Its coming up to whale season in our neck of the sea, so keep your eye out....

I was at a party the other night, and had to ask 5 times who a particular band was. I can now remember, they are the  Alabama Shakes, who apparently, have gone from virtual unknowns to selling out tours in the U.S in just over a year. Thanks Tom. To me a bit Janis Joplin, and The Band, but new at the same time.

 Sad to hear Adam Yauch, founder of the Beastie Boys passed the mic, for the last time.

We have had a great summer here, and its continuing, with mid 20's this weekend. Amazing that even in this weather our winter jackets are selling, so thats a good thing, and i'm sure there will be a rush when we get the first 'brass monkey' day. Whenever I think of indian summers I think or the Doors song, so here you go a 1966 version.

Its looking like a great Easter with 30 degrees predicted for Good Friday, that is Good! Beautiful glassy conditions for surfing, sets were pulsing in at 5-6 feet this morning. This is where I surfed.

Sad to hear of the passing of Michael Peterson. A great but troubled surfer, one of the first to turn their back on competition surfing. RIP.

Manufacturing Stoke is a documentary by Misfit pictures  looking at the return to old school values in surfing and surf manufacture.

 We've just received some great new stuff from Academy for winter. Coats, sweaters, scarves. 

Youv'e either got it or you don't, Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys has it. Great poet, this is from his solo soundtrack for the movie Submarine. He's as good as anyone in my opinion, and may be better solo.

I just got my favourite art piece back and framed. Its a charcoal drawing by friend and local artist Ant Altman. With all the the property prices going up over the coast, the fibro beach shack is almost extinct. Ant captured some surviving shacks in his charcoal beach shack series, and we sold a few through RAIFE. Framed wonderfully its now even better than imagined.

It came out a little while ago, the second solo album from singer, songwriter and surfer Eddie Vedder, Ukulele Songs, is vintage passionate story telling with a wistful single fin sort of honesty and sound.

Copyright and courtesy Mike Johnson 2011

 Come down and see us here in Barwon Heads, here is the latest Barwon Heads promotional campaign as a village worth visiting.