Music

Jeff Martin is driving to the Airport from his Byron Bay studio. He’s Canada bound as the Tea Party are about to perform a 5-night stint at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Ontario. It’s only fair to give his home crowd some action after gratifying Australia with the 20 year Transmission Tour.

“When Jeff Burrows and I had our first band together I was ten years old and he was eleven. So, in theory, we’ve actually been a band longer than the Rolling Stones,” Jeff smugly lets us know that things are tight in the Tea Party camp. “That’s what makes the Tea Party very special; it’s because on stage, with our shows, in a beautiful way it’s very dangerous – you never know where the band is going to go, and how intense it’s going to get.”

With such a huge tour and string of shows and travel behind him, Jeff has planned the ultimate New Years Eve party locally.

“Well, normally the solo shows that I do are very intense, very emotional affairs, for the audience and for myself. I try to make sure there’s a certain degree of levity in the show, for me it’s a different animal than the Tea Party. It’s meant to be a party.”

Two of Jeff’s personal favorite artists (that he also produces) will be sharing the stage, both having recently recorded at his Byron studio, Riverhouse, “which is a very, very magical place,” Jeff suggests with a sensual air in his voice. “It’s like a Shangri-La of rock and roll. And just the times that you have there, just the craziness that’s gone on is what we’re going to be reflecting upon, and it’s going to be a side, probably side to me that my audience has never seen, because more or less I’m letting my guard down. You know? And why not? It’s going to be a night of serious kick-ass rock and roll.”

And after singing Auld Lang Syne with half of the Hawkesbury, you’d be wondering what Jeff’s Resolutions might be. “Well, I think I have to give it a few more weeks. After I’ve done this Tea Party tour, I’m pretty sure I’m going to have some New Years resolutions here!” he admits.

See Jeff Martin, Lepers & Crooks, Matt Boylan-Smith and locals Lizard on NYE at the Hawkesbury Hotel, Windsor. @hawkesbury.hotel