A Direction Home :: 11 May 2024 - The Gadfly edition

A Direction Home

A Direction Home :: 11 May 2024 – The Gadfly edition

The Gadflys have been bringing their joyously infectious music to gin joints across the globe for more years than anyone can reasonably count or measure. Ahead of their Sydney show at Camelot Lounge (Sat 11 May 2024), brothers Phil and Mick Moriarty stopped by 2SER studios for a very special acoustic performance of a couple of their tunes.

There’s talk of growing up on a tropical island and Canberra, the love of 1920s gypsy swing and jug band music, and the experimental use of a clarinet in punk bands, as well as memories of residencies at The Sando, living ‘on the lam’ busking around Europe and regular spots on ‘Good News Week’.

Their special show at Camelot Lounge will feature some Gadfly allumni including Kathryn Brownhill on fiddle, Gemma Clare cello, Peter Hayes and Elmo Reid on bass, and Pete Kelly playing drums and trumpet. 7-piece big band incarnation!

I’ve put together a playlist with a different swing today, setting the context for their life and love of musical styles. Their father was a jazz clarinet player who’s heart was close to Benny Goodman, the show opens with an excerpt from big band classic ‘Sing Sing Sing’. I wish I’d had more space in the hour for ‘Galverston’ and Steve Harley’s ‘Come Up and See Me, Make Me Smile’ (mentioned by Mick), ‘My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes’, Billie Holiday and The Supremes. It’s a swinging singin’ joyous ride today. Follow along, friends, and let’s see if we can’t find a direction home, together….