Sometimes you never know what kind of situation you’re in until you’re suddenly on the outside looking in, or just seeing how someone else deals with it. I recently went on an overseas trip (my first one!) to Melbourne and it was a breath of fresh air; the size, the public transport, the embracing of culture. After spending 25 years in Hamilton it was just what the doctor ordered.

Being back in Hamilton now, I feel slightly depressed. Gone are the large crowds on a Tuesday night who’ve come to enjoy some live original music. Gone are the council-initiative graffiti walls in the inner city. Gone is the reliable public transport service. I know Hamilton isn’t of a notable size to do all these things but I feel that it is at a point where it can really start things rolling and ensure in 10, 5, or even 2 years, that it has enough interest to entertain a world-travelled person, or even continue to retain those who strive to do something interesting in Hamilton without the constant snags and drags.

As we mentioned last issue, we had a couple of exciting projects in the pipeline, one of them being the Mammoth Band Experiments - a live music competition open to bands (and solo artists) of any description to enter for the chance win some freakin’ sweet prizes including CD pressings, gear and much more to give your band a healthy boost. Check out our website for more info.