Karma County front man and hands on producer behind albums like Jimmy Little's instant classic Messenger, author of international best seller The Open Tuning Chord Book For Guitar, film composer, songwriter, veteran performer and sometime session guitarist for people like David Bowie and more.

Find out more about Brendan in his bio, check out dates to see him play live or go to shop to get some music... djoldbrendo soft rockin' in the free world.
 
Via del Fortino: Limited Edition CD EP
  • Via del Fortino: Limited Edition CD EP

Via del Fortino: Limited Edition CD EP

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Recorded with dear friend Daniele Di Giovanni at his house in Porto Santo Stefano, Tuscany in late 2022 and put to bed back home in Sydney. Six tracks written, produced and performed by Brendo.

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Short & Sweet: CD
  • Short & Sweet: CD

Short & Sweet: CD

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10 songs, 32 minutes, Short and Sweet! Recorded with The Magnolia Orchestra - Aldo Betto (guitar), Giacomo Da Ros (bass) & Youssef Ait Bouazza (drums) - at Yellow Fridge Road in the Tuscan seaside village of Porto Santo Stefano in April 2017.

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SINGSONG: Limited Edition Signed CD
  • SINGSONG: Limited Edition Signed CD

SINGSONG: Limited Edition Signed CD

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SINGSONG was recorded live in Mark Jago’s old timber cottage on Sydney’s northern beaches over three days in July 2018. Karma County songs, a couple from various solo albums, and some favourite covers. No overdubs, just voice and acoustic guitar. There are only 50 Limited Edition CDs available, individually numbered and signed. Get your copy here

SINGSONG was recorded live in Mark Jago’s old timber cottage on Sydney’s northern beaches over three days in July 2018. Karma County songs, a couple from various solo albums, and some favourite covers. No overdubs, just voice and acoustic guitar. There are only 50 Limited Edition CDs available, individually numbered and signed. Get your copy here $25 includes postage and handling.

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Please join my mailing list for info about gigs, new recordings and other goings on... Brendo

Summer  

Thanks to all who voted for me in the recent APRA Writer/Director poll. This time I got across the line. Looking forward to being an active participant in crafting APRA policy and getting some good outcomes for Australian songwriters.

Speaking of songwriters I'll be doing some shows at Sydney Opera House as part of Sydney Festival in January - accompanying Dave Mason, a special collaboration with 2 time Grammy award winning pedal steel guitarist Lucky Oceans and a rocking' blues show with THE PINKS. Check out my Tour Dates page for more info. I'm off to Europe for 6 weeks but much to do when I get back - mixing Mark Lucas' solo album on the mighty Neve console at GPHQ and finishing off an album with the great Aboriginal singer Kutcha Edwards, watch out for this one… and always working on some new songs of my own. It's a full life. See youse all on the mean streets… Brendo

Spring! 

Aint it good to see the sun… Very happy to announce that I'm running again for the Writer/Director position on APRA Board, my 4th tilt at the job. Members please vote for me, non members tell your friends. Read here why I'm running. Also happy that Bernie Hayes new album that I worked on is mastered and sounds FANTASTIC! It's a real Bernie album, a bit of a Stiff Records vibe but with some stand out ballads too, and it's ALL Bernie.

I'll be presenting a Music Industry Primer 18th Oct as part of a special masteclass series for Bondi WAVE, tix here. Check out my Tour Dates page, I'm performing all over the next few months - solo shows, THE PINKS, Dead Marines, playing with Dave Mason and others, a special show in Melbourne with the great Aboriginal singer Kutcha Edwards who I'm producing an album for - plus working on recording projects with Sydney singer/songwriter Mark Lucas and alt country band Not Good With Horses. And always working on some new songs of my own. It's a full life. See youse all on the mean streets… Brendo

Winter vibes 

In June I'll be playing 8 dates with The Audreys on their 'Til My Tears Roll Away tour plus a one off Wine Island show with Rob Souter & Doug Nairn at Co-Op Club, Church Point, check tour dates page for more. And I'll be in Brisbane June 23 for annual APRAs awards dinner to see my friend and Australian music legend Lindy Morrison receive The Ted Albert Memorial Award.

I've been out playing some gigs with Robyn Hitchcock and Dave Mason and keeping up 1st Sunday of the month residency at Petersham Bowling Club with Dead Marines. 

I've got three albums on the go as producer at the moment with Bernie Hayes, Kutcha Edwards and Mark Lucas. And have recorded some new songs of my own. Is good to be busy. See youse all on the mean streets... Brendo 

2014 

A late post for the new year, been busy. Played a few shows, worked on some records, had a holiday.

Next month Walking In The Rain (that I produced for Doc Neeson) will be released as a single ahead of the Rock Wiz Vanda & Young special on SBS TV on 24 March.

I'll be finishing off Bernie Hayes 4th solo album (my 2nd as producer) and doing the odd gig here and there, check tour dates page for more. See youse all on the mean streets... Brendo 

Summer Torpor 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year music fans. I'm heading down NSW coast for a week of beach inactivity, BBQs and the occasional martini. My mate and fellow Dead Marine Bernie Hayes is staying a couple of doors away so there will be some guitar strumming at some stage.

