The Gig Life Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

My guest today, is powerhouse vocalist Ally Friendship — a singer with grit, soul, and one hell of a story.

From fronting rock bands and tribute shows to nearly 30 years working as a mortician, Ally’s journey is as unique as it is inspiring.

We dive into her career on stage, her new project Skirts, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

Check out Ally's website.

Check out Ally's Instagram

This conversation was recorded on 18/09/2025

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On Sunday 19th October 2025, I got word that Virginia Lillye lost her 2 year battle with cancer. 

Virginia was a powerhouse on stage but more so a beacon of hope and positivity off it, which makes it that more difficult to believe she is no longer with us. 

In tribute, I want to share with you the parts of her life that she shared with me for this podcast. 

She made a couple of appearances on the show. The first one being in September 2020 which that conversation became episode 98 of the Gig Life Podcast. 

The 2nd time was in 2021 when she shared 4 gig stories which 2 of them featured in the A Few Gig Tales series. 

Im going to play all of that in its entirety here today. First up is the 2020 interview and directly after that is all 4 of her gig stories, so stick around till the end. 

For those that knew her, I hope you get comfort from hearing her voice, and for those of you who didnt, her spirit is well and truely alive here. Here infectious laugh, her knack of telling a great story, and of course her positivity. 

We have lost a giant.

Rest in love Virginia Lillye ❤️

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My guest today is Chris Kamzelas

A guitarist from Sydney, Chris first came onto my radar back in the early 2000s as he was part of the Australian Idol band.

He was also in the first band of The Voice Australia. Since then he’s gone on to play with everyone!

Back in 2019 we did a guitarists roundtable podcast which Chris was part of the panel.

Currently part of Russel Crowes band, The Gentleman Barbers, he also plays around town in The Rocking Byrds amongst others, and he has some new music out. A song he wrote about his father called Song for Angelo. Check it out. 

For more info on Chris, check out his Instagram and Facebook. 

This conversation was recorded 21/05/2025 

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Episode 68: 2019 Year In Review (Bonus Episode).

Thank you for listening, subscribing and supporting The Gig Life Podcast this year. 
Here's my take on 2019. 

All the best 2020. 

Cheers, 
Stevie Taylor

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Email: thegiglifepodcast@gmail.com

Welcome to Part 2 and the conclusion of The Gig Life Podcast / Guitar Speak Podcast Guitarist Round Table.

In part 2 here, the guys expanded more on who the are developing their business, gear, analogue vs digital (Axe Effects v Tube, Amp Modelling etc), Fender Stratocaster vs Boutique guitars, favourite rig/dessert island rig, guitar techs, young players who are inspiring, playing with a drummer and a few other listener questions.
This roundtable features 6 Australian guitarist who are carving their own path and making things happen. 

Peter Northcote.

As well as having 4 solo albums and 12 library/production albums, Pete has recorded with Australian Idol cast albums, Anthony Callea, Bob Downe, Daryl Braithwaite, Doc Neeson, Dragon, Grace Knight, Guy Sebastian, Hi5, Human Nature, Jenny Morris, Jimmy Barnes, Julie Anthony, Marcia Hines, Margaret Urlich, Marc Hunter, Neil Murray, Paul Kelly, Shannon Noll, Sharon O'Neill, Simon Philips and Yothu Yindi to name but a few!
Pete has performed and toured with international acts: ELTON JOHN, CHER, SHANIA TWAIN, BILLY JOEL, THE MONKEYS, ROD STEWART, BO DIDDLY and TOM JONES.

Peter's Facebook.

Peter's Instagram.

Chris Kamzelas.

Chris Kamzelas an Australian musician born 30th June 1973, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer. His career started back in 1990, supporting well known Australian artists including Christine Anu, Richard Clapton, Tina Arena, Shannon Noll, Jessica Mauboy, Wolfmother, Mark Williams, Ross Wilson, Wendy Mathews, Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano, Marcia Hines, Deni Hines, Daryl Braithwaite, Dragon, David Campbell, Human Nature, 1927, Guy Sebastian, Anthony Callea, Adam Brand, Sarah McLeod of Superjesus, Paul Gray, Scott Carne, Dale Dyder, Sean Kelly, Steve Kilby, Dave Sterry, Mark Gable, Brian Manix and more
Chris was also the house guitarist for the TV series Australian Idol followed by The Voice Australia. During this time he performed with international heavyweights including Chris Isaak, Ricky Martin, Ronan Keating, Seal, Kylie Minogue, Will.I.Am, Keith Urban and the Madden Brothers.
Chris continues to be in demand as the ‘hired gun’ by many artists.
His debut single released in October 2017 “Fall For You” and recently “Knocking At My Door” are available on the relevant platforms.

Chris' Facebook.

Chris' Instagram.

Marc Malouf.

Marc is an artist, session guitarist, vocalist and award winning music producer and songwriter having played and/or recorded with Lucy Neville, Timomatic, Karen Lee Andrews, JOY, Ricki Lee, Tigerlilly, The Potbellez, Michael Landau, Steve Aoki & Boehm, Black Diamond Hearts and many more.

