Gumleaf

How y’going folks

Having just returned from a week in Fiji at the beautiful Tokoriki Resort, to celebrate our wedding anniversary, Meg and I are refreshed and ready to get back into it. What a relaxing time we had there! The magnificent gardens and creative work with stone was quite inspirational. The outdoor shower was fantastic. All the staff were exceptional. I had a great time getting to know the band boys as well, and even doing a few songs with them, in between drinking kava. They loved it too. We were made to feel very special, like family, and I’m sure we’ll be back there for another visit in the future.

I’ve been spending as much of my time at Springbrook, when I’m not touring. It’s a constant source of inspiration for me I never tire of developing and creating new gardens and things, especially around the shed, to make it more and more special for our Willoshed concertgoers. Recently I came across a Lamington Blue crayfish in the waterfall just below the shed while I was working on creating a pathway to the fall. It was like a work of art.

Talking of the Willoshed concerts, I’m also organising a lot more artwork for the upcoming two concerts in June this year (10th and 11th). The large prints sold on the first day last year. In the 80s I painted a number of Australian scenes from some of my favourite places on cork tiles. An amazing new process has enabled me to enlarge them many times over and they look even better than the originals, thanks to a very creative framing place I discovered nearby in Sydney. We still have some tickets left for the Sunday concert but they’re selling daily so don’t leave it too late to book if you’re still thinking about it. I can guarantee you an afternoon you’ll not forget.

I’m also really concentrating on writing more songs to record this year for a new album in 2018. I’ve recently signed up with Warner Music again, but disappointed that Tony Harlow, the CEO of Warner Music Australia, is taking up a position with Warner in New York. I’ll miss him as we’ve had a great relationship, but I’m sure the dedicated Warner staff will continue to look after me.

My second African Music safari tour has sold out. Meg and I had such a wonderful time on the first one, so we’re really looking forward to meeting old and new friends on the second one.

Well, that’s about it for now.I look forward to seeing you along the road of song.

Johnno

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