Mandy Nolan
Pete Murray is undoubtedly one of Australia’s most loved singer/songwriters. He has revisited his brilliant Blue Sky Blue with his latest project The Byron Sessions. The album features songs infused with flavour and friendships from his adopted home town of Byron Bay.
For Pete, choosing to record with local artists was a no brainer.
‘Byron has such a great community, I think. I keep getting asked this question what’s so great about Byron, it’s got a great community that cares about the people and it’s a good vibe, same thing with the musos there we are all really good mates.
‘Even for my band I am using local guys who aren’t nationally known but they are such good players. They live here because they like the area. In the past I have had session players, and I am sick of flying them around; here I can just go to the studio and lay down the tracks.
‘That’s why we wanted to call it The Byron Sessions, local players that laid the tracks down for me. It was an idyllic run. Getting up and going for a surf and then going in and recording is a great way to do it.’
Murray is currently touring Australia solo in a stripped back up and close personal show. This is a new thing for him.
‘I have never done a solo tour in Australia; I’ve always played with a band,’ says Pete.
Of course it wouldn’t be a Murray show if one of his mates didn’t hop up from time to time… mates like those who joined him on the recording session: Ash Grunwald, and Scott Owen who lend slide and bass for Hurricane Coming. Katie Noonan’s vocal on Hold It All For Love are haunting and indigenous roots queen Natalie Pa’apa’s rap on Blue Sky Blue is a knockout.
Murray has taken the Byron flavour nationwide with local artist Nathan Kaye as his support. He also joins him on stage.
‘He is playing beatbox and slide and harmonica and Dave twinkle toes tweetie is the bass player in the other band, so the show have been awesome. I think it’s the most fun I have had!’
Now that’s a show you’ll want to see!
Pete Murray’s Byron Sessions come home to Mama when he plays the Hotel Great Northern on Saturday (and Twin Towns on Sunday).
www.oztix.com.au, 1300 762 545
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