Marc's Facebook.

Marc's Instagram.

Ben Rodgers.

Ben is a guitarist, bass player songwriter, producer and audio engineer who's has played with or recorded with Jimmy Barnes, Cold Chisel, Mahalia Barnes and the Soul Mates, Joe Bonamassa, Jade MacRae, Reece Mastin, Diesel, Prinnie Stevens, Guy Sebastian, Kevin Shirley, Darren Percival and Karen Lee Andrews are just a few of the names Ben has worked with so far in his career.
Ben co-wrote, played bass, engineered, produced and mixed Mahalia Barnes and the Soul Mates latest album, Hard Expectations, and he also produced Karen Lee Andrews album Far From Paradise.  

Ben Rodgers' Instagram.

Matt Wakeling / GuitarSpeak Podcast.

Matt is a guitarist, school music teacher and founder of

Welcome to Part 1 of The Gig Life Podcast / Guitar Speak Podcast Guitarist Round Table.
This roundtable features 6 Australian guitarist who are carving their own path and making things happen.

Peter Northcote.

As well as having 4 solo albums and 12 library/production albums, Pete has recorded with Australian Idol cast albums, Anthony Callea, Bob Downe, Daryl Braithwaite, Doc Neeson, Dragon, Grace Knight, Guy Sebastian, Hi5, Human Nature, Jenny Morris, Jimmy Barnes, Julie Anthony, Marcia Hines, Margaret Urlich, Marc Hunter, Neil Murray, Paul Kelly, Shannon Noll, Sharon O'Neill, Simon Philips and Yothu Yindi to name but a few!
Pete has performed and toured with international acts: ELTON JOHN, CHER, SHANIA TWAIN, BILLY JOEL, THE MONKEYS, ROD STEWART, BO DIDDLY and TOM JONES.

Peter's Facebook.

Peter's Instagram.

Chris Kamzelas.

Chris Kamzelas an Australian musician born 30th June 1973, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer. His career started back in 1990, supporting well known Australian artists including Christine Anu, Richard Clapton, Tina Arena, Shannon Noll, Jessica Mauboy, Wolfmother, Mark Williams, Ross Wilson, Wendy Mathews, Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano, Marcia Hines, Deni Hines, Daryl Braithwaite, Dragon, David Campbell, Human Nature, 1927, Guy Sebastian, Anthony Callea, Adam Brand, Sarah McLeod of Superjesus, Paul Gray, Scott Carne, Dale Dyder, Sean Kelly, Steve Kilby, Dave Sterry, Mark Gable, Brian Manix and more
Chris was also the house guitarist for the TV series Australian Idol followed by The Voice Australia. During this time he performed with international heavyweights including Chris Isaak, Ricky Martin, Ronan Keating, Seal, Kylie Minogue, Will.I.Am, Keith Urban and the Madden Brothers.
Chris continues to be in demand as the ‘hired gun’ by many artists.
His debut single released in October 2017 “Fall For You” and recently “Knocking At My Door” are available on the relevant platforms.

Chris' Facebook.

Chris' Instagram.

Marc Malouf.

Marc is an artist, session guitarist, vocalist and award winning music producer and songwriter having played and/or recorded with Lucy Neville, Timomatic, Karen Lee Andrews, JOY, Ricki Lee, Tigerlilly, The Potbellez, Michael Landau, Steve Aoki & Boehm, Black Diamond Hearts and many more.

Marc's Facebook.

Marc's Instagram.

Ben Rodgers.

Ben is a guitarist, bass player songwriter, producer and audio engineer who's has played with or recorded with Jimmy Barnes, Cold Chisel, Mahalia Barnes and the Soul Mates, Joe Bonamassa, Jade MacRae, Reece Mastin, Diesel, Prinnie Stevens, Guy Sebastian, Kevin Shirley, Darren Percival and Karen Lee Andrews are just a few of the names Ben has worked with so far in his career.
Ben co-wrote, played bass, engineered, produced and mixed Mahalia Barnes and the Soul Mates latest album, Hard Expectations, and he also produced Karen Lee Andrews album Far From Paradise.  

Ben Rodgers' Instagram.

Matt Wakeling / GuitarSpeak Podcast.

Matt is a guitarist, school music teacher and founder of The Guitar Speak Podcast
If you’re a guitarist, and you haven’t heard of the Guitar Speak Podcast, well, you got some 120+ episodes on all things guitar to catch up on. Interviews, product reviews, gig reviews. Its all there. Go check it out. Matt is doing great things for the guitar community in Australia...

Tina Harris.

Tina is a Canadian born multi-instrumentalist with a diversity of talents as performer, composer and musical director. With beginnings in community arts, she has been bandleader, teacher, composer, arranger and all-round boss for many styles of ensemble, including big bands, cabaret, latin, funk and a cappella. 

