ROOTS king Xavier Rudd is sitting next to his brother’s pool in Orlando, enjoying the warm weather. The singer is in the middle of a US tour and will travel to Canada before finally heading back home to Australia in October. His older brother Dom lives in Orlando with his wife and children. Rudd, who has played at some of America’s biggest festivals, always tries to schedule a couple of shows in the city. ‘‘We’ve got a show here tomorrow night,’’ he told The Word via phone. While his brother can play the guitar, Rudd admits they won’t be performing together on stage. ‘‘He’s an accountant. We’re like chalk and cheese,’’ he joked. The Word can hear the lapping sound of the backyard pool down the phone line and it’s the closest the Aussie muso has been to water in a while. ‘‘I’’ve hardly surfed over here and I’ve stopped taking surfboards with me on tour,’’ Rudd said. ‘‘I have made enough connections that I have people I know willing to give me surfboards when I need them. I had a surf in France, South Carolina and San Diego but they were all pretty crappy.’’ When Rudd returns to Australia he will visit his two sons, who he maintains contact with via Skype while touring, before hitting the surf. The Victorian-born singer and multi-instrumentalist is headlining Festival of the Sun at the seaside haven of Port Macquarie on December 11. Rudd will be joined by Regurgitator, Dallas Frasca, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, British India, Calling All Cars and Newcastle musos Seabellies and Bob Corbett. Rudd will be performing a solo show and promoting his latest album Koonyum Sun. The muso sees the album as a fresh start after going through a tough time last year when his marriage of 10 years with wife Marci split up. ‘‘I sing from my heart and I’ve realised how public that becomes,’’ Rudd said of his publicist break-up. ‘‘But I am glad the album has been viewed as a fresh start for me. I feel good and I’m in a good head space. I’m focusing and respecting my music.’’ Recorded in Byron Bay, the album is infused with Rudd’s message of unity and a spiritual connection to the earth.