Where Did The Time Go?

So, where did the last two years go?

Good question - one I'm not sure where to start. Like all of us, life gets in the way while we're busy making other plans.

Personally, I've been facing some demons the last couple of years and slayed some big dragons. Glad to say I seem to be coming out the other side now - though there's still more to do!

Musically, it's been a very exciting time. A new duo project, new instruments and more ideas than I can deal with all at once!!! The Fringe Dwellers started about 12 months ago with the wonderful Malcolm Battersby, amazing guitarist, songwriter and decent bloke! We sent some tunes to friends and somehow found ourselves with radio airplay in the US and are garnering quite a reputation for our live shows.

Solo shows are still on the agenda and I now have a Facebook fan page for Debra Manskey. The current profile pic is the front cover of my forthcoming solo CD "The Woman On The Edge Of The World", due for release later this year. Please become a fan for info on touring, CD launches, preview tracks etc.

There will be more as time permits but for the moment, that's all folks!

St Albans Festival

Hello Friends,

I had the pleasure recently of playing at St Albans Folk Festival, nestled in a very pretty valley at the back of the Hunter/Hawkesbury region, north west of Sydney. (The rainbow below was one of the first things I saw when I arrived just on dusk Friday night)

This is a small festival with a very big heart! The calibre of acts was outstanding, and included established performers such as Enda Kenny, Pat Drummond & Karen Lynne, Mothers of Intention, Marcus Sturrock, Ami Williamson and my personal favourite - Beez. There were also many newcomers and less well-known acts including Mark Jackson (pictured below with Jane) who is based in Newcastle and is a great entertainer. I was also very impressed with Ecopella, a vocal ensemble led by Miguel Heatwole, who focus on songs about the environment. Other excellent acts to look out for are Jane Harding, Phil Stormer, Racz 'n Waters, Beautiful Losers and Nerds & Music.

It was wonderful to catch up with Tas-based writer/performer David O'Connor - who's now on the Grey Nomad trail and looks very well and happy. David tells me he's now a "former performer" and despite having retired from the stage, still floored audiences at Saturday's Blackboard concert. While I agree with him that there are many wonderful young performers coming into the scene, I hope David reconsiders retirement as he obviously still has so much to offer audiences.

I also met Arch Bishop - story-teller, larrikin and all-round good bloke. Arch was MC at the main marquee when I played on Saturday and ran packed out Poet's Breakfast sessions on Saturday and Sunday. As you can see below, he made my purple hair look pretty tame!

Below is Kathy O'Hara, sound engineer and recycler extraordinaire! When she's not trying to make musicians like me sound good, Kathy makes art from found objects. In the pic Kathy's using a broken microphone clip to measure out the morning coffee - now that's recycling!

Despite patchy weather this year, this is a wonderful family-friendly camping festival that I'd recommend to anyone interested in folk & roots styles. It's held annually on the Anzac Day weekend and really does include something for everyone (including the kids!) and is surprisingly close to Sydney. I hope the organising group can keep up the momentum and great work while maintaining the necessary balance - small is very beautiful!

Hearty congrats to the organisers (all volunteers) who made it possible..... and personal thanks to Bilbo, Lainey, Mark, Alison and especially John & Kath for all your warmth & hospitality.

A December Doodle + Album & Tour Updates

Well, another year comes towards it's close and I've just celebrated another milestone. (Thanks to all of you who sent birthday wishes.... the celebrations are still continuing!)

But now it's time to look back and reflect before continuing forward to what comes next! (Love and thanks to Saria Phillips for this pic from The Peacock Theatre earlier this year).


Recording News

It's been a strange year in that I've done very little touring or live gigs but I have finally recorded that solo studio album. It's being mastered at the moment and though I haven't set a final release date it will be coming out in 2009. The artwork & design have taken shape in my head but I won't be able to confer with my design guru Sazi, til early in the new year.

The recording process was great fun and working with Bat was a joy - I think we spent as much time laughing and drinking too much tea as we did working. Hopefully that will shine through in the finished product - which incidentally, now has a name - 'The Woman on the Edge of the World'. Pre-orders are doing well but I'm happy to take more, email me if you're interested.


