Canadian rock outfit The Tea Party hit the road next month for the Elements Tour – bringing a mix of their signature rock tunes with orchestral collaborations in five special nights across the country.
Lead singer Jeff Martin spoke to The Write Drop for our At The Bar series.
MY CITY
I live up on the Blackall Range on the Sunshine Coast in QLD. I love spending afternoons playing guitar on my veranda overlooking the Hinterland to the ocean. The serenity, and the pristine surroundings of nature is very Zen, which is a welcomed juxtaposition to being on the road. The restaurants in our local community are exquisite and locally sourced produce from our farms. The local live music scene is alive and thriving here, and as a result, I have met some amazing artists.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
In Fez, Morocco in an ancient Riad. I had the most incredible Beef and Apple Tagine. My wife and I still talk about it to this day. We are big foodies, and cook dishes from all around the world, whilst listening to the music from the country of the cuisine’s origin. However, that Tagine in Fez, along with the exotic and hypnotic energy of Morocco, will live in my soul forever.
FAVOURITE BAR
There’s a very old steak house in Toronto (Canada) called Barbarians. My drummer, Jeff Burrows, and I believe to this day that they make the BEST Dirty Vodka Martini on planet Earth.
DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU
A very DIRTY VODKA MARTINI.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
A very spicy Bloody Mary – or in Canada it’s called a Spicy Bloody Caesar. These are a big thing in Canada – made with Clamato juice instead of Tomato juice. Some are served with the most-strange food groups hanging off of the glass. Ask me about this and I will explain!
BEST INTERSTATE BAR
Restaurant Hubert in Sydney. I felt like I time travelled to 1920’s Paris. The food was incredible, and there was a Gypsy Jazz band playing Django Reinhardt. I was in absolute heaven. I actually got up and played with the band too, which was just delightful.
OVERSEAS BAR
I loved the beach bar at Karma Kandara in Bali. You catch a funicular down the edge of the sea cliff, and spend the day drinking coconuts, and cocktails from their beach hut/tiki bar.
FAVOURITE WINE
Last year I was introduced to a Cabernet blend from a vineyard in South Australia called Molly Dooker Gigglepot. This was at a 5-star restaurant in Winnipeg, Canada. Once I returned home to Australia, I ordered a case!
FAVOURITE WINERY
My band and I had many opportunities to visit Rockford Winery in South Australia and really loved it. I am also fond of the Bird In Hand wines, but I am yet to visit there.
NEXT DESTINATION
I am about to embark on a tour here in Australia with my band The Tea Party, which includes an absolute dream of mine coming to fruition – playing at The Sydney Opera House with the Symphony. Next stop is Canada for the Summer Festivals, followed by a well-deserved vacation in Europe – starting in Croatia, which is a place I have not been before. My assistant now lives there, and my wife’s high school best friend is Croation, so she has a bit of knowledge of the language – some innocent little swear words though, but that’s pretty cute too.
Canadian rock trio The Tea Party return to Australia in February:
The ‘Elements’ tour will see the band perform five shows around the country – three featuring their electrifying rock show aligned to Fire), alongside two special Symphony shows in Melbourne & Sydney (aligned to Wind), with the band backed by 50-piece orchestras. In both formats, The Tea Party will play a set of their greatest hits.
Feb 6 – Hamer Hall, Melbourne (Symphony show)
Feb 11 – Opera House, Sydney (Symphony show)
Feb 12 – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul
Feb 13 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
Feb 15 – Hindley St. Music Hall, Adelaide
