The Interview (Part 1)

HERE WE GO BULLRINGERS: All the negotiating and back room deals have been done and for the first time ever Country:Folk and Rock Magazine (C-Farm) has allowed a blog publication of its renowned and revered "The Interview" segment.

Not only that but C:Farm sent their rising star reporter, Audrey Skye McNash, to cover the story.

The wait is over! Bullring won't hold you up any longer. HERE IT IS BULLRINGERS. From the pages of the March edition of C:Farm.

C:Farm March 2007 Page 15
For this month's The C:Farm Interview we sent our intrepid reporter Audrey S McNash out west to spend a week in Barcaldine, to soak up the ambiance of the town which helped produce another great CD from the Bullring stable. So impressed was Audrey that she dispatched her report titled unambiguously....

IT'S BULLRING WITH A BULLET

"Roy the Boy from Yalleroi is back" my editor stated blandly, without intonation nor any hint of irony, as I sat in his office overlooking the harbour on that Monday morning just a few weeks ago.

"We thought Live in the Loungroom was the swan song" - he continued "but no - and we are all grateful for that. More comebacks than Dame Nellie Farnham - oops Nell. "

"I want you to interview him and the sidekick, Bullringer for the March edition."

"Yes, Audrey" he exclaimed so that I could not miss the significance of the moment: "You have got The Interview for our March edition."

My first time on the prestigious Interview column! What a challenge - and to interview the grand old masters of Folk and Rock - Roy the Boy from Yalleroi and Bullringer. Well, Roy the Boy anyway. I was pumped, apprehensive, excited, overwhelmed. You name it. I felt it....

...and now the moment of truth has almost arrived. The rendezvous with Roy the Boy from Yalleroi and Bullringer at Daffy's Diner is now only moments, and 200 metres, away.

I turn west at Burns' Newsagency into Oak street and into the gusty breeze from Longreach, which, cooled only by the tiniest of encounters with Lagoon Creek, is as warm as the hospitality I have received from this wonderful town of Barcaldine.

Barcy. The town, nay the Alma Mata, of Roy the Boy from Yalleroi and Bullringer.

My walk has taken me past the green (bore water folks!) manicured lawns of this Garden City of the West, on my way to the main street from my digs at the Lord Mayor's estate on the Blackall Road. A pleasant stroll, allowing time to admire the proud, grand old Radio Theatre; so proud in fact, that she exposes not just her face, but her entire iron body to the street.

And now, like the Radio Theatre, the other places in the main street pop up like old friends, like bits of a reality I only became aware of by listening to the tapes of the brilliant new Bullring CD, and reading the Bullring book, as I relaxed in my soft and beautifully designed Bullring T Shirt. Australian cotton. Made by China, not in China.

Intermittently, in this heavenly state, as the warmth of the morning sun rose above Lake Dolly, I fidget with my Bullring key-ring.

As I stroll down Oak Street, the lyrics from the beautiful music ring in my head, and I wonder "Was Speshie's here next to Gone Shopping;? Is this Diak's Pub? Is that the home of the Gully Gang somewhere hidden on the Aramac side of the tracks?"

And then I am at The Globe - Oggy's Pub.

So many questions and the answers are just round the corner.

Suddenly I am here. The time has come. I quickly make the preparations: battery check of the recorder, a fluff of the hair, a quick glance in the window of The Globe.

As cool and willowy a posture as I can muster, I stroll across the street. And there they are: Roy the Boy from Yalleroi and Bullring, lounging in the alfresco dining area of Daffy's, looking cool and collected while the newspaper holding their chips and scallops flutters insolently in the gusting breeze....

They stand to greet me.

NEXT POST: The interview begins!!!

Tuesday Night Photo Competition results...

The second envelope has been opened (see post below) and the answers to the 2 remaining questions in the Tuesday Night Competition are as follows:

(a) What is the local name given to this tree? ANSWER: This tree, on the banks of the Lagoon Creek (Aramac Road reach) is of course known locally as The Bendy-Over Tree. Not one correct response. Shame, Bullringers, Shame.

(b) What is this local landmark known as? ANSWER: Redbank. Cogratulations to Jo for going so close and even nominating its precise location.

And Now for Some Answers...

Early this morning a courier woke me up with a delivery of 2 sealed A4 envelopes from Roy the Boy from Yalleroi. Just as well too, as I have a few messages to do up the street, not to mention buying some lammies and jam at the QCWA stall outside Burns' newsagency and getting a copy of the new publication The Barcaldine Bugle.

Anyway the envelopes contain the results of the last 2 competitions: The Cabaret Photo Contest and the Tuesday Night Photo Challenge.

Bullring would like to give a big thankyou to those who entered with such interesting and accurate responses, particularly JL, MM, Jo and Sandlewood (now there's an interesting name).

