Billy McLaughlin has been one of my favourite finger style guitarists for many years. To my delight, I was able to hang out with him for 3 or 4 days when he came to Australia. What an incredible story he has, overcoming massive challenges to continue playing music. Things are not always easy, but the willingness to stick with it will take you far.

It's been a little while since I have been able to record an episode. A lot has happened since the last. Many gigs, studio work, some private teaching, the loss of some people in my life, and time to make some big changes. Our approach to music and how we play it is a reflection of who we are as people. If you want to do something, then go and do it and don't look back.

Narrell Brown, aka Naz, aka The Fairy Gig Mother, aka my agent, advocate, mentor, and friend. She successfully ran Jaybees Booking Agency for many years, and was by far the best agent I ever dealt with through all that time. But beyond just booking gigs, she has been a great friend and mentor for a long time as well. Naz has had a lot of challenges of late, and the way she has met those with love, courage, and dignity is an example to us all. This episode also features a brief cameo by the dogs!

Being a musician can be a challenge. I've had self-doubts and temptations to sell my instruments many times. At one stage I was in a very low place. Phi Emmanuel, world-class guitarist, and a really good guy, took some interest in me, encouraged me as a player, and told me to stick with it. Maybe I wouldn't be playing now if it wasn't for Phil.I can't thank him enough.

Music is worth so much more than dollars and cents. Playing for the kids at Ronald McDonald House...priceless.

I've had a few beliefs I have held onto for far too long, that have really impacted my growth as a musician. I'm learning all the time, and I think I am becoming the "best" version of me on a daily basis. Negative self-talk has been a constant my whole life - but the kid who used to go bright red playing guitar in front of others has now played on national TV and at major festivals in front of hundreds of thousands of people. There have been other silly beliefs I have held at times - about how certain things must be done, or not done, or about holding myself back until I was ready. Some of the best periods of growth musically and personally have been messy performances and periods of playing where I wasn't ready to do it, but I did it anyway. And from that, I learnt a lot and improved a lot too.

I had a regular gig at a gay, cross-dressing, trans club at one stage. I didn't know what to expect, but they were some of the best gigs I ever played, and some of the most gracious, encouraging, and receptive audiences I have ever played to.

How amazing is it to have someone say something like that about one of your own compositions! Sometimes life throws you a massive curveball and some big challenges, and it may cost you something, but maybe other good things can come from that too? It happened to me with the impact of Covid on the music industry.

Almost everyone , if not everyone, I have met or known who has said that has no reason to be known by strangers. Playing in an unknown or obscure band, or appearing on a TV show such "The Voice" doesn't grant you special recognition or privileges. Some of the most arrogant and entitled musicians I have met are the ones who have done very little. Conversely, I have met and played with some world-class musicians. Most have been great people, easy to get along with, and humble. I talk briefly about the time I met Mike Stern and Dave Weckl in this episode. They are two titans of modern jazz, with incredible international careers and achievements - and they are two humble and friendly guys who wanted to talk to me about me. Unbelievable!

“When people say you can’t do it – that it’s impossible – never lose hope. Just because they couldn’t doesn’t mean you can’t.” I have been told time and again that I am not good enough. Not good enough as a guitarist, not good enough as a musician, not good enough to achieve anything of note, not possessing any real talent, so don't bother trying. But this story shows that if you want to achieve something, no matter how big, or how silly and audacious it might seem, then go and do it.