The Re-mains are back in action this weekend with a run down the coast to Maitland to play that most prodigious of country rock and roll venues, the Grand Junction Hotel, Friday night. All guns will be blazing as we’re joined on stage by The Red Hot Poker Dots, straight off the plane from the US of A, where they’re in training as terror suspects.

Uncle Burnin’ Love is also making the foray south to explode on banjo and six string, while ex-Re-main Mick ‘Plugger’ Ward is filling Grunter Bedford’s shoes while he still can’t wear any. Speaking of shifty Kiwi’s, Grunter is recovering apace from his argument with a meat tray, and is currently plotting his return to the fray, reckoned to be in September. Tom ‘Mumbles’ Jones will be staunchly providing the hypnotic basslines.

We’ll be in Sydney Sunday, and may catch up with Dave Ramsey down there, if he can get on his crutches and get down from the mountain where he’s recuperating from our Territorian tumble. We play the Sandringham that arvo from 4-7, and the following Saturday the 18th the Excelsior in Surry Hills. Plugger Ward, erstwhile leader of The Cunce, and sometime ACCADACCA ensemblist, is once again whacking off for us at the Sando, whilst his good mate Dylan will be providing the improvised guitar vregedonomy.

The Excelsior will be another opportunity for Hank Denfield, AKA Den Hanrahan, to demonstrate his CRnR chops, as he’s reprising the role on six-string and steel that he so heroically pulled off in Vic and WA last May. Dwayne Daniel is making the trip up from Canberra, while Mal Finnan, who used to play in the Bush Punk Cowboys with me, will be drumming, after also leading his own band, The Cuban Heels in the
support slot. Denfield will of course open the affair with his usual onslaught of hillbilly doof and downhome dirt-track techno.

In late August I’m joined by Christian Pyle on stage at the Byron
Bowlo amongst other venues, supporting Canadian duo Mad Violet.
They’re a country/folk act who’re over for the Gympie Muster and a
string of shows along the coast.

But meanwhile I can’t express our collective gratitude enough to the mob who pulled off a benefit gig in Canberra on the weekend, helping to pay off our remarkable medical bills. That’s Hank Denfield once again, Bucky and his Rodeo Clowns and Dwayne Daniel’s other band, Randall Blair and The Wedded Bliss. On August 18 Sarah Carroll and Suzannah Espie have wrangled together some of the finest talent in that town for another benefit at the
Retreat. Here’s the line-up;

•  3pm MICK THOMAS
• 4pm CROXTON NEAPOLITAN
• 5pm SUZANNAH ESPIE & SARAH CARROLL
• 6pm THE RE-MAINS’ REVENGE MEAT TRAY RAFFLE, Stackfull feat. Les
• Stacpool & Harold Frith
• 7pm TONCHI MCINTOSH
• 8pm COLLARD GREENS AND GRAVY
• 9.30pm CHRIS WILSON BAND
• 11pm THE DETONATORS

Thanks you lot, you’re tops.

The local show will be on August 30 at The Beach Hotel, starring Acre, Jackie Marshall, Sara Tindley and Jimmy Willing and The Real Gone Hick-Ups as far as I know, but there are supposed to be more acts confirmed. Thanks Stu, Dave, Sara, Christian, Sal and the Beachie for hooking in. We promise The Re-Mains will ride again, as soon as we get those shiftless bludgers out of their beds and back in the (new) van.