by Chantelle Sievers
  – Hot Mama Vibes – Ash Grunwald |
One of Australia’s most dedicated road dogs, Ash Grunwald spends his life driving along the white line delivering packages of aural delight to towns and cities around the world.
Currently touring Australia, Ash Grunwald took time out for Life Music Media’s Chantelle Sievers |
Your last album “Hot Mama Vibes” is rawer than your earlier releases. What’s causing the evolution in your style?
Ash: I don’t really think the album as a whole is rawer but there’s a couple of heavy tracks in there. Walking was very ferocious on the production side and I used junk percussion on a couple of tracks but that’s nothing new really. If anything this is the most varied album I’ve done. The title track is quite funky and there’s a couple of mellow ones in there.
The single “Walking” was featured in the Hollywood movie “Limitless.” Did that exposure create new fans of your music?
Ash: Well yeh I’ve had a lot more interest from agents and stuff over there and I just found out yesterday that I’m getting a track on a Ben Stiller movie which should be cool!
Who would you like to record or perform with in the future? Is there a particular personal hero of yours you’ve dreamt of collaborating with?
Ash: I’d really just like to collaborate with amazing producers, vocalists, songwriters and beatmakers. It has the effect of re-educating you every time u do a collab, and you just learn so much.
On this tour you’ll be filming for a documentary about life on the road. What inspired you to make a film?
Ash: I’ve always wanted to document what goes on, on the road. I think it will be an interesting thing coz we get up to so much fun stuff when were touring.
Have you got other film projects in mind?
Ash: It’s something I wouldn’t mind getting into more but I guess well just have to wait and see how this goes? I think there’s value in inviting the audience into tour life.
You’re bringing a lot of special guests on this tour and not just musical! Can you tell us more about what else you and the surfers joining you on the tour will be doing by day?
Ash: Well I’ve got a lot of friends who are amazing surfers and great musicians so it’s just great to document them ripping and turning up and jamming at the gig.
On your last tour of the east coast Vika & Linda Bull joined you for a few shows in Melbourne. What was it like working with them?
Ash: Oh it was amazing. They are so powerful and soulful!! It lifted me to a new level. I can’t wait to do it again. I can’t say enough how much I loved playing with them!
Do you find playing in smaller venues gets a more enthusiastic audience?
Ash: I love playing smaller venues. But massive festivals are also cool!!! It’s really about the vibe in the room. I did a gig last night that was only a couple of hundred people and I had one of my best gigs for ages! It just depends.
Touring as frequently as you do, do you need the downtime in between tours or do you get restless?
Ash: I’m yet to have more than 2 weeks off so I can’t fully say but I do really enjoy my downtime these days! Especially coz I’ve got a daughter now.
Is there anywhere in the world you haven’t played yet that you’re especially keen to visit?
Ash: Hawaii is one that I plan to hit next January and ski New Zealand so it will be good to tick them off the bucket list!
Where do you go for the best waves?
Ash: There’s great waves all around Australia! I love Byron and Margaret River as places that I could live and they both have very different but great surf.
You’ve mentioned your daughter in interviews before. Will she be following in your footsteps, so to speak, and be encouraged to surf?
Ash: My daughter Sunny can do whatever she wants with her life but through touring she’s already travelled the world a fair bit and will get opportunities to learn to ski and surf so I could see her getting into those things.
by Chantelle Sievers
Hot Mama Vibes is in store now.
– Hot Mama Vibes – Ash Grunwald
ASH GRUNWALD August-September 2011 Tour Dates:
Sunday 14th August – Cambridge Hotel, NEWCASTLE NSW
www.yourcambridge.com
789 Hunter St, NEWCASTLE WEST
With Beau Young, The Grains, Cornstalk
Tickets $20 + bf
BUY TICKETS HERE
Doors 7.30pm
Wednesday 17th August – Beachcomber Hotel, TOUKLEY NSW
www.thebeachie.com.au
200 Main Rd, TOUKLEY
With Beau Young, The Grains
Tickets $22 + bf
BUY TICKETS HERE
Doors open 8pm
Thursday 18th August – South West Rocks Country Club, SOUTH WEST ROCKS NSW
www.rockscountryclub.com.au
2 Sportsmans Way, SOUTH WEST ROCKS
With Beau Young, The Grains, Haldanes Daughters
Tickets $20 + bf
BUY TICKETS HERE
Doors open 7:30pm
Friday 19th August – Hoey Moey, COFFS HARBOUR NSW
www.hoeymoey.com.au
Ocean Parade Road, COFFS HARBOUR
With Beau Young, The Grains, Haldanes Daughters
Tickets $22 + bf
BUY TICKETS HERE
Doors open 8:30pm
Saturday 20th August – Pacific Hotel, YAMBA NSW
18 Pilot St, YAMBA
With Beau Young, The Grains, Haldanes Daughters
Tickets $22 + bf
BUY TICKETS HERE
Doors open 8:30pm
Sunday 21st August – Coolum Civic Centre, COOLUM QLD
Park Rd, COOLUM BEACH
Tickets $20 + bf
BUY TICKETS HERE
With Beau Young, The Grains, Haldanes Daughters
Doors open 6.30pm
Thursday 25th August – Beach Hotel, BYRON BAY NSW
www.beachhotel.com.au
Bay Lane, BYRON BAY
With Beau Young, The Grains, Haldanes Daughters
Free entry
Doors open 8pm
Friday 26th August – Coolangatta Hotel, COOLANGATTA QLD
www.thecoolyhotel.com.au
Marine Pde, COOLANGATTA
With Beau Young, The Grains, Haldanes Daughters
Tickets $20 + bf
BUY TICKETS HERE
Doors open 8pm
Saturday 27th August – The Hi Fi, BRISBANE QLD
www.thehifi.com.au
123 Boundary Street, WEST END BRISBANE
Tickets $22 + bf
BUY TICKETS HERE
Doors open 8pm
Sunday 28th August – Gympie Muster, GYMPIE QLD
Amamoor State Forest
For full line up and ticketing details go to www.muster.com.au
Thursday 1st September – Mainstreet Nightclub, MACKAY QLD
www.mainstreetnightclub.com.au
Level 1, Dome Shopping Centre, Victoria Street MACKAY
Tickets $20 +bf
BUY TICKETS HERE
With The Grains
Doors open 8pm
Friday 2nd September – A.J Hacketts, CAIRNS QLD
cairns.ajhackett.com
McGregor Road, Smithfield, CAIRNS
With The Grains
BUY TICKETS HERE
Doors open 8pm
Saturday 3rd September – Uni Club Townsville, TOWNSVILLE QLD
James Cook Uni, Angus Smith Dr, TOWNSVILLE
BUY TICKETS HERE
Doors open 8pm
Sunday 4th September – Magnums, WHITSUNDAYS NTH QLD
366 Shute Harbour Rd (under the Clock Tower), Airlie Beach, Whitsundays
www.magnums.com.au
Tickets $15 + bf
BUY TICKETS HERE
Doors open 7.30pm
FULL TOUR DETAILS HERE
ASH GRUNWALD – Road Dog Diaries National Tour | July-September 2011