Theatre musical direction credits include the recent 2019 Australian Tour of Hair the Musical, Helpmann Award winner, Smoke and Mirrors, featuring iOTA, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Tina was also musical Director for Hear Me Roar at The Sydney Opera House arranging for and leading an 8 piece all female band and 6 celebrated Australian divas in honouring the great female singer/composers of our time.

As well as having played bass or guitar/keys for many Hayes Theatre musical productions including In The Heights, Sweet Charity, Assassins, Little Shop of Horrors, Rent, High Fidelity, Tina also leads several of her own music projects like Tijuana Taxi  as well as her formidable 12 piece salsa orchestra, El Orqueston and Afro Cuban Trio, Oriente Tres.

Episode recorded 06/11/2019 in Bondi, NSW Australia.

Episode Music.
Intro: : "Taste of Honey" - Tina Harris & Tijuana Taxi
Outro: "The Ballad of the Booty Call" - Tina Harris (all instruments and vocals)

Tina Harris - https://www.facebook.com/tina.harris.5249349

Tijuana Taxi - https://www.facebook.com/Tijuana-Taxi-1621198284810711/

Oriente Tres - https://www.facebook.com/orientetres/

El Orqueston - https://www.facebook.com/ElOrqueston/

Hair The Musical - https://www.facebook.com/HairTheMusicalAU/

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Steve Hunter.

Electric bass player, composer, songwriter and educator from Sydney, Australia.

Born and raised in Kent, South East England , Steve was picking out melodies on the family piano from an early age , but it wasn't until shortly after his family emigrated to Australia that, when at age 15 he picked up an electric bass and immediately knew that creating music and playing bass was to basically become his life.

With 10 albums to date as band leader, Steve has also gone on to play with Billy Cobham, Chick Corea , Bobby Previte, Mark Isham, Ulf Wakenius, Mark Almond Band, Maxine Nightingale, Bay City Rollers, Gayle Moran, Renee Geyer, DIG, Kate Ceberano, Josef Tawadros Trio and many others.

Steve was also the very first bass teacher at Australian  Institute of music back in 1990. 

These days Steve still teaches, has his band The Steve Hunter Trio with Gordon Rytmeister and Matt McMahon and he also plays with The Subterraneans.

Episode recorded 23/10/2019.

Episode Music.
Intro: : Plasa Raga by Steve Hunter (Album: Local World)

https://www.youtube.com/user/MrTrueseventh

https://www.facebook.com/steve.hunter.16

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Gordon Rytmeister.

Drummer from Sydney, Australia.

When you look at the upper echelon of any field, there’s usually a handful of people that come to mind, right? Within the Australian drumming community, Gordo is one of those people.
You only need to google his name to see the enormous body of work he’s amassed over his 3 + decades on the instrument. And that work continues, as he’s still one of the most in demand drummers around. Attitude, facility and reliability keep Gordo as that first call guy, be it sessions or live gigs for jazz, big band, pop, rock, fusion and even metal.

Some of the people Gordon has worked with are: Don Burrows, Steve Hunter, James Morrison, Australian Idol House Band, Steve Vizzard Show, Bob Mintzer, Emma Pask, Mark Costa, Leo Sayer, Bob James, Tom Jones, Bob Florence, The Commodores, Bob Geldof, Barry Harris, Nat Adderley, Maria Schnieder, Lee Konitz, Glenn Shorrock (from Little River Band), Alex Koritni, Tina Arena, The Sydney All Star Big Band, Roger Frampton, Bobby Shew, Anthony Warlow, Russell Watson, Rob McConnell, Don Rader, Dale Barlow, Eartha Kitt, Jimmy Barnes and many, many more.

This episode is Part 2 of 2. 
Get Part 1 here.

Episode recorded 26/09/2019.

Episode Music.
Intro: : "Reminiscing" by The Sydney All Star Big Band: Drums - Gordon Rytmeister
Outro:  "Dirty Letter" by Alex Koritni: Drums - Gordon Rytmeister

Photo by Bill Risby (@oasisbill)

https://www.drumscene.com.au/back-issues/item/610-drumscene-issue-86

http://www.gordonrytmeister.com/

https://au.yamaha.com/en/artists/g/gordon_rytmeister.html

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gordon+rytmeister+

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Andy Caryofyllis.

Founder, singer, manager of Jellybean Jam, performer, actor and also a die hard Sydney Roosters supporter from Sydney.

Jellybean Jam has been part of the Sydney cover band party scene since 1993 (that’s 26 years) and has performed at over 3500 shows and still going strong.

As well as Jellybean Jam, Andy has had a number of acting roles and also co-owns/managers PartyBands. With the popularity of Jellybean Jam, there was a need to manage excess band enquiries. To do this and meet the increasing demand, Andy and Rob Molnar formed Partybands in 2011.The acts they recommend and musicians that play in them are some of Australia’s best and most professional cover bands. 

https://www.jellybeanjam.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/jellybeanjamsydney/

https://www.instagram.com/jellybeanjamsydney/?hl=en

https://www.partybands.com.au/about-us/

https://www.youtube.com/user/JellybeanJam1

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