Julio

Did you know Julio is July in Spanish?,

That generally reveals the bulk of my audience is non-Spanish speaking or is it? I actually don't really know if my audience is bigger here or in Mexico but time will tell. The film Estoy Aqui Por Una Noche (featuring yours truly with Twin Tones in Mexico) is doing the rounds at film festivals throughout the country. There is talk that I may even have a potential sponsor to fly back for a film opening in October (My fingers are crossed). 

Meanwhile on the other side of the world things are not so rockn'roll. I have had a month off touring and have been basking in winter laying low by the fire in my PJ's, writing songs and lecturing Lyric Writing at JMC Music Academy. It has been a great discovery to find out how much I enjoy teaching at this level. You can expect to see more of my private workshops pop up as well as online Skype sessions.  

I'll resist the habit of simply promoting my next tour and shall now insert an excerpt from my instagram feed; Snippets of nostalgia. 

I didn't know it at the time but looking back on my 5 year old self I was certainly in tune with my calling. I would look out the car rear windows and mime along to the radio hoping that all the other cars would think it was actually me singing. I performed for the cars, cyclists and pedestrians en route to anywhere. Logic never entered this equation. My dad was a TV newsman and I just figured all you had to do was imagine you were projected on the box or through the radio and 'bingo'. Little did I know my miming was the tip of the iceberg to really singing, writing and touring the world with my own songs on the airwaves. That took me an extra 13 years to work out. Kids are way more in tune than we think. Cool! #myhistory #childhood #mystory #abbiecardwell #singer #songwriter #musician #lyricist #country #americana #mexicana #miming

See this Instagram photo by @abbiecardwell * 117 likes

Growing up my dad had this album on vinyl and it became one of the hugest influences upon my musical life. I made a tape copy I'd listen to on my walkman whilst riding to school. I even got hit by a car at full speed one day; A surreal fly through the air as his cruisy voice sang and I hit the centre of the intersection with my bike twisted in a pile on the other side! Rickie Lee Jones started me singing but it was JJ Cale that got me all hooked on hooks that looped around like a laid back dream. I always thought I would live to see him play live one day but alas no. I cried for a week when he died. #dontcrysistercry #jjcale #naturally #influences #hero #songwriter #christinelakeland #blues #country #countrysoul #americana #laidback

See this Instagram photo by @abbiecardwell * 87 likes

DAD...

This week I fly back to my town of birth, The City of Churches (but should be called the City of Festivals), Adelaide, South Australia. Otherwise affectionately named R-Adelaide. 

My bro Jeb will fly down from Melbourne and together we are throwing our Dad, Roger Cardwell, back on the stage to celebrate another year of life (post 2 heart attacks) and raise one helluva family & friends hootenany to celebrate his life & music; most of all his 1960's TV show The Country & Western Hour. There will be a house band, special guests and lots of family and friends. Last years sell-out show was our first ever family concert. It was thrust on Dad as a suprise (he didn't know how to use Facebook then). This year he knows all about it and we even moved it to a bigger venue to accommodate.  Check out these videos of him back in the day on his TV show... (Click Poster for Tickets)

 

TEAMING UP WITH PARLOUR GIGS...

Melbourne amigo's, I am headed back for a nice run of shows and have joined forces with Parlour once again to fill a few dates in my August Songs for the Dead of Winter Tour.  I LOVE house concerts and have two spots left for YOU on Sunday 7th & Friday 12th to snap up.  Please click this link if you might like to become a house concert host  (these are the only 2 dates left!). If you want to come to a house concert but NOT host then simply buy a ticket to one of them via my tour page. 

"What are they like?" I hear you ask. Here is a live video from a recent Parlour Gigs house concert in Brisbane; (Bayden Mitchell: Bass & Moi). Barefoot, no amplification, comfy, cosy, funny, heartwarming, yummy, memorable.....etc.

Hope to catch you soon on the road wherever you are.

Mucho amor,

Abbie  x

---

JULY TOURING - ADELAIDE, SA

SATURDAY JULY 16TH - FULL BAND FAMILY SHOW : TRINITY SESSIONS, 6:30PM 318 GOODWOOD RD, CLARENCE PARK, S.A.

