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.