Josh Cunningham, best known as founding member of The Waifs, now tours with his life partner and country music queen Felicity Urquhart – combining their love of country, folk and blues on a new album release Everything Around Me. They’re currently on a national tour.
Josh talks to The Write Drop for our At The Bar series:
MY CITY
Melbourne. Culture, food, and home of the mighty Richmond Tigers.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
It may sound modest and simple but I had a burrito from Tacqueria Cancun in the Mission district of San Francisco once that was impossibly good. It wasn’t advertised as a breakfast burrito but being morning, and following my local friends lead, I simply got eggs, cheese, fresh avocado, cilantro (coriander) and hot salsa, with fresh lime squeezed over it before it was wrapped up in the most perfect house made tortilla. I go back for more every time I can.
FAVOURITE BAR
During the lockdown madness, I made a little outdoor bar at home that our youngest daughter named “paradise”. It’s more of an outdoor cooking area but it was inspired by her Pop’s “beer garden” and has a service area that is…a bar. The girls joke around and try to order drinks they are too young for, but my favourite drop in paradise would be an earl grey tea.
DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU
San Pellegrino with fresh lime. Zesty, effervescent, and a little tart.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
Being a non-drinker.
BEST INTERSTATE BAR
I really only spend time in bars if I’m playing music there so the musical component is the defining measure of a good bar for me. To that end, The Tivoli in Brisbane would rank as one of my favourites not only interstate but internationally as well. The atmosphere, the sound, the experience. So many wonderful memories there.
OVERSEAS BAR
Place Aux Vins in Fontaine de Vaucluse in the region of Provence in France. As the name suggests, they have a large selection of wines. They also have sensational tapas and an exquisite drop that I remember fondly. It’s a premium local sparkling mineral water called “Badoit” that comes from out of the ground carbonated. If you mix it with jus de pamplemousse (grapefruit juice) and sip it at an outdoor table in the summertime while watching French village life drift slowly by, it’s very refreshing.
FAVOURITE WINE
Cat among the Pigeons Zero alcohol Barossa Shiraz. It won’t excite the purists, but it’s the closest I get to reliving my days as a drinker, and it’s very nice.
FAVOURITE WINERY
Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo NSW. Owners David and Mary run concerts there and once again, the musical component is king for me. They are very welcoming hosts, the winery is lovely and they let me bring my dog when we play there. I’m also told the wine is excellent.