JPF - 'we're all in this together!'

In the latter half of this year I've finally had time to get active and connect with some other writers/composers/performers across the world through the Just Plain Folks community & web forums. I've been getting their newsletter for about a year and I really like where they're coming from. Although it's primarily US based, there's a lot of European & UK-based contributors, plus a good number of irreverent Australians to keep everyone on their toes! Everyone's equal and the serious contributors are all there to learn and connect.

Speaking of which, I got this amazing link through one of the JPF Danish contingent. The Playing for Change Foundation is based in US but is active in bringing change through music & art to areas in Tibet, Africa, India as well as the US. They use multimedia very effectively and I highly recommend the Playing For Change Song Around The World on their YouTube channel.


Touring in 2009 & Beyond!

Planning is underway for Melbourne & country Victoria, Adelaide & Brisbane to promote the CD - probably mid year.

Please feel free to get in touch if you particularly want me to come to your area to play or run a workshop. Email me details and I'll do my best to include your town on the itinerary. Plus I'm well into working out a quick US tour in 2010 to promote the new CD. The latest twist is to go to the UK for a few weeks first (which I know will make a number of you happy) but it's a lot to get my head around at the moment.

Also, I had the joy of connecting with WHUM Community Radio (98.5 FM Columbus & 98.3 FM Seymour) in the US. Based in Indiana, they would have to be the friendliest station with the most eclectic playlist ever - they play Bat too! I was listening to their live webcast and chatting online to the station manager when I heard one of my songs ('Silent Running') from 'Live Sampler'. It was a lovely moment and apparently not uncommon. Bat had a similar experience as did UK-based singer/songwriter Mark Forde. (Check out Mark's song 'Skies Big & Blue' - it's a cracker!) Mark's planning a US trip too and we're trying to work out how we can do a live-to-air together for them when we're in the States.


Meanwhile, thanks to you all for your ongoing support & the very best to all of you around the globe for the holiday season, let's hope it's a peaceful & prosperous 2009 for us all!

Love & best wishes,

Debra

Big Birthday Bash = Big Gig Next Weekend!

I remember when I was turned 25 and thinking how awesome it was that I'd survived to see it - I really did have a misspent youth!

Now comes the next big landmark - 50 years!

Please (if you're able) come and join me at The Lark Distillery, Macquarie St Hobart, Saturday 29th November 2008 to share some fine Tasmanian liqueurs, listen to some great music (in particular, Ed Guglielmino from Brisbane) and celebrate this landmark in my life.

Yes, I will play a few tunes but the important thing for me is being with you!

'Live Sampler' review from UK

If you have an interest in acoustic music I recommend a visit to FolkWords website, run by Tim Carroll. Tim's writing a book about folk music - what it is, what it's becoming and what it means to those who love it. I found him through FolkWords on MySpace only yesterday and it makes interesting reading.

Tim also writes reviews of current releases and the following arrived at my online office (MySpace) overnight........ I nearly choked on my coffee this morning!


'Debra Manskey - a voice with depth, range and power'

Just occasionally you hear a voice that remains with you forever, no matter the singer moves on or the band implodes – the voice remains. There are of course many individual voices and interpreting distinction is down to the listener. Voices that remain riveted to my memory are Roger Chapman (Family), with his tremulous vibrato, Peter Hammill (Van der Graaf Generator) and his distinctive vocal acrobatics and Tim Goulding (Dr Strangely Strange) master of the weird folk song.

Now I've another voice to add to my list, Debra Manskey, (sometime lead singer with Australian folk rockers, the Wild Pumpkins at Midnight – sadly now defunct).

Debra’s voice is an instrument of depth, range and power that once heard is not forgotten. Often, singers accompany an instrument, and usually that’s a guitar. Debra turns that model on its head and her voice becomes the lead and the guitar drifts into the background – in fact you could dispense with it altogether and just listen to that voice.

There are so many levels in her vocal repertoire. Her range soars from soft and faintly unearthly with leaps and sweeps, through raw, demanding and edgy to driven, aggressive and unsettling as it reaches out to command attention.

