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Visa for Simon

Simon has just been granted his O-1 visa which entitles him to live and work in the United States for the next three years.  Granted for outstanding talent, the visa will give even more impetus to Simon's pursuit of his music career in America.

Simon is still in Austin after completing his second successful Texas tour earlier this month, and is playing at showcases during SXSW.  With requests from other artists to record his songs, and with the support of Windswept publishing who he signed with recently, Simon's music is having even more of an impact on the very receptive American audiences.   Simon returns to Nashville next week to record some of  his current songs and prepare for more American tours later in the year.

He's back!  After a successful month performing in the USA, Simon is back in Sydney for several big performances.  Come along and bring your friends!  The Radio Station Wednesday 3 October, from 7 p.m.

Tune in to radio station 2NSB 99.3FM Simon once again joins Michael Beaumont to talk about his US trip, play some music from up and coming US artists, and perhaps even some tracks Simon recorded in America.  
The Weekend Saturday 6 October, 8 p.m. Almost Acoustic, 665a Darling Street Rozelle If you haven't been to this candlelit venue, now is the time, with Simon headlining a great night of (almost) acoustic music Sunday 7 October, 3 p.m. Kelts Bar, Blaxland Head to the hills and enjoy the popular acoustic afternoon at this great venue 

The Big One Friday 12 October, 9 p.m. at Henry IX Bar Hilton Hotel, George Street
Simon is one of 24  acts from 250 applicants chosen to showcase at Australian Music Week. Don't miss it! 

 

So...you want to know who Simon Bruce is? 
    You want to know who is this 15-year-old kid who plays Bob Dylan on his guitar and harmonica just like - well, just like Bob Dylan?
    You want to know about the boy - all right, teenager - who writes and records his own love songs and sings them like he's lived them all already?  Well then, I'll tell you - but believe me, this is only the beginning!
Part One - The Performer
     Some kids want to fit in right from the beginning, and some want to stand out.  Simon is in the latter category.  He's the kid at kinder who stood on the box on the corner and told all the other three year olds that he was Robin Hood and that he would rob the rich and share his newfound wealth with them.   Needless to say, they were spellbound, although the child care workers weren't so keen on the little revolutionary amongst them...

     He's the four-year-old who hijacked his older sister's ballet class by pirouetting across the floor when he and his dad arrived early one day... He was the five year old who suddenly fell backwards after taking a sip of coke at the local club, much to his father's concern - and then stood up, and took another sip, and did it again - and again...
    And he was the one who watched his Dad sing a few numbers with the jazz band at the local pub, and enthusiastically agreed to do his own routine of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - but not until he'd negotiated the publican up from the proffered $1.00 to the more acceptable (union rate?) of $2.00!  But most importantly for Simon in his tiny tot stage, was the Christmas when he was five years old and Santa brought the present he'd been wishing for with all his heart - a real, three quarter size, nylon string, LaGrange, guitar.  And the world is already grateful to the prescient Father Christmas who knew that this kid really meant it when he said that when he grew up he was going to play guitar and sing. 

Part Two - Primary Colours

     At 14 Simon's maybe not so keen for the world to know that he could moondance like Michael Jackson at the age of six (including the tilted hat) or that Elvis was his major hero from age 7 to 9 or that his first brief stage experience with a mouth organ was accompanying his father at the (now defunct) Green Lantern Folk Club in Melbourne, age 8.  But then, fame has its price, and there's no doubting that Simon's exposure to and involvement in music throughout his early formative years has helped shape the early success he's having on the threshold of adulthood.
    From age 5 to 10 Simon consolidated his musical experience, going to talent shows with his mother, watching his sister develop her love for piano, saxophone and guitar, and playing along with his guitarist father and his musical mates at bush picnics and nights around the campfire.  With both parents having professional musical backgrounds, Simon's gene pool is all in his favor when it comes to a career in music.  His mother was a band singer, while his father's performance talents included performing in and promoting musicals, singalongs, and a bit of old fashioned country music.  At the age of ten Simon and his sister were late (and unsuccessful!) entrants in the junior Mt Gambier Country Music Talent Quest where their father came third in the Male Vocalist section with a rousing rendition (complete with mouth organ!) of "Lights on the Hill".
    Surrounded by music, Simon's own talents were never going to lie under the surface for long...
Part Three - A Star is Starting to Twinkle

It's hard to see exactly when Simon started down the path of serious success in his early chosen field of music.  Certainly a move to Wales Street Primary School in 1995 helped - even if Simon's brush with the violin was short-lived!   Certainly his one concert performance was memorable, although more because of the professional look of the children's black trouser/white shirt outfit than because of the virtuosity of the music. Still, the teachers there nurtured musical ability and Simon started applying himself more seriously to the guitar.  He had learnt the basic chords on his trusty acoustic, but harbored a secret belief that, if only he had an electric guitar, he would be able to play it like the bands he watched on TV.  So in grade five Simon withdrew his life savings and bought his first electric guitar, secondhand at Cash Converters, for the princely sum of $173.00.  Then he had to learn the lesson of all ten-year-old budding guitarists - having an electric guitar makes not one jot of difference to your capacity to play.  It is perhaps the greatest sign of a professional that Simon did not let this unfortunate revelation deter him.  Rather his mum organized some lessons, and between them, his early lessons from his Dad and the support of the teachers at school, Simon commenced his musical career in earnest.
    Now when he went up the bush with his Dad, he could really play along, and the busking money from bush festivals at places like Kyneton and Bendigo was shared with him.  Simon started to see the financial potential of being a musician - and he was hooked!
If there was any doubt, it was dispelled when Simon and his father visited his much older half brother in Western Australia just before Simon turned 11.  His older brother had given up his office job to pursue his dream of making a living from his songwriting and music playing, with plans down the track to record his first CD.  As Simon peered through the doors of Bunbury pubs (he was too young to go in!) he saw that it was possible to make a living as a musician, and his course was set. 