Roy the Boy from Yalleroi has been sifting through the comments to all the posts and has even been asking some challenging follow-up questions. Nothing gets past RtBfY so make sure you keep an eye on your comments!!

Might I add there has been some VERY NICE comment posting by Vicki.

So without further ado, let me grab the first envelope which is headed:

Confidential: Do NOT open till Saturday 24 February 2007.
ANSWERS TO CABARET PHOTO COMPETITION

(a) What venue is this? ANSWER: This venue is the Aramac Shire Hall Supper Room. CONGRATULATIONS JL for correctly identifying the venue. MM also receives a Bullring commendation for including this venue with his/her options.

(b) Can you name the band? ANSWER: The band is December Sunn, which was based in Barcaldine but played at various venues in the Central West and Capricornia. December Sunn was comprised of the following members:

Jeffrey Faulkner - aka Doonga - Bass Guitar
Gary Alexander - aka Lick; aka Lickbird - Percussion
Tony Mansfield - aka Gasper; aka Gapper - Rythym Guitar/Vocals
Peter Fischer - aka Bones; aka Grasshopper - Keyboards
Bill Fraser - aka Norm; aka The Big Bump Head - Rythym/Lead Guitar

The December Sunn beat some very good bands to become the central and northwest divisional winners in the Hoadley's National Battle of the Sounds* in 1969. Other bands competing included Russ Head and the Impacts from Blackall, The Innocence and The T-U-Wanas from Longreach. Many other bands from Muttaburra and the Northwest could not compete with the Bullringesque quality of the music of December Sunn. (More about the bands in the C-Farm Interview coming to Bullring Blog SOON!!)

* It was during the Battle of the Sounds in Rockhampton that the vocalist for December Sunn, Tony (Gasper) Mansfield; inspired by John and Yoko's love-in for peace at a hotel in Toronto, staged his famous filth-in for peace at the Leichardt Hotel, refusing to bathe until world peace had been attained. More to this story coming SOON in the C-Farm Interview.

(c) What year was it taken? ANSWER: Circa 1969.

The Winners: How good was MM?; Boy what a memory. MM even identified band members and a number of bands including December Sunn. Also JL had some accurate information about this photo and RtBfY is asking for some more details in the comments. Well done to both of you from Bullring.

Well that is it - WAIT A TICK!!!! I have just found some photos of the band in the bottom of the envelope. Check out these snaps and the Bullring Blog will get back soon to open the second envelope.

Tuesday Challenge: 2 questions answered already!!

Congratulations Anonymous, posted by "Vicki" - for answering 2 questions from the Tuesday Night Challenge so quickly. Bullring Blog Hitters, simply click on comments to read Vicki's answers and let's see how he/she went. (S'cuse the gender uncertainty Hitters - can't be too careful with pseudonyms on the net.)

Question (c) CORRRRRECT Yes Vicki that innocent looking iron shed was indeed the HQ of the notorious Gully Gang, which reigned for many years in Barcy suburbia.

As it happens the Gully Gang will be immortalized in the greatly anticipated CD from Bullring Music in the feature song "No Mistakin' Barcy".

Although the physical location of the Gully Gang headquarters remains shrouded in mystery, Bullring Music speculates on the location in their No. 1 hit song* No Mistakin' Barcy with the line: "When the law of the north side, was the law of the Gully Gang."

The notion that the gang was based on the North Side is supported by the following evidence:

• it is well known that the Gully Gang referred to their weaponry as "gings", which is the northern dialect of what town residents properly referred to as "shanghais"; and
• all attacks were launched on the north side of Barcaldine.

Well done Vicki!

*Bullring accepts that this statement is largely speculative.

Question (d) CORRRRECT Yes Vicki you are right again - that is indeed the premises where Rudy plied his avocation and dispensed chewies as the town Barber.

Bullring Music is pleased to ANNOUNCE that a song on their forthcoming and eagerly awaited CD is devoted to Rudy. It is a pearler, and you will not be disappointed, especially with the symphonic Gidyea Rock Beat and the wonderful music that Roy the Boy from Yalleroi has composed for this number.

That is 2 questions answered correctly already thanks to Vicki - can anyone get the other 2???

Bullring thinks NOT!!!

News, Big News and Tuesday Night Photos

After the big news item, you will find some photos which you may find interesting. One thing is for sure: they will certainly feature one way or another in Bullring's eagerly awaited CD and associated products. In fact Tuesday Night Photos will become a regular feature of the Bullring Blog. Don't forget to check after The Bill guv!!

News Item: We are close to announcing a winner in the Cabaret Photo Contest with 2 very good responses coming in from anonymous and anonymous and posted by a "Vicki "- whoever those people are, they have done a great job.

Correct answers will be posted by the end of the week. (See also this week's challenge below.)

