We are all made from cosmic dust, our atoms are second hand but rearranged, something from here, something from there.. James Stewart is no exception although maybe less cosmic than dusty, dust from the ancient river deltas of central Victoria and maybe a little scar tissue too.. Best known for his song writing and lead guitar work with The Warner Brothers, Overnight Jones and the T-Bones. He has toured nationally with Sheryl Crow, Paul Kelly, Michelle Shocked, Lucinda Williams, Weddings Parties Anything and Hunters and Collectors. His songs are narrative focused and overloaded with characters, the lucky, the not so lucky, the happy and the sad, the tragic and the beautiful.. So overloaded that he’s turned the characters loose in short stories to stretch their legs ..

Song Stories features Stewart’s songs blown into full size living color punctuated by his neat quintet FourDoorShitBox (Al MacInnes, Paul Thomas, Miles McNicol and Alice Gate Eastly) treating each song to its country-rock-pop-folk best ….the characters so rich you can taste them, a kaleidoscope of love, loss, luck and loserdom through Stewart’s keen and wry eye.

‘James Stewart is not just a highly talented musician. He’s a gifted story writer with razor-like observation skills, no doubt honed from a young age growing up in the country, as I did. I’ve known him all his life and have relished his musical journey. Now, in the latest move, he’s showcasing what he does best – both songs and stories – at small intimate gigs. I highly recommend this compelling combination.’

Heather Ewart, presenter of the ABC’s Back Roads.

James’ most recent solo album the 23 song “Carcane” will be available on the night