SATURDAY 23RD JULY - SOLO SHOW THE SINGING GALLERY : MCLARENVALE, S.A. 7:30PM

 

AUGUST TOURING - VICTORIA & NT

SONGS FOR THE DEAD OF WINTER TOUR : VIC TOUR  (SOLO - DUO - BAND SHOWS)

FRI 5 AUGUST - SOLO SHOW - SELBY FOLK CLUB : 7:30PM

SAT 6 AUGUST - OPEN STUDIO (ONLY FULL BAND SHOW!!!!)  8PM - NORTHCOTE                     (PRE-SALE OZTIX HERE)

SUN 7TH AUGUST - YOU COULD HOST A HOUSE CONCERT HERE (IN MELBOURNE)                CLICK THIS PARLOUR GIGS LINK!

THURS 11 AUGUST - SOME VELVET MORNING (SOLO SHOW) 8PM -  CLIFTON HILL

FRIDAY 12 AUGUST - YOU COULD HOST A HOUSE CONCERT HERE (IN MELBOURNE) IF YOU CLICK THIS PARLOUR GIGS LINK!

SATURDAY 13TH AUGUST - THE OLD CHURCH ON THE HILL -  BENDIGO                                                  JEB & ABBIE CARDWELL DUO, ALAWISHUS JONES & THE OUTRIGHT LIES, GRACIANA HOLLAND (SONGWRITING WORKSHOP 1PM - CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE LIMITED SEAT TICKETS)

SUNDAY 14TH AUGUST - PARLOUR GIGS HOUSE CONCERT HOSTED BY SKYE BIRD 5PM CASTLEMAINE (PURCHASE TICKETS HERE)

SATURDAY 20 AUGUST, 7:30PM : GAP VIEW HOTEL - ALICE SPRINGS, NT                                      W- JEFF LANG & BEC MATTHEWS  (MORE NT GIGS TO BE ANNOUNCED)

A few more upcoming tour posters for SA, VIC plus even a Songwriting Workshop in Bendigo!

AND MY FIRST TOUR TO ALICE SPRINGS!...

(There will be more Alice Springs shows announced soon plus a songwriting workshop)

Scones & Jam

Through the lounge room window of my mothers home I spy smoke dancing from the chimney and ghosting across her property. I'm positioned centre front by the fire and taking just enough time out from my teaching research to come up for air and say 'Hi'. 

I have had a busy first 6 months of the year and I am craving the stillness that creativity requires. I am truly happy to have a couple of quiet months to hang with books, fires, blank paper, pens and ...um scones. Lots of scones with jam and cream. Here is the gluten free recipe that has won my heart. I have road tested it 5 times already. Stick with gluten free flour but trust me when I say Spelt flour, Besan and Buckwheat versions taste like dirt. I like to use Orgran Gluten Free Self Raising Flour from the supermarket. 

Abbie's FAVE GLUTEN FREE SCONES Recipe by Jamie Oliver

 

JMC ACADEMY

 It is a blessing that my new part-time job has forced this stillness upon me. This gypsy loves to travel but also craves rest in balance. I begin teaching the semester of Lyric Writing 1 to Bachelor of Music students at Brisbane's JMC Academy next week. I am honored to announce this because it is a course that was created by one of my songwriting hero's ; Mr. Pat Pattison. I doubt his name rings any bells with most of you folks but perhaps his students John Mayer and Gillian Welch do? 

I went to my first Pat Pattison lecture well over 6 years ago in Melbourne. I was so blown away I promptly saved up my pennies for his 3 Month intensive Berklee College Online course. Needless to say his teachings were a GAME CHANGER for my songwriting. Teaching is a whole different bag and I am excited to be forced to have to know the work well enough to explain it inside out and back to front. So, yes, I am honoured and excited to see how it inspires and expands my own writing.

