Scene News: Mick Thomas adds Corner Hotel Xmas shows

The new single, a cover of the Cold Chisel classic, featuring Angie Hart, Tim Rogers, Emma Henney, Sophie Koh, Celia Church and Craig Pilkington, is on sale now via Mick’s Bandcamp, with all proceeds to benefit the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre.

Fri. 4/12:Volta, Ballarat
Show 1:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/mick-thomas-roving-commission-national-tour-of-victoria-1st-show-tickets-126925504601

Show 2:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/mick-thomas-roving-commission-national-tour-of-victoria-2nd-show-tickets-126925125467

Sat. 5/12:Theatre Royal, Castlemaine (beer garden outdoors)
https://theatreroyalcastlemaine.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/86dbdb80-763d-45fa-bef8-4b57b7c254ab

Sun. 5/12: Macedon Railway Hotel, Macedon –2 Shows
https://www.trybooking.com/BMIFF

Fri. 11/12: Westernport Hotel, San Remo
https://westernporthotel.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/faafab51-3cd3-4deb-b5b5-c772df14502e

Sat. 12/12: Bundy Hall, Maffra – 2 Shows
https://www.trybooking.com/BMJQV

Sun. 13/12: ‘Pitch Invasion’ @ Devon North Recreation Reserve, Devon North (also featuring Nick Barker)
https://gutsofgippsland.com/micknick

Fri. 18/12: Memo Music Hall, St Kilda – 2 Shows
https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?embed&eid=674984

Sat. 19/12: Corner Hotel, Richmond – early show (5PM)
https://cornerhotel.com/gig/128940553667/

Sat. 19/12: Corner Hotel, Richmond – late show (8PM)(with guest Fenn Wilson and band)
https://cornerhotel.com/gig/128941568703

Sun. 20/12: Corner Hotel, Richmond – matinee (12:30PM)
https://cornerhotel.com/gig/128941799393

New Year’s Day: Archies Creek, Gippsland – SOLD OUT
https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?embed&eid=674808


Tickets: mickthomas.com

All shows strictly limited capacity, socially distanced and Covid-safe.

Recorded at the height of lockdown 2.0 this track is testament to what keeps musicians ticking and the strength people find in their own community. Playing music with other people is the thing that keeps so many going through the hard times so when Melbourne’s Triple R needed songs for an online Radiothon Mick and his fine band were only too pleased to rise to the challenge.

Everything you hear on this song was recorded in total isolation. So, take a fantastic faux tango band track with guest vocals by Tim Rogers, Angie Hart, Emma Heeney, Sophie Koh and Celia Church. Take some clever post production by Craig Pilkington from Audrey Studios and some unexpected Mariachi trumpets – and what you have is the perfect track for Mick and his band to take out on the road this summer.

Even though Mick’s forthcoming album City’s Calling Me (due early 2021) is a bunch a songs written with very local subject matter in mind Forever Now seemed the perfect track to take out on tour this Christmas. It’s the sound of people pushing through hard times. It’s the sound of people doing the right thing, not because they are made to, but because they want to.

All proceeds from the paid download on Bandcamp will once again go directly to the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre (we’ve been locked down for seven months – try years and years of such beastly uncertainty). Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission will be launching Forever Now online in the first of a series of streamed shows form the Merri Creek Tavern Wednesday Nov 18 and then hitting the road around Victoria through December.

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All shows promise to be strictly limited capacity, socially distanced and covid-safe.

Having not spent the Victorian lockdowns idle, Mick and his fine band ended up producing not one but two albums. The first of these was See You On the Other Side which came out in June and featured the landmark ‘chain recording’ track See You When I’m Looking At You showcasing a plethora of artists such as Angie Hart, Nick Barker, Vicki Thorn and Ron Peno.

The second of these albums is City’s Calling Me which will be released early 2021 – although there is a fair chance for some sneak preview, pre-release action this tour. The first single will be a stunning cover of Cold Chisel’s Forever Now – once again featuring guest vocals by Angie Hart – this time with Tim Rogers and Sophie Koh thrown in for good measure.

So after a year spent in lockdown maybe we’ve got something to celebrate this year. Tiny careful steps back into the sunlight are in order as Mick and the band are keener than ever to get out and play some tunes. There’ll be some new Merch for the run with support acts to be announced in the coming weeks as Mick and the band muse philosophically… Hey – maybe we didn’t want to go the other states anyway!