Day 13, Hamburg

A great night in Hamburg last night at 'Baby I grew You a Beard', or "BIGYAB" as they like to call it. Very kind of our friend Torben to invite me in the first place, given I've never been even remotely close to being able to grow a beard. At least nothing that resembles one in a typical sense. Nor a moustache for that matter, as some of you might remember from THIS... Fortunately the audience didn't seem to mind too much, at least not outwardly, and in any case I think there were enough beards in attendance to make up for my lack of that particular genetic inheritance. A really nice space for live music, and a treat to play with a great system after a little run of unplugged gigs and a bit of busking this week...

Last night also presented a rare opportunity to share the stage with an old friend of mine Marina, a local musician here in Hamburg. I first met Marina in Byron Bay whilst touring The Arena nearly 4yrs ago, and last night she jumped up to sing a few BV's on Crossfire, as well as play a bit of Flute on Flying, the first time I've ever had someone playing flute with me...! It's a bit of a trip to think you can meet someone at a gig in Byron Bay, then end up playing with them in Hamburg 4yrs later. How one earth does that happen? Music wins again. Beautifully done thanks Marina!

Earlier in the day, and around about the time I left you in the last blog... I played in a church service, held in a big cinema space, somewhere not so far from BIGYAB in a big old converted factory, formerly a production plant of sorts for ship propellers I am told but more recently developed into a unique arts and retail space. Quite a spectacular facility I might say, done absolutely no justice by this terrible photo...

Arguably more spectacular than the building itself was the pastor's sermon for the morning, an exercise in conviction and delivery the likes of which I have not witnessed for some time. If only I was able to understand what on earth he was talking about... Lena was doing her best to translate some of the wisdom being imparted, but there are limits to what can be achieved when you're dealing with an Australian musician on 5hrs sleep, still struggling to remember how to say "My name is....". Such are the parameters in which I am currently operating. Yet still, the kind people at the church invited me to sing for them in English, a generous offer indeed it must be said. They didn't seem to mind too much about the beard thing either.... Coolness.

Anyway that'll do me today... Love to all from Magdeburg, where I just played a gig with a few mates to over a thousand people at the local University. But more on that tomorrow, I'm beat...

ox