Well, here we are, almost halfway through another year already. As this newsletter goes to print, we are currently up at Daly Waters NT doing my nightly show, and have managed to spot a few familiar faces in the audience some nights. All is going well here and we’re enjoying the top end weather - I’ve had reports of some pretty cold and frosty conditions back home.

In April, I appeared at the Illabo Country Music weekend and sadly this was the last festival for Illabo - it was always a very well organized and run weekend. From Illabo, it was then on to Ardlethan for another enjoyable weekend, where I did a couple of guest spots and managed to watch some of the young talent performing in the talent quest. Congratulations to Neil and Rellie for the countless hours they put into nurturing these young artists and encouraging the young ones to keep Country Music alive. Next show on the agenda was at the Young Bowling Club, with thanks going to Bonnie and the crew and Radio 2YYY for again organizing another successful show. After Young, we then headed back to Leeton for the Deaton’s weekend which again was a lot of fun, especially dress up night with some attendees going to extraordinary detail with their dress up costumes. Don’t know how it happened but I went from being a bookmaker to a marriage celebrant, though the marriage didn’t last long from all accounts. Lots of fun and laughter, though!  It was then onto Wagga Wagga for the music festival there - was good to catch up and do a show with mate, Rodney Vincent, as when working with Rodney, you never know what’s going to happen! From Wagga it was then down to Barham for the annual Barham Balladeers’ festival. A good crowd was in attendance at this year’s festival - one of the biggest I think I’ve seen, so it’s pleasing to know the Ballads are still alive and going strong.

With the festival circuit completed, it was then time to make our way up here to Daly Waters. Once again, we enjoyed the trip up the Centre, managing to have a couple of very enjoyable nights camping out, star gazing and having a night cap by the campfire. We have now settled in at Daly Waters and going into our third week, with all going well, and plenty of tourists visiting.

Well, folks, as I mentioned in the last newsletter, I‘d bring you up to date regarding entertainment at Camooweal for this year’s Drovers’ Festival - pleased to announce fellow Balladeer, Bruce Lavender, will be returning along with myself, Chicko and The Breakaways Band from Cloncurry, The camp oven cooks will also be returning so you’ll be able to brush up on how to cook the perfect damper, using your camp oven - dates for this year’s Drovers’ Festival are 23^rd, 24^th & 25^th August.  I also mentioned in the last newsletter that I’d bring you up to date with the trip over to WA. Sorry to say we have cancelled the trip for this year and certainly hope to organise something in 2019. On mentioning 2019, the Hartwood Festival artist lineup for next year has been confirmed and flyers are now out and circulating. Listing is also available via the website www.hartwoodfestival.com.au. For those of you receiving this newsletter via email, just click on the blue text which will direct you to the website.

No doubt next quarter’s news may be a bit light on but I’ll bring you up to date on future events planned, as well as the November adventure then.  I’ll look forward to catching up somewhere, sometime soon.

Regards, Tom