CARDWELL CONCERT IN ADELAIDE

Gigs are quiet but the songwriting will flow. Those of you in Adelaide will be treated to a special family concert on Saturday July 16th with my Dad Roger Cardwell & brother Jeb Cardwell at Trinity Sessions . Saturday 23rd will be me solo at The Singing Gallery in McClaren Vale SA. .  (Buy tickets via the Gig page)

These quieter months are needed as a creative but without regular live gig earnings I am forced to think outside the box financially!  I'm conjuring up a winter house concert by the fire for Brisbane folks, A Songwriting Workshop by the fire (with scones, cream & jam), private songwriting lessons and some of my art showing at an exhibition and selling online.

MEXICO 

The rockumentary  about Twin Tones and I, 'Estoy Aqui Por Una Noche',  is showing in Mexico City this month on June 19, 3pm at Centro Cultural de España in Mexico City. (This building is stunning by the way and right near the main zocalo) 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CROWD FUND AN ALBUM & YOU GO OVERTIME?

I chat with the boys in Mexico in Twin Tones regularly. I continue making the story and art for our un-finished PledgeMusic campaign when I can. I cannot even begin to explain how hard it is to finish such an epic project on such little money. We reached our minimum amount over 1.5 years ago. It covered part of my flights on that initial recording trip but that was pretty much it. Needless to say the making of a Spaghetti-Mex-Western album with a story and hand-made art to each song that is recorded in Mexico with string arrangements made in Italy costs a little bit more. It is a project that has certainly dragged out but.....it is certainly going to be one hell of a damn fine album when we are done. 

By the way.... you can still buy a digital copy or any of the exclusives via Pledge Music (CLICK HERE) . We aim to be done in the next few months so I can return to release the album alongside the official release of the movie. I think it is true; "good thing come to those who wait". (and those that chip away, think outside the box, and just keep on keeping on against all odds)

Ok, enough rambling. I need a scone now and one more log for the fire.

Love Abbie

x

I'll be chanelling this vibe over winter. 

Beyond The Shallows (a.k.a. Winging It!)

It’s a Sunday mid-morning in mid-May and time I write a little something before this month runs away. My personal promise to write monthly and consistently seems to actually be working. (Incredible achievement for me!). I don’t want to write for writing’s sake however. Sometimes I catch myself and wisely delete entries that seem to just shout ‘Hey YOU, Check me out. I’m doing so darn well. Come to my gig. Come to my other gig and also buy my cool stuff!’ 

In the last month I had some great tours, shows and high five moments but I sure as hell am winging this!  I don’t believe I have ever ‘WUNG’ it (is that even a word?) as big and wide as I am now. Freaks the bejeesus out of me sometimes. A little cash comes in and before you know it I’m maxing out my credit card to pay for future flights for interstate tours. My life seems to be an extreme sport of contrasts too; Whilst featuring in a film documentary that is launching in a Mexican film festival I am simultaneously on the other side of the world driving my van Lady-Luck performing to new audiences in a string of out-of-town bars that most likely wouldn't notice if I sang in Cantonese. Mucho Bizarro &... totally humbling.

Bowie once compared creativity to a swimming pool and advised the ideal place to be is where you no longer feel safe and your feet can’t touch the bottom.  Outside of your comfort zone is where your best work lies. So with my feet rapidly treading water I somehow keep writing, booking tours and shows on the smell of an oily rag. 

Yes I am totally human; I have my freak-out-about-money moments. On an even badder day I might be seduced into the spiral of comparing myself to others....until I slap myself out of it and remember "I am the only me. No one else is me. Carry On!"

It is so easy as a self-employed creative in a completely self-generated career to feel like you have not done enough, created enough and worked hard enough...BUT as I write this blog I am struck with the simple truth that can be so easily forgotten; The simplicity of the actual dream itself;

TO DO WHAT I LOVE and LOVE WHAT I DO

I didn’t think ‘success’ would look like this but I gotta admit my goals were always to DO WHAT I LOVE and LOVE WHAT I DO.  I only need to fine-tune the income sich so I can deliver more of what I love making! With arts funding cuts busier than a barber shop we need to think outside the box. So I pose this to you all; If every person buys one ticket to one live gig & one theatre show per year it could dramaticaly improve the arts. You, dear friend and obvious music fan, are most likely doing this already but perhaps you have a friend or relative that isn't doing it and might like to experience a live show with you, or a piece of art for their birthday or special occasion? Every tiny bit makes a BIG difference.

