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GREAT BRITTAIN
In 2014, Hobart musician Nick Balcombe died after suffering
a stroke. He was just 31. His death had a profound effect
on his music mate Sam Brittain. "I felt like the boat we
had been rowing together suddenly lay dead in the water,"
Sam says, "like the oars had fallen off and shoreline we
had been aiming for together was growing faint." Sam and
Nick would often talk about their music plans. "It took
his passing to remind me that time was not guaranteed and
it could be taken away without warning or reason." A theme
of Sam's new single, Stab In The Dark, and album, Signal
Lights, is enjoying what you have. "Slowing down and enjoying
the simpler things in life is something I have a better
grasp on now. The music industry is incredibly competitive
and for a while I found myself feeling that if I wasn't
constantly doing something to build on my career I felt
like I was completely stagnant. Slowing down and enjoying
what you have is one thing, relentlessly working towards
a dream is another. For me, the album is a reminder to keep
a healthy balance between both." Sam - who's been compared
to John Denver and Neil Young - is Adelaide-based but grew
up in the Barossa Valley and his dream rider would include
"Peter Lehmann's Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz, Barossa Pickle,
any of the glorious products from the Barossa Valley Cheese
Company in Angaston and most certainly a few ales from Barossa
Valley Brewing". Sam was on a train when he chatted to Howzat!
- entertaining passengers travelling from Sydney to Perth
on the Indian Pacific. He's also done a gig on the 112 tram,
as part of Melbourne's "Tram Sessions", but admits that
a motorbike is his preferred mode of transport. Sam is heading
to Melbourne next week to launch Signal Lights at The Toff
in Town on 23 June.
JIM LIVES ON
We remember the great Jim Keays, who died of pneumonia,
due to complications resulting from multiple myeloma, aged
67, two years ago this week. An exhibition of Jim's art
will be at the Hawthorn Studio & Gallery from 14 July to
6 August.
HOT LINE
"I'm not claiming to be an expert, I don't even know where
to start, but I know that I've been searching for a way
to heal this heart" - Sam Brittain, Sláinte.
CHART WATCH
The Avalanches score their first Top 40 single.
Say It FLUME (number six)
Cheap Thrills SIA (22)
Never Be Like You FLUME (24)
The Fighter KEITH URBAN (28)
1955 HILLTOP HOODS (30)
Sound Of Silence DAMI IM (32)
Frankie Sinatra THE AVALANCHES (34, debut)
Dear Life DELTA GOODREM (37)
Jimmy Barnes scores his 15th number one album - he's had
11 solo chart-toppers and four with Cold Chisel. The Beatles
have had 14 number one albums in Australia, U2 and Madonna
have had 11 each.
Soul Searchin' JIMMY BARNES (number one, debut)
Skin FLUME (two)
Ripcord KEITH URBAN (six)
Classic Carpenters DAMI IM (nine)
This Crazy Life THE WOLFE BROTHERS (10, debut)
The Best Of THE WIGGLES (16)
Heart Miles JAI WAETFORD (24, debut)
60 Summers GRAEME CONNORS (28)
Drinking From The Sun, Walking Under Stars Restrung HILLTOP
HOODS (32)
This Is Acting SIA (34)
Molly Soundtrack VARIOUS (37)
Bloom RÜFÜS (38)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Oh No You Don't BENNY WALKER
Dying To Leave COLOUR BOMB
Open Orange GEORGIA FIELDS
Ocean Road BEN MITCHELL
Stab In The Dark SAM BRITTAIN
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