Happy Visitor

It’s a long way, Canada to Australia – maybe even the longest, which makes it all that much more impressive that Canadian troubadour Andy Brown will return for the fourth time in two years in an attempt to woo us en masse. And it’s working – he played Woodford Folk Festival two years in a row in 2012 and 2013, and returned later in the year to support Australian Idol winner Damien Leith on a national album release tour.

“I think ‘like’ is an understatement. I liked it and loved it from the first moment I stepped off the plane and was greeted by a bunch of wonderful smiley faces and very beautiful people,” he confesses. “I think the biggest thing for me is the people. I am one of those capable of getting homesick and it was the most interesting thing when I was over there – it was the farthest away that I’d ever been because it’s almost as far of a point away on a map as possible – but I wasn’t homesick at all. I think the reason why is that there are so many similarities between Aussies and Canadians – a likemindedness in how to treat people and how to conduct yourself and a love for music and a passion for all they do. Also, a very similar connection for a love of beer and we share the same queen on the back of the coin.

“My very first show was Woodford, such a wonderful entry point and experience – get off the plane and right into a folk festival. I love those things, but in my head I’m just assuming it’s going to be music, music, music, but not only is it music, but it’s a whole other world. I’ve tried to describe it to people; I think it is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever experienced but it’s also so incredible in that you can only stand it if you go and immerse yourself in it. It’s something I really hope to do again soon, it’s one of the greatest things I’ve had the privilege of doing.”

A three-time International Songwriting Competition finalist, Brown penned two tracks on Leith’s latest record and namechecks Aussie friends Jordie Lane and Wes Carr as reasons Australian folk is alive and well. On this jaunt, he’s returning for something called the Festival Of Small Halls and joining The Mae Trio, starting at Caloundra Music Festival, ending at Mullum Music Festival and exploring the finest of Queensland’s west in between.

“Again, it’s that interesting connections between Australia and Canada. It’s something that originated in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island – the festival did a deal and basically it’s bringing music to smaller towns, smaller communities and putting it in unique settings: churches, community centres, etc – and creating smaller, more intimate evenings of songwriting, of storytelling, and it’s always paired with one Canadian artist and one Australian artist. I really can’t wait for this.”