Breathe.... breathe.... BREATHE... ok... now less than 3 weeks to go before the launch of Femina Australis! Quite a journey... 3 1/2 years getting to this point... it's a pretty weird, but good, feeling to be so close :-) Where did it all start?... with a visit to The Kelly Museum at Glenrowan where I heard a story about little Kate Kelly... and so the fascination with the stories in our history started, and being a woman, the women's stories in particularly grabbed me. 3 1/2 years later I have completed this album, Femina Australis, and am looking forwards to sharing the stories of 12 women with you!!!
Stories!!!! To me the stories are sooooo important! So I knew that this CD had to have the stories included... and being a person who loves books - Yes, I'm still into physical books!... I have kindles (broken a few too... my children seem to accidently sit on them or knock them crashing to the floor...). SO - The CD is also a book, a book that will fit in your CD rack as it's the same size as a jewel case. With beautiful photography by Deirdrie Tehan and gorgeous illustrations by Sharon McLeod going alongside both the lyrics and the stories of the songs - I'm happy with it! There has been a suggestion to make a BIGGER BOOK with more information and larger text - what do you think? I like this idea...
I have just set pre-orders for the album up on my website - and as a special "Thank You!" I would like to offer you a discount of 10% on any pre-orders you make before the actual LAUNCH date of 30 July. The code is "pre-order", and the 10% discount will be applied to any products you buy on the site. Maryen's Store is your direct link to the ordering page.
Pre-orders will be posted 22 July when made before this date!
The band (yes!!! the band!!!!) is rehearsing! I'm playing autoharp, acoustic guitar and piano; Sani Bolton is singing harmony vocals and playing acoustic guitar and banjo/mandolin; my son Elvis Kernaghan is playing electric guitar (he also plays on the song Tarenorerer on the album!); and GK is playing percussion and some bass. Feels so good to play, rehearsed, with musicians - I've been completely solo for a long time!
We have a show at The Basement, Gold Coast Arts Centre on 30 July (the actual launch date) followed on Friday 5 August at Foundry 616 in Ultimo, Sydney (my hometown!) followed on Friday 12 August at Bar of Bengal, Kindred Studios in Yarraville, Melbourne. I'll be popping into radio stations on various dates in-between on the roads across the land between these cities. Tickets available for Gold Coast and Sydney here.
Of course if anyone wants to host a House Concert for a show on other dates let me know and, you never know, it might work out! Email me here :-)
Speaking of radio - the songs Granny Lum Loy, Smoking Gun and Tarenorerer have been delivered to community radio, so feel free to request these songs on your favourite stations!
Speak soon,
Maryen xx
PS - Rhythms Magazine just did a story on me & Femina Australis... have put it on the website for you to read here or have a look in the magazine itself!