I had always been aware of Kev Carmody. He’s an indigenous singer/songwriter who wrote that song From Little Things, Big Things Grow with Paul Kelly. I knew he was always held in high regard within the artist community. I knew he was from Queensland. I knew his songs were quite political. It wasn’t until I received the album Cannot Buy My Soul in 2007 which was put together by Paul Kelly that I sat up and took notice. It took artists with bigger profiles than Kev to finally bring these songs to my attention. I’ll forever be in debt of Paul Kelly for doing this.

The album features some of Australia’s most talented singer/songwriters in their own right, doing their own interpretations of Kev Carmody’s songs. Bernard Fanning, Clare Bowditch, The Drones, Tex Perkins, Dan Kelly, Sara Storer,The Herd, Steve Kilby and PK himself with Missy Higgins and Augie March. It also comes with a disc of the original songs as performed by Kev. It’s this disc that I listened to most now.

In January 2008 at the Sydney Festival, Cannot Buy My Soul was performed live and featured many of the artists that recorded songs for the album. I wasn’t lucky enough to be at the State Theatre that night but I did see a special screening of the event on SBS a few months latter. There were a few artists missing that night but it was an amazing show and from all reports there was a very special feeling in the room.

So it was with great delight that on 1 August 2009, the songs from Cannot Buy My Soul will now be performed in Brisbane, as part of the Queensland Music Festival. This time nearly all of the artists will be performing. It will be held at the Brisbane River Stage with a capacity of 10,000 people. It promises to be a very special night and will be a fitting tribute to Kev Carmody in his home state of Queensland. Tickets are available from www.qmf.org.au.

To get you in the mood……check out The Drones version of River Of Tears.