"The Road To Tamworth" Here are a couple of New Year's resolutions to add to your list. Firstly, make sure you have an Anti-Virus program installed and that it is kept up-to-date. December was one of the busiest months for new and annoying viruses, and the better Anti-Virus companies were releasing updates almost daily. The latest viruses come hidden in E-mail messages that don't even have to be fully opened to release their nasty payload! Secondly, make back-ups of all your important data, so that if the worst happens, you'll be able to recover your valuable files. Now, on to happier things: It's Tamworth time again, so let's look to the Web for some information. First stop, the CMAA site that has a good run down of all the major events, while THE TAMWORTH CITY COUNCIL has an overview of the Town as well as the Festival. Don't forget to check the sites of your favourite artists to find out what they are doing in Tamworth. There are too many to mention them all here but they include: - KYLIE SACKLEY has had a colourful year as Toyota Star Maker Quest winner. You can check out her fun photos and more at Kylie's new site; A happy looking Southbound launched their new album Make A Move at Fox Studios in Sydney. Look out for them in the Legends Bar at West Tamworth Leagues during the festival in January! Meanwhile, watch out for their video of cheatin.com (a song penned by Keith Glass) and check out their Web site. Also in Tamworth, the PIXIELAND COUNTRY THEATRE will be featuring JINDAWARRABELL - The Adventures of Smoky Dawson'. Besides telling the life story of Smoky in video, story and song, they are also re-creating two of his famous radio plays; Popular New Zealand singer GLEN MOFFATT is heading over to play at Noel Parlane's NZ Showcase - check him out in advance at his Web site; DONELLA PLANE will launch her new album If the Teardrops Fall in Tamworth; MARY HEARD and THE MIDWEST OBSESSION have updated their gig guide; CHALKIE WHITE won the Gympie Muster Talent Search this year and is Tamworth bound; So are Bob Van Kins and Andrea Gore who make up the duo ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE who have released their first self titled album; Finally, find out which stars will be pickin' and grinnin' at the ever popular TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE. I'll see you there! The following items have been repeated this month to preserve continuity with the printed edition of this column: The long awaited Compass Bros. Records Web site has arrived, giving Adam Brand and Melinda Schneider fans a wealth of pictures, audio and video to explore. You'll also find this award-winning pair at the ACE Awards site. The Guitar Show is a new television series, currently airing on MusicCountry, about guitars and the people who play them. Each episode has a number of regular segments, the most important of which is a feature interview that takes the viewer backstage and onstage with a major guitarist. They discuss the influences and inspirations behind their playing, tell us how they get their sound, talk about their instruments and technique, and offer some musical and technical tips along the way. Interviews have been carried out with every major guitarist who has toured Australia this year including Steve Morse from the Dixie Dregs, Eric Johnson, Tommy Emmanuel, Tony Joe White, National steel guitar virtuoso Bob Brozman, Buddy Miller, Will Ray, Jerry Donahue, Rod McCormack, and Roger McGuinn. Kasey Chambers - Tabs and Chords - the title of this site says it all. Another worthwhile addition to the growing number of unofficial Kasey sites. Having a certain theme for a web site can certainly make it stand out from the crowd. Have a peek at at the gorgeous scrapbook of singer-songwriter KAREN LYNNE - just click on the lock to open it.

WILLIE NELSON: LIVE IN AMSTERDAM (DVD) Warner Vision Just a few months after he last appeared in Tamworth, Willie Nelson kicked-off a European tour in Amsterdam. The opening night concert is captured beautifully, in all its understated glory, on this DVD. The intimate Paradiso Theatre must have offered a wonderful experience for Willie's fans, and closeness only rivalled by the camera work of this footage. We get near enough to read the autographs on the front of his battered trademark guitar, and when sister Bobbie Nelson takes a solo, you'll feel like you are leaning on the edge of her Steinway grand piano. In fact, the interaction between Willie and his band, including Jody Payne, Paul English, and the outstanding harmonica player Mickey Raphael, makes you realise why he loves to perform onstage. Willie is a performer with not only a huge body of work to call on, but also a band that encourages and understands his powerful talent. Although there are no 'extras' on this DVD, it doesn't matter because the music says it all. The sound is crystal clear and perfectly balanced. Each of your favourite Nelson personas are here: Country Willie, Stardust Willie, Outlaw Willie and so on, and there are 30 great tracks (several of which are medleys). Everything from Crazy to Always On My Mind to I Never Cared For You (from Teatro). So many songs from his own magical pen, plus classics from the Hank Williams and Lefty Frizell era, and modern standards by Kris Kristofferson, Rodney Crowell and Townes Van Zandt. The Amsterdam audience is less rowdy than say, a Texas crowd, but that aside, this is as close a musical testament to Willie Nelson's long and amazing career as you are ever likely to see. Highly recommended. Warner Vision 8573891272 (108 Mins) Track Listing 1. Whiskey River/Stay All Night 2. Good Hearted Woman 3. Funny How Time Slips Away 4. Help Me Make It Through The... 5. Fast Train To Georgia 6. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain 7. Blue Skies 8. Georgia On My Mind 9. All Of Me 10. Stardust 11. Me & Paul 12. The Gypsy 13. If You've Got The Money I've.. 14. My Bucket's Got A Hole In It 15. Walkin' The Floor Over You 16. Vous Et Moi 17. Seven Spanish Angels 18. City Of New Orleans 19. To All The Girls I've Loved... 20. Still Is Movin' To Me 21. Milk Cow Blues 22. Pancho & Lefty 23. Till I Gain Control Again 24. Mama Don't Let Your Babies... 25. Angel Flying Too Close To... 26. On The Road Again 27. Always On My Mind 28. I Never Cared For You 29. Please Don't Talk About Me... 30. Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms..

If you want to share the location of an interesting site you've seen or request a topic for discussion in future columns, why not E-mail me.

Don't forget to listen out for cyberBob each month on the radio waves with Belinda Miller of Murri Country, 4AAA (98.9 FM in Brisbane) and Barbara Morison on 2SER (107.3 FM in Sydney). Until next time, happy surfing.

© 2001/2002 Bob Howe Productions - ShowNet