Melissa Hargraves
Local legend and trailblazer activist Brendan ‘Mookx’ Hanley has invited special guests to perform his songs at his living wake at The Picture House, Brunswick Heads, on Sunday November 26 from 2 till 5pm.
It’s a chance to celebrate the life and era of a pioneer in music, comedy, activism and film while he is still breathing the air with us.
Mookx has worked with Pete Seeger, John Farnham, Bev Harrell, Slim Dusty, Lucky Starr, Dinah Lee, Jimmy Hannan, Johnny O’Keefe, John Williamson, The Bee Gees, Manfred Mann, Graeme Bond, Hans Poulsen, Jack Thompson, Jean Paul Bell and many others.
His songs have been recorded by Frankie Davidson, Doug Owen, Layabouts, Bushwackers, Gong, Mills Sisters, Troubadors, German Choirs, Sai Baba Ashram Choir and many more.
Trailblazer activist
His soundtrack and movie contributions include Monkey Mia, Waterborn, Give Trees a Chance, Nearly Normal Nimbin, Reef Reborn, Earth First and the multi- award-winning Blowpipes and Bulldozers. Mookx also wrote the original soundtrack and characterisations for the animated movie Fern Gully.
Mookx pioneered locally by instigating the local Dolphin Music awards, the Nimbin, Mullumbimby and Byron folk clubs, and was also instrumental in protecting Terania through non-violent peaceful – and musical – action. He is a trailblazer activist who also contributed towards the legalisation of busking in NSW.
Come and celebrate Mookx, a local legend whose own work stands proudly along with his popular collaborations. Keep in mind that the event will be recorded and filmed so please respect the performers and the sound quality of the event.
All this about Mookx ,who I have known since 1975, and not one word about his life partner, Shanto, a beautiful woman, who died recently, and with whom he had two children and with whom he performed and wrote all their songs over four decades.
How about a wake or a memorial for Shanto ?