Richard Lawson MusicTonight from 7.00pm I’ll be on Virtual Unreality on 2RRR Sydney with Chris Virtue talking about the Classical project with Acacia Quartet and spinning the new single ‘How to read a city’ and giving a sneak preview of the second single ‘On Love Lost Days’. You can listen anywhere here 2rrrfm
New Australian Music: Richard Lawson’s Punk Rock inspired classical song cycle performed by Acacia String Quartet
Flights of energy and compassionate grief create an cinematic Australian sound
What do you get when you combine a ferocious rock drummer from one of Australia’s foremost punk bands with a leading Australian string Quartets? Flights of energy, compassionate grief, and a cinematic, original Australian sound.
Richard Lawson was the first drummer ever heard on ABC RAGE, with his ARIA nominated punk Lime Spiders, supporting Iggy Pop, Blondie and global performances with 10,000 member audiences. His multi-instrumental career features 25 recordings ranging from electronica, folk, soundtrack and ambience. His new project features the Acacia Quartet in his first explosion onto the classical music scene.
Lawson’s debut writing for string quartet was recorded at the Four Winds pavilion on the Sapphire Coast. The result is about as far from punk as imaginable. “Picture yourself floating through the opulence of la Belle Époque, where the spirit of Ravel is elevated by the virtuosity of the Acacia Quartet, danced through dissonant harmonies with a hint of Phillip Glass,” Lawson says. “My song cycle responds to a new poetry cycle by Elizabeth Walton, concerned with environmental disruption and social justice, housing and upheaval. The work was long listed in the Tom Collins poetry prize.“
Lawson’s full album How To Read a City (Your Place of Last Resort) drops on streaming services July 2024. Lawson’s first release from the new recording, How To Read a City drops 13 May.
A further collaboration with visual artist Jay Manby for the cover artwork creates an evocative visual alignment with Lawson’s edgy new sound.
Supported by CreateNSW
One of the bands I promoted/managed and who also got me to fill in on drums for a while in 1983/1984. One of the most fun times I’ve ever had in a band and a great bunch of guys to ‘hang out’ with!! Here’s the release
‘I remember the first time I saw the Grooveyard. It was as a support for the Hitmen at a local southern beer barn called the Caringbah Inn in 1983. It was only months after their debut at the Leichardt Hotel and one of the last times for the original 5 man line up featuring Geoff Rhoe, who would leave to entertain thespian pursuits with a leading role in ‘Puberty Blues’.
The five of them barreled through a set that chimed with the rap of snare and great pop on 6 and 12 strings. It was a set spliced with the sound of the sixties and late seventies/early eighties. You could hear the Byrds, the Beatles and Moby Grape in their sound and it gave much cause for hope.
Into the next year and the songs and the gigs kept coming. Nights with the Lime Spiders, the Church, and the Most. Then all goes quiet for a short while, as drummer Sean Maguire leaves to pursue his flying career and a temporary fill in, their promoter Richard Lawson fills in. After a small taste on a 48-crash compilation cassette of a Jon Scofield original ‘I don’t remember’, they finally crack vinyl through Stuart Coupes Green records label with another Jon Scofield original called Avalanche of love backed with a Bob Wackely original ‘I told you so’.
In Sydney mid 1984 it was an unknown quantity and unlike anything heard before, no other local record sounded like it. People responded in kind and the first pressing sold out. It was looking on the up, tours of Brisbane and Melbourne followed. Gigs in picture theatres and a video appearance on ‘After Dark’ raised the confidence but didn’t raise the crowds and the cupboard was bare.
Richard received the call to rejoin the Lime Spiders and then the writing was on the wall. Jon joined Jeremy Oxley’s ‘Chinless Elte’ then went onto success with Paul Kellys Colored Girls and Bob Wackeley went to the Screaming Tribesman whilst Ian Little joined the Bambalams.
