Give them a Hand: The Hired Hands, circa 1981, at the Mr Juicy Concerts in the Park, from left, Kirk Steel, Russell Adams, MC Bob Lipman, Ted Tilbrook, the late Ken Ramsay and Lawrie Minson.

Lawrie with Lee Kernaghan 2005 Tamworth Festival

 

Lachlan Davidson and Lawrie Minson

TAMWORTH-based multi-instrumentalist Lawrie Minson barely had time to get over his jetlag after flying in from India to star at the second annual Sydney Harmonica Festival.

Jumping off the plane from Sydney, Lawrie was invited to represent the country fraternity at the festival, staged at the Kirribilli Club in North Sydney.

Other acts on the bill included Jim Conway, Christian Marsh, Ian Collard and Brendan Power from the United Kingdom.

While in India, Lawrie caught up with Bobby Cash, writing four new songs for Bobby's new album.

He also spent a week with India's Salil V Bhatt, writing songs and recording five fresh tracks, in what is the very first collaboration Salil has made with a musician from the west.

YOU might have noticed a new kid on the block in country music circles of late.

A guy called Jimmy Barnes, better known for his raucous approach to rock'n'roll delivery, than singing to a country crowd, has appeared on the bill at festivals such as Gympie and the Deniliquin Ute Muster in recent months.

The country connection comes via Tamworth-based multi-instrumentalist Lawrie Minson - a good mate of Barnesy's.

Lawrie has often been known to jump up on stage (after being invited, of course), to perform with Barnesy and through this association, that same Jimmy Barnes is now a country convert.

"He just loves the whole atmosphere of a country music festival, and reckons he's a 'muster specialist' after surviving in the forest for a couple of days this year," Lawrie said.

"The good thing about Barnesy is he's open to new ideas, and he's invited Troy Cassar-Daley to join him on his new duets album, due for release shortly.
"Barnesy was blown away by Troy in the studio situation."
Lawrie played guitar and dobro on that session, just prior to flying out for India a month ago.

When he got to India, Lawrie had an additional item on his shopping list - a mohan veena (Indian-style slide guitar), which Barnesy wanted as a present for Mark Lizotte (Diesel).

"I was fortunate to be there when Barnesy gave Diesel the instrument, and he was stunned at the 20-stringed guitar," Lawrie said.
"Now all he needs is a few tips on how not to break strings - and he should be cooking."