From Manhattan to Martians Cafe and Bar

What a fantastic night! Last Friday we left the cares of the city behind and went to see Shane Howard perform at the Martians Cafe and Bar at Deans Marsh. "Where?" I hear you ask. Deans Marsh is a very small town in the Otway hinterland, about two hour's drive from Melbourne and half an hour's drive from Lorne. Martians Cafe offers a range of interesting and reasonably priced meals (Veggos Plate for $12 was yummy), coffee, cake, beer, wines etc in a somewhat rustic style. It was a great setting for an informal concert - an assortment of comfy old lounge chairs and tables scattered outside in front of Martians, with Shane on the veranda, kids playing on the swings and slides, the drinks flowing freely and dogs wandering underfoot. A camp fire helped to take some of the chill off the air, but I was very grateful for our dog blanket which normally lives in the boot of the car! Shane played several new songs which he is in the process of recording for a new album, plus many old favourites, and was accompanied at times by his son Jack, and by Dave Steel. Roger the dog also joined in, howling when Shane played the harmonica! Occasionally Shane would have to stop mid-song to check the lyrics, which were on a sheet of paper at his feet. (Well after all the cover charge was only $10.) Shane was playing in Manhattan ten days ago, but as he put it, Martians Cafe has to be the best gig in the known universe. There was certainly a strong political edge to many of his new songs - "Lock 'em up Johnny, lock 'em up tight, lock 'em up Johnny or they might start a fight". He was the featured artist at the Port Fairy Folk Festival last year, and is performing there again this year. Roll on Labour Day long weekend!