Roger Knox
Originally released on Enrec Records in 1998, Roger Knox, known as the Godfather of Koori music, the Black Elvis and the Koori King of Country’s ‘Best of’ Warriors in Chains will become available in digital format for the first time this month.
Roger's story is the stuff of legends, surviving two airplane crashes in one day (the rescue plane also crashed) almost burnt to death, before going on against all odds to launch the Koori music boom of the eighties with his band Euraba.
Knox will be touring in early 2015 with American / Welsh Folk / Country / Punk icon Jon Langford who produced Roger’s most recent studio album Stranger In My Land which was released on Chicago based Bloodshot Records in 2013
More Information: Artist Page
Warren Fahey
Critical acclaim keeps pouring in for Warren Fahey & Luke Webb’s The World Turned Upside-Down.
John Shand from the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age writes….. “Subtitled ‘Songs from the Australian Gold Rush Era’, it offers insights into the excitement, drudgery, racism and humour of this hard life scratching the land. While some of the lyrics are about as raw in terms of construction as the miners' dwellings would have been, others are timeless pieces of narrative folk music, with The Maryborough Miner and Mines of Australia especially potent. Fahey (vocals, concertina) is joined by Luke Webb (vocals, guitar, banjo), gifted multi-instrumentalist Marcus Holden and Garry Steel (piano, accordion) in realizing the evocative arrangements.”
Simply Australia’s Jim Low adds …. “The discovery of gold in Australia generated a strong musical response. Warren Fahey has enthusiastically prized out a truly entertaining and informative representation for his latest CD release. Any educational institution worth its salt should not overlook the value of this CD as a great teaching resource. A fine, entertaining collection of Australian gold rush songs, The World Turned Upside-Down is well worth a listen and more.”
Warren has posted a couple of clips on his YouTube channel.
Check out ‘The World Is Now Turned Upside-Down’ and ‘Look Out Below’
Fahey will also be going on the road in a two man musical play where he will perform the role of Banjo Paterson alongside Max Cullen’s Henry Lawson. ‘Dead Men Talking’ written by the pair sees The Banjo and Henry in the Leviticus Bar & Grill in Heaven and talking (and reciting/singing) about their legacies. Fahey & Cullen will present the play over the next twelve months including the 2015 National Folk Festival.
Also over the next twelve months Warren will be performing his tribute to the ANZAC legend, WW1 – Diggers’ Songs & Stories. The (not so) Great War played a major part in the development of the Australian identity. It also produced songs, parodies, poems and humour that bolstered the morale of our soldiers. Accompanied by extraordinary photographic images this concert has already been performed at countless libraries (including the State Library of South Australia), festivals (it will be featured at the Fleurieu Festival, Adelaide, later this month) and is available with Warren Fahey solo or, preferably, with musical partner, Marcus Holden. The concert is available for any venue including home concerts and regional tours.
You can watch Warren performing ‘My Little Wet Home In A Trench.
The World Turned Upside Down (RRR63) which includes a 20 page booklet is OUT NOW digitally through iTunes and on CD through MGM Distribution or directly from Undercover Music via mail order.
Look and listen out for The World Turned Upside-Down on Happy FM 90.1, Oz Country, 3PBS, ABC Local Radio, 2SER, 2bobradio 104.7fm simplyaustralia.net, COW FM, KIX FM Kingscote, Bay fm 100.3, 2MCE, Hobart FM, Radio Adelaide, 2NUR, 3MDR, 5GTR 100.1, Radio Port Phillip, ZFM & Power Country Network & Radio16 Homegrown Country, Radio 1629am Newcastle, Highland FM 107.1, 2MAX FM 99.3, Happy FM 90.1, Edge Radio 99.3FM, Country Roads One FM Shepparton, OPus-Music Country Radio (omcrn.com), Illawarra Folk Club Radio, National Community Radio Network Folk Show and in and in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Campfire News.
Diggers (RRH42) is OUT NOW on CD through MGM Distribution or directly from Undercover Music via mail order. It will soon be available digitally through iTunes.
Finally 'Tambaroora Ted & Other Australian Folk Tunes For Acoustic Guitar' is a new album project Warren is producing for Rouseabout Records. It will feature some of Oz's greatest finger pickers including Michael Fix, Nigel and Ian Date, Marcus Sturrock, Tommy Emmanuel, David Hyams and Daniel Champagne. Qantas is currently screening the Rebel Studios documentary 'A Larrikin Lad' on all flights for four months. You can’t escape him!
Source: Warren Fahey's Bodgie Newsletter. Spring 2014<
More Information: Album Page
Cathie O'Sullivan
Cathie O'Sullivan will return to the stage in 2015 after far too many years as Dr Catherine Summerhayes, senior lecturer in Film & New Media Studies at the Australian National University.
A long time member of Warren Fahey's Larrikins and her own innovative ensemble, Summerhaze, Cathie was a familiar voice on ABC radio singing her beautiful interpretations of Australian ballads like 'Artesian Waters' and 'As Stock Goes By' alongside her self-penned compositions like 'Cameron Quarterman' and 'Silly Winds' .