Debra has only released a four-track EP 'Live Sampler' but promises a solo studio album, 'The Woman on The Edge of The World' due out in mid-2009. Frankly, that’s not soon enough - this is a talent that you have to hear, and the sooner the better.

Tim Carroll
FolkWords

New Studio Album + Live Sampler Sold Out

New Studio Album

Yep, that's right! Very excited to announce that I've started recording and particularly pleased with tracks so far.

I've decided to keep it as 'real' as possible, so it'll be sparse (me & my Seagull guitar) and getting to the heart of the songs, rather than adding a full band and loads of overdubs and a production to match!

Money permitting, I hope to be releasing it by the end of 2008. I'm starting to take pre-orders so email to put your name down now.


'Live Sampler' Sold Out - Songs on MySpace

Originally intended only as a demo for promoters, radio stations and festivals, it kinda got out of hand mighty quickly! Copies have ended up in the strangest places all over the planet and my thanks to all of you who supported me and bought it.

A few people have requested copies through my MySpace page and if enough people are interested I could do a very limited run to satisfy need. I've uploaded 'Driving Into The Storm' and 'Drowning On Dry Land' to MySpace so email if you're interested in owning a copy.

Meanwhile, stay warm if you're in the south or cool if you're in the northern hemisphere. Either way take care of yourselves!

Debra
x

Tasmania This Weekend - Melbourne Next Weekend

Tasmania This Weekend

Just found out I'm playing this long weekend at Sunday School, 10th February at The Loft, 142 Liverpool St, Hobart. This is my first gig for 2008 and will be an ideal warm-up amongst friendly faces before heading off to Melbourne for next weekend. (The pic above is one I took at The Loft late last year at the inaugural Sunday School)

Doors open at 2pm & I'm sure there'll be the usual $7 jugs and sausage sizzle - a Sunday School tradition.

Expect the unexpected.



Melbourne Next Weekend

Above is the poster for the Melbourne Mini Tour next weekend. If you live in that part of the world, it'd be great to see you at a gig or a workshop. Please pass the word round your networks!

Looking forward to it all but especially the Dancing Dog Cafe in Footscray. I called in there when I was in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago and met with the owner, Ben. He seems a really nice guy and is doing good things to promote the arts (and really seriously good coffee!) in Footscray.

I'll be running a 1pm workshop "Introducing Songwriting" and a 3pm workshop "Singing For Everyone". Both would be suitable for beginning to intermediate songwriters and singers and I'm offering both for $25 waged/$20 unwaged. The only down-side is that numbers are limited so please ring 0406 694 662 or email debra.manskey@gmail.com to book your place.

Just to keep me out of mischief, I'll be performing at the cafe that evening - all acoustic & unplugged. Guests will be announced soon.

Can't wait!

When the Universe Listens

My Incredible Support Network

It's been a very strange ride the first few weeks of 2008. Having my car stolen and incinerated was simply awful but nevertheless, I went ahead with a much planned and longed for holiday in Melbourne over the Australia Day long weekend. I'm so glad I did, it was only a four day break but apart from not getting enough sleep, I've come back invigorated.

That's largely because of you folks. I can't thank all of you enough for your beautiful messages and offers of assistance from around the planet as well as in Australia. Brief examples; my dear friend Mark who I've known since school offered so much (as he always has) all the way from Broome, and Kerrie from Melbourne who I only met at a workshop last year but has a gentle, giving heart bigger than the state of Victoria.

What Goes Around, Comes Around

The day I got back from Melbourne (within an hour of getting off the plane in fact) I got a phone call from a nice-sounding fellow who said he was from Tasmania Police. Had I heard of the project U-Turn? Yes I had, U-Turn is a very comprehensive diversionary program which supports young people and trains them in automotive competencies. Each course rebuilds a donated car in their 10-weeks of training and the car is then passed on to someone in the community. He'd seen a copy of an article in the Mercury about my plight and wanted to meet to discuss my situation. Imagine my shock when he suggested that I be the recipient of this course's rebuilt car!!!!!

I still can't quite believe it but I like to think it's the combined effort of all your positive thoughts - thank you all so much!

Love to you all,

Debra

PS: Gig news for Victoria in the next day or so and I'll post a review & some pics of Melbourne Big Day Out.