Cirrus@Austlit

'Preparing for the upcoming Man in Black shows is making me … work hard, because I’ve had quite a schedule this year. We’ve done this show since 2009; not every year, and we haven’t done it in theatres for four years. The next time we do it, there’ll probably be an even larger gap. I think I’ll be close to the age Johnny Cash was when he died (71), the next time I do this show (laughs). I’ll be able to represent the older Cash even more effectively.' (Introduction)

'Who and what is driving Australian country music today, 20 years after Slim Dusty’s death? Story by Andrew McMillen ust before the spotlight hit Slim Dusty, the musician had a moment to himself. He drew in his breath, steadied his hands, then looked up and never looked back. Out he strode, the undisputed king of Australian country music, wearing his distinctive turned-down Akubra hat and a dark overcoat.' (Introduction)

'In the final pages of his third autobiographical book in four years, Jimmy Barnes breaks the fourth wall to let the reader in on his experience of writing the previous 400 pages. “The act of writing used to be a painful process for me,” he notes. “Trawling through the wreckage that was my childhood caused me immense pain, but I had to do it. I needed to look at it all in the cold, clear light of day, so that I could let it all go.” Then his thoughts are interrupted by the voice of his five-year-old grandson, Dylan, whose sense of innocence and wonder is infectious, and whose life experience is untainted by the misery that Barnes went through in the 1960s.'  (Introduction)

'Singer-songwriter Paul Kelly has a personal and judgmental view of his own career, writes Andrew McMillen The vast majority of Paul Kelly’s fans will die before they ever get a chance to hear his first two albums in full. The singer-songwriter’s 1981 debut Talk and its 1982 follow-up Manila — each recorded with his band The Dots — are long out of print in CD and vinyl form and are not available on any streaming service.' (Introduction)

'Adam Briggs , 33, is a hip-hop artist, comedy writer, record label owner, actor and newly published children’s book author.' (Introduction)

'How a small team from Brisbane created a global children’s television sensation that celebrates play, parenting and blue heelers, writes Andrew McMillen'