Aerial Maps gigs: ‘February’s Fortune’

As the new year grinds into the reality of February, as the cogs of Australia start to lock into action, as the coastal caravan parks empty out, the holiday houses are locked, the kids head back to school and as the populace in general returns to Real Life, so too will the Aerial Maps be moving into action.

Yes, it’s been a considerable while, but the Maps are gearing up for a run of shows that will herald the start of, hopefully, a busy year of gigs. We’re tweaking things a little, gonna play old stuff and new stuff, with a stripped-back lineup, and generally mix things around. There will however, of course, still be stories of coastal drives, of barefeet and bindi-eyes, of London in the night, of the Great Dividing Range, of the search for the greatest neenish tart and of loves long lost and of those recently found, and more… Some ‘February Fortune’…

So we invite you to join us for one or more of these occasions. The first is a Sydney show supporting Mick Thomas and the Roving Commission at the Coogee Diggers on Friday, February 15; a show we would attend even if not playing, so to play is an absolute pleasure and a bonus. Mick has always been a great supporter of the Maps and we’re very happy to be playing this show.

Following that, it’s off the Melbourne the next weekend, where we are honoured to have been asked to support the fabulous Livingstone Daisies, a group consisting of the likes of Van Walker, Liz Stringer, Cal Walker and Michael Barclay. It’s their album launch and with such personnel onboard, the music is truly rather special indeed. That show is at the Northcote Social Club, a damn fine place for a band and a beer.

The following day, Saturday, February 23, we are doing an afternoon show at the iconic and downright wonderful Pure Pop Records in St Kilda. We’ve played there on our first tour of Melbourne a few years ago and it was one of the highlights of our year.

There’s another show on the drawing board for the Sunday arvo or evening at the Post Office Hotel, but details of that aren’t finalised yet. Also not finalised yet are a long-prophesized Brisbane run of shows. We’re still working on that, but will announce the details if/when they come to hand.

So, anyway … please join us on the ‘February’s Fortune’ tour and come along to any or all of the shows you can.

Precis of the details …

Friday, February 15, at the Coogee Diggers Club, Coogee, Sydney, supporting Mick Thomas and the Roving Commission, 8pm.

Friday, February 22, at the Northcote Social Club, Northcote, Melbourne, supporting the Livingstone Daisies, 8pm.

Saturday, February 23, at Pure Pop Records, St Kilda, Melbourne, headline show, 3pm.

Sunday, February 24, at Post Office Hotel, Melbourne, before Mike Noga, afternoon set, 4pm.

More specific details soon…

30 Days of Summer*

In winter I did a project which signified the beginning of winter … it was called “30 Days of Winter”. Whilst I have slightly missed the boat with the start of summer a few days ago, I am going to start a new summer-specific project now.

The idea is to do one “finished/complete/tied-up-nicely” piece of “artwork” a day. The winter effort threw up some interesting things, some pretty shit, some ok, and some that I felt were good and that have formed part of ongoing work.

So I tried to do a summer version … the first instalment is here, Saigon Teapot

* But due to various circumstances, this project was not completed.  Summer is about ennui, and it sure hit me. Thus, non-completion. Oh well.