Emmeline Anthony is a student at Somerset College and performed this story as part of Storyfest 2020. 

Her story 'When This Becomes Enough' tackles an issue I know I felt when I was in my teens. Why go outside when I am totally comfortable inside my room? My perfectly safe space.

I asked Emmeline, if her story was a song, what would the lyrics be? I then used her lysics to write the song in this episode.

Thanks so much to Andrea Lewis and the Storyfest team and to all the staff and students at Somerset College on the Gold Coast. And thank you Emmeline for writing and performing this story for us.

Thanks also to Jake Morton for the beats and samples and to Somerset students, Aleeza Tariq and Riddhi Athota for the introductions.

I hope you enjoy.

 

Get full access to Stories in the Key of GC at storiesinthekeyofgc.substack.com/subscribe

Ayla Chirathivat-Geralds loves the world and when the pandemic hit in 2020, she knew that she would not be going on an aeroplane for quite some time. But luckily for her she discovered that the place she calls home is a pretty wonderful place.

This Stories in the Key of GC performance was presented at Somerset Storyfest 2022 held at the wonderful Somerset College on the Gold Coast. Thanks so much to Andrea Lewis and the Storyfest team for having us and especially to Ayla for writing and performing her story for this event.

Thanks also to Jake Morton for running the sound design whilst I played the piano and to Somerset students, Aleeza Tariq and Riddhi Athota for the introductions.

Get full access to Stories in the Key of GC at storiesinthekeyofgc.substack.com/subscribe

Script writer and comedian Marni Little shares her powerful story '20/20 is Hindsight'.  It explores 12 months filled with the promise of a new life in a new city, a career trajectory on the up and a cancer diagnosis that could have taken her down. With humour and a sense of wonder, Marni navigates the peaks and valleys life throws her way as she makes a home for her young family on the Gold Coast.

I play flute, piano and guitar alongside my wingmen for the night Daniel Booth on electric guitar and Jake Morton on drums. We had a lot of fun putting this music together. 

Thanks again to Bern Young for hosting the evening, to HOTA for all their support with the venue, BlankGC and to RADF, Regional Arts Development Fund for all their support.

And a huge thank you to Marni and to everyone in the crowd that night.

Get full access to Stories in the Key of GC at storiesinthekeyofgc.substack.com/subscribe

Take a trip with comedian Desh as he tells his hilarious and poignant story of his coming of age in a tale - 'Smells Like GC'

Told via three seperate car trips to the Gold Coast, you will smell the beer soaked Arts Center in the early 2000's and you will definitly smell the sweat of the frenzied crowd at Fishos for the infamous Nirvana gig on Australia Day in 1992. 

Strap yourself in.

I play piano and bass guitar alongside Stories regular Jake Morton on drums and Daniel Booth on electric guitar. The music is pretty loose and wild...just like Desh's story.

Thanks again to Bern Young for hosting the evening, to HOTA for all their support with the venue, BlankGC and to RADF, Regional Arts Development Fund for all their support.

And a huge thank you to Desh and to everyone in the crowd that night.

Get full access to Stories in the Key of GC at storiesinthekeyofgc.substack.com/subscribe

Award winning Brisbane author, Nick Earls takes you back to the 1980's golden age of jingle writing in his hilarious story 'Still Gold'.

From a legendary lost gold mine, to the rise and fall of Christopher Skase, complete with song and dance routine. There's a most unexpected encounter with ol' blue eyes himself and believe it or not, seals .. from space.

I suggested to Nick that he revisit his heyday as a songwriter to pen some lyrics for a number of little songlets (as he called them) taking this Story in the Key of GC to new places.

I played piano, acoustic guitar and sang the 'songlets' . Daniel Booth played the electric guitar and Jake Morton was on the drums. Trevor Jackson graciously provided his voice for the mock theme park ride promo. Thanks Trevor.

Thanks again to Bern Young for hosting the evening and to HOTA for all their support with the venue. And thanks also to BlankGC and to RADF, Regional Arts Development Fund for all their support.

A huge thank you to Nick and to everyone in the crowd that night.

