Hi from new member from Brisbane, Australia

[Rosemary]

Hi everyone and thank you very much for accepting me into your community

I live with my husband and two cats in Brisbane, Australia and we've always loved the Shadows. Since late last year after realising we'd found out too late that the Shads were playing in Brisbane and therefore missing out on tickets, I've become even more involved in their music and bought the recently (in Australia) released Final Tour and 50th Anniversary Live in London DVDs which are absolutely brilliant.

This led me to start picking out Shadows tunes on the little iPhone pocket guitar app, which in turn led to my husband buying me a cheap secondhand acoustic guitar from the local markets which he and his Dad are now restoring.

Hopefully it will be ready to play very soon and I'll be able to learn properly. Obviously I have a very long way to go to play anything at all that resembles guitar music but at least I know more than I did a few months ago and it's the music of the Shadows and maybe some little backing accompaniments or solos from the Beatles or other 60s songs that I'll aspire to.

The enthusiasm everyone has in these forums and of course the music of the Shadows is an enormous inspiration so thank you once again for this wonderful website!

Best wishes from a very hot and muggy Brisbane.
Rosemary

[Bill Bowley]

Rosemary,

Welcome to the 'mob', great to have another Aussie in the 'mix'!

May I wish you every success with your guitar playing, however I must advise you that although it can be very enjoyable it is also a very addictive pastime!

Regards

[Rosemary]

Thanks Bill. I'm really looking forward to getting the guitar. I'm planning to restring it myself which will be a new experience too but I've watched a few Youtube videos and have a book. Wish me luck!
All the best
Rosemary

[OLDEREK]

Hi Rosemary and welcome, sometimes on here you find tickets for the tour for sale, keep looking in and you maybe lucky ..............

[SELEDA284]

Its a warm welcome from me too nice to see another lady join our ranks good luck with the guitar playing when you get started & keep us posted on your progress you're braver than me !

[Rosemary]

Thanks very much for your welcome, Lesley and Derek.
Looks like the guitar will take another week before it's ready so I'll have to keep practising on the iPhone. It's not quite the same as a real guitar but I get a nice echo effect sometimes - unfortunately only by accident
Best wishes
Rosemary

[Bob Withrington]

Hi Rosemary,

My Wife & I have just returned from a holiday in Australia. Whilst in Sydney we saw Cliff & The Shadows at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on the 21st February. What a great show and with even better seats than we had at the O2 show back in September. Before the show we met up with some members of the Sydney Shadows Club. But better still we bumped into Bruce Welch during the morning in Pitt Street on his way for a haircut. As usual Bruce took the time for a quick chat and to have a photo taken. During our stay in Brisbane we met up with Garry McDonald the Lead Guitarist of The Sonics (a Shadows Tribute Band). Garry is also a Music Teacher. So you might find some local help.

Cheers,

Bob Withrington
Surrey Shadows Club

[Rosemary]

Hi Bob
It's wonderful that you could see the Shads in Oz on your holidays. It was 3 weeks ago that I saw them in Brisbane and I'm still very, very excited. It was definitely the best concert I've ever been to and almost every report I've read online says the same. They really blew everyone away - even the younger members of the audience.
It's great to know there are guitar experts out there who might be able to help if (make that 'when') I get stuck. Also it's great knowing there are people around to help keep me motivated so thanks very much for letting me know about Garry. In the meantime I'm making slow but steady progress.
Thanks again
Best wishes
Rosemary