News

January 2013 - Illawarra and Tamworth

When Russell Hannah, one of the driving forces behind the Illawarra Folk Festival,  decides he needs something done he can be very persuasive.  That he also happens to have been at Teachers College with Mike gave him a decided advantage - he knew him well enough to not have to be too subtle (which is rare for Big Russ anyway).  So Mike is playing the Illawarra Folk Festival after a long absence.  Good one Russ!

He presents two workshops as part of the Folk School which runs on Wednesday and Thursday Jan. 16/17 - the first on writing lyrics, the second on the skills need to develop better, more inventive melodies.  On the weekend he will play three hour long solo spots before being part of the finale on Sunday night.

Mike played the Capital Theatre in Tamworth back in April 2012 and loved it - as did the audience.  So, for the first time in many years, he will be returning to headline during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.  He'll be performing on Sunday 27 in the Capital Theatre at 2 pm and will be joined by two wonderful young singer songwriters, Lou Bradley and Katrina Burgoyne, both of whom were former students of the Country Music Academy where Mike taught for 6 years. 

Talkback

You will notice that we have added a blog to the website.  There you will find articles on song writing from Mike and almost anything else creative that interests him.  Through it you will also have an opportunity to talk to him, engage in a conversation, ask him a question or just add a comment to whatever is currently on his mind.  Make use of it.  He loves to get feedback.

A Masterful Presentation

An audience of marketers at a recent TEDx presentation in Melbourne got to experience a little Mike McClellan magic.  With guitar in hand, he spoke and sang about the importance of establishing and sustaining an emotional bond between you and your customer in tough trading conditions.  He had them in the palm of his hands.  In the words of the organiser Ken Roberts, the CEO of Forethought, one of the smartest research companies in Australia, his speech was "simply masterful".  If you'd like to see it click here

The Songwriters Manual

Mike has begun the process of videoing a number of his songs in preparation for the release of a DVD/CD on songwriting, guitar arranging, playing and performing (there may also be a hard copy available at a later date).  As a teaser you will be able to download one song for free, see him play it and get a copy of the lyrics and the guitar tablature.  The accompanying text will explain the techniques and craft behind the writing and guitar arrangement.

The complete singer/songwriter/guitarists manual will be available as a DVD with CD through his shop.  We'll let you know when it is ready for release.

The New CD

If only for a moment… was released July 29 at a sell out concert at The Basement in Sydney.  12 new songs, produced by Stefan Nowak, who played keyboards on the night, mark a return for the Song and Danceman that has been long anticipated.  Among the additional players were Phil Scorgie on bass, Tom Ferris on guitars, Glen Wilson on drums with backup vocals from Glenn Cunningham.
                            
The new songs are some of the most moving he has ever written and, to quote Stefan, “he is singing better than he’s ever done and the songs were a joy to work on.”

    “Best of” Double CD finally re-issued                                   

    Time. And Time Again.  The Best of the Song and Danceman

    The double CD “best of Mike McClellan” collection, Time. And Time Again, is now available once again. Featuring 35 songs remastered from his back catalogue it is now back in print and available only through the shop on this website.  Song and Danceman, The One I Love, Saturday Dance, Rock’n Roll Lady, Good Companions are just a few of the classic McClellan songs restored to a pristine digital format.

    Reviews

    "That he is one of Australia’s finest artists was proved beyond doubt on Friday night at a scintillating performance to his latest season at the Troubadour. As usual for a McClellan performance the place was packed out and as if to underline his popularity it was announced that the original six-night season now has been extended by a week. McClellan seems to be getting better and better each time he performs.

    His voice, always strong and flexible, now carries much more authority; his guitar playing, appealing from the start, has improved to the extent that he must be rated as one of the best in the country; and his between songs patter has the mark of a performer oozing with confidence."

    "McClellan is a national asset... an artist this country should be proud of."

    Paul Speelman, The Age, Melbourne.

    "As a performer McClellan is superb in the manner in which he communicates with his audience. For more than two hours he had them in the palm of his hand. With a subtle blend of humour, monologue and music he shares his life and thoughts with an audience. By the end I left knowing a lot more about the man and the musician."

    John McLoughlin, ABC Tamworth

    "Singer, songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire, Mike McClellan left an audience at Her Majesty’s in no doubt that he is one of this country's finest talents."

    Mike Seccombe, Brisbane Courier Mail

    "If there was only one day left in the Universe and I had to choose between a Mike McClellan workshop and an accordion demonstration I would go to the latter.... I couldn’t stand the thought that Mike’s workshop would be his last."

    Bill Hauritz, Director, The Woodford Festival.