Who gets spoiled sometimes..? Me! When in Townsville I was gifted this STUNNING piece of wearable art by talented and lovely local maker, @hats_on_country ~ I am in LOVE with it! Thank you Letishia! I’ve been a fan of her designs for a while and when she saw I was coming to town she made me up a cream custom hat with her beautiful designs burnt in.. and dropped it off to me! I’m proud to be rocking such a cool grassroots business and so excited about the future of slow, ethical, local fashion, which I often bang on about. And what if indigenous fashion and designers were at the forefront of THAT!? Ooh ee! Yes please! Check out @hats_on_country and Letishia’s work, it’s absolute hot (hat) tip for those topper lovers among us. I got so many compliments on the streets of Townsville and Cairns. Want a compliment? Buy a hat. It’s nuts. (Oh, bonus exploration of my fave little FNQ cafe – @thehoipolloicafe Townsville) Xx #gifted #grateful #coffee and #hats = #happyHoops
Who gets spoiled sometimes..? Me! When in Townsville I was gifted this STUNNING piece of wearable art by talented and lovely local maker, @hats_on_country ~ I am in LOVE with it! Thank you Letishia! I’ve been a fan of her designs for a while and when she saw I was coming to town she made me up a cream custom hat with her beautiful designs burnt in.. and dropped it off to me! I’m proud to be rocking such a cool grassroots business and so excited about the future of slow, ethical, local fashion, which I often bang on about. And what if indigenous fashion and designers were at the forefront of THAT!? Ooh ee! Yes please! Check out @hats_on_country and Letishia’s work, it’s absolute hot (hat) tip for those topper lovers among us. I got so many compliments on the streets of Townsville and Cairns. Want a compliment? Buy a hat. It’s nuts. (Oh, bonus exploration of my fave little FNQ cafe – @thehoipolloicafe Townsville) Xx #gifted #grateful #coffee and #hats = #happyHoops
Who gets spoiled sometimes..? Me! When in Townsville I was gifted this STUNNING piece of wearable art by talented and lovely local maker, @hats_on_country ~ I am in LOVE with it! Thank you Letishia! I’ve been a fan of her designs for a while and when she saw I was coming to town she made me up a cream custom hat with her beautiful designs burnt in.. and dropped it off to me! I’m proud to be rocking such a cool grassroots business and so excited about the future of slow, ethical, local fashion, which I often bang on about. And what if indigenous fashion and designers were at the forefront of THAT!? Ooh ee! Yes please! Check out @hats_on_country and Letishia’s work, it’s absolute hot (hat) tip for those topper lovers among us. I got so many compliments on the streets of Townsville and Cairns. Want a compliment? Buy a hat. It’s nuts. (Oh, bonus exploration of my fave little FNQ cafe – @thehoipolloicafe Townsville) Xx #gifted #grateful #coffee and #hats = #happyHoops
Who gets spoiled sometimes..? Me! When in Townsville I was gifted this STUNNING piece of wearable art by talented and lovely local maker, @hats_on_country ~ I am in LOVE with it! Thank you Letishia! I’ve been a fan of her designs for a while and when she saw I was coming to town she made me up a cream custom hat with her beautiful designs burnt in.. and dropped it off to me! I’m proud to be rocking such a cool grassroots business and so excited about the future of slow, ethical, local fashion, which I often bang on about. And what if indigenous fashion and designers were at the forefront of THAT!? Ooh ee! Yes please! Check out @hats_on_country and Letishia’s work, it’s absolute hot (hat) tip for those topper lovers among us. I got so many compliments on the streets of Townsville and Cairns. Want a compliment? Buy a hat. It’s nuts. (Oh, bonus exploration of my fave little FNQ cafe – @thehoipolloicafe Townsville) Xx #gifted #grateful #coffee and #hats = #happyHoops