     During sixth grade Simon and a mate started to play at local events, including a nearby shopping center's Christmas Fair Day, as well as at the school fete and at local homes for the elderly.  Also at this time Simon started writing his own songs, progressing from some of his earlier simple rhyming productions with his sister to some acceptable pieces on much more adult themes like unrequited love.  The path of treble clefs was unfolding before him, and he was ready to run down it - and run he has!
    After starting High School, Simon's musical talents consolidated.   As well as playing electric bass in the school band in Years 7 and 8, the duo he played in at primary school expanded to a trio and enjoyed some success in 1998 including coming second in the Werribee Rodeo talent quest in April, releasing a CD - "Appleface" - in July, and taking out three awards, including best new talent, at the Kool Skool Music Awards in December. 
Unfortunately the band went the way of so many before them, splitting up in early 1999, but Simon will always remember with fondness this early foray into the music business.   The band, however, was far from his only outlet for his musical talent during this time.  Simon's first attempt at busking solo in January 1998 netted him $45.00, including a $10 incentive payment to move closer to the appreciative listeners at one cafe.  While Simon at this time was doing covers of bands such as silverchair and Nirvana, he was simultaneously developing his own style, which was soon to be influenced by a chance exposure to Bob Dylan - and Simon was hooked!
    He started playing the mouth organ, and learning the Bob Dylan style. In July 1997 he went to the Tamworth Winter Junior Talent Quest and came away with three prizes, including best male junior vocalist, and places in original composition and instrumental.  With that achievement under his belt he headed back to Tamworth in January 1998 and at the age of 12 came second in the West Tamworth Leagues Club Talent Quest for 12 to 16 years olds.
    Meanwhile back in Sydney Simon was becoming known for his busking around Glebe and Balmain, particularly around the weekend markets.  This profile was consolidated when he was booked to play at Rozelle Markets in January 1998, a gig that he has been pleased to repeat on average every couple of months, with appreciation from stall holders and market goers alike increasing each time.
    Then in September 1998 he holidayed in Europe, taking with him his guitar and harmonicas and practicing every day, like a true pro.  Mind you, he nearly lost the harmonicas when they caused a minor security alert at Heathrow - the security guards took some convincing that they were instruments of peace, not war!
    Simon played at the Royal Oak folk club in Edinburgh, busked in Chester, and participated in a folk evening at the Royal Oak in Somerset, England. Any doubts about his international appeal were dispelled by the overwhelming enthusiasm of seasoned musicians for Simon's talent both in songwriting and performing, and by the invitations to return "anytime"
    Returning from overseas Simon concentrated on building up his local profile in the Glebe area, busking and playing gigs regularly at the markets, Glebe Point road cafes, and being booked for private parties.  A newspaper article in the Glebe identified Simon's future prospects, and at 13 years old Simon was clearly only a few short steps away from fame.  

    Part Four - On the Verge of a Galactic Development!

During 1997 and 1998 Simon started acquiring the tools of the trade, all self funded by his gigs and busking.  As well as a semi-electric $900 Epiphone Simon has purchased a $700 acoustic Gibson, while his hefty blowing means that his harmonicas need regular replacement at $40 a piece.  Simon puts a large part of his earnings back into his music, again showing the traits of the true, and truly committed, professional. 

    His commitment is starting to pay off.    In November 1998 he recorded his debut solo CD, "Two's a Crowd", with five of his original compositions.  Selling at $10 each, the first 100 copies sold in five months, just selling them while busking or playing gigs.  In June 1999 Simon formally launched this CD, by this time already into its second edition - and all of it funded by Simon through the sales of the first print run.  The CD launch was highly successful, selling 10 CDs and attended by music industry personnel, family, and friends and impressed onlookers. 
    Then the following week Simon made his first TV appearance, appearing live on Channel V's "The Joint", hosted by Jabba who had talent spotted Simon busking at the Glebe Markets the weekend before and invited him on to the show.  At ten minutes to midnight Simon played his original song, "It's Not the Same", live on national TV - and a star is born!
    In August he recorded his second CD, Meet Me in the Cold, and in the following month he was profiled on ABC's "Recovery".  As well as appearing on Radio JJJ with the band in December 1998, Simon has performed on Radio 3LO on a number of occasions in 1999.   Also in December 1999 he again found recognition at the Kool Skool Awards, receiving the special Encouragement Award.
    He started the year 2000 with a return trip to Tamworth, performing as a support act at the West Tamworth Leagues Club, performing live on the local radio station, and picking up an Encouragement Award trophy, and a third place in two Talent Quests.
    Back in Victoria in February, and he wowed the crowd at the Dandenong Folk Festival, with the usual big demand for his CDs.  He has also spent a day songwriting with Marie Wilson, and aims to see his career take off at the start of the new millennium.

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