In his last single, singer Adam Harvey welcomed us all to Harvey’s Bar and indeed this wonderful country hospitality is reflected in Adam himself, as I discovered when chatting to him last week about his forthcoming tour with Catherine Britt of ‘The Man in Black The Johnny Cash Story Reloaded’.
Adam was last in Tassie when he visited Launceston last year as a support to Kenny Rogers and before that on tour with Troy Cassar-Daley with “’The Great Country Songbook’, a tribute to the songs that inspired them. Well, maybe not all the songs, as Adam tells me, he and Troy are in the process of selecting a second group of songs for the next album and ultimately tour, hopefully including Tasmania!
Adam tells me he loves visiting Tasmania, including Hobart, Burnie and the Northwest Coast, calling Tassie ‘a beautiful place’. Adam says Tassie as a whole reminds him of a country town with its special hospitality. Adam would also love to bring his family down to Tassie for a holiday and allow them to experience among all the other Tassie treasures, Cradle Mountain.
On the topic of family Adam says that his 14 year old son, most definitely not a fan of country music, does however, like John Cash’s music. perhaps a testament to the fact that Cash crossed many genres.
Adam reminds me that once upon a time Johnny Cash, Elvis and The Beatles appeared on the music charts concurrently, nowadays such eclecticism is not the case and Adam bemoans the need to segregate music into genres instead letting it just be music.
I mention to Adam that Johnny Cash had visited Tasmania in the 70’s and Adam has done his research, he tells me that yes, Cash did visit, more precisely, in 1973.
For Adam the music he has been drawn to, has always had a country emphasis, he wouldn’t want to do anything else. We are indeed lucky to have Adam, the musician because he once had alternative employment, working with his brother-in-law in earthmoving/mining. Finding himself split in commitment between the mining job and his gigs he was told by his mining boss he could only do one or the other and Adam is glad he chose music and hasn’t had the need to return to the mines.
Away from music Adam is a keen reader and recommends to me a life changing read by Elizabeth Gilbert of ‘Eat, Pray, Love’.
He tells me the book is ‘Big Magic’ which seems to be the right point to end our chat and realise we are in for some of that ‘big magic’ when Adam and Catherine perform in Tasmania on the following dates:
Friday 1st April 2016 Devonport Entertainment Centre, DEVONPORT TAS
Saturday 2nd April 2016 Theatre Royal, HOBART TAS 2:00pm and 8:00pm
Sunday 3rd April 2016 Country Club, LAUNCESTON TAS
For more information visit www.themaninblack.com.au or www.facebook.com/thejohnnycashstory
Paula Xiberras