I am about to start driving down the coast in my van Lady-Luck to do some songwriting in NSW, write by the sea, collaborate with another female musician in Lismore and then perform for the SONGBIRDS concert this Thursday 19th at The Gollan Hotel with a bevvy of singing angels. (Check out my gig page for more info).  This rest of May see's me continuing work on the Mexican story album and preparing for my new part-time teaching role as Lyric Writing lecturer at Brisbanes JMC Academy for the Bachelor Of Music Students.

Yup, I shall continue to juggle my many roles and WING IT! I raise my glass and toast to all of us living our lives with more meaning and daring to swim beyond the shallows.

Love Abbie

x

A Photo Gallery of Doing What I LOVED Last Month...

Melbourne, Me & My Bro!

I love getting my fix of Melbourne, my bro, all my old haunts and mates. I sure miss Melbs but I still don't know where 'home' is. For now, I'll keep rolling around from gig to gig till the answer really hits me. 

Abbie & The Texicans @ Open Studio, Melbourne

Arriba! It was so darn good to get back on stage with my old members from The Leading Men; Ashley Davies on Drums and Mike StClare Miller on Double Bass...plus Ed on trumpet from my Chicano Rockers band! and of course my one and only BRO JEB! xoxo

The Leading Men Are BACK!

Mike n Ash back in the saddle! Awwwwww. x

Sound Check Time at Open Studio, Melbourne.

I absolutely adore this venue. Character and charm ooze from every corner. It's rustic and homely the stage is the floor and yet it always inspires the most heartfelt audiences and performances. Not to mention the crepes! the crepes and the cocktails. Viva Open Studio!

Deulling Harmonica's with Grizzlee Train!

It was a first for me I gotta tells ya. We battled our harp bending skills for the kill. It was call and answer  showdown of showdowns. Fun was had. Pretty sure I won! Heh heh. 

New Mens T's!

woop woop, I finally got around to screen printing a range of Men's T-Shirts!!! They are up in the shop now. (Ladies, they are actually unisex too) You're welcome. :)

Men's T's are HERE!

Yup this is my little bro Adam looking all 'blue-steel' sporting my new mens T's. Sweet as bro! (yes he single ladies!)

The NEW Mexican film is out Overseas! OMG!!!

OMG OMG OMG> It's ...ME with subtitles !?

Singing Angels!

The gorgeous house concert I did with Freya Josephine Hollick in Ballarat  was a treat and a half with a lovely gentleman giving us both FLOWERS! #winning #chivalry

Phil Rucks House Concert in Melbourne (It was Cold BUT STUNNING!!!!)

3MDR Station Manager Phil is a total legend! One of my all tim fave house concert spots is his back verandah...but I gotta say my fingers were FROZEN. Next time I'm gonna try wearing fingerless gloves and definitely thermals!?

Borrowed Wheels & A Box With Strings in Melbourne!

Thanks to family and friends I can afford to tour Victoria regularly. I moved away from the  standard style of living (aka: renting) so I could focus full-time on my music with a lower cost of living. Couches, spare rooms, spare cars and spare guitars are my fricken life-saver!!!! Mucho love to you all.

(mega gracias to Jeb, Bridgett, Annmarie n mum!) x

Waking Up In Sandgate!

I parked Lady-Luck here after my very fun show at the Cardigan Bar. This little joint is always vibing like a private house party... in the kitchen! 

Mexican Prop Creations for Cinco De Mayo!

My corazón was made with love, cardboard, tons of spray glue, Mexican glitter, fairy lights and a sequinned Guadalupe bought in Mexico of course.

Abbie's GIANT Cactus Piñata!

This is a hand-made giant piñata with firecrackers and lollies of course. I mean...duh....it ain't mexican without fireworks n sugar aye!?

Buenas Noches!

Abbie sips a night cap inside Lady-Luck after a wonderful Cinco De Mayo show at Brisbane's Junk Bar on May 5th. Mexican songs and Margaritas flowed. A time was had! (Especially with the late night Loteria gambling!)

