Sam Newton

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About the Porch Light SessionsThe Porch Light Sessions Facebook Page

The Porch Light Sessions are a series of monthly acoustic gigs showcasing both upcoming and established singer/songwriters to listening audiences.

It is one of the few nights in Sydney where you can actually be in a public space, in a pub, but once an artist gets up on to the stage, the people go quiet. It’s a great gift to all.

– Cathy Kirkpatrick (co-founder)

Originally established by music management/business guru, Cathy Kirkpatrick, and Sydney musician Leroy Lee, it has now been running for over 4 years. About 12 months ago, Leroy decided to step down and allow Frances Martin, a music-scene champion and friend to all musicians, take over his half.

Who Performs?

The nights typically showcase up to three local, national and international artists. The focus of each Porch Light Sessions is on story and song. Cathy and Frances have been very careful in offering this gig to artists who have the ability to connect with an audience through repertoire, musicianship and stagecraft.

This is not the kind of show with people half-listening to the music. The attentiveness must go in both directions.

– Cathy Kirkpatrick (co-founder)

When is it on?

Held on the second Thursday of every month, the next gig is planned for Thursday the 13th July (and I’m in the lineup!). Being monthly, there is no shortage of quality, diverse acts to grace the stage. This should also make it easy enough to attend as a regular prescription of quality Sydney-based live music.

Where is it held?

The nights have been, and continue to be, held at the Petersham Bowling Club, about 6 minutes walk from Petersham Train Station.

Here’s a bit about the venue from the PBC website:

Established in 1896,  the Petersham Bowling & Recreation Club (the PBC) is one of the oldest clubs in NSW, with a rich and interesting history. A few years ago the club was snatched from the jaws of property developers intent on building town houses on the site. Now the PBC is a vibrant, dynamic and creative, poker machine-free community club with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

A bonus for me (not mentioned above) is that the PBC also have a delicious selection of rotating craft beer taps and home made pizzas (at time of writing, Bistro is shut for renovations… they allow BYO food).

Why should you attend?

If you enjoy going to see live music for the sake of the music, not just as a social outing, then this is where you should be going once a month. Entry is cheap at $10 and the connection that is created between audience and performer is real. Lyrics are understood and melodies are in their purest form. Expect to be hushed if you plan on sparking a conversation mid-song.

The Porch Light Sessions at the Petersham Bowling Club is the kind of gig that established artists will reminisce about in the twilight years of their careers.

My Gig Plug

Click below for the Facebook event and more information about the night.

My own listing for this gig can also be found on this website by clicking here.

Set times are:
7:30 – Sam Newton
8:30 – Martha Marlow
9:30 – Leroy LeePorch Light Sessions - Featuring Sam Newton, Leroy Lee and Martha Marlow

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What is Australian Americana Music?

According to the newly launched Americana Music Association of Australia, Australian Americana music builds on established definitions of the genre and “melds them with aspects of uniquely Australian sounds, stories and lyrical content, often influenced by our history, people and place in the world.”

fyi:
Americana is contemporary music that incorporates elements of various American roots music styles, including country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass, R&B and blues, resulting in a distinctive roots-oriented sound that lives in a world apart from the pure forms of the genres upon which it may draw. source

As an active performing, writing and recording artist in Australia’s burgeoning Americana scene, I have come into contact with a huge number of talented musicians that I wish more people heard. Australian Americana musicians need a central location for potential fans to discover, enjoy and share.

Australian Americana Gig
Playing with my band as part of the Americana Music Association of Australia NSW Launch. *Photo Credit: Jolyon Gray

 

A Playlist For Australian Americana Music

Over the past few months, I’ve come to recognise the significant role that playlists – in particular those made and promoted within Spotify – hold in the 21st Century music promotion/discovery landscape. All recent music industry podcasts and blog articles will tell you the same thing; playlists have now become the majority of music fans’ preferred medium for music discovery.

I want to do my part to make it easier for more people to discover Australian Americana artists.
Here’s my Spotify playlist featuring one song per artist to help get the word out. I will be updating it regularly.

For more information about this fast-growing, exciting genre in Australia, check out the newly launched Americana Music Association of Australia. They give a great run-down for those interested or curious.

If you’re an Australian artist making Americana music that wants to get one of your songs included, shoot me a message via the contact page with your favourite track.

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A week ago, I officially released a new music video for We Can’t See An End In Sight, the first track from ‘Violet Road‘. My good friend Lyn Taylor is the mastermind behind the clip with filming, directing, producing and editing duties.

 

We shot the video both in Lyn’s studio and on a cold, rainy night in Sydney, at a number of locations around the CBD. I’m stoked with the final result.

Download the song for free via my Soundcloud.

If you enjoy the video, let me know via my Youtube Channel and feel free to share it around.