John Hedigan

JP Hedigan’s Debut Album “Doc Holiday’s Cafe” 

Pozible Pre-sale

Hi everybody, JP Hedigan here, songwriter, music therapist, coffee fanatic and cancer survivor. Some of you might know me through my music therapy work, others through my many years working as a touring side-man to some of Australia’s finest songwriters and bands (with Clare Bowditch, Paul Dempsey Band, Darren Middleton and Something For Kate.)

After nearly 20 years working in the Australian music industry and in the health sector as a music therapist, I’m very pleased to announce that I’ve finally made an album of my best songs. Doc Holiday’s Cafe is due for (independent) release in September, 2017.

What I really need to know at this point, is who would like a CD copy of the album?

In these final stages I need your help. In order to complete making this album (mastering and CD manufacturing) I’m launching a Pozible campaign as Pre-Sale for the album. I have no idea how many CD’s I might be able to sell (or indeed how many of you actually still listen to CD’s in this brave new world of digital downloads and streaming), so I’m asking people to pledge $25 for a CD copy of Doc Holiday’s Cafe with artwork chosen by me, with liner notes and lyrics, delivered to your door in September.

If CD’s just aren’t your thing anymore, never fear, Doc Holiday’s Cafe will be made available for digital purchase on my JP Hedigan website by October/November, on iTunes by the end of the year, and then on Spotify sometime in 2018 (when all potential sales seem exhausted).

Literally thousands of hours have been spent in my garage recording and mixing this album. It all began in 2009 when I started making demos of my songs (in preparation for an album) while working at the Austin Hospital and gigging on the side with my old band the Edisons. Then life got very busy and exciting for me after I joined the Paul Dempsey Band (keyboards/guitar/backing vocals) and then Something for Kate, with whom for a number of years I played Australia’s finest theatres and biggest festivals.

In the midst of all this fun and busyness (in February 2015), after experiencing some strange left hand guitar issues, I ended up at the Austin hospital emergency department. Less than a week later I was diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer (a Glioblastoma Multiforme, or GBM) and my whole life changed. Being told I had cancer and undergoing 9 months of treatment was the catalyst that made me decide it was time to make this album. I had the songs, I had the friends, and thankfully, I had the old demos from when I was playing at my full capacity. All I needed to do was put in the effort to bring the album to fruition. This I have achieved over the last 2 years, polishing and adding to the old recordings, and making some new ones with support from my dearest friends.

Many talented people have supported me along the way and provided their awesome musical skills. You’ll hear many special guests on the album including Marty Brown on drums, Clare Bowditch on vocals, Paul Dempsey on guitar, John Bedggood on violin, Warren Bloomer on bass and Barry Turnbull on Pedal Steel. If you listen closely you’ll hear vocals from my two beautiful teenage daughters, Ella and Ruby, and also my life partner, Defah. I can’t promise Buddy my dog didn’t make it in either (he was often sitting at my feet while I tracked Hammond and guitar)! The songs on Doc Holidays Cafe have been written over many years, some inspired by stories I hear through my work in music therapy, and others through my own personal experiences in life.

For those of you that don’t know me or what to expect, I'm passionate about great songwriting and the album as an artform. I’m not really sure how to describe my songs other than to say they’re country/folk/pop/rock (which isn’t a genre, I know). Further to this I’ll add that I’m influenced by the Beatles, the Stones, Dylan, Neil Young, CSN, Tom Waits, Radiohead, and Wilco (I could keep going).

If none of this helps, you can go to my website jphedigan.com and have a listen to an (unmastered) sample track called 'She’ll Come Soon' from the forthcoming album.

Though it has been challenging, and perhaps at the expense of other areas of my life, I have managed to find time in between continuing my work as a music therapist in palliative care, to record, produce and mix the album. As you can imagine this has been tricky whilst adapting to the changes to my playing capacity, but with immense personal effort and the support of my community I’m ready to deliver this album to you!

How the funds will be used;

• Packaging and replication of CD’s for every pledge that is made
• Postage direct to you!

I’m aiming to raise a minimum of $2000 during this 4 week Pozible campaign (just because Pozible requires a minimum target). Anything I’m lucky enough to raise over and above that amount will mean that more of you want the CD which is a pretty exciting thought too!

I think it’s pretty clear what my challenges have been and it doesn’t need reiterating here. Suffice to say that’s it been one hell of a journey and getting this album out is the culmination of some of the greatest hurdles I’ve ever had to get over.

One major challenge that is a total bummer, is that I can’t come and play this music live for you. I’d dearly love to do that but this damned cancer has left me with a mild left side hemi-paresis and I just can’t play like before, so a launch gig is impossible.  You’ll just have to enjoy these songs and listen to the album at home, in the car, on the tram, in earbuds wherever you do your music listening. Listen to it loud and keep in touch, I’d love to know you think!

Here I am on stage with The Kate - good times rocking out!