Who gets spoiled sometimes..? Me! When in Townsville I was gifted this STUNNING piece of wearable art by talented and lovely local maker, @hats_on_country ~ I am in LOVE with it! Thank you Letishia! I’ve been a fan of her designs for a while and when she saw I was coming to town she made me up a cream custom hat with her beautiful designs burnt in.. and dropped it off to me! I’m proud to be rocking such a cool grassroots business and so excited about the future of slow, ethical, local fashion, which I often bang on about. And what if indigenous fashion and designers were at the forefront of THAT!? Ooh ee! Yes please! Check out @hats_on_country and Letishia’s work, it’s absolute hot (hat) tip for those topper lovers among us. I got so many compliments on the streets of Townsville and Cairns. Want a compliment? Buy a hat. It’s nuts. (Oh, bonus exploration of my fave little FNQ cafe – @thehoipolloicafe Townsville) Xx #gifted #grateful #coffee and #hats = #happyHoops
I found a VERY ‘me’ little cafe in Darwin and have had about 40 flat whites here in 48hrs.. Gahh. I’m a sucker for the rare comfortable, cosy, textured, down to earth, GREAT QUALITY coffee/food but non-fussy environment/attitude places! I fear sadly they are almost gone from Melbourne. I sooo miss the old cafes of st Kilda and Fitzroy that had exactly THIS kinda charm. THAT’S what I thought cafes would be when I was a kid. Places where you could stare at a wall for hours and there would actually be something to look at, get lost in? Other than just packets of coffee and coffee making equipment. Yes I know I’m in a place of coffee making guys. But are cafes not for daydreaming? Killing time? I’ve always used them that way. Now it’s take aways on the hop or laptops out and down to bizznizz. I absolutely partake of (regularly) these more polished, precise roasted on-site, uber technical but somewhat vibe-less (unless you’re a 100% coffee snob who is THRILLED by talking about, reading about DEEP DIVING coffee beans and blends and brewing techniques .. 🥱 ((just kidding thank you for your hard work!! Coffee is mostly delicious these days thanks to you people!!)) But what about the poetry of the cafe? Dare I say the vibe? Is it dying? Can we maybe have a lil return to less clean as whistle white monogrammed you bought the cuppa now buy the t-shirt model back to the cosy old bolt hole style? I’m ready for it. Call me an old bohemian or bohemian wannabe. I probably am! Child of the 90’s an all that. 💁🏻♀️☕️ Anyway! LOVE your work @the1995darwin – please open a Melbourne sister store Xx #franchise #coffeethinkin #caffeinedrinking #jest #ilovebaristas #donthateme #iloveALLcafes
I found a VERY ‘me’ little cafe in Darwin and have had about 40 flat whites here in 48hrs.. Gahh. I’m a sucker for the rare comfortable, cosy, textured, down to earth, GREAT QUALITY coffee/food but non-fussy environment/attitude places! I fear sadly they are almost gone from Melbourne. I sooo miss the old cafes of st Kilda and Fitzroy that had exactly THIS kinda charm. THAT’S what I thought cafes would be when I was a kid. Places where you could stare at a wall for hours and there would actually be something to look at, get lost in? Other than just packets of coffee and coffee making equipment. Yes I know I’m in a place of coffee making guys. But are cafes not for daydreaming? Killing time? I’ve always used them that way. Now it’s take aways on the hop or laptops out and down to bizznizz. I absolutely partake of (regularly) these more polished, precise roasted on-site, uber technical but somewhat vibe-less (unless you’re a 100% coffee snob who is THRILLED by talking about, reading about DEEP DIVING coffee beans and blends and brewing techniques .. 🥱 ((just kidding thank you for your hard work!! Coffee is mostly delicious these days thanks to you people!!)) But what about the poetry of the cafe? Dare I say the vibe? Is it dying? Can we maybe have a lil return to less clean as whistle white monogrammed you bought the cuppa now buy the t-shirt model back to the cosy old bolt hole style? I’m ready for it. Call me an old bohemian or bohemian wannabe. I probably am! Child of the 90’s an all that. 💁🏻♀️☕️ Anyway! LOVE your work @the1995darwin – please open a Melbourne sister store Xx #franchise #coffeethinkin #caffeinedrinking #jest #ilovebaristas #donthateme #iloveALLcafes
HOME TOWN(ish) SHOW ALERT!!!
