Singer/songwriter and country music star Adam Harvey brings his replica home bar to the stage to take the audience on an intimate journey straight to Harvey’s Bar!
Tell me about the concept behind Harvey’s Bar.
I often put pictures of my bar on Facebook and I had a lot of people say to me, ‘Gee I’d love to spend time with you in that night in that bar of yours’.
So I thought why not record a live album in my bar, and that way when people listen to the album they’ll get a taste of what a night in my bar is all about.
What do you think it is that sparks a certain romanticism around the ‘bar’ environment? I mean, it’s not always like that in reality!
Haha… very true. I think there is something special about having friends over to my bar at home. People seem to just relax more at home or a friend’s home and everyone feels that they can be themselves, dress however they like, let their hair down, and have some fun.
It just feels a lot more relaxed than going out to a or bar or restaurant in town.
Do you think the ‘bar’ has been a bit of a ‘man’s place’? Is there something that happens there between men – in storytelling, and joking and maybe seeking solace…?
Absolutely. I think it’s a place where men can talk to each other about their problems or worries. My bar has become a central point for all of our friends (both women and men) to come together. We celebrate the good times, commiserate over the bad times but, more importantly, just enjoy each other’s company (and we stick to that old famous motto ‘What happens in the bar stays in the bar’).
What are the stories you tell in this album?
I tell stories in these songs about good times and fun parties we have had, but I also talk about some sad, heartbreaking, crying-in-my-beer stories. I think it’s the highs and lows that make music such a great emotional rollercoaster ride. I thought it was important to not only include new songs for this album but also to record some of the classic country songs we always play in my bar.
Where do you source your song narratives?
Real life. I think real life and the true stories people tell you are more interesting than anything you could ever make up.
How do you write towards an album – does the concept come to you initially or does it evolve as you write?
I don’t write every day. I have friends who get up every morning and write songs like it’s their day job. I come up with the concept first and then think about song ideas that would suit that concept. I think a good song idea is the key. If you get a good, strong idea and the basic framework of the song together, then the rest will almost write itself.
Tell me about the band.
We have a great band, and the guys have been working with me for 20 years. This is very handy because they know every song. They are really good fun guys, too, with a great sense of humour, so we have a lot of fun and plenty of laughs onstage.
How do you stage this show?
I have had another complete bar built and a huge backdrop made that is a replica of my bar at home. We set up all this onstage every night so when people come to the show it’s just like they are coming around to my place for a jam and a singalong in my bar!
What should the audience expect from Adam Harvey performing Harvey’s Bar?
Lots of fun and plenty of funny stories. There is no set list of songs so we basically play whatever the audience calls out! It’s like a request show and they don’t have to be my songs; we play everything from Johnny Cash to Slim Dusty, etc. No-one has to leave without hearing their favourite song.
Sunday at the Ballina RSL with doors opening at 7.30pm and show at 8pm. Adult $30, children 14 and under $15.
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