Over the years, musician Linn Lorkin has embedded herself in this country’s consciousness with her vivid, witty and recognisably Kiwi songs. Now in this rich memoir, those musical vignettes have grown into full-blown and sometimes hair-raising adventures. From a rural New Zealand childhood to the piano bars of Manhattan, via London in the age of Aquarius, hashish and Sergeant Pepper, with side trips to Paris and Copenhagen and a terrifying detour through Naples’ notorious Villa Poggi, it is both a classic tale of the period and the utterly unique life story of a redhead from Tokoroa who, when it came down to it, was really only ever looking for a gig. --Nick Bollinger, presenter of The Sampler for National Radio; author of Goneville and Jumping Sundays

How did a dairy farm in Tokoroa, New Zealand, produce this larger-than-life character — this tiny slim creature with huge eyes and a great pair-a-lips — this tireless performer? --Peta Mathias, Hattie’s Gig Guide

A terrific songwriter and a striking performer, Linn Lorkin seems to have so many musical traditions at her fingertips. In her presence we slip easily from Tokoroa to Hamburg to Naples to Paris to Manhattan. Which is what we should be doing; part of the artistic struggle in New Zealand has to be against insularity. Let’s demonstrate that we are part of the world stage and not just a midden for hobbits. Let’s boast about her.  --Dean Parker, screenwriter, playwright and novelist

Lorkin is a startling mix of Kiwi reticence, New York chutzpah, Gallic sophistication and bare-faced indigenous kitsch. Bag loads of talent and the natural buoyancy of a born singing, dancing redhead keep her afloat. --Diana Wichtel, New Zealand Listener

Lorkin suffers from the New Zealand disease: she is good at too many things. Of her talents, songwriting is the most special. Few of her contemporaries can write about New Zealand things and succeed as well as she does ... She leaps squarely into her own experience with such clarity and honesty that the listeners accept it totally. --Arthur Baysting, New Zealand Music Quarterly

Wacky, zany and warm ... she unfolds a rivetingly fascinating life. --Bernadette Rae, New Zealand Herald.

Linn Lorkin grew up on a farm near Tokoroa. Her show business start came in Europe in the late 1960s, singing in a low dive in Copenhagen for sailors and prostitutes. She went on to perform at London’s famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. The height of her career took her to New York, playing nightly in piano bars and clubs. Back home in NZ she became one of the most versatile and well-loved artists on the local scene, singing and touring with cabaret/jazz/roots combos, including French Toast and the Jews Brothers Band. Linn has recorded 18 albums, and written and performed her own music theatre shows, the most recent her award-winning Hey, Piano Bar Lady!