Estoy Aqui Por una Noche - The trailer to the new film featuring Abbie & Twin Tones in Mexico. Now showing at film festivals overseas. Fingers crossed it gets shown in Australia later in 2016!

A Harvest?

Oooh lala!  I interrupt my once-a-month post with a little extra news about this exciting trailer to a new film called Estoy Aqui Por Una Noche (It has English subtitles so don't worry!) directed by Carlos Munõz.  It is all about me working, recording and touring with Twin Tones in Mexico. Could this possibly be an example of what comes from sewing my musical seeds for over two decades? I say "let the harvest begin!!!!".  It opens today at the FICMI festival in Mexico. Stay tuned as it plays in more film festivals around the globe...... Arriba!

For those of you that are in Australia awaiting to find out if it gets selected over here all we can do is be patient and ....just come to one of my gigs in the meantime. 

My Cinco de Mayo Fiesta next week in Brisbane is going to be one fun fiesta!. 

Hasta pronto mi amigos,

Abbie

x

The Blessing & The Curse

I was born with a burning desire to perform. Knee-high to a grasshopper I was staging dances, songs and plays to family & friends wether they asked for it or not. Perhaps a psychologist may deduce it to a need to feel loved due to childhood experiences? meh. It is much larger than that. It is more than receiving acceptance from the audience. I feel it is about taking a journey with my listener that for both of us in some way for a small moment is transformative. The process of distilling feelings into songs and then sharing it live on stage to be felt again with others? well, that is what I call electrifying. It is those brief moments that I feel everything about this path of an independent self-managed musician makes perfect sense. Those brief moments are the blessings. The curse? well that would be the brief times I tried to stop being a musician because it seemed too painful but I quickly learned the deeper pain of not being true to myself.

I'm proud to say my recent house concert experience was like swimming in an ocean of blessings. Thank you to all who came. A sea of bodies strewn over rugs, cushions, chairs and stools sat enthralled, present and engaged. We journeyed together through the songs of my career in chronological order as I joined the dots to the story of my life. The highs, the lows, the shady 'record deals', the marriage-divorce, the lowered lows when I tried to stop being a musician because it felt too hard and then my rise back up again. It was naturally the combination of the people and the space that inspired me to feel so safe. It was the most open I have ever allowed myself to be in a performance. I loved tapping rhythms with the pads of my barefeet, sharing giggles, hearing song requests from albums ago, handing out shakers I had made with old tin cans and Arborio rice and hearing the room sing along with me. It is true that together we all seemed to rise like the tide. Needless to say I am now a house concert addict and predict these will certainly become more popular with artists and audiences alike. It's like fast-food versus A la carte; how can you go backwards?

I have performed a couple of shows since in regular venues and as nice as it is to play on a stage with big sound it just doesn't compare to a lounge room, bare feet, natural acoustics, home-cooked food and plain ol' homely comfort. I am beyond grateful to Parlour Gigs for asking me to perform their Brisbane Launch house concert. I am crossing all my fingers and toes that this movement continues to grow. I encourage you to visit Parlour Gigs online and sign up as a host or just buy a ticket to a concert near you. 

If you have never been to one please trust me when I say you will thank me for introducing you to this concept one day.

The lovely and brilliantly biz minded guys from Parlour Gigs Matt & Glenn introduce the Brissie crowd to their new biz and ...me!  19.01.2016

Feeling pretty blessed! (Yup I made some Mexican inspired fairy-lit stage props for the show too)  Shot By Nicole Brophy

Next week I hit Melbourne town for TWO full band shows and two private house concerts. Visit the gig page on my website for full listings.

Thursday 14th April - Sooki Lounge (Belgrave)

Friday 15th April - Open Studio (High St, Thornbury)

Saturday 23rd - House concert in Ballarat with the gorgeous Freya Josephine Hollick are available at https://www.stickytickets.com.au/36433

Friday 22nd April - PRIVATE house concert (sorry no public tickets available)

Please email me at info@abbiecardwell.com if you wish to host a house concert.

