Posts Tagged "performance"

Speech at The Reader

Posted by The Author on 19 May, 2011 in Digital Publishing, Stuff That Happens | Comments Off

I recently spoke at The Reader, an if:book Australia symposium on booky/digitally stuff. Hardly surprising that I spoke when I was the one organising it, but still worth a mention since I squeezed a few good riffs on digital publishing cliches via a drinking game.

Chugalug.

Simon Groth from if:book Australia on Vimeo.

Reading at Outspoken

Posted by The Author on 8 Apr, 2011 in Here Today, Stuff That Happens | Comments Off

I will be performing a reading from Here Today at ‘Outspoken’ this Wednesday 13 April at the Maleny Community Centre. I still haven’t quite decided which bit to read, but my inclination is towards a passage with vomiting in it.

Technically I guess I’m the support act for AJ McKinnon. I’ve never done a support slot before.

Tickets are $12 available from the Maleny Bookstore, 2/41 Maple Street Maleny or call 5494 3666.

Head over to the Outspoken web site for more info.

Twelves Part Eight – Concerts

Posted by The Author on 27 Sep, 2009 in He Writes, Stuff That Happens | 1 comment

I don’t go to that many concerts, especially these days, but I try to make it when an essential artist (especially one from another twelve) rolls into town. There’s a few international behemoths in the list along with the usual obscurities.

Random memories from The Arena: I joined a conga line that wound its way through the Arena for They Might Be Giants, also the band playing ‘spin the dial’ where they improvise to whatever they find playing on local radio. Watching Regurgitator play one of their first gigs with their new drummer while sipping beers behind the sound desk next to their old drummer.

We were literally at the stage for Peter Gabriel’s concert, with our arms resting on the stage itself. I shook the man’s hand and my eyes almost popped out of my head. The 1995 REM show was better musically (they still had Bill Berry and they weren’t flogging a shithouse record), but we had the most horrendous seats. Word of warning: never let someone else organise tickets for you.

Radiohead created more goosebumps than any other show I’ve ever seen. I thought I was going to cry at one point. In fact, I may have.

I’ve seen the Augies more than a few times, but Eumundi was a special show. They played fan favourites to a tiny room where we practically eyeballed the band.

Oh, and I deliberately injured a crowd surfer at Festival Hall in 1997. Advice to future crowd surfers: avoid six-foot-plus-blokes with a crazy look in their eyes.

• Peter Gabriel (Brisbane EC, 1994)
• REM (Brisbane EC, 1995, 2005)
• Radiohead (Sydney EC, 2005)
• Regurgitator (The Arena, 1999)
• Ratcat/The Clouds (Brisbane, 1991)
• Augie March (Eumundi, 2009)
• Eels (with Strings, Tivoli, 2005)
• Ben Folds Five (Festival Hall, 1997)
• U2 (Brisbane, 2004)
• Custard, The Sharp (RNA Showgrounds, 1993)
• They Might Be Giants (The Arena, 1995, 2001)
• Powderfinger (The Arena, 2004)

You’ll notice there are no festival gigs here and for good reason. Going into debt to pay for overpriced tickets for the privilege of standing in either scorching heat or pissing rain to see one or two bands you like amid thirty-eight warty rejects doesn’t sound like a great way to spend my time. But I guess that could be just me.

Emerging Writers Festival

Posted by The Author on 3 May, 2008 in Stuff That Happens | 2 comments

The Emerging Writers Festival takes place in Melbourne next weekend 10-11 May 2008. You can catch me at two panel sessions.

Everyone wants to hear what I’ve got to say . . .

So how are writers getting their work out there? Looking at the various innovative ways writers can use to get their work out as well as better ways of accessing the traditional methods.

Featuring Julian Fleetwood, Alice White, Karen Andrews & Benny Walters. Hosted by Simon Groth

10:00AM – 11:00AM
Sunday 11th of May
Yarra Room, Melbourne Town Hall
2nd Floor, Cnr Collins & Swanston Sts, Melbourne

Competing for attention

Why do writers enter competitions? Are they worth the effort or just a convenient way to set yourself a deadline? This session will also discuss the judging of the Arts Hub Reading Room. Learn why judges choose the way they do.

Simon Groth, David Blackman, Ella Holcombe & Samuel Wagon-Watson. Hosted by Benny Walters.

1:45PM – 2:45PM
Sunday 11th of May
Yarra Room, Melbourne Town Hall
2nd Floor, Cnr Collins & Swanston Sts, Melbourne

Best of all, the tickets are cheap! See you there.

Festival chat on 3RRR

Posted by The Author on 27 Apr, 2008 in Stuff That Happens | Comments Off

In preparation for the Emerging Writers Festival, Melbourne radio 3RRR will host a discussion among festival people (including me) on their retro-titled show Max Headroom.

For people a long way from the Paris End of Collins Street, you’ll be able to stream the show directly from the 3RRR web site.

The show will broadcast on Thursday 8th May at 7:00PM.