 Gary Shearston
Gary Shearston has been a major influence on Australian music for some five decades. In a society where we are conditioned to take music for granted, as yet another dismissible commodity, Gary's music has stood the biggest test of all - the test of time.
“This new collection of songs by the doyen of Australian folkies will not disappoint. Here are marvellous songs about Shearston’s trouble-laden career (Truth Is), his deep affection for the artist Martin Sharp (Paint Me A Painting, Painter) and the great writer and folklorist Edgar Waters (His Name Was Edgar Waters), all sung with Shearston’s distinctive delivery and saturated with Australian imagery. Shearston is a genuinely great songwriter. Anyone who can write something as persuasive as And a Butcherbird Overhead Sang, a very Australian song about suicide, is a national treasure.” (Bruce Elder, SMH, February 2011)
Juck Humphrys from Australian Options concurs “Gary Shearston keeps turning out entertaining and educative music at regular intervals. This 16 track CD is no exception, as he continues the theme of recent releases, proclaiming the universal values of love, peace with justice, righteousness and a less stressed and simpler lifestyle.”
Declares Simply Australia’s Jim Low “let’s hope that Gary Shearston continues to write and sing his songs and “keep tabs on all the wrongs” for many years to come.”
The first ‘single’ from Renegade ‘A Change of Circumstance’ will feature on the next CRS Publicity (previously NFS Publicity) sampler whilst Renegade was recently ‘Album of the week’ on 5EFM.
Look & listen out for Gary Shearston in the Sydney Morning Herald, Trad & Now, Australian Options, Simply Australia and on CRS Publicity, Spectrum FM, 2CH, 2BAB, 2BAR, 2BAY, 2BBB, 2BLU, 2BOB, 2BRW, 2CBD, 2CCC, 2CCR, 2CHR, 2COW, 2EAR, 2GCR, 2GLF, 2HHH, 2MAX, 2MCE, 2SER, 2TEN, Tune! FM, 2UUU, 2VOX, 2WET, 2WKT, 2YOU, 2MNO, 2NSB, 2PSR, 2RDJ, 2RES, 2RRR, Artsound FM, 1CMS, 1VFM, 3BBB, 3CH, 3EON, 3NOW, 3PBS, Triple R, 3SER, 4BAY, 4BVR, 4NAG, 5EBI, 5AA, 5EFM, 5DDD, Radio Adelaide, 6MKA, 6RTR, 7DBS, 4NSA, 4FCR & 3WAY.
Renegade (RRR53) is out now through MGM Distribution or directly from Undercover Music via mail order along with Shearston’s other Rouseabout releases The Best Of All Trades (RRR46), Here & There, Now & Then (RRR41) and Only Love Survives (RRR3).
More Information: Artist Page
Warren Fahey
Warren Fahey's latest Bodgie Newsletter contains information on his latest book to be released at the ABC's first ever 'enhanced' e-book with over 280 sound bites, a dozen videos and loads of technology to amaze and amuse. ABC Books/Harper Collins will release Vol. 1 in the first week of April and Vol. 2 in the first week of May. The books are designed for Apple iPad and (hopefully) Amazon Kindle.
There is news on two new one-day extended talks for the Worker's Educational Association/ WEA Sydney tracking Warren Fahey's history of music - including Larrikin Records, Folkways Music and a whole world of music stories; plus details of upcoming performances including solo and with The Larrikins at the National Folk Festival, Fairbridge Festival Perth and the opening of South Australia History Week, and a lot of other fascinating puff stuff!
Warren Fahey’s disgustingly funny albums Sing Us Anothery, Dirty As Buggery (RRR50) and Rooted In The Country (RRR51) released under the collective guise of The Celebrated Knackers & Knockers Band are the first comprehensive collection of Australian bawdy songs and verse ever released. They, along with his Diggers (RRH42) album of songs of the Australians at War are available through MGM Distribution or directly from Undercover Music via mail order.
More Information: Artist Page
Eric Bogle
Don’t forget to catch Eric headlining the 45th National Folk Festival which is being held during the Easter long weekend in April 2011. Bogle will grace the ANZAC Day Concert with his timeless songs, 32 of which hand picked by him are featured on his latest digital releaseA Few Old Songs for Very New Times (RRR54).
Eric Bogle’s songs are as relevant today as when they were written and this compilation is a must have for any Bogle fan!
More Information: Artist Page
Russell Morris
Russell Morris’ classic ‘The Real Thing’ is to be featured in the upcoming ABC TV drama ‘Cleo’ which will screen later this year.
Produced by John Edwards Southern Star, Cleo is an adult drama looking at the Whitlam era through the eyes of former Cleo editor, Ita Buttrose and her boss Kerry Packer. It's a story of the optimism in Australia in the 70s, with the changing of government and the rise of feminism. Starring Asher Keddie as Ita Buttrose and Rob Carlton as Kerry Packer, the drama follows the death of Sir Frank Packer and the rise of his second son, who defies even family expectation to succeed.
In the meantime Russell is touring extensively and working on two new albums, one country and the other blues based.
The Real Thing (RRR34) is out through MGM Distribution or directly from Undercover Music via mail order.
More Information: Artist Page
Fiddlers Feast
How exciting and what a thrill it was for Fiddlers Feast to play at the Blue Mountains & Port Fairy Folk Festivals. For all those who sent their best wishes and/or bought CDs etc, a very hearty thanks!
Wrote Timber and Steel.com, “Fiddlers Feast are the perfect festival band. Their collection of fiddle tunes, folk-jazz improvisations and reconstructed pop tunes is exactly what an audience is looking for on a Saturday morning. We were particularly impressed with the way Fiddlers Feast managed to utilize their three violinists in a way that was complimentary without being overpowering. The highlight of the set would have been their jazz-folk cover of “Down Under” by Men at Work, proving the song still has legs after its high rotation on the playlists of “classic hits” radio stations.”
Read the full review of all the music at the Blue Mountains Folk Festival here.
More Information: Artist Page |
