Writing these words on Tuesday, I get up bright and early Wednesday for the long trip down into the Simpson Desert. 

I need to get to Birdsville well before 5pm so I can get to the Tourist Information Office there and pick up my ticket for the Birdsville Big Red Bash.

It’s a terrific event in a terrific jaw-dropping location and I was lucky enough to get there last year.

Tickets have sold out for this year’s bash but I did get in early to book mine so I can enjoy the Wednesday night performances with The Angels (yes, I am ever going to see your face again!) and the Hoodoo Gurus both taking us back quite a number of years.

I’ll need to pack a few winter woollies for the night as I’m hearing it’s a bit cool (ie “bloody freezing”) in the desert at the moment but that will be a minor inconvenience as long as I’m there for the highlight of the week on Thursday morning.

That event is not actually a musical performance though it will see “performers” dancing to music.

It is the world record attempt on the number of people dancing together to the Tina Turner classic Nutbush City Limits, with at least 523 needed to dance to break the record.

We featured the ladies behind the attempt last week and they were great fun and I fully expect this to be hilarious not to mention very visually impressive – watch out for the piccies when I get back, that is, if I can hold the camera straight when not laughing.

I also fully expect them to smash the record with something to spare.

As well as a lot of fun, it will raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service so what’s not to like?

Later that day I’m looking forward to watching the Black Sorrows and Kate Ceberano though John Farnham may a bridge too far for me (don’t tell anyone I’m not a fan!).

I’ll then head back north to Bedourie where I’ll hang around for the weekend with the highlight being the annual camel races which starts the western Queensland circuit (ahead of Boulia and Winton).

- Derek Barry