This is Lawrence. He is a 50 year old bass player, song writer and door man, originally from NYC. Back in the 90’s he came to Oz while on tour with *famous pop musician with famous daughter, refuses to tell me who* and he fell in love with a geezer-born Melburnian so decided to stay. He has a love hate relationship with the city – loves the people, hates the prices, loves the music scene, hates the distance (from everywhere but NZ). Since being in Melbourne he has had two kids, worked with Phil and Kate Ceberano and toured with Melbourne’s first ever funk band opening for Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown and Daddy Cool just to name a few. He isn’t calling Aussies racist or anything but one time he was mistaken for Herbie Hancock at a Michael Jackson concert. He was shown to front row seats and invited back stage to hang with the band after the performance. He met MJ who was ‘quite child like in his manner but then when he started to talk about music he really knew his stuff’. Lawrence reminded the King of Pop that they had once met at the recording of HEAL THE WORLD and MJ thought for a second, looked at him again and said ‘oh yes I do remember you’. LIFE GOAL. Oh and also Lawrence once developed a special tea for Hopetoun Tea Rooms called SeranadipiTEA. Not sure which one is more a life goal to be honest. Probably the tea?
This weekend in Melbourne
21 – 23 October Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix @ Phillip Island (21-23 Oct) – the world’s fastest penguins fang around in a circle, the winner is thrown a VB and has his burrow redesigned by contestants from The Block. Viktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists @ NGV International (21 Oct-26 Feb) – they’re fashun artists darlinks. Kinky Boots @ Her Majesty’s Theatre (22 October onwards) – I am going FULL DRAG on the red carpet for this. Look out for me I WILL BE EVERYTHING War and Peace @ Malthouse Theatre (18 – 30 Oct) – was originally going to be called ‘War – what is it good for?’ Gardivalia – Festival of Gardens @ West Gippo – because gardens. And festivals. And Gippo. Australian Adventure Festival @ East Gibbsland (21-23 Oct) – starring Russell Coight. Camperdown Cruise Rockerbilly Festival @ Camperdown (20-23 Oct) – Billie Piper and The Rock star in a new adventure comedy ‘Camp Her Down’. After mistakenly stealing an old map from a Loddon antique store, this unlikely odd couple are forced to go bush and find the fabled 1850’s gold mine of Irishman Tucker McGee in order to save the town. Kyneton Music Festival @ Kyneton (21-22 Oct) – llama’s play the banjo and then knit scarves for their necks using their very own neck wool. Ah-mazing. Kennedys Creek Music Festival @ Kennedy’s Creek (21-23 Oct) – tadpoles and Neighbours fans will love this. Alexandra & District Open Gardens @ Alexandra (22-23 October) – Alexandra opens her gardens for the public to enjoy. Say Cheese Festival @ Prahran Market (22 Oct only) – and then eat it. Wine & Cheese Fest @ Williamstown Seaworks (23 Oct) – not ideal for the preggo. William Hill Cox Plate Day @ Moonee Valley (22 Oct) – who will ride Williams Cox Plate the fastest? World Vegan Day @ Melb Showgrounds (23 Oct) – joy to the animals of the world for one day. DON’T GET USED TO LIFE GUYS back to the abattoir on Monday now you hear. Tea With Intent @ Sensory Lab (23 Oct) – join the National Tea Brewers Cup Champion for a guided walk through the fascinating complex subtleties of tea LOL. Ports Paw Parade @ Port Melbourne (22 Oct) – pretty pooches pose n pout as they parade down urgh that is so lame going down the ‘p’ track. LAME SPRINKY LAME. These dogs deserve better than that.