The Dreaming Launch

Jan 19th, Sussex Arts Club, Brighton, UK. 

The Dreaming was launched with much noise and spittle at Brighton's Sussex Arts Club on Jan 19 2002. (Ed: If you haven't heard about this extraordinary CD yet, get yer head out of the sand and click here) 

The Rabble at The Arts Club

To say that the night was a roaring success is a bit of an understatement. The hall was sold out several hours before the doors were even opened, and people from as far away as Norfolk, Oxford, and Poole were treated to a wonderful evening of serious didgeridooings.

The night kicked off with a champagne reception for the CD's contributors, and visiting dignitaries. Present was TASCA's UK trustee Joy Rainey and her companion Trevor Hulkes. Also making the trip down to Brighton was Philip Hart who heads up Cultural Affairs at Australia's High Commission in London, along with Adam Robinson. The CD's executive Aboriginal advisor Francis Firebrace also joined in, along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Brighton and Hove to name but a few. 

Above: The CD's executive Aboriginal advisor Francis Firebrace with merchandising guru Annabella. 

Pictured right: Aboriginal land rights activist Isabell Coe, The Mayor of Brighton and Hove Cnr Harry Steer, and TASCA founder and UK trustee Joy Rainey at a pre-launch fire ceremony on the Hove lawns.

The doors of the Sussex Arts Club were opened to the general public at 7:30, and DJ Pony from the legendary Small World warmed up the crowd with a thumping good set of world grooves. The live music set featured versions of music from The Dreaming as performed by as many of the CD's contributors as we could assemble. Standing in for the players who weren't able to make was Sun Didjes' maestro Bart Bagnall, and making his debut didge performance was Brighton's  Russell Woodward. London didgeman extraordinaire Sandy also delivered a truly awesome solo didge performance. 

The daunting task of mixing this incredible set was deftly handled by Dunnet Wright head-honcho Iain Dunnet, who mixed and mastered The Dreaming in DWM's studios. His task was made all the more challenging by the set's culmination-- a whopping big didge-jam which saw no less than eight didgeridoo players assembled on (and around) the stage. The didgemen were accompanied by two guitarists, one violinist, two drummers (one electronic, the other on a kit), three percussionists and an Aboriginal elder clad in not much more than paint and a possum skin. 

Pictured L-R from front: Matt Bartlett, Nick Burman,  Russell Woodward, "Didge" Steve, Robin Jones. Back row (L-R): Rohan Kriwaczek, Florian Guibert, Bart Bagnall, Julian Franks, Enrik Adam.

This literally hairy piece was without a doubt a high point of the evening, after which the entire ballroom erupted in a spontaneous group-hug. Following this came the obligatory "thank-you" speeches. Unfortunately, Joy Rainey from TASCA had to leave before this stage of the evening was reached, but we have quoted her speech in its entirety here. 

Following this came the raffle, which raised an additional £104.00 for TASCA. First prize was a double-barrelled didgeridoo, which was won by email entrant John Macdonald from Switzerland. On hearing of his winning, John commented "That's the best £5.00 I've ever spent". Second prize, two tickets to Jambience's next Brighton gig (Feb. 15) was won by Mr. Mike Butler, and third prize, a complimentary copy of The Dreaming was won by John Davies, another email entrant from Wales. 

At this stage, the hall was turned over to DJ Ghecko, who's legendary Global Beets grooves kept people dancing until the wee hours. Eventually, the last sweaty, happy people were gently booted out at 2:30 am Saturday morning (doors opened at 7:30 pm Friday night!). 

Thank you to everybody who came out and supported TASCA on the evening. It could never have happened without the support of people too numerous to thank here who contributed an enormous amount of time and energy in the name of a wonderful cause. It was truly memorable night. Special thanks goes to Mary Sassi, the manageress of The Sussex Arts Club who allowed us to take over her wonderful venue. On top of that, Mary also waived the hall-hire fee. Thanks also has to go out to Joanne Goode and her crew from the BBC, who were responsible for broadcasting The Dreaming across the airwaves of Southern England.

Once again, Thank you all!!!

Phillip Jackson,  www.didgemusic.com