The New Leaves

The New Leaves was originally a band assembled by singer songwriter guitarist Jon S Williams to play his tunes. But very quickly the band became a multiple songwriting vehicle. Jon S Williams first asked guitarist songwriter singer Andrew Shakespeare to join forces. They had previously played together as a duo (What Matters) in 1991 and again in the recording (with one live performance) project Feel like Karen Silkwood in 1997. They had a wealth of material; complete songs of Williams and then tunes by Shakespeare that Williams wrote lyrics for. Next recruit was bass player, songwriter, singer Pete Whitehead. Williams had seen Whitehead play many times in Barb Waters and the Rough Diamonds and they had become acquainted over many late night beers at the Punters Club. Williams, Shakespeare and Whitehead then set about on what was to be a weekly songwriting/rehearsal routine for the next year and a half. This is where the real instrumental, songwriting and arrangement core of the band grew and developed. Drummer Dave Craven completed the line-up. Williams and Craven had actually jammed back in 1984. The New Leaves was a really accomplished ensemble. They had a great live sound and captured this on a 6 track EP ‘Remember so well’ with Richard Robinson engineering and mixing. It was mastered by Ross Cockle (he engineered ‘Midnight Oil’s’ ‘Bird Noises’ EP), who later mastered Williams’ first album length CD ‘Sensitive to my surroundings’. The New Leaves played about once a month for 1 ½ years. Gig highlights included playing the Darebin music festival twice, once upstairs in the Northcote town hall and once on High street down in Westgarth, the biggest gig supporting Chris Wilson and the Crown of Thorns at the Dan O’Connell hotel.