The song, ‘Oh le le le’, I wrote 20 years ago and the video shot in Timor Leste in the aftermath of the 30 year conflict seems unfortunately to be just as relevant today. In 2003 I wrote these lyrics inspired by human rights defenders I was working with.  “…Freedom alive or dead that’s our battle cry… For every one that you cut down a thousand more will rise… Timor, Burma, Tibet, Palestine…”  The track is on Bandcamp and Spotify or take a look at the video, shot in the smoking ruins of Timor:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHRMwfG5fkM

Tune into hear ‘Oh le le le’ on Bandcamp: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com/album/ground-zero-3

I have been working a lot with AJAR’s team in the largest refugee camp in the world, 1.7 million Rohingya victims, living under plastic sheeting in Bangladesh after being driven from their homes by the Burmese military junta.
Sometimes after work I pull my guitar out and play a few songs.

These are some live shots of last week’s sold-out gig at Humph Hall. 100% of the ticket sales were donated to Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR’s) program of tracing and family unifications with victims who were taken from their families in East Timor by Indonesian soldiers. The experience of 7 year old Nina who was reunited 30 years later  was the inspiration for my song “Stolen Children.” The song begins:  “I was holding on tight to your old blue dress when the car came into view/ The man in green said ‘I’ll take this one,’ I thought he meant to school…”

Watch the video of the Stolen Children song, shot in East Timor REF

See the ABC’s Foreign Correspondent story on AJAR’s Stolen Children program https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu_EUpLtMYg

‘Stolen Children’ the latest single by Patrick Burgess: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/43VPkYt
Tune in on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3N3imPT
Music Video: https://youtu.be/ALGUyY3_rQ0

Our Songs and Stories show at Humph Hall in Sydney last week was a fantastic event, thanks to the venue hosts Wayne and Gial. All tickets were sold out and the capacity crowd were incredibly positive. It’s a rare opportunity these days to test the strength of songs through a totally unplugged gig… no microphones, no amplifiers, just the human voices, the songs and the pure sound of the instruments. Thanks so much to Katsu for his melodic original tunes to open the show and the stunning set by Brigitte Handley who had stepped off a long flight from Germany the night before, having just completed a very successful European solo tour.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to tell some of the stories behind my songs set in Burma, Timor Leste, Cambodia, Jakarta and Sydney. Thanks to Galuh for the sweet backing vocals and DC (Paul Di Giacomo) for wowing everyone with his virtuoso guitar playing and especially the incredible slide licks on the 93 year old original Dobro guitar.

‘Stolen Children’ the latest single by Patrick Burgess: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com

Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/43VPkYt
Tune in on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3N3imPT
Music Video: https://youtu.be/ALGUyY3_rQ0

Last Saturday night I was very happy to play a totally unplugged set to support Amnesty International, which is also a close partner of our non-profit organization, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR.)  I did a session of original songs and the stories behind them in an old church, now called Humph Hall, supported by DC’s fantastic fingerpicking and slide guitar. Just voices and guitars without any amplification is a great way to test the strength of the songs and the audience was very appreciative.

‘Stolen Children’ the latest single by Patrick Burgess: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/43VPkYt
Tune in on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3N3imPT
Music Video: https://youtu.be/ALGUyY3_rQ0

A Timorese mother meets her son for the first time in decades after he was taken by Indonesian soldiers during the conflict. Vladimir Putin has just been charged by the International Criminal Court for charges of forcibly deporting children. My song Stolen Children was inspired by my six years living in East Timor but has a broader message even to today’s Ukraine conflict.

All proceeds from the ‘Stolen Children’ release will go directly to the program to reunite more of those who were taken as children during the conflict in Timor Leste with their families. You can also show your support by downloading the Stolen Children single on BANDCAMP: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com or donate via AJAR here: https://stolenchildrentimorleste.raisely.com

‘STOLEN CHILDREN’ – OUT NOW on BANDCAMP and all other digital platforms!!
Music Video premieres 02.05.23 9pm AEST: https://youtu.be/ALGUyY3_rQ0

Download ‘Stolen Children’ & show your direct support on Bandcamp: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/43VPkYt
Tune in on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3N3imPT

We’d like to invite you
to join us for the online premiere of the new music video
‘STOLEN CHILDREN’
from human rights activist singer-songwriter
PATRICK BURGESS

The music video for ‘Stolen Children’ will premiere on YouTube on the 2nd of May at 9pm AEST. https://youtu.be/ALGUyY3_rQ0

‘STOLEN CHILDREN’ – OUT NOW on BANDCAMP and all other digital platforms!!
Music Video out 02.05.23

Download ‘Stolen Children’ & show your direct support on Bandcamp: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/43VPkYt
Tune in on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3N3imPT

‘Stolen Children’, the new single from Patrick Burgess is out digitally today and is now available now through Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple music and all major streaming platforms.

All proceeds from the ‘Stolen Children’ release will go directly to the program to reunite more of those who were taken as children during the conflict in Timor Leste with their families. You can also show your support by downloading the Stolen Children single on BANDCAMP: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com or donate via AJAR: https://stolenchildrentimorleste.raisely.com

‘STOLEN CHILDREN’ – OUT NOW on BANDCAMP and all other digital platforms!!
Music Video out 02.05.23

Download ‘Stolen Children’ & show your direct support on Bandcamp: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/43VPkYt
Tune in on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3N3imPT

Thanks to everyone who came down to the Boatshed music club in Manly on Saturday night. It was a fantastic crowd, it was great to see some inspired dancing and we really appreciate all your support.

‘STOLEN CHILDREN’ out 25.04.23
Music Video out 02.05.23
https://patburgess.bandcamp.com