Very very excited to announce I’m gonna be playing back in my home region at @northern_republic_euroa for the majestic Mill’s 150th b’day celebrations! There will be food, wine, pizza aplenty and me! Playing all my Small Town Temple tunes and maybe a few oldies for old times sake! Last time I played here we sold it out, so get in early my lovely North East Vic friends! What a special venue this has been for our community, I have so many fond memories of coming here for art events, musical evenings and offerings, it’s always had just the right mix of romance (Juliette balcony anybody?) and that laid back unfussy Nth East style (meets beer garden!) – I love how it’s flourished and flourishing in recent years as @northern_republic_euroa and cannot wait to celebrate it with you!! #euroa #violettown #longwood #strathbogie come all ye bushies! Let’s party! 🍕 🍕 🍕
Getting ready to ‘ooh’ and ‘coo’ (yes like a pigeon) tonight at the @enmore_theatre Sydney, a grand old room to be sure. Love gigging there. So, can’t wait. @mickytheshrimp is back on gtr with us tonight, and @seany_johnston still riding his Darwin drinks in the pool buzz will be on keys! Come see! The #wayoutwest @jamesreyne_official & EH ~ tour continues! 📷: @lovedrumcreative
Still a bit too emoshe and flabbergasted re the AMP nom to write one of my usual essays, so here’s a little flip book to say thank you and to commemorate the formative Small Town Temple times and give some more 💕 to my wonderful, incredible helpers! Xx Mum, Dad, @timotheeharvey @marcel_borrack_td_band @jojo.smith.315 @scotcrawford @recklessrecordsaustralia @tammy__blake 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽 #smalltowntemple #madeinviolettown #stillstrong #stillonamission
Still a bit too emoshe and flabbergasted re the AMP nom to write one of my usual essays, so here’s a little flip book to say thank you and to commemorate the formative Small Town Temple times and give some more 💕 to my wonderful, incredible helpers! Xx Mum, Dad, @timotheeharvey @marcel_borrack_td_band @jojo.smith.315 @scotcrawford @recklessrecordsaustralia @tammy__blake 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽 #smalltowntemple #madeinviolettown #stillstrong #stillonamission
Still a bit too emoshe and flabbergasted re the AMP nom to write one of my usual essays, so here’s a little flip book to say thank you and to commemorate the formative Small Town Temple times and give some more 💕 to my wonderful, incredible helpers! Xx Mum, Dad, @timotheeharvey @marcel_borrack_td_band @jojo.smith.315 @scotcrawford @recklessrecordsaustralia @tammy__blake 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽 #smalltowntemple #madeinviolettown #stillstrong #stillonamission
Still a bit too emoshe and flabbergasted re the AMP nom to write one of my usual essays, so here’s a little flip book to say thank you and to commemorate the formative Small Town Temple times and give some more 💕 to my wonderful, incredible helpers! Xx Mum, Dad, @timotheeharvey @marcel_borrack_td_band @jojo.smith.315 @scotcrawford @recklessrecordsaustralia @tammy__blake 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽 #smalltowntemple #madeinviolettown #stillstrong #stillonamission
Still a bit too emoshe and flabbergasted re the AMP nom to write one of my usual essays, so here’s a little flip book to say thank you and to commemorate the formative Small Town Temple times and give some more 💕 to my wonderful, incredible helpers! Xx Mum, Dad, @timotheeharvey @marcel_borrack_td_band @jojo.smith.315 @scotcrawford @recklessrecordsaustralia @tammy__blake 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽 #smalltowntemple #madeinviolettown #stillstrong #stillonamission
Still a bit too emoshe and flabbergasted re the AMP nom to write one of my usual essays, so here’s a little flip book to say thank you and to commemorate the formative Small Town Temple times and give some more 💕 to my wonderful, incredible helpers! Xx Mum, Dad, @timotheeharvey @marcel_borrack_td_band @jojo.smith.315 @scotcrawford @recklessrecordsaustralia @tammy__blake 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽 #smalltowntemple #madeinviolettown #stillstrong #stillonamission
