Everyone is entitled to my opinion...

 

I said I wasn’t going to do a Christmas wrap up… but who am I kidding… of course I am…

 

We’ve had a pretty interesting year here at Foghorn so here is a quick list of highlights.

 

Soundslikecafe

Now in it’s sixth year, we decided to get some hard data on how this CD series is appreciated out there in cafe-land. Through our soundslikecafe survey we discovered that upwards of 1.3 millions people are exposed to this CD series every week. That’s a lot of people… we also got the track-listing right on each disc and had some amazing names included, such as, Sarah Blasko, John Butler Trio, Toni Childs, Ross Wilson, Sneaky Sound System, Art Vs. Science, Karl Broadie and the lovely Dave McCormack. Volume 28 is out now.

 

Fogsongs Music

Our publishing catalogue now has over 1600 songs. That’s heaps. My personal favourite Fogsongs act this year was the release of the new John Kennedy album, “Is This Not Paris?”. Being originally from Melbourne, I must admit to a lack of exposure to John’s music during the 80’s with songs about Marrickville and Newtown not really resonating in a kid from Glen Waverley…but this new record is jam-packed with great fun (and funny) songs that really embrace the urban cowboy mystique that John has represented for so long. And a top launch gig at the Vanguard too.

 

Foghorn Media and Marketing

We had a bunch of great acts to work with this year and whilst not wanting to single out any act being better than the other, the very professional Charlton Hill was a joy to work with. Maybe because he’d had a record out before through Sony… but maybe just because he was a top bloke… a little too handsome for my liking, but there you go.

 

Damien Gerard Studios

Apart from the drum sound that Russ pulled when my band recorded in there a few months ago, the best thing from the studio this year would have to be the Live In The Studio series that we held a couple of weeks ago. We’re gearing up for release of the material in the New Year with exclusive tracks on iTunes and You Tube. Everyone from the office and the studio got involved, the acts got to play for their best fans and we’ve still got some organic red wine left over if anyone wants some… anyone? No, didn’t think so.

 

Roxfam

OK, strictly speaking this wasn’t really something to that Foghorn was involved with, but it was a highlight for me. Some friends needed a fund raiser for Oxfam and asked for some help. We secured a venue, I got four acts to donate their time, I designed some posters and even got to play some songs on stage. Sue at the Excelsior somewhat foolishly gave me the drink vouchers to hand out to the other bands and Martin and the guys even extended a bar tab to the bands who had donated their time. We raised about $1000, which left us with a warm fuzzy feeling inside that made the subsequent hangover that little bit more bearable.