Cathie has dusted off her Celtic harp and revisited her favourite songs for a long overdue return. To celebrate Cathie O'Sullivan's contribution to Australian music Rouseabout Records will be releasing two compilations 'Silly Winds' and 'Down By The Green Bushes'.
Eric Bogle
Eric Bogle, “Australia’s premier poet of song” (Bob Crimeen, Sun Herald Sun) has announced his latest round of concerts.
It’s a no-brainer. When Eric Bogle is in town, do anything you can to get there. His music will make your heart sing.
(Anna Rose, Northern Daily Leader)
If you haven’t seen him live, put it on your to-do list and immerse yourself in the majesty of Eric Bogle and his music.
(Jon Wolfe, Cap News).
When Eric Bogle and his long time touring partner John Munro grace a stage – magic happens. What a joy it was to sit and watch a concert where every word that is being sung can be heard clearly above the music. Eric’s lyrics can make you think, make you laugh and even make you cry, such is the craftsmanship of this Scottish born legend, who has lived in Australia for 40 years. (Robyn McIntosh, The Murray Pioneer)
To celebrate, Rouseabout Records has confirmed Eric’s first Rouseabout release and one of his finest studio albums The Colour of Dreams (2002) continues to available on CD through MGM Distribution or directly from Undercover Music via Mail Order.
One of the best albums that Eric has done - a great mixture of humour, political commitment and raw emotion. (John Funnell, 3WYN-FM)
A thought-provoking, if at times disturbing, collection of songs that demand attention.(Jim Low, www.folkaustralia.com)
Some of Bogle’s most politically charged songs ever, touching on terrorism, world peace, drug abuse, global economy and more. As heavy as these subjects are, Bogle has an uncanny ability to temper them with his unique humour and wit. (Readings)
70 minutes of unalloyed folk music pleasure.
(Bob Crimeen, Sunday Herald Sun
Check out the gig guide above or Eric's website for more information
For more information on Eric Bogle’s releases on Rouseabout Records check out Eric's artist page.
More Information: Artist Page | Artist Website
Buddy Williams
September 7, 2014 marked the 75th anniversary of the first recording session for Buddy Williams, the first Australian artist to record Hillbilly music
Buddy Williams’ songs have been recorded by many. He is recognized in the National Sound Archives’ Sounds of Australia, on the Roll of Renown, with a bronze bust in Tamworth and displays at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Walk A Country Mile and The Big Golden Guitar.
The 75th anniversary of Buddy’s first recording session is an historic milestone; it kicked off a decade where Smokey Dawson & Shirley Thoms first recorded along with US/Canadian expat Bob Dyer (all of whom along with Buddy are featured in Rouseabout Records’ Yesterday’s Australia series) producing some classic recordings.
Buddy Williams’ The Happiest Days of My Life (RRHD21) is available digitally through iTunes and on 2CD through MGM Distribution or directly from Undercover Music via mail order.
Reg Lindsay
Following the Reg Lindsay Rodeo on Saturday, March 7 2015, the long awaited life-size bronze statue of the late Reg Lindsay will be unveiled.
Reg Lindsay OAM was born July 7, 1929 and died on August 5, 2008 aged 79.
Reg was the first Australian to appear at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry in 1974 and is officially recognized with a plaque on Nashville’s Walkway of Stars. He was inducted into Australia’s Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977 and in 1989 was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to Australian music.
He won three Golden Guitars and wrote more than 500 songs in his 50 year career recording over 60 albums, six of which went gold.
The project was undertaken by Tessa Wallis from Kew in Victoria back in November 2012. It took two years to complete and will stand at the entrance of the East Cessnock Bowling Club.
The club assisted with fundraising for the statue by staging a series of concerts.
The unveiling will commence at 11am on Sunday, March 8 2015 following the Reg Lindsay Rodeo & Reunion all a part of country music week in the town.
Source: Country Music Capital News (October 2014):
Reg Lindsay’s Down By The Old Slip-Rail (RRH24) is available digitally through iTunes and on CD through MGM Distribution or directly from Undercover Music via mail order
More Information: Artist Page
Band in a Waistcoat Pocket
Ray Grieve who compiled A Band in a Waistcoat Pocket – the Story of the Harmonica in Australia (RRHD20) is collaborating with the inimitable Lord Stompy in documenting Australian harmonica history on a dedicated YouTube channel, Australian Harmonica Archives.
They have uploaded songs from the 2CD, including Percy Spouse, Dick Robertson, and Eion S Campbell. Check out Percy or P.C. Spouses’ ‘Honey, Stay In Your Own Backyard’ & ‘La Maxixe (Mattchiche).
A Band in a Waistcoat Pocket – the Story of the Harmonica in Australia (RRHD20) is available directly from Undercover Music via mail order. It will also soon be available digitally through MGM Distribution.
More Information: Artist Page |