Six months later the Grooveyard reconvened to play a series of 5 shows and this time the audience had caught on and the shows were well attended. The band grabbed the opportunity and went into the studio to record a follow up 5 Track EP with Chris Masuak [who had produced Avalanche of love] before returning to their respective bands and careers.’ Tom Czarnota 1989
The Grooveyards brand of sixties infused Power Pop was against the grain of the hard Detroit style rock in Sydney in the burgeoning mid-eighties. The songs that flowed from Jon Scofield’s pen are world class and show great maturity and craftmanship. Now with the digital release of the Avalanche of Love single and self-titled EP we have evidence of a peculiar time in the glory days of Aussie pub rock and the enduring quality of these songs.
Met with executives from Screen Tasmania on Thursday Feb 14 in Hobart with a view to prospective works with Acacia Quartet being used in some current productions underway in Tasmania…stay tuned
A fabulous new run of dates just announced for Autumn 2024. I took the title from a Justin Hayward [Moody Blues] song which he did on the ‘War of the worlds’ soundtrack. I will be playing all the way from Batemans Bay to Eden and more dates will be added with maybe some forays into the highlands possible!!
The first single ‘How to read a city’ from the ‘Place of last resort’ tone poem album is set for release in the usual places. Final edits and mixing are in process. Jaunty and upbeat in tone, the piece has Gypsy and Central European melodic themes and symbolizes our powerlessness in the race to the bottom of the economy . The whole tone poem is based on the works of Australian Author and musician Elizabeth Walton.
Acacia Quartet do an amazing job alternating between inquisitive pizzicato entry and jerky juxtapositions climaxing in First Violinist Lisa Stewarts vibrato ridden plea for mercy. Pics @elizabethwalton.au and thanks to CreateNSW and Fourwinds
Heaps of shows over the summer. More to be added. Should catch a few of you around the traps #soloandacoustic #beachsinger #sunandsurf
Richard Lawson and #elizabethwalton.au brought a mysterious night of Poetry, Film and Sound Ambience to the The River Rock Cafe in Bermagui on Saturday 14 October from 7-10pm. Featuring the premier of @elizabethwalton.au 40 minute Film of her Poetry Cycle ‘Seven Breaths’, which she recited live whilst playing a lot of her stunning improvisational piano works, it featured guest musicians such as Steve Overmyer on Persian Dulcimer and harps and a special one off Electronic Ambient set of Richard Lawson and his ‘Music at night’ set of songs.
What a special and important venue The River Rock Cafe and live happening place is on the south coast. Beautiful location and people; Jacqui Howarth and Matt. Always a fabulous varied collection of artists and events and the original and best open mic on the coast. A national treasure. Thank you from a well travelled and old music soul #anbientmusic #experimentalmusic thanks you Steve Overmyer and @elizabethwalton.au I had a blast playing ambient. thoroughly enjoyed delving into my songbook of almost 30 years recording . Highlights included ‘Euro Express/Tuscany and Aswad from the first Figtree Renaissance LP of 1994
There are plans for a return performance on Saturday 6 Jan 2024 incorporating more films which will be made.
Returned to the place of pace at this time of year for Mudgee Wine Festival. #kingsofcongocongo had been invited to play our fiery percussion chops again at Flavours of Mudgee, the biggest event on the Mudgee Region calendar and I did some sideshows solo and acoustic at Three Tails Brewery and Smokehouse on Fri 22 Sept 7-10pm and at Lazy Oak Vineyard for a recovery lunch from 12-4pm on the Sunday 24 Sept.
Lots of stuff happened in between all this with some busking at The Book Nest Mudgee and a surprise visit to the coalmines by the The Lone DrummerMitchell DoverDamion Stirling @elizabethwalton.au and @harry Gibbons
Here is some footage from the fireworks climax of Flavours with us playing to an estimated 12,000 people
Paradigm shift for me with this one!! It’s been a while coming but starting October 2023 I will be releasing Classical music. With the help of @acaciaquartet @creatensw @fourwindsau @sams.caravan and @benji_fowler ‘Ideas of home’ based on the works of Australian author/ musician @elizabethwalton.au Coming on @spotify @youtube @applemusic and featuring the artwork of Jay Manby #chambermusic #stringquartet
Richard Lawson Music 