Get full access to Stories in the Key of GC at storiesinthekeyofgc.substack.com/subscribe

Gold Coast author Sally Breen (The Casuals, Atomic City) delivers a tryptic of stories from the heart of Surfers Paradise. There is the ever present sea, a divide within the Surfers community and everyone's favourite things written on beer coasters at The Rose and Crown.

Cameron Wilson from Gold Coast band The Daisycutters plays electric guitar while I play piano, glockenspiel and drum machine. Everyone in the room joins in on the last story.

I hope you enjoy this episode. I had a lot of fun putting it together.

Thanks to Sally, Cam, Bern Young, Richard Muecke for the audio on the night and HOTA, Home of the Arts for hosting us.

Thanks also to RADF, Regional Arts Development Fund for the ongoing support of Stories in the Key of GC.

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the City of Gold Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Check out https://hota.com.au/music/stories-in-the-key-of-gc/ for details of the next live Stories in the Key of GC event.

Get full access to Stories in the Key of GC at storiesinthekeyofgc.substack.com/subscribe

Frontman and guitarist Cameron Wilson from longtime Gold Coast band The Daisycutters, shares an almost mythical story of how he was gifted his first guitar...Was it fate that led him to find the guitar floating in The Broadwater?...or was it a gift from the Gods?.....Did he really have to sell his soul like Robert Johnson....regardless, it makes for a great story.

I play my trusty nylon stringed guitar and at times my guitar slips out of tune, sounding like the beaten up old guitar Cam is telling us about. Maybe that too was fate on the night.

Please enjoy Cam's story 'Crossroads on The Broadwater'.

Thanks to Bern Young, Richard Muecke for the audio on the night and HOTA, Home of the Arts for hosting us.

Thanks also to RADF, Regional Arts Development Fund for the ongoing support of Stories in the Key of GC.

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the City of Gold Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

 

Get full access to Stories in the Key of GC at storiesinthekeyofgc.substack.com/subscribe

Musician, author and children's entertainer Lucas Proudfoot shares a story of a weekend at his Nan's place on the Tweed Coast and his first time going out on the early morning fishing boats to learn his saltwater culture. And when Lucas sees the jullum (mullet) while surfing up here on the Gold Coast, he often thinks of Nan's Place.

This story opened our live show in March 2021 with me playing my trusted nylon stringed guitar alongside Lucas.

Thanks to Bern Young, Richard Muecke for the audio on the night and HOTA, Home of the Arts for hosting us.

Thanks also to RADF, Regional Arts Development Fund for the ongoing support of Stories in the Key of GC.

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the City of Gold Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Get full access to Stories in the Key of GC at storiesinthekeyofgc.substack.com/subscribe

Walkley award winning journalist and podcast creator Hedley Thomas (The Teachers Pet, The Night Driver), shares his story of a youthful wild night on the Gold Coast and the hairs breadth away from potential disaster we all were as kids. There is a lucky streak at the races, a moving tribute to a lost friend and a healthy dose of Talking Heads.

Oh, and Hedley's first brush with the long arm of the law.

I play baritone electric guitar and Jake Morton plays the drums. Thanks to Bern Young for the wonderful intro, Tommy for the sound and all the crew at HOTA, Home of the Arts.

Thanks also to RADF, Regional Arts Development Fund for the ongoing support of Stories in the Key of GC.

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the City of Gold Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

 

Get full access to Stories in the Key of GC at storiesinthekeyofgc.substack.com/subscribe

Gold Coasters know and love Sam Morris as the co/founder of the local street press BlankGC, The Gold Coast Music Awards and her passionate conservation work. In this episode we are treated to a personal story that spans three generations.

It is a story about the strength of love through the challenges that life throws in our way, and the junk food you can't keep a Mémé from giving her grandson.

I (Cold Ghost) play the grand piano and Jake Morton is on the skins. I use a recording of the upper reaches of Tallebudgera Creek at the beginning.

Thanks Bern Young for the introduction and to Tommy for the sound.

And thanks to HOTA, Home of the Arts, BlankGC and RADF, Regional Arts Development Fund for the ongoing support of Stories in the Key of GC.

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the City of Gold Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Get full access to Stories in the Key of GC at storiesinthekeyofgc.substack.com/subscribe