Mark provides an update to fans in the leadup to Christmas.

Author: Mark Seymour.

Date: 14 December 2025.

Original URL: N/A.

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There was nothing quite like witnessing 13,000 voices singing as one

The Garage Slam

“Heading into Christmas now.. tying up loose ends with coming events.. which shall remain nameless until the next one of these..”

Red Hot Summer is over.. We’ve done it a few times now. I remember the first one. We subbed for The Baby Animals in Wodonga at the last minute and got to see John Farnham for the first time, which might never have happened otherwise..

it’s been a ride ever since..

There really is nothing like it. A festival of Australian music with a difference because it’s mobile which means it’s old school. Simply by carrying production it gets to communities where they live. Regional towns, football ovals, gold courses, pretty strange pin drops you might say and to be honest, I’m reminded of what pubs used to provide in these places. We used to travel with production, putting it on and remembering the joy..

This one was the easily the best. For two reasons. I got to hang with Crowded House which might also never have happened and the ride proved to me beyond doubt that true greatness rises and endures..

And there was nothing quite like witnessing the end moment. A Perth crowd, 13,000 voices singing as one.. ‘You Better be home Soon’. I also got to talk trash with my brother..

But I have to say, there was a greater highlight. I’ve always fantasized simply playing rhythm guitar a la Malcolm Young the riff guy.. and dare I say I say, I’m not bad at it. Be careful what you wish for as they say because I got my shot backing up Vika Bull who ripped through a version of the H&C torcher ‘Say Goodbye’

But the real highlight for me was duetting with Linda Bull on ‘Waiting on the Kid’, a song we wrote together. The challenge with Red Hot Summer is always to slip into the new stuff. Some things don’t change, given the hits and memories factor. A deeply emotional ballad like ‘Kid’ was always going to be tricky. There was some discussion but I’ve always been pretty stubborn about new stuff so I followed my nose and backed a powerful song..

I’ve often thought ‘Say Goodbye’ might be a bit to triumphant given the topic but Vika didn’t hold back. Better ‘from a woman’s perspective’ as she said..

By the way. Personnel on this tour were me, Cam, Ben Wiesner on drums, Richard Bradbeer on bass, and the truly great Vika and Linda Bull Sisters..

Heading into Christmas now.. tying up loose ends with coming events.. which shall remain nameless until the next one of these.. Needless to say, there are new songs on the way.

Love to all

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