Interview: Derek Tickner Tinkers in Tinkerings

Tinkerings Adeladie Fringe 2019

Derek Tickner. Broadcast Bar.

 

Direct to Adelaide from his most recent engagement at the hip Heya Bar, so deep in the Fortitude Valley of Brisbane that the sun never shines, is the strummin’ and funnin’ Pommie Queenlsander, Eric Tinker.

 

For the last five years, Tinker has been roamin’ Australia and indeed the world, perfecting his musical comedy skills. “I’ve played the clubs, pubs and festivals in SA, NSW and Queensland; I settled in Brisbane last year,” says Tinker. “I also travelled around the world in 2016 and was offered gigs in Canada, England, Rome, Malta and Singapore. Musical comedy can break the language barrier that stand-up comics can struggle with.”

 

Tinker is playing three shows at the cool and intimate Broadcast Bar. “Adelaide is my favourite Australian city. I lived here for ten years and love its laid back and open-to-anything audiences. So I decided it’s the best place to put on my first Fringe show.”

 

Tinker makes some of the songs his own by fitting new lyrics onto familiar bars. His observations on life through song and guitar are decidedly quirky. How can you go past titles like Achy Breaky Heart 2 – The Zombie Apocalypse? Tinker takes the works of the Bonzo Dog Band, Tom Basden, Wilson Dixon and Pulp down different paths, and plays covers of ironic tunes such God’s Song by Randy Newman.

 

For something definitely different, Tinker’s the ticket.

 

Tinkerings is on at the Broadcast Bar, 66A Grote Street, on 21 & 27 February at 8 pm, and 7 March at 7 pm.

 

David Grybowski

 

When: 21 Feb to 7 Mar

Where: Broadcast Bar

Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au