NSW History Week
The theme of History Week in NSW was “Life and Death” and, together with The Museum’s own ‘pirate band’ The Mutineers, 40 Degrees South relished singing some of the more macabre songs in their repertoire.
There were stories about Australian convict pirates and whaling ship disasters followed by rum (courtesy of Peg Leg Tavern) and sea biscuit (made by our own Sue Brian)!
The concert took place in the Conservation Building of the Australian National Maritime Museum.
The Mutineers and the stripey shirted Forties
A new name – “Forty Degrees South”
What was “The Roaring Forties” is now “Forty Degrees South”.
For various reasons we’re changing our name – but we’re not changing anything else. Keep an eye out for us at festivals over the coming season…
PS. We’ve got a new domain name too – 40degrees-south.com, but the old one will keep on working too.
Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Folk Club – 40
It was especially significant to join in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Hornsby-Kuringgai Folk Club because members of 40 Degrees South (in any number of guises) have performed there frequently during those 40 years. Margaret was one of the founding organisers back in 1978 and from about 1981, she and Tom ran the club until the end of 1993.
Devil Dodgin’ on the High Seas
The James Craig Music Club featured the Forties, with the theme: “Devil Dodgin’ on the High Seas” – songs that mix the sea and religion, often irreverently. We borrowed a young Dan Kenny for the evening in Tom’s absence, and brought down our average age considerably!
We are as likely to convert an audience to religion as we are to shave our bellies with a rusty razor, and we used to say “In fact, none of us know what a razor is!” and maybe that’s still true of Dan. I was tempted to dress him up as a choir boy.
Click image for video of “Wreckers’ Prayer”. (Video: Sue Brian)
Supporting Daniel Bornstein at the James Craig Music Club
Daniel Bornstein from Melbourne is one of the Grubby Urchins featured during the Sydney Classic & Wooden Boat Festival early in April and he gave a solo performance on board the James Craig later that week with the Forties in support. http://www.grubbyurchins.com/ Facebook: The Grubby Urchins, Daniel and Joe Hillel, run a weekly Sea Shanty Session on Wednesdays at The Brothers Public House in Fitzroy, Vic.
Daniel Bornstein looking rather devastating in front of the James Craig and the overpowering lights of Sydney town as a backdrop.
Forty Degrees South 