We're going to Blackbutt!

Another weekend of music and fun – this time, in good ol’ Blackbutt. Yup, that’s the name of the town (and nope, I don’t know what they were thinking either). Location: 160km northwest of Brisbane. Population: 3,000.

So what’s a big city girl doing in a small country town, you ask, dear reader?
The sponsor-approved answer would be bringing classical music to the people, young and old, as part of the Brisbane Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. The less glorified response: paid accommodation and transport to play easy music with fun people seemed like a decent form of assignment procrastination. 

Saturday’s children’s concert starred our BFG (in this case, Big Friendly German) trombonist in floppy grey ears and elastic-fastened trunk as The Elephant in Saint-Saens’ The Carnival of the Animals. Needless to say, the kids loved him. There was also some violent bow-snapping (sacrilege, I know), resulting in a One Bow Concerto. Then, a sing-along rendition of Old McDonald not only had the poor old man abandoning his farm for a band, but also somehow realising that “on that band, he had an orchestra”... But no biggie, the kids didn’t notice a thing. And to go out with a bang, the twelve of us played a Gaga medley in sunglasses that would have made the Lady herself proud.

After that, the evening was ours. I learnt a new game called List 10 in which you choose a category (or five) and list up to ten things in each until the first person finishes and calls stop. Sounds simple enough, right? But to make it more interesting, your word doesn’t count if another person has written the same or a more specific answer. So, in our attempt to be as obscure and specific as possible, we came up with some pretty interesting answers: “waterproof electric-blue eyeliner”, “fluffy purple handcuffs”... And in a moment of sheer panic, or genius, as I choose to interpret it, the only native Australian animal I could name was the Dropbear. I scored the point. The evening continued at the pub downstairs with many intense rounds of Quoits, free-flowing cider, beer and wine, and talking into the not-so-wee hours of the morning. 

But after a plate of pancakes, bacon and eggs and several cups of strong, strong tea, I was ready to play our second concert at the Bloomin’ Beautiful Blackbutt Festival. Oh no, back up, I forgot Garry!  He was the host of the reptile show that all the girls were getting a little smitten over. Tall, tanned, passionate but well-spoken... A spunk even without the gorgeous reptiles.

I also lightened my pockets for some new music pegs. Got to support the local economy now.

That afternoon’s concert was another success, despite a small audience. That the girls managed to stay upright while playing standing on our three-inch heels was an accomplishment in itself. We may, however, have been swaying a bit more expressively than usual. All in the name of good musicianship!

So after the Opera at Jimbour (another dot on the map 240km northwest of Brisbane) a few months ago, which brought 8,000 people to Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, and now Blackbutt, I feel like I’m ready to perform anywhere! As long as I have bug spray and mobile reception, of course.