Thursday 16th February 2006

This blog has been created so we can have an intimate forum to let our our many fans. and friends know what we are up to. As a working band, each new day brings a new expereince. some of them funny, some of them strange, and some of them just downright unbelievable.

Rather than update the website www.inkamarka.com on a weekly basis we thought it more intimate to creat a blog . This way any one of the band members, or our mananger, with a few spare minutes on their hands can jump on the computer and write about their experiences, the intimate workings of the band, and the daily routine of life on the road. We thought it might be nice to start with the story we published on our website last year about our annual East coast of Australia tour.

Inka Marka trip diary :2005
Melbourne to Cairns or Bust
Well to date this is the longest and most arduous tour of our career. When Inka Marka goes on tour its like an adventure. We always leave extremely early in the mornings, the hour that most normal musicians are going to bed. Maybe this is because we perform at a lot of places during the day, more than the traditional evening events, and rather than spend another night in strange hotel bed, we prefer to spend it at home and then just ?Do it?.. It doesn?t always end up the way we plan it though., but then that?s just part of the adventure The tour started as always in Canberra, where Inka Marka has a loyal band of supporters and fans. .This was the first stop from Melbourne and home base with the new cd. We were a little nervous to see how it would be received. There was no need to worry, as usual we were met by warm and generous people who took our music straight to their hearts. The other reason for stopping in Canberra was to pick up Andy, our unofficial 6th band member, CD seller, sound engineer and music critic, not to mention extra driver, and a pleasant smiling face.

Only a quick 4 hour trip to Sydney, home base for two of the band members, and a great reunion with family members and friends. Already calls were coming in to the office about where and how people could find us in Sydney, and see us perform. The pre publicity on the website and mail outs were working. Inka Marka hadn?t forgotten their roots, and performed at the Rocks Tourist Market on the Sunday, The response was great, and a great many CD?s found new homes.

After a week in Sydney, the band was getting a little too comfortable so it was time to move on again. Coffs Harbour was the next destination, and as we headed further northward, the weather defiantly improved. As we sat basking in the sun, doing a sound check, we heard that it was snowing back in Melbourne.

Heading north to Eumundi, we had a date at the famous Eumundi market. Another gloriously sunny day?These early morning starts are a killer.

Brisbane and the Gold coast are defiantly a better place to be than a cold Melbourne winter, trying to perform with fingerless gloves and a super down jacket. The gold Coast seemed to be filled with tourists as one would expect, and many people were surprised to hear our style of music in Australia. In one day we counted people of at least 15 nationalities in the crowd watching us play. I don?t think Cavil mall had ever seen the likes of us before, and probably wont for quite a while. The Gold coast was a nice interlude, and we again met many people who had never heard our style of music. before. Nevertheless they soon got into the groove.

This is the part of the tour that we least enjoyed. the constant driving, packing and unpacking the sound equipment everyday, and sometimes two or three times a day, as we moved from place to place. Our manager certainly had us keeping busy. The next stretch was the longest, Heading northwards to Cairns. Everyday performing in a different town, then packing up the gear, driving to the next place, then falling into bed, only to repeat this the next day, and the next day and the next. Each day is starting to look the same. and we are getting sick of eating take away.. I think we are beginning to dislike Thai food too.
Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Rockhampton and Mackay all flew past us, then finally Townsville, where we had a small respite. We actually stayed somewhere for more than one night. The Townsville Multicultural Festival was in two weeks, and we arranged some pre publicity for the event. What were the organisers thinking of when they had our Press conference in the Bunning?s Warehouse Café! Anyway, ..they made good coffee. and the press people didn?t at all seem perturbed by the location,

Townsville was a nice rest.. ..well a rest from travelling only. We kept busy, performing at the Local University, the various venues around town, and also the famous Cotters Market ?

Off to Cairns and surrounds, where we met by our dear friends Angela and Segundo, who live in Mossman. They had organised 4 concerts around the region, Mossman, Port Douglas, Kuranda and Cairns. All were sell outs, and we had to promise that we would come back again next year before we were allowed to leave. Far north Queensland is a great place to be, the weather is warm the people are friendly and the food is great. .the only thing missing was our families and loved one. Almost two months on the road was starting to take its toll ..especially on those with small children. Only a few more commitments and then we could head home.
Innisfail Multicultural festival, Townsville festival, and then that was it. We were free to head home. From Townsville we headed to the Gold coast, taking two days to complete the non stop leg. A day performing, then hopping down to Coffs Harbour, where again we welcomed by the resident Inka Marka fans .Its nice that the music is appreciated and received so well. .It makes all the hardships along the way seem worth it. From Coffs to Sydney and a few days taking stock, several performances and hugs from family and friends, before dropping Andy off in Canberra and heading home on the final stretch.

Each year we say.. NEVER Again?..but we?ll just wait and see what happens for next year before we say Never again?.