It’s taken me 4 weeks to figure out whether to tell this sad story, but I think I should because I think some of you may want to help out.
My Australian tour finished a month ago. After 12 weeks of working together, we landed in Sydney, struggled past the assholes standing too close to the carousel to gather our bags and instruments, and hugged each other goodbye.
There were 18 of us in the tour party, and I think we all agreed it had been one of the best tours we’d worked on; beautiful theatres, wonderful audiences, no big issues or illnesses, and an amazing team of people utterly dedicated to the pursuit of silliness and excellence.
The last person I said farewell to was the person to whom we all owed the biggest debt: Greg Weaver, tour manager and sound engineer extraordinaire. He handed me my guitar and we agreed we’d talk the following day to dig into planning the UK tour. He pointed me to my driver, gave me a brief and perfectly unsentimental hug… and that was that. Five hours later I was calling my bandmates to tell them that our Greg had died of a heart attack just a couple of hours after delivering us all home. No warnings, no prior problems… just one of those things.
It is hard to explain the genius of Greg. He was a quiet, extremely hard-working, deeply ironic, funny, unique, talented man. I’d only known him for 4 years, but I’ve been hugely saddened by his sudden passing, and I’m furious that I will no longer benefit from his brilliance!
And I’m a new-comer! He was Sound-God and Tour-Guru to some of Australia’s greatest artists. Paul Kelly and his mob have been working with Greg for 20 years. The Whitlams for almost as long. Sarah Blasko, Phil Jamieson, Boy and Bear, The Clouds and many others. We’re all shattered.
Many, many people commented that our “Back” tour sounded as good as any concert they’ve ever been to. The excellent quality was because Greg Weaver was obsessively, unrelentingly dedicated to his craft. We would soundcheck for over an hour every night, and he would wander around the theatre sitting in dozens of seats to make sure the mix was sounding good. He loved his work, and cared deeply about words and music. The last song he mixed was Carry You (for those who’ve seen it).
If you enjoyed our tour and would like to pay a small tribute to the unsung hero of “Back”, I wonder if you’d drop a few dollars to help out his fantastic wife and boy here: https://supportact.org.au/greg-weaver-appeal/. They need us.
Farewell to the Dream Weaver. This post does no justice to you.
The series will screen on Wednesdays at 8pm starting on 17th April on the ABC and ABC iview. (The episodes will be repeated the following Sunday at 5:30pm).
In each episode comedian, author and two-time Archibald Prize winning artist Anh Do paints a portrait of his sitters, whilst he talks to them in-depth about their life and work, as he decides how he’ll depict them. Along with Tim, this fourth series includes: Michael Clarke, Lindy Chamberlain Creighton, Leah Purcell, Walter Mikac, Dannii Minogue, Alan Jones, Saroo Brierley, Deborah Hutton, Georgie Parker, Gordian Fulde, Kylie Kwong, David Wenham and Archie Roach.
UPDATE: For those not in Australia and unable to watch on ABC iview, the embedded Tweets below show a few clips and (SPOILER ALERT) the finished portrait.
Hi. 22 years ago, I went to WAAPA to try to learn to read music. I learnt other stuff instead. Recently, they put on a genuinely special ceremony and gave me an undeserved-but-much-appreciated honorary degree. I gave them a too-long speech.
The text is below.
“Of all the unexpected outcomes of my unexpected career, one of the more annoying is that I’ve managed to get a reputation for being able to write a reasonable speech. Like with my gigs these days, I battle a pervasive feeling that I can therefore only let you down. Woe is me. With this one, I left myself a whole day – yesterday – to write, and then yesterday went to shit, and so now it’s a three-hour jobby from this morning. It might be a little rambly. (more…)
For the third year, Yamaha are awarding one lucky school in Australia their annual Great Start Grant!
This year the grant consists of enough instruments (34 brand new Yamaha instruments) and training to get a school band program Off To A Great Start plus an in-school concert with Tim! Applications are open now.
Tim announced the grant on Today and talked about the importance of music in schools, as well as his own exposure to music at a young age and in school. (Video only available in Australia)
Robin Hood is now available on Digital in the US and will be out on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD 19th February 2019.
