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WATCH: Richard Kingsmill Interviews Fanning Dempsey National Park At ‘The Music Sessions’

They touched on the names Fanning and Dempsey rejected for their project, how they mined inspiration for ‘The Deluge’ from the classics of the ‘70s and ‘80s, and much more.

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Last Thursday night (August 1) was one we’ll never forget. After weeks of planning, we hosted the inaugural edition of The Music Sessions with Fanning Dempsey National Park – the instantly iconic pairing of Bernard Fanning (who you’ll probably know best from Powderfinger) and Paul Dempsey (Something For Kate) – showcasing their magnificent debut album, The Deluge.

The atmosphere inside The Outpost Bar in Brisbane (Meanjin) could not have felt more electric. With the legendary Richard Kingsmill hosting, we locked in for our first full spin of The Deluge (quite literally – we played the record in its premiere form, on vinyl) and learned all about it with Fanning and Dempsey providing the most insightful commentary.

Some of the topics broached in the Q&A session included the names Fanning and Dempsey rejected for their project, the importance of seizing new opportunities, the cultural shift of live music and now the cost-of-living crisis is having a significant impact, and how they mined inspiration for The Deluge from the classics of the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Have a look at the full interview between Kingsmill, Fanning and Dempsey below:

All in all, it was an incredible night of celebration, coming together as a community and letting our shared passion for music truly shine. Head here to see a gallery of highlights from the night, or here to read more about the incredible story behind The Deluge in Fanning Dempsey National Park’s cover story for The Music.

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“This is such an exciting new idea from The Music,” Fanning said upon the announcement of The Music Sessions. “It’s such a rare opportunity these days to sit down and have a dedicated listen to a whole record. Then, to be able to do it with fans there listening with us for the first time and being quizzed on the process by The King himself: It’s a winning combination.”