Almanac Music: Stereo Stories – small books, big hearts

 

How many book launches feature a band and a 45 minute concert? Kindred Bandroom in Footscray hosted a full house of 130 fans of music and of story-telling on Sunday 1 March.

 

The launch of the first two Stereo Stories books featured authors Lucia Nardo and Smokie Dawson each narrating two stories from their books, backed by the Stereo Stories band.

 

We started the show with ‘Boys Light Up’ and ended with Smokie’s title track, ‘Before Too Long’. In between there were stories about ‘All That Jazz’, ‘Under the Milky Way’, ‘Lili Marlene’ and ‘That’s Amore’.

 

The pocketbooks are the first two in a hopeful series. Small books – just 60 pages.  Small print runs – just 75 copies.  Each book has ten stories about songs that have stayed with the authors all their lives.

 

Designed by Chris Rees (well-known to Almanackers), the compactness of the books was partly inspired by the short Gideon Haigh memoir, My Brother Jaz. A little book, physically, but with a powerful story. And beautifully produced.

 

The audience at Kindred Bandroom included Lucia’s many relatives and friends and Smokie’s family and many mates, ensuring a fine celebratory afternoon. And we sold more than a few books too.

 

Glen! came along to his first Stereo Stories gig and said on Facebook: “It was a bonzer afternoon, listening to both authors, the supporting band, then capping it off with a copy of your book. Well done.”

 

After pestering Paul Daffey for too many years to come along to one of our shows, I was delighted that Daff turned up, an indication of the benefits of producing  and promoting something tangible (a book), as opposed to something intangible (a concert).

 

Karl Dubravs was unable to attend the launch (he lives in the Blue Mountains, so perhaps that’s a fair excuse) but bought Smokie’s book via Vin and chipped in an extra $10 (‘for Smokie’s first drink at the gig’). He says of ‘Before Too Long’: “I have devoured Smokie’s writings and a few moved me so much that I was taken by surprise. I felt safe reading them in a quiet space in my home where the tears could swell in private – sort of like they do when I watch Long Lost Families on late afternoon ABC TV.”

 

Western Australia’s Les Everett was some distance away too but ordered copies of both books and upon reading them then ordered more as a gift for a convalescing music-loving friend.

 

Jim Pavlidis was another apology but met Vin at a second-hand timber yard in Spotswood and bought his copies there and then.

 

 

More pics of the book launch at the Stereo Stories website.

 

The books, $20 each plus postage, are now available  from Book and Paper Williamstown and also by contacting Vin Maskell: @[email protected]

 

Lucia and Smokie will be gracing the stage once more at Williamstown Literary Festival on Friday 12 June.

 

Stereo Stories is a sister site of The Footy Almanac and appreciates the Almanac’s many years of support, especially that of webmaster James Demetrie, of diskmandotnet.

 

 

More from Vin Maskell can be read Here.

 

Stories by Smokie Dawson can be read Here

 

Read stories by Lucia Nardo Here

 

Read more stories from Almanac Music  HERE

 

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