I'll be hitting the new year running with a few producing jobs and some live gigs in NSW, VIC and Tassie, check tour dates page for more.. See youse all on the mean streets... Brendo 

Silly Season 

Yes, Silly Season is here. I reckon it starts Melbourne Cup day and goes 'til Australia Day 26th January. I've wrapped up my Wine Island tour for the year, thanks to all who came to my shows. A big thanks to my band mates Rob Souter, Jonathan Zwartz and Doug Nairn. Three better blokes you wouldn't meet on a day's march.

Give the gift of music this Christmas with a Christmas Triple Set - Wine Island + On Eve St + Tooraloo & Tender, 3 albums for $50.

Also my tilt at a Director position on the APRA Board was not successful this time. Thanks to those who voted for me. Have a great holiday break. Meanwhile check tour dates for some Christmas shows. Tooraloo... Brendo

VOTE 1 BRENDO 

I'm running again for Writer/Director on APRA Board. Like most APRA members I write my own songs, make my own records and book my own gigs. I’ve been an APRA member for over twenty years and an Ambassador for four. For over thirty years I’ve maintained a comprehensive career as an independent artist and now I want to get involved in policy as it affects songwriters and musicians generally. 
 
Voting is live at APRA website NOW and closes 5:00PM Sydney time Thursday 14 November. Please share with your friends and follow this link to vote if you are a member. https://www.apra.com.au/site/member/logon.stm

In the last 6 weeks I've played all over as part of my Wine Island album tour. Was great to play with my fabulous band (Rob Souter, Jonathan Zwartz & Doug Nairn) and catch up with music lovers generally. I've got some more shows coming up in NSW and SA, check live page for dates. See youse all on the mean streets... Brendo


Check out Tour Dates for details. 
Check out Youtube for  "making of Wine Island".
Read the Stories behind the songs.

Wine Island 

Three studios, many drummers, a double album - a long time coming but Wine Island is out on 16th September. I'm loving it. And I'm looking forward to heading out to play some shows with my crackin' band featuring drum legend Robbie Souter (Dynamic Hepnotics, Slim Dusty), jazz bass maestro Jonathan Zwartz and young WA guitar player Doug Nairn.

Check out Tour Dates for details. 
Check out Youtube for  "making of Wine Island".
Read the Stories behind the songs.

Side 1 Bianco is an echo of my formative years as a player. Listening to ABC Radio’s Room To Move at night in my room as a young’un and getting an almighty charge off great blues players like Elmore James and B.B King. Going to live shows by Zappa, Billy Thorpe, Barney Kessel, Leon Russell, AC/DC, Kraftwerk & Ry Cooder. Listening to Chuck Berry, Hendrix and José Feliciano records and more, whatever was rockin’, and trying to jam it all into how I played.

Side 2 Rosso is more about discovering and being seduced by the understated power and nuance of acoustic guitar, and the piano, and the joy of words and storytelling. Getting inside the music of Steely Dan, The Beatles (with Billy Preston), Paul Simon and Brian Wilson. Luxuriating in the soundscapes of Lalo Schifrin and Nino Rota. And coming late to the wonder of Scott Walker and Nick Lowe, trying to somehow make their patch of brilliant sky my own. 

Somewhere off Wine Island... Brendo


New Values 

 ... thankyou Iggy Pop. Am back from a long trip overseas (where it was very bloody cold) with a head full of ideas. I mastered my new album Wine Island coupla weeks ago and am very happy, nay, excited with the result. It's a double album, two sides of quite different material:

side 1 Bianco is a rockin' affair with a nod to my formative years as a player, channeling ZZ Top, Kraftwerk, Chuck Berry, Roxy Music, Devo and others.
side 2 Rosso is gentler, more spacious, pulling in elements from Scott Walker, Leon Russell, Beatles (with Billy Preston), Stylistics et al.

It will be available on CD & iTunes mid August and on vinyl soon after. I'll be embarking on a national tour with a band of my fave musicians Sept/Oct/Nov so keep an eye on dates page.

Meanwhile I'm finishing up producing an EP for young Australian singer/songwriter AC Danger Monaro and mid way through a new album for Bernie Hayes. Keep an eye out for Companion by Sunnyboy front man Jeremy Oxley which I produced with him and also the wonderful documentary about his life The Sunnyboy which is premiering at Sydney Opera House in June as part of Vivid Festival. See youse all on the mean streets... Brendo

back on the block 

Hey ho, been busy after Xmas/New Year break. My album Wine Island is mixed, as is the Jeremy Oxley EP I was working on. Currently working on Bernie Hayes' new album and an EP by singer/songwriter Annaliese Monaro. 18 March i"m off to Toronto for Canadian Music Week (and some other business, more to come) then NYC for a few days before catching up with the missus for a coupla weeks in Europe. I'll also be checking in with some music friends in Italy to plan a tour there in November.

I'm revved up to go out and play Wine Island with a great band of some of my fave players later in 2013. Meanwhile I'm doing some other shows with THE PINKS and Dave Mason with REEL B!G DOG before I head OS, check 'dates' page for info..... Brendo