Songwriters on the Run

It’s 1991, and Australian singer-songwriters Mick Woods and Drew Lovelock ― described as “tall and skinny, rock-star-wrecked handsome” ― are still waiting for their big break. Fame feels close enough to taste, but events are about to take a sharp and unexpected turn. While touring Central Queensland, what begins as a minor marijuana bust quickly spirals out of control. The pair find themselves locked up in a low-security prison in the middle of nowhere. With the help of a few fellow inmates, they manage a daring escape. Suddenly, they are not just struggling musicians but fugitives, scrambling to evade the authorities and clear their names. On the upside, the chaos might inspire a great song. As Mick and Drew navigate life on the run, their music begins to travel further than they do. In Hollywood, a major film star discovers their work and becomes an unlikely champion. Opportunity and disaster begin to blur, and the line between obscurity and stardom grows thinner by the day. Songwriters on the Run, the debut novel by Robert Forster, former vocalist of The Go-Betweens and an acclaimed solo artist, is a fast-moving, sharp-witted adventure. Set against the backdrop of Australia’s independent music scene just before Nirvana’s grunge wave reshapes the industry, it is at once comic, reflective and exuberant. The novel captures the absurdity, ambition and restless energy of musicians chasing meaning as much as success.