispo. Their invention of  the metal bodied resonator guitar in 1927 revolutionised acoustic blues music, allowing the likes of Tampa Red and Blind Boy Fuller to be heard over the ruckus of boozy juke joints.

John’s US fans can expect gigs along the route from LA to San Francisco, Arizona and Texas, where he’ll be revisiting the recording studio and musical haven Berkman House, which played host to him, Alabaster dePlume and  Liz Green earlier this year.

Fresh from the Australian Joys of Spring album launch just a few days ago at Gertrude’s Brown Couch in Melbourne, John Fairhurst has revealed the first confirmed dates in his 2010 tour. On January 11th, with one ticket for him, one for his guitar, and armed with a video camera, he’s starting up Australia’s East Coast on a busking tour. From Melbourne, John will head up to Sydney, busking along the way, in time to record a session at independent radio station and distributor Sideways Through Sound.

From there he’ll set off for Brisbane, then on to the Australian Country Music Busking Championships at Tamworth Country Music Festival. The competition takes place on Tamworth’s Peel Street, and festival goers turn out in droves with their deckchairs and sun shades to watch the acts.

This is more than your average busk to coax some loose change out of the public’s pockets, however. As well as a $1,400 cash prize and the chance to perform at the festival’s closing ceremony, talent scouts from major record labels have been known to pounce on precocious talent in previous years.

Past competition winners include EMI Australia’s country music star Troy Cassar-Daley, and the edgy Kasey Chambers-performing here with her husband Shane Nicholson.

Check back here for news of John’s progress through the outback, before he heads to the USA for the next leg of the Joys of Spring tour.

Justin Ossher will be joining John Fairhurst on stage at Gertrude’s Brown Couch in Melbourne on December 18th for the Australian Joys of Spring Album Launch.

The warm and visually arresting animation accompanying Justin’s single Strength of your Command was created by Aviva Hannah- part of Tasmania’s Black Sassy Collective. A community collective of artisans, poets, creatives and musicians, inspired by the wilds of Tasmanian forests, rivers and seas, Black Sassy Collective focuses on encouraging and empowering, inspiring and educating peoples about the beauty of the wild lands of Tasmania.

Also playing at the Joys of Spring launch are Melbourne’s “musical prodigies” Crash Arcadia, whose debut EP and single Shallow Red Water are out now.

The Australian Release of Joys of Spring will take place at Gertrudes Brown Couch, Gertrude St, Fitzroy, Melbourne, on December 18th. This is in conjunction with a fundraiser for Traditional Healthcare . Doors open at 8pm, tickets are $10, or $5 for Traditional Healthcare members. More acts to be announced soon!!