Still a bit too emoshe and flabbergasted re the AMP nom to write one of my usual essays, so here’s a little flip book to say thank you and to commemorate the formative Small Town Temple times and give some more 💕 to my wonderful, incredible helpers! Xx Mum, Dad, @timotheeharvey @marcel_borrack_td_band @jojo.smith.315 @scotcrawford @recklessrecordsaustralia @tammy__blake 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽 #smalltowntemple #madeinviolettown #stillstrong #stillonamission
Still a bit too emoshe and flabbergasted re the AMP nom to write one of my usual essays, so here’s a little flip book to say thank you and to commemorate the formative Small Town Temple times and give some more 💕 to my wonderful, incredible helpers! Xx Mum, Dad, @timotheeharvey @marcel_borrack_td_band @jojo.smith.315 @scotcrawford @recklessrecordsaustralia @tammy__blake 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽 #smalltowntemple #madeinviolettown #stillstrong #stillonamission
Still a bit too emoshe and flabbergasted re the AMP nom to write one of my usual essays, so here’s a little flip book to say thank you and to commemorate the formative Small Town Temple times and give some more 💕 to my wonderful, incredible helpers! Xx Mum, Dad, @timotheeharvey @marcel_borrack_td_band @jojo.smith.315 @scotcrawford @recklessrecordsaustralia @tammy__blake 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽 #smalltowntemple #madeinviolettown #stillstrong #stillonamission
‘Old News’ is one year old! The first song I shared from Small Town Temple, and still one of my faves. It’s grown with me this song. Grow-ING. I have a feeling it will be with me and reveal different shades and gather more patina over time. Here’s us soundchecking it yesterday at the Enmore. Cracker of a show it was. Went out the front in my civvies to watch James show with alll the sonic bells and whistles where they should be (ie not from side of stage) and it blew my mind. That man gives 150%! And what a band!!! Hot hot hot. It’s such an honour to be opening for such quallllllity. Anyhoo. I’m working away on new music too. But for now, wow. A year. Happy b’day Old News, you’ll neva be old news, to me. I think you’re right on trend. 😉 Xx
Would ya look at THIS pretty poster! Announcing ANOTHER tour (because I’m trying to break some kind of personal record or perhaps my own brain?!?) Extremely excited about this tour because it’s in support of one of my favourite tracks off the album, Oh My Goddess! AND – I’m taking the actual GOAT of the acoustic music troubadour folk scene (and a few others, hard rock, Irish!!?) – the one and only @ramblinvanwalker with me! Van is quite simply, the man. We’ve even cooked up something in the studio to share soon, a little duet type thing, to celebrate. If you like the sound of that – definitely come to these gigs because all tour Van is gonna open, I’m gonna do a set, then for the final 3rd of the evening we’ll team up on a bunch of my songs, his songs, covers and the like! I cannot wait. Oh My Goddess is ABOUT pushing through the goo, metamorphosising out of shitty times, meeting inner demons with a gooey fist to the face, breaking out of the chrysalis to become a more realised version of yourself. Yes it’s all very self helpy! Both Van and I have both been on pretty intense journeys the last few years, I’m not saying we’re perfect but I do feel we’ve both learnt lessons and gained insights, mostly hard won, but beautiful and shiny. This song, this tour, this collaboration, the response to this whole damn album feels like the lotus after the mud. 🪷 🪷 🪷 Come get ya Goddess on this OCT, NOV, DEC.
NOTE: the @brunswickballroomaus show is full band, more rock n roll than acoustic balladry! Woo! Just for you Melbourne rock dawgs.
October 27 – Tanswells Hotel, Beechworth, Vic @tanswellshotel
October 28 – The Vanguard, Sydney, NSW @thevanguard.live
November 3 – Royal Oak, Launceston, Tas
November 4 – Gnomon Room, Ulverston, Tas
November 5 – Longley Hotel, Longley, Tas
November 10 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave, Vic @sookilounge
November 11 – Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne, Vic @brunswickballroomaus
November 17 – Bird’s Basement, Melbourne, Vic @birdsbasement
December 2 – Lefty’s Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD @leftys_musichall
December 3 – Sunshine Beach Surf Club, QLD @sunshinebeachsurfclub
#smalltowntemple #ohmygoddess #vanwalker #ellahooper Nirvana
Moving sux!!!
