
421 – Semaphore Workers Strike Up The Music
Recorded live on the hallowed red stage of the Semaphore Workers Club, this episode explores the 21st annual Semaphore Music Festival with founder Debra Thorsen, club president Sally Mitchell, and local singing-songwriting legend Don Morrison, who reveals how guitars built from family memories became his signature sound. The red stage of the Semaphore Workers Club provides the backdrop for conversations that capture the essence of community-driven music culture. Festival director Debra Thorsen explains how she’s become a “mother” to the music scene, connecting emerging artists with opportunities that change their careers. The festival spans multiple venues across Semaphore, creating what participants describe as a “love fest” where friendships form naturally over shared musical experiences. With no SA Drink of the Week this episode, focus remains entirely on the music and community connections that define this seaside suburb’s cultural heartbeat. Although, “Green Death” does get a mention. The extended Musical Pilgrimage