Anonymous Messages to Loved Ones & Exes

The stage shone like a Dolly Parton game show filled with glittery props and sparkling lights for last months Valentines Day Honkytonkin Heartbreakers (sold-out) show at the Junk Bar.   It was a visual LED-lit feast that delivered all the fuzzy heart feels thanks to all the wonderful performers involved and especially to one very last minute idea I had of asking the audience to write anonymous messages to a loved one or an ex. I had no idea how this idea would flow at the time. Would it fall dead flat or be even awkwarder!?!

I handed out Sharpie pens, heart shaped sticky notes for loved ones and good old squares for the ex's. The show kicked in, three-part harmony's flowed and the gorgeous pedal steel guitar cried like any broken heart should. As I began to read out the anonymous messages in-between songs it quickly became clear the audience had more to say when they saw just how cathartic the process was. Little did I know it would become a huge feature of the night as love was expressed, pains blood-let, regrets and secrets were unleashed. We all seemed to journey somewhere lighter with love and laughter wether we were loved up or loveless.

Abbie Cardwell, Jen Mize & Nicole Brophy at The Junk Bar in three part harmony for the Valentines Honkytonkin Heartbreaker Show 2016

I didn't pre-read any of them. Some notes induced giggles and some brought on unanimous 'Awwwwws!' from the room (some are unmentionable on this platform!). The more notes I read, the more folks had something to say, and the two jars kept filling with more pieces of paper. 

"I (Heart) Him, But I wish he'd stop giving me wedgies when I'm doing the dishes"

"Time changes things but I still dream about you"

"Hey Good Looking"

"First love but not the last! Dodged a bullet there!!"

"You lost out when you lost me!"

I  loved the process so much I kept it going at a couple of my solo shows in the last few weeks.  It is true what they say "Everyone has a story and we all need to be seen and heard" 

I might have to leave a few pens around at my next show too.  Below this poster is all the low-down on the very cool new business of house concerts run by Melbourne's Parlour Gigs that are launching in Brisbane ...with me.

                                                                             The home address will be forwarded after your purchase. 

PARLOUR GIGS LAUNCH IN BRISBANE:

The clever guys that run their successful house concert business Parlour Gigs in Melbourne are launching in Brisbane in the most amazing private lush house in Brookfield.

I am so thrilled about this that I am going to reveal what I have been secretly creating for the last while by making a mini exhibit of the art, music & story to the epic Spaghetti-Mex-Western album that has been in the making with my band Twin Tones for almost 4 years between Mexico, Australia and Italy.  

The $25 tickets are very limited! Once you purchase your ticket online the address is sent to you via email.  The event will run for a few hours from 3pm on Saturday 19th March in a stunning Brookfield Home. Enjoy complimentary nibbles and an intimate acoustic concert featuring 2 x 45 minute sets of live music spanning my history of acoustic roots, folk, americana and country with special guest Bayden Mitchell on double bass for the 2nd set.  Sit back and relax in a comfy couch, cushion or chair as the concert takes place amid the stunning acoustics of a wonderful wooden floored living area with ridiculously beautiful vista views!. Tickets are limited and selling fast....click the link below to snaffle up your own.

PARLOUR GIGS PRIVATE HOUSE CONCERT :  SATURDAY MARCH 19TH 3pm

Live Concert - Nibbles - Stunning Home - Mexican Album Preview & Art Showing                               (BYO: Please bring your own beverages of choice)

http://shop.parlourgigs.com/product/abbie-cardwell-friends-saturday-march-19-brisbane-qld/

Melbourne amigos, I am popping back in just a few weeks for two great shows and a couple of private house concerts. Please email me at info@abbiecardwell.com if you are keen to discuss booking you dream house concert with me whilst I am in town between April 12 -24th.

NEXT MONTH IS MELBOURNE'S TURN!

Over the next months I am zig-zagging all over the map from QLD to VIC and SA and back again thrice or more. You can follow my tour dates via the BANDSINTOWN APP for gigs near YOU or visit WWW.ABBIECARDWELL.COM.

If you sign up to my mailing list you will receive this monthly blog sent to your inbox but with an extra added video and gift. (cos when you give me your email address it makes it a little more personal & requires a little more lovin'!)

Adios Muchachos, Love Abbie

x

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