Brian Ritchie, bassist for New York's busking balladeers Violent Femmes, becomes an Australian resident.
Melbourne broadsheet The Age reports that one third of live favourites and regular Australian visitors Violent Femmes has been granted a "distinguished artist" visa and settled as an Australian resident. Ritchie told The Age that he has bought some land from friend and ex-Oils singer Peter Garrett in Tasmania, as well as setting up a tea shop in Surry Hills, a suburb of Sydney.The band have been regular visitors to our shores for over two decades. They headlined the very first Big Day Out in 1992 and fifteen years later they find themselves on the bill again. Their late slot proving that Australia have fully embraced the cult acoustic rockers. After the Big Days Out they continue playing solo shows around the country through February.
Ritchie's "distinguished artist" visa requires him to collaborate with Australian musicians, The Age reports. He has already assembled a world music group with a selection of Tasmanian musicians, swapping his bass for a Japanese bamboo flute, as well as another group called Green Mist which includes Moler's Julien Poulson.
