Hey there folks,

Welcome to the new MICK THOMAS Newsletter that’s also going to be coming out via Substack. I am going to keep this one short and sharp. For in depth stuff you can jump over to the Top Paddock but I know everyone is busy these days so this is just a regular update on what’s coming up.

Here’s how the next few months is looking:

JULY

Thu 23 - I’m up solo with Henry Wagons at the Kew Courthouse (SOLD OUT already I’m afraid).

Sun 26 - Shackleton3 Play the Standard Hotel in Fitzroy for the Leaps and Bounds Festival. 5.00 Start - It’s FREE ADMISSION so get there early

AUGUST

Thu 13/14 - Darwin Festival Wish You Were Mine - songs I wish I’d written (with Clio Renner) Hosted by Brian Nankervis

Sun16 - Shackleton3 Play the Retreat in Brunswick. 2.00 pm start and once again - It’s FREE ADMISSION so get there early

Sun 30 - Shackleton3 Play the Drunken Poet in North Melbourne. It’s the last show of this current run of Sundays and once again it’s FREE ADMISSION. On at 4.00 so once again we say, get there early.

SEPTEMBER

Sun 6 - MICK THOMAS and BROOKE TAYLOR play Father’s Day at Warren Browns in Parkdale. It’s the fifth time we’ve done this beaut little venue and it always sells out so go to mickthomas.com/shows to grab a ticket. There’s an early and a late show.

Sat 19 - MICK THOMAS and BROOKE TAYLOR play Country in the Backyard Festival at Panthers Penrith Leagues Club with Casey Chambers & Casey Barnes

After that there’s nothing until the Christmas run begins first week in November. Dates will be announced soon. The el-toppo Norwood are going to be opening for most of it and the big news is for the Melbourne show we are going to be playing the Corner with Norwood AND Hana and Jesse-Lee’s Bad Habits to launch our brand new 7” split single. They’ll be on one us and we’ll be on the other. More about this SOON.

The only other thing is, (if you haven’t already) perhaps check out the Top Paddock Substack Platform. It’s a load of work and a lot of fun. There’s a stack of writing and a whole bunch of recordings new and old (for the paid subscribers). I’m about to begin an interview series with the various players of my life (tentaively titled Let’s Do Breakfast) and there’s a whole stack of stuff in the pipeline. Here’s what you’ve been missing out on:

22/3/26 Flying Solo to the Four Corners

- Four Corners of the Earth (Solo recording)

22/3/26 3 Peas in a Calypso Pod

- One Last Swim in the Ocean (Demo)

24/3/26 All the Roads, All the Chords

- All the Roads (Solo recording)

25/3/26 Saints Be Praised

- Dirt Under Your Nails (Calypso) (Demo)

27/3/26 Bright Sunshine and the Accordion Shop That Never Was

- Bright Sunshine (Solo recording)

31/3/26 Solo Tour Coming Up

- He Went Into the Media (Demo)

2/4/26 Brunswick - a tip for young players

- Brunswick (Solo recording)

7/4/26 We’re On Our Way Home!

- Two of Us (Demo)

9/4/26 At a Party In Belfast - or Fitzroy

- Song For the Seven Seas (Solo recording)

- Woman of Ireland (Solo recording)

14/4/26 When A Little Was Enough, the Forty Year Muscle Memory and a Good Sign

- When a Little Was Enough (Demo)

16/4/26 C’mon Larry Let’s Go!

- Lawrence Durrell (Solo recording)

21/4/26 The Wicklow Chief is Coming Home

- The Wicklow Chief (Demo)

24/4/26 Silly Love Songs and the Party to Which I Was Never Invited

- I Could Spot You Anywhere (Solo recording)

29/4/26 When You Go Anywhere (But Here)

- Anywhere But Here (Solo recording)

- WhenYou Go (Solo recording)

- Story by Jeremy Mouat

6/5/26 Laughing Boys at the MCT

- Laughing Boy (Live Recording w/Dave Steel)

8/5/26 And After All This Time

- Missing in Action (Live Recording w/Dave Steel)

- Hungry Years (Live Recording w/Dave Steel)

14/5/26 Where the Wild Wind Blows

- Tennessee Rain (Shackleton3 Live Recording)

16/5/26 The Healing Power of Spontaneous Applause

- The Healing Power of Helpless Laughter ( Shackleton3 Live Recording)

- Lowland Trail (Shackleton3 Live Recording)

20/5/26 All Aboard the #78 and the #96

- Venus of Route 78 (Live Recording w/Brooke Taylor & Co Tipping)

- A Mighty Ride (Live Recording w/Brooke Taylor)

23/5/26 Co-writes (and Co Tipping)

- Still Got You to Hold (Live Recording w/Brooke Taylor & Co Tipping)

- As You Lay Sleeping (Live Recording w/Brooke Taylor)

27/5/26 As Legend Would have It

- Maltby Bypass (Live Recording w/ Craig Pilkington & Barb Waters)

- Forgot She Was Beautiful (Live Recording w/ Craig Pilkington & Barb Waters)

31/5/26 You Stole My Heart Away

- Rising Sun (Live Recording w/ Craig Pilkington & Barb Waters)

- Tram (Live Recording w/ Craig Pilkington & Barb Waters)

6/6/26 Barclay-palooza

- Man Crazy (Live Recording w/Michael & Cal Barclay)

- The Year She Spent in England (Live Recording w/Michael & Cal Barclay)

11/6/26And a Couple More From Michael and Cal

- Something to Fight For (Live Recording w/Michael & Cal Barclay)

- In Your Memory (Live Recording w/Michael & Cal Barclay)

17/6/26 All Good Things Must End

- Keep Talking to Me (Live Recording)

- The Party’s Over (Live Recording)

24/6/26 How Long I’v Been Away

- How Long I’v Been Away (Demo)

1/7/26 Elephant Soup a New Demo

- Elephant Soup (Demo)

8/7/26 Hard Currency and a Distinct Lack of Picnics

- Hard Currency (solo recording)

- No Picnic (solo recording)

- Story by Mark Hopper