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The. moment "Punk Grandma" placed number in the 4ZZZ Hot 100
1. “Punk Grandma” being voted number 3 in the 2024 4ZZZ Hot 100!
The countdown was held in The Triffid and our song was in the running. It was great fun for Mick and me to hang out with fellow local musicians and friends!!
2. Playing live
Mick Medew and Ursula will have played 16 times this year, 14 times as the four-piece and twice as the duo. Shows for the 4 were in Newcastle, Sydney, Gold Coast (supporting The Johnnys), The Triffid (supporting The Painters and Dockers where Jeremy Oxley got up and sang “Happy Man” with them), a 30th birthday in Goodna, twice at Banshees in Ipswich, instore at Sonic Sherpa, at the Lovejoy reunion at The Junk Bar, two gigs with The Boondall Boys, and our single launch at The Cave Inn (where we had a pizza named after the band for November).
The duo played at our local Medical Centre’s 70th birthday (supported by a petting zoo) and a friend’s birthday. On New Year’s Eve the MM&U 4 are part of a Masquerade Ball at The Cave Inn, where we’ll be playing several Screaming Tribesmen songs!
Many thanks to all these venues that have supported us!!!
3. My son and his family moving to Brisbane
We have been busy with school/kindy drop offs and pick-ups. It’s been a lot of fun and a lot of two-minute noodles!
4. I’ve been to a lot of gigs this year.
Even more than usual, thanks to 4ZZZ celebrating their 50 years of broadcast and me winning a Golden Ticket to all their birthday gigs! They’ve all been fab, but some highlights were: Soft Cell, The Lemonheads, Dave Graney and The Coral Snakes (Halloween in the Valley! Yikes!), Zia Mc Cabe and The Immigrant Union and Mel Fraser’s band at The Junk Bar (and that was an absolute blast!!). The Melancholics album launch (my fave album of the year), Dom Mariani and the Datura 4, The Johnnys,,The Pineapples from The Dawn of Time at the 4ZZZ Joint Effort, The Dream Poppies, KTO, Glycereens, Lovejoy, The Spivs, Dr Bombay, June Low, and Macka from The Boondall Boys playing on the table at The Cave Inn.
5. In September, I got an email from a music coordinator for a fashion show in New York for label Tory Birch’s runway show.
She asked if I would give permission for them to use an Ironing Music (a band I was in in the ‘80s) song. Ummm Yes! The song was on the short list but didn’t make the final cut. Oh well! It was surprising and exciting to be asked. Maybe another time.
6. THE BRONCOS WON THE NRL PREMIERSHIP!!!!!!!!!!
7. In May The Institutionalist released an album which included a remix of “Punk Grandma” called “Post Punk Grandma”.
A great honour!
8. Will The Train Ever Stop At Banyo?
It has been the cry from every local train user, so Mick and I wrote a song about it. The video was directed and edited by Tracey Walker. We like to make a video to coincide with a single release, as these days there’s no physical copy and I feel it’s good to have a visual to go with the songs.Look out for a new album in 2026!
9. The 2025 4ZZZ Hot 100
It was released this year to coincide with 4ZZZ’s 50th birthday. The Mick Medew and Ursula song, “God Bless Yoko Ono” was voted in at number 28! So thrilled about that!
10. HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY 4ZZZ!
You can read all about the community radio station in a fabulous book called “People Powered Radio” by Heather Anderson .There’s even some quotes from me in the book. Long live the Zeds!!
