ANYONE walking through Rixon’s Arcade in Bega recently couldn’t help but notice the beautiful and delicate guitar music played by a man with his face hidden under a cap.
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Under the cap and tapping work boots is David Ross Macdonald – drummer for The Waifs.
Macdonald has been busking opposite The Nook, finger picking intricate Americana instrumentals on his 80-year-old Gibson guitar.
After being introduced to The Nook through its coffee, Macdonald started busking in the arcade, supported by the coffee shop’s owner.
“Acoustically it’s a great space,” he said.
“It gives a chance for people walking past to hear the music, I’m not competing with the cars on the street.
“I do a lot of busking and travelling so I’m always looking for these deserted arcades.”
A musician by trade, Macdonald has been travelling and performing for 20 years, but three years ago bought a block near a dairy farm outside Candelo and started building a retreat.
“Music is my lifestyle – my aim is to be able to go to Mitre 10 and afford to buy some more timber,” he said.
He enjoys being in the country, as being a city musician has its challenges – the biggest being affording the rent.
“And as you get older, you realise you don’t really need the mayhem of the city to get your music going,” Macdonald said.
“Not only is this a beautiful part of Australia, but I’ve met a lot of great musicians here.”
Macdonald’s father was a jazz musician who gave up performing to raise a big family, so Macdonald said music has always been a constant in his life.
He studied jazz drums in Western Australia, after which met folk pop band The Waifs, who were so impressed with his abilities they asked him to perform with them.
He spent the next 15 years touring with The Waifs, and in between spent his time busking and recording.
Macdonald is in the process of recording a new album to add to the four or five he already has.
It will be influenced by living in Candelo, and he hopes to record some songs in the town’s old buildings, such as the church.
Macdonald will be performing at Rixon’s Arcade, Bega from 8.30-11am every day this week.
Next, you can catch him at music night The Pineapple on May 23 at the Tarraganda Fire Brigade Hall from 7-10pm for a gold coin entry.
Money from the night will be donated to Oxfam’s Nepalese disaster appeal.