ROBERT Rowe has always had an affiliation with music, but it was a visit to a land known for its rich tapestry of blues and rock and roll that he truly found his bearings.
Mr Rowe, 58, is getting ready to take the adventure of a lifetime and travel to New Orleans in the hope of discovering its roots in a musical landscape and give birth to his own literary creation.
“I want to meet locals, be accepted and meet local people who can take me to places where they go to escape the tourism,” Mr Rowe said.
The passionate music lover will leave in March and spend three months submerged in the country’s culture and write his first novel.
“I’m 58 years of age, I’m taking three months long service leave. I’ve told myself this is a project I’m going to do.”
The lifetime Williamstown resident is responsible for cultivating the live music scene in his own backyard starting Way Out West Roots Music Club more than 11 years ago.
“It’s been my baby from the start with the help of other people. It’s grown from a few mates to a full committee,” Mr Rowe said.
The newly discovered history buff said his book would focus on his hard upbringing, the creation of the music club, his emotions and experiences living in New Orleans and his lifelong love of music. “I was told as long as I write form the heart the editing and stuff can be fixed up.”
“It’s the adventure of a lifetime, I reckon.”