Thank god I’ve got a Tammy! @tammy__blake 🫶🏻🙌🏼🤌🏼 ALL MATTRESSES SHOULD HAVE HANDLES GODDAMN
A massively unexpected compliment right hurrr.. This little record made with much love and scrounging, during the gnarliest time of my life, Small Town Temple, has just been nominated for the @australianmusicprize
I am truly surprised and deeply appreciative. I’m very stoked. I’m proud. Isn’t it funny how when you stop even regarding the game and just do what’s in your heart – it connects. Lord. I wish I’d had the courage of my convictions sooner you know? This is the first time in a while that my music has received such consistent praise and support. (The 00’s were a long time ago guys) I’ve been making music consistently since, important (to me) records and metamorphases them all – but for some reason, not very recognised, let alone lauded. I’m not sooking, I’m just shocked, to be honest. And thank you, to all involved in this nomination for listening with open ears, and being open to getting to know me as a sovereign grown up, as a musician. I FREAAAAKIN appreciate it. I’ll no doubt write a bit more on this, but for now a BIG sloppy thank you to a few key people that worked on this album with me, my producers genius musicians and friends – @timotheeharvey @marcel_borrack_td_band My label / mgmt Scot Crawford @recklessrecordsaustralia My TM/PA @tammy__blake and the @auscouncilarts for funding. And the biggest thank you and love to My mum & dad for moving to Violet Town, hence making me a country girl, and for always, always playing good tunes. They’re why this record is special I reckon. Their influence and energy is all over it, (as well as their singing and recorder playing..) I wish they got to see the fruits of my labours earth side, and to come see how the band are playing these songs I wrote in their kitchens and on their porches.. I think they’d be really really happy about this today. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 #wow #damn
Exciting news!! My dear friend, role model (and collaborator on Small Town Temple) AND national treasure @jojo.smith.315 has a new album out! And for the very first time .. drum roll 🥁.. JoJo’s music is on streaming services! Of course you can buy a physical copy by following Joey and messaging her there or at one of her gigs, but if like me you don’t even own a cd player, (shame!!) you can now follow & listen on Spotify Apple Music Deezer and the like and enjoy the soulful, honey soaked vocals and tasty arrangements we’ve come to know and love from this amazing artist. I’m honoured to call Joey a friend and mentor, not to mention driving instructor. 😂 (in the lockdown days, while I was living in Violet Town, Joey would come pick me – we were in each others bubble – put the L’s on, take me for a lesson & a walk. I’d drive us up to the hills and we’d get our allowed covid k’s on.. shoot the shit about life, love, mortality, music, the themes of the day…) I’m so proud of her for making this new album, and that we’ve both come out of some pretty hard recent times in our circle – and with the support of our amazing friends and community, made records. It is our medicine, our healing. JoJo has one of the best voices in the country and I’m so grateful to have her incredible backing vocals alongside my mum’s all over my album. Joey was so good at encouraging and putting mum at ease in our vocal session, as mum hadn’t recorded much in her life at all, and JoJo well, as I said national treasure status. I was always so excited and impressed having such access to a ‘lifer’ artist like this growing up. What inspiration. Proof of the fine company my mama kept and introduced me to. We were both high-fiving when Joey decided to become a Violet Town resident, moving in practically next door. Oh the jam sessions!! Good thing all the neighbours were onboard, knowwhati’msayin.. Anyway, this post is about THIS gorgeous album. Continued in comments..
Here’s another ‘Violet Town Vingette’ aka low key no frills live versions of all the songs on Small Town Temple, filmed in and around VT. This one’s ‘Oh My Goddess!’
Recorded by @w_i_l_k at the bowls club in Violet Town, and possibly pertaining to a little news coming tomorrow!
There’s life in the old girl yet. Keep ya eyes peeled…
#ellahooper #ohmygoddess #smalltowntemple