Taron Egerton plays Robin Hood, with Jamie Foxx as Little John, Eve Hewson as Maid Marian, Jamie Dornan as Will Scarlet, Ben Mendelsohn as Sheriff of Nottingham and Tim as Friar Tuck.
More #RobinHoodMovie details and US purchase options here.
Release dates for other countries:
United Kingdom: available on Digital 18th March 2019 and on DVD 25th March 2019. France: available on DVD 28th March 2019 and on Digital 29th March 2019. Spain: available on Digital and DVD 29th March 2019.
ABC TV have announced that Tim will be joining a star-studded line-up for the live New Year’s Eve: The Night is Yours concert at the Sydney Opera House!
He’ll debut a brand new song, and play two covers – one of which will be a duet with Ben Folds. Then, he’ll lead the entire cast on the finale before the night is topped off by spectacular midnight fireworks over Sydney Harbour.
Hosts Charlie Pickering and Zan Rowe will be counting down to 2019 from 9.30pm AEDT and the dazzling concert includes performances by Tim, Ben Folds, Christine Anu, Ross Wilson, Daryl Braithwaite, Casey Donovan, Isabella Manfredi of The Preatures, Client Liaison, Baker Boy, Kaiit and G Flip. They’ll be performing their own hits along with songs from a party playlist voted for by the public.
The programme will be live-streamed worldwide on Facebook and YouTube:
Hey! This year, all November, December and January proceeds from my sentimental Christmas song White Wine In The Sun will be going to Aspect, a charity that supports Aussie children and adults on the Autism spectrum.
If you already have the song, you might like to gift it via iTunes or donate directly here.
Here’s my performance of the song last year, on The Late Late Show with James Corden, with Iain Grandage’s beautiful strings arrangement and a LOT of candles.
Robin Hood is in US movie theatres and UK cinemas TODAY!
It’ll be in Australian cinemas tomorrow 22nd November. Worldwide Release Dates for #RobinHoodMovie here.
Taron Egerton will play Robin Hood, with Jamie Foxx as Little John, Eve Hewson as Maid Marian, Jamie Dornan as Will Scarlet, Ben Mendelsohn as Sheriff of Nottingham and Tim as Friar Tuck.
Tim’ll be wiggling into view periodically in Orange Is The New Brown, a hilarious new sketch comedy series from Nazeem Hussain, starting Thursday 8th November at 8:30pm on Channel 7.
The series takes a look at race, popular culture, politics and life in contemporary Australia, through fast paced sketches featuring an ensemble cast of Australia’s hottest comedy stars, including Urzila Carlson, Becky Lucas and Matt Okine, plus some big-name cameos.
The untold story of the Brown Wiggle… #OrangeIsTheNewBrown
Hi lovely humans. I’m (finally) touring again! Phew.
I’ll be playing in Australia in March – April, and then in the UK in October – November of 2019. Venues and dates below.
Tickets to both tours go on sale to the masses next Thursday 6th September. BUT…
… You can get access to PRE-SALE tickets on Wednesday 5th, IF you register as Ticketmaster Verified Fan (It sounds like a bit of a wank, but it’s a system to try to curtail scalpers. It’s a good thing, I think). You need to register BEFORE 5pm AEST on SUNDAY (11:59pm BST for the UK). Details below.
I’ll also be selling 50 Premium Charity Seats every night at a ridiculously high price, and all the income from those seats will go to charity. If you have a bit of spare cash, please keep an eye out for those. Information on Australian charities here. (UK charities TBC)
Hope you can come. I think it will be very fun.
