Centralian Advocate, Friday, January 20, 2012 — 21

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Check outthe GigGuideon P24today

Stringybark: Thisis best place to be

Cameron Boon

Stringybark McDowell

THE Blues ’n’ RootsFestival starts onThursday at the MemoClub and guitaristStringybark McDowellreckons there’s noplace he’d rather spendthe Australia Dayweekend.

Stringybark (whosereal name is KenTerrington) is a self-professed one-man-band from Geelongand this is his first tripto Alice Springs.

He said: ‘‘The nameStringybark McDowellcomes from two places.

‘ ‘ I ’ m c a l l e dStringybark becauseI’m like the gum treesand McDowell was thename of a blues guitar-ist called MississippiMcDowell.

‘‘When I perform liveI’m a bit of a one-man-band — I have myguitar, a kick-drum anda percussion piece thatI keep on my left footcalled Lefty.’’

Stringybark got thecall from The Giant’sfrontman StewartWoods.

The Giants are alsoplaying at the festival.

Stringybark said:‘‘I’ve been through Al-

ice Springs before, butI’ve never stopped orplayed in the town.

‘‘Stewart is a goodmate of mine and hegave me a call to inviteme to play at the festi-val.

‘‘I reckon it will be agreat weekend and whywouldn’t you want tospend Australia Day inAlice?’’

He performs a rangeof cover songs from hisnamesake all the waythrough to modern

blues musos like TomWaits.

He said: ‘‘I also like tostep outside the normalboundaries of thegenre and play arounda bit with the songs.

‘‘I like the way JohnButler takes a song andputs himself into it andI’ve done that for yearsbefore he was around.

‘‘Blues appeals to mebecause it has so muchpassion behind it.

‘‘Most modern musichas no soul.’’

Stringybark said heincorporated a lot ofslide guitar into hismusic and took one cuefrom modern music.

He said: ‘‘I decided I’dadd a kick drum in acouple of years ago.

‘‘If these modernmusos can have a doof-doof sound that peoplecan dance to, then socan I.

‘‘My sets in AliceSprings will depend onhow much I can bringwith me on the plane.’’

n The festival is at theMemo Club and startson Australia Day(Thursday) and con-tinues until Sundaynight. Tickets cost $70for a full pass or $45 fora day pass.

Tony Robinson ... starts quietly then ramps it up Picture: CAMERON BOON

Toby’s hookedon real musicCameron Boon

A LOVE of acoustic music and aserious drive to play live musichas Toby Robinson making hismark on the Alice Springs musicscene.

The guitarist moved to theRed Centre from Darwin onlyfour weeks ago and already hasbeen seen at various venuesaround town.

He said: ‘‘I had a couple of gigsat Bojangles before it closed, andI’ve played at Annie’s, Unclesand the Rock Bar.

‘‘I’ve done the rounds andknocked on every door of everyvenue.

‘‘My music goes from mellow

country/folk at the start of thenight and then all the way toChilli Peppers late at night.

‘‘It’s a whole range of stuff. Ilike to start pretty quiet andramp it up.

‘‘All of it is cover music butsome are covers of songwritersthat I’m currently working with.

‘‘Some of it can be obscure to aa point, so there’s some stuffpeople won’t have heard before.’’

Toby said folk music played abig part in influencing his style.

He said: ‘‘I never really got intoelectric — but when I wasyounger I listened to a lot ofStevie Ray Vaughan.

‘‘It’s got to the point where Idon’t even own an amp.

‘‘I really love the sound ofacoustic, nothing sounds like amandolin or banjo or acousticguitar.

‘‘There’s also a real ease toperforming as well. When I’vebeen in four-piece bands we’vehad to lug around amps andcords and everything.

‘‘In Darwin I went down to atwo-piece and I’ve found thatwhen there’s a beat and a goodrhythm it sounds just as good.’’

Toby will head to Darwin,Melbourne, Adelaide and placesin Tasmania next month to dogigs and launch an EP.n He’s at Uncles Tavern and theRock Bar tonight. See the gigguide for more information.

TINTIN (PG) FRI-WED 9:40

DARKEST HOUR (M) FRI-WED 4:30, 6:30

CHIPMUNKS 3 (G) FRI-WED 9:30, 11:30

JOURNEY 2 (PG) FRI-WED 11:15, 1:10, 6:40

HAPPY FEET 2 (G) FRI-WED 9:30

HUGO (PG) FRI-WED 11:40, 2:00, 6:40

WAR HORSE (PG) FRI-WED 8:30

THE MUPPETS (G) FRI-WED 9:50, 12:00, 2:10

GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (MA)

FRI-WED 3:00, 6:00, 8:55

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SHERLOCK HOLMES (M) FRI-WED 1:40, 4:10, 8:40

THE DESCENDANTS (M) FRI-WED 4:30, 8:55

GENERAL NEWS ADVERTISINGDEADLINES FOR THE AUSTRALIA DAY HOLIDAY

The Centralian Advocate Edition For:

Friday 27th January 2012

Booking & Copy Deadline

Real Estate, Lifestyle & Alice Live is 11:30am

Monday 23th January

General News Booking & Copy Deadline 10am

Tuesday 24th January

Our offi ce will be closedThursday 26th January 2012

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