Big News Item: THE INTERVIEW BEGINS - Bullring is pleased to announce that all residual contractual issues have now been RESOLVED with C-Farm and the serialization of the interview with Roy the Boy from Yalleroi and Bullringer begins this Sunday. You can't wait for this one!!

In the meantime have a go at Tuesday Night Photo Challenge No 1. If you think you know the answers send them through the comments tag at the bottom of the post. Remember you can be anonymous if you wish.

(a) What is the local name given to this tree?

(b) What is this local landmark known as? (c) This building was headquarters to what Barcaldine gang?
(d) Who operated a barber shop from these premises in the 60's?

MapLoco - Great new feature for Bullring:

Scroll down to the very bottom of the blog to see the locations of recent hits to Bullring - you can even click on the map to see the city or suburb.


Thanks to Bullring's good friend in the Middle East, (though formerly from the Central West), and his friends from around the world who kindly visited the Bullring Blog, here is a pictue of the MapLoco Bullring map on Saturday 17 February 2007:

The map of Tassie shines bright blue; Watson! Is this some kind of clue? To the one behind the name of Roy; Who claims to hail from Yalleroi!!!

Some photos while you wait for The Interview..

Fellow Bullringers: Can you answer the following questions about this picture:

(a) What venue is this?

(b) Can you name the band?

(c) What year was it taken?

Send your answers via our "comments" link to this post - we have made it much easier to make a comment and you can be anonymous - and if can answer all questions correctly, you will recieve a signed copy of the new CD with a 10% discount! And...if you can prove that you are in the picture you get the CD FREE!!!!

Here's some more pictures that will feature in the Bullring package:

Bullring Music scores publicity coup

Bullring secures "The C-FARM" interview:

GREAT NEWS: Bullring Music is pleased to announce that it has successfully negotiated to publish on its own blog (this one!), the transcript of the official Bullring interview with that prestigous journal: Country - Folk and Rock Magazine (C-Farm).

This interview is seen as a major coup for Bullring, as C-Farm is considered to be the "Bible" of country, folk and rock music genres. Of course C-Farm makes no pretentions of its position in the marketplace with its catchcry that appears on every cover:

If you love your Folk an' Country, or if you live under a Folk' n Rock: C-Farm is the Magazine for you!

Regardless, an interview with C-Farm is still a good indication of the confidence that the industry has in this forthcoming Bullring CD, and Bullring Blog is pleased to bring this interview to you.

However, due to contractural arrangements with C-Farm, who hold the copyright to the interview, Bullring Blog is forbidden from reproducing the transcript in its entirety.

NEVER MIND!, Bullring Bloggers should not be dissapointed as Bullring Blog will be bringing the complete*, uncensored*, unabridged*, warts and all* serialization of the C-Farm interview with the 2 Bullring Principals, Roy the Boy from Yalleroi and Bull Ringer in coming weeks!!

STARTING SOON: Follow "The Interview" over coming weeks!! Make sure YOU check back regularly so you don't miss an installment of this fascinating, enlightening, sometimes confronting interview with C-Farm.

Will RtBfY and BR reveal any secrets in the interview? YES, so don't miss an installment!!!

*Bullring Blog accepts that these are, in fact, conditions imposed upon it by C-Farm in its agreement to allow the publishing of The Interview on the Bullring Blog.

Bullring Music: Roy the Boy from Yalleroi (RtBfY) and Bull Ringer (BR).

TREATS FOR BULLRING BLOGGERS

Exclusively to our dear, faithful, regular bloggers Bullring is pleased to release the first stanza of the feature track, No Mistakin' Barcy, of its eagerly anticipated CD. Sorry Lee but words, music and Gidyea Rock Beat (Gentlissamo) are all protected by copyright.

Try casting your eyes over this without getting the feet tapping or the boots scooting. You can't can ya?

And we have thrown in some Barcy photos for good measure...you may even spot yourself at the Barcy races.

And if that ain't enought we have thrown in the classic space invaders game (not to mention pub pong for Fats) to have a bit of fun with when you visit the blog!

NO MISTAKIN' BARCY

Beat: Gidyea Rock (Gentlissamo)

1. Time has passed so quickly; it’s now been quite a while

Since I left my home town and moved many a mile

And it’s a long way from Brissie to the place that I know best

So it’s early in the morning when my trip starts out west.

2. When I reach The Patrick the journey almost ends
Soon I’ll cross the Alice then there’s only two more bends
Till the rows of peltophorums shimmer into view
And welcome me back to the town that I once knew.

Chorus:

‘Cause there’s no mistakin’ Barcy, the heart of the central west
And there’s no forsakin’ city life if you are not impressed
By the smell of the gidyea; an omen of some rain
Or quiet Sunday evenings strolling down to meet the train ……

By sprinklers placed on iron roofs, cooling wide verandahs
Or going to the footy to cheer the mighty Sand Goannas.

Lagoon Creek avec duck

Lagoon Creek sans duck

At the Barcy races