Tim x
Tim Minchin – BACK – Australia 2019
ADELAIDE Thebarton Theatre – Tuesday 5th March – SOLD OUT ADELAIDE Thebarton Theatre – Wednesday 6th March -SOLD OUT ADELAIDE Thebarton Theatre – Thursday 7th March – SOLD OUT ADELAIDE Thebarton Theatre – Friday 8th March – SOLD OUT ADELAIDE Thebarton Theatre – Saturday 9th March – SOLD OUT CANBERRA Theatre – Tuesday 12th March – SOLD OUT CANBERRA Theatre – Wednesday 13th March – SOLD OUT CANBERRA Theatre – Thursday 14th March – SOLD OUT CANBERRA Theatre – Friday 15th March – SOLD OUT CANBERRA Theatre – Saturday 16th March -SOLD OUT PERTH Crown Theatre – Tuesday 19th March – SOLD OUT PERTH Crown Theatre – Wednesday 20th March – SOLD OUT PERTH Crown Theatre – Thursday 21st March – SOLD OUT PERTH Crown Theatre – Friday 22nd March – SOLD OUT PERTH Crown Theatre – Saturday 23rd March – SOLD OUT SYDNEY State Theatre – Tuesday 26th March – SOLD OUT SYDNEY State Theatre – Wednesday 27th March – SOLD OUT SYDNEY State Theatre – Thursday 28th March – SOLD OUT SYDNEY State Theatre – Friday 29th March – SOLD OUT MELBOURNE Palais Theatre – Wednesday 3rd April – SOLD OUT MELBOURNE Palais Theatre – Thursday 4th April – SOLD OUT MELBOURNE Palais Theatre – Friday 5th April – SOLD OUT MELBOURNE Palais Theatre – Saturday 6th April – SOLD OUT MELBOURNE Palais Theatre – Sunday 7th April – SOLD OUT BRISBANE QPAC – Tuesday 9th April – SOLD OUT BRISBANE QPAC – Wednesday 10th April – SOLD OUT BRISBANE QPAC – Thursday 11th April – SOLD OUT BRISBANE QPAC – Friday 12th April – SOLD OUT MELBOURNE Palais Theatre – Tuesday 23rd April – SOLD OUT MELBOURNE Palais Theatre – Wednesday 24th April – SOLD OUT SYDNEY State Theatre – Sunday 28th April – SOLD OUT SYDNEY State Theatre – Monday 29th April – SOLD OUT SYDNEY State Theatre – Tuesday 30th April – SOLD OUT GOLD COAST The Star – Friday 3rd May – SOLD OUT GOLD COAST The Star – Saturday 4th May – SOLD OUT
No Activity is currently airing on BBC TWO. Click here for the schedule.
Two episodes are already available on BBC iPlayer, along with a host of clips.
The six part Australian comedy series, stars Patrick Brammall and Darren Gilshenan. It follows two police detectives, Hendy and Stokes, killing time on a stakeout, waiting for something to happen. It doesn’t. Genevieve Morris and Harriet Dyer are unlikely dispatch officers, Carol and April, while Dan Wylie, David Field and Sam Simmons make up the disorganised crime element.
Tim plays Jacob, a security guard working at the docks, tasked with looking out for anything unusual, so he can tip off the cops. (more…)
Tim’s signed a major production deal with Foxtel and today, along with Screen Australia, they announced his starring role in UPRIGHT, a landmark co-production with Sky UK.. He’s co-producing, writing the music and co-writing the script for the eight-part series, sure to resonate with Australian and international viewers.
Tim: “From the moment I heard about the idea for UPRIGHT, I knew it was the show I’d been waiting to make. I like stories that make me laugh and think and cry, I adore the landscapes of outback Australia, and I love music, and homecomings, and characters full of flaws. It’s awesome to be writing with this extraordinary team, and I’m looking forward to acting alongside Milly Alcock, who I think is a really special talent.”
There’s a stellar team behind UPRIGHT, including the creator Chris Taylor (The Chaser) with whom Tim is writing the series alongside award-winning writer-actors Kate Mulvany (Fighting Season, Jasper Jones stage play) and Leon Ford (Offspring, No Activity). The Director is Matthew Saville (Please Like Me). Tim is Executive Producer with Penny Win and Helen Bowden. Producers are Lingo Pictures’ Jason Stephens, Chris Taylor and Melissa Kelly (Hounds of Love). (more…)
There’s a new trailer out for the Robin Hood movie, with a few more glimpses of Tim as Friar Tuck:
If you don’t use Facebook you can find the trailer on Twitter or YouTube.
Directed by Otto Bathurst and filmed in Croatia and Hungary, Robin Hood is a gritty new take on the classic story.
Taron Egerton will play Robin Hood, with Jamie Foxx as Little John, Eve Hewson as Maid Marian, Jamie Dornan as Will Scarlet and Ben Mendelsohn as Sheriff of Nottingham.
IMDb: A war-hardened Crusader and his Moorish commander mount an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown in a thrilling action-adventure packed with gritty battlefield exploits, mind-blowing fight choreography, and a timeless romance.
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