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Songwriters on the Run
'A comic odyssey, a crime thriller and a nuts-and-bolts account of making art. Not bad for one book!' PAUL KELLY
It's 1991, and Australian singer-songwriters Mick Woods and Drew Lovelock - 'tall and skinny, rock-star-wrecked handsome' - haven't yet managed to crack the big-time. But that's soon to be the least of their problems.
On tour in Central Queensland, what seems like a minor marijuana bust turns ugly, and they're incarcerated in a low-security institution in the middle of nowhere. With help from a couple of prisoners, they escape - but now what? They're songwriters on the run, desperately evading the long arm of the law and trying to clear their names. On the upside, they might get a good song out of all the drama. Meanwhile, in Hollywood, a major film star takes a liking to their music.
Songwriters on the Run, Robert Forster's debut novel, is a joyride. Burrowing into the netherworld of Australian independent music just as Nirvana's grunge is about to swamp the planet, the former Go-Betweens vocalist and accomplished solo performer has crafted a hectic, sometimes hilarious tale that is as silly, profound and grand as the music it celebrates.
It's 1991, and Australian singer-songwriters Mick Woods and Drew Lovelock - 'tall and skinny, rock-star-wrecked handsome' - haven't yet managed to crack the big-time. But that's soon to be the least of their problems.
On tour in Central Queensland, what seems like a minor marijuana bust turns ugly, and they're incarcerated in a low-security institution in the middle of nowhere. With help from a couple of prisoners, they escape - but now what? They're songwriters on the run, desperately evading the long arm of the law and trying to clear their names. On the upside, they might get a good song out of all the drama. Meanwhile, in Hollywood, a major film star takes a liking to their music.
Songwriters on the Run, Robert Forster's debut novel, is a joyride. Burrowing into the netherworld of Australian independent music just as Nirvana's grunge is about to swamp the planet, the former Go-Betweens vocalist and accomplished solo performer has crafted a hectic, sometimes hilarious tale that is as silly, profound and grand as the music it celebrates.
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Published May 5, 2026
About the author
Robert Forster
8 books10 followersRobert Forster is an Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and critic best known as the co-founder of the influential indie rock band The Go-Betweens, formed in 1977. Recognized for his clever songwriting, he pursued a successful solo career after the band's initial split in 1989. Following the 2006 death of partner Grant McLennan, Forster continued releasing acclaimed solo albums and published the memoir Grant & I in 2016. He remains active in the music industry, releasing The Candle and the Flame in 2023.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 15, 2026
This was such a surprising quick read (or listen, in this case). The two main characters hit the right notes with me and, overall, I found this to be a quite sweet story. That’s the surprising part. I loved the Aussie-ness of the story, as well as the era (early 90s). There’s just something a little bit special about this book.
There is a little bit of bad language here and there, but minimal. The two main characters, Drew and Mick, are a little naive, but I think that’s what makes them so appealing.
With so much unpleasantness in the world today, I found Songwriters on the Run to be a very pleasant diversion. It’s just a bit of fun.
There is a little bit of bad language here and there, but minimal. The two main characters, Drew and Mick, are a little naive, but I think that’s what makes them so appealing.
With so much unpleasantness in the world today, I found Songwriters on the Run to be a very pleasant diversion. It’s just a bit of fun.
Displaying 1 of 1 review