A Summer Tour
January 10, 2011
This is going to be weird.
I’m about to head out on tour. Now, that in itself isn’t too strange… I’m certainly not unfamiliar to the grime of the vaudeville road, that’s why I take so many baths. Thing is… since retiring down here in tropical electric paradise, most, if not all of my touring has been undertaken in the form of a giant, lengthy, commitment laden “northern summer” tour of such salubrious festival circuits as Canada, Eastern Europe, The U.A.E., Brazil and even the Spanish clubber’s beach paradise El Campello.
Spanish Club Dates 1988
This time it will be different. This time, it will be local.
Now, despite being retired, I still keep my hand in some pretty fruity pies down here… in part, to inspire a new generation of wannabes, but also, to be honest, because I can’t stay away from the business. It’s in my blood… and it’s not alone, so I gots to keep the show biz pumping through my veins, or the biological ratio of good vs evil will get all out of whack… and who needs that.
So, I work a healthy circuit of gigs here. All kinds of shit… all across the board… all tiers, classes, creeds, flavours, genders, budgets, venues, menus… I soak it all up, cos I like to keep it real. Also, it’s a small place, and there aren’t too many options.
This time around though, I’ve switched it up. After 12 years of being woo’d and quietly coaxed, I’ve relented, and will be attending the Christchurch World Buskers Festival.
Now this is a nice gig… Chilled schedule, beautiful locals, and a good solid pampering for the crew. But what makes it very very odd for me, is having all my buddies from the northern circuits right here, now, shoulder to shoulder, on my turf. Circumstance finally allowing me to play host to some of my closest friends and finest acts on the planet. I will love it, as will all the performers and public fans alike…
The Worlds Finest Clowns
The novelty, and resulting weirdness I feel about it all, has reminded me why I chose this neglected backchannel to wind down my career with the grace and dignity it deserves… You see, by retiring here, where there’s next to nothing going on, I can help to build a faith and passion in this industry, yet with the non-threatening status of “retired legend”, putting the youngsters at their ease. I wear the respect, without the agro.
That’s all well and good, but sometimes, when the world comes to town for ten days, and you’re invited to go play with them… it’s mighty nice to feel the local breeze on your chest, hear the local voices in your head, and drink the local wines, with your local lips.
I welcome the world’s best to Christchurch this month, and hope you’ll live the dream with us.
Kia Ora Kaha Te Whanau
Vinyl
The great tour of 2009
September 2, 2009
Hello Kids,
Having just completed my Northern Summer Tour for 2009, and having met so many great people, I just wanted to give you all a little shout out. It’s been a killer tour, taking in Cork, Dublin, Spruce Grove, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Red Deer, Calgary, Crystal Lake, Edmonton again and finally a little time here in Vancouver, watching my manager sweat it out on the stage for a change… now THAT’s workin’ !
I fly the jet back into Wellington city on the 13th and jump right into the fantastical World Of Wearable Art awards. I’m regularly invited to pop along and ease the old biddies into the right frame of mind to enjoy the show… A touch of Vinyl usually makes the world of difference.
I’ll be taking October off, for the most part, and then heading out on the road with one of my management team, Kim Potter. He’s embarking on a music tour of New Zealand’s south island, and I’m going along as press adviser and general good time guy.
Check out his stuff at http://www.kimpotter.co.nz and maybe come and say hi sometime.
Word.
VB
Vinyl Burns at the Edmonton Fringe 2008
March 26, 2009
I am a man. I have been a man for a long time… ever since that bad kebab in the off-license out the back of Briony’s Meat Palace in Camden. Good times.
This festival, I’ve been a little busy to keep you abreast of my activities, so I’ll now run through a poetic summary of the recent past.
I’ve seen heat. I was pleased to be performing in 42 degree heat, in front of 53 people and a discarded hotdog. The 2nd hottest day in the history of Edmonton brought me a powerful experience and brought the greenroom a powerful odor.
My room mate Aytahn slid into the darkness of lazy company and sadly or gladly, watched her sleep on the floor, whilst he dreamed of more successful moves, lying on a pile of mattresses, duvets, cereal boxes and a frisbee…
The shows come and the shows go… sometimes they feel like being killed… sometimes there’s a reason for that. Every now and then, you’re given a tiny glimpse into the reality of what you offer to people, and that turns it all around.
You can love me from afar… but I won’t be there for long.
VB
Welcome to Vinyl’s World…
May 31, 2008
Hello folks,
Welcome to the first of many regular Vinyl Burns web log entries… keeping you abreast of what I’m up to, and my personal read on the world I’m in. I hope you can join with me on a crusade to bring good times to wherever the bad times roll, and to warm and moisten even the most desolate and frigid of regions.
