Monday, February 26, 2018
Photo of Lost in Suburbia @ Hotel Warrnambool 25th Feb. 2018
Michael Schack (banjo), Pete Bird (bass), Rohan Keert (drums), Melissa Bowman (guitar), Trevor McKenzie (guitar)
Friday, February 23, 2018
Tom Richardson assembles all-abilities choir
Published in the Warrnambool Standard Friday 23rd Feb. 2018
THE talents of Tom Richardson have long been lauded. The Warrnambool singer-songwriter has build an international audience with his live performances and recording studio output. But he is currently undertaking perhaps his most ambitious and inspiring project. Richardson has gathered together the all-abilities Find Your Voice choir, which will perform at the Rotary International Concert for Peace at the Lighthouse Theatre in Warrnmambool and at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. Richardson said the idea for the choir came last year and with the support of the Port Fairy Folk Festival, soon gained some serious momentum. “In the past, I have done all-abilities skating and surfing programs in Australia and overseas,” Richardson said. “Being a musician, I thought it would be good to put together a choir. Everyone can sing, it’s just that people are told they shouldn’t if they are not good at it and that puts a lot of people off. Being part of a choir is a great chance for people to come together and share their love of music.” Richardson set about forming the choir last November with the first practice held a fortnight ago. Choir members have come from disability agencies in Warrnambool, Portland, Hamilton and Terang. The choir includes over 100 participants, aged from seven to 70. “We have people of all abilities, even some that are non-verbal,” Richardson said. “Everyone in the choir brings their own personality and spark, there is so much positive energy.” As well as the folk festival, Richardson has also received support from Warrnambool Central Rotary Club and Maree Wyse from Rural Access. He lavished praise on Kylie Thulborn from All Abilities Advocacy. “Kylie is amazing, she is a super woman, her efforts to bring this all together have been incredible,” he said. The choir will perform on Thursday March 8 at the Rotary International Concert for Peace. The following day, it will be the opening act of the Port Fairy Folk Festival at 4pm on Fiddler’s Green.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Mortlake Buskers Festival -- newspaper articles
The streets were alive with the sound of music -- Warrnambool Standard February 8th 1993 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1993. All rights reserved
The sounds of music filled the air in mortlake on Saturday afternoon for the first annual Mortlake Buskers Festival. Hundreds of people lined Dunlop Street, Mortlake, to take advantage of the art, crafts and entertainment at the festival. Most were probably expecting plenty of acoustic guitars, bare feet and simplistic folk songs. But somehow the character of the busker seems to have changed. the Mortlake festival boasted stages featuring bands with electric guitars and rock and roll music. And instead of renditions of "American Pie", "Knockin' on heaven's door" or "Maggie" sounding out in unison, this festival included a few Guns and Roses numbers being [sic] during the afternoon.
Anyhow, the crowd seemed to enjoy it. Food, craft and art of all sorts was on display for sale at the festival. And there was something for everyone. The hotels provided drinks and food for the adults and the youngsters loved the horse rides, face painting and sheep shearing. But it was the music that stole the show. One of the more mature musicians, Frank Callahan, in particular seemed to be loving every minute of it. As did his audience. After singing a moving rendition of "Maggie", he went on to sing an Elvis song "for the younger generation". "Elvis who?" one youngster was heard to ask.
Buskers of course aren't restricted to music. There was also a mime artist and poet in attendance. One magician had a large crowd of children flabbergasted at how he did his tricks. One mind boggler, however, nearly "backfired" on the trickster. The magician promised one youngster an electric shock if put one of his fingers in between two matches stuck in a matchbox. When the unbelieving child did as he was requested the magician let of [sic] a loud noise, similar to that of a cap gun. "Gave you a shock didn't it. And you, and you, and you", he said pointing to the children in the crowd.
Color and spectacle at busker's festival -- Warrnambool Standard 3rd Feb. 1997 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1997. All rights reserved
There was plenty of color and spectacle at the Mortlake Buskers' Festival on Saturday, with a wide and eclectic variety of musical and non-musical acts. Buskers, acrobats and comedians lined Mortlake's central streets, creating a cacophony of noise. Instruments ranged from the trusty acoustic guitar and harmonica to a home-made didgeridoo, bagpipes, Celtic drums, violins, synthesisers and backing tapes.Apart from the music, festival goers were kept on their toes with Roulette planes flying overhead, dogs leaping seemingly impossible heights in the dog jump, displays-o-f old and new cars and motorbikes, and plenty of market stalls.
Mortlake set for big song and dance-- Warrnambool Standard 6th Feb 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
MARKET Square at Mortlake is alive once more. Children dance in front of a stage while mums, dads and grandparents relax on fold-up chairs or recline on the grass, tapping their toes to the familiar country strains of Hilton and Neil.
The warm air wafts an enticing mix of fast food and picnic aromas over the whole scene of friendly country enjoyment.
It can mean only one thing - the Buskers Festival is back.T he festivities kicked off in typically entertaining style last night with a concert in the heart of the town, 50km north-east of Warrnambool. The concert was but a taste of things to come today, when the focus shifts to Dunlop Street for perhaps the most individual day of fun on the district calendar. Music spanning a wealth of styles will again sound from the main stage, providing a suitably varied background for the main stars - the buskers themselves - whose best for 1999 will be decided between 4.30 and 6.30pm. Throw in bike racing, belly dancing, vintage cars, antique sales, horse jumping and dog jumping, beer keg races, a hot air balloon, boxing kangaroos, 250 market stalls and a sound and light spectacular and the problem is not what to see, but what to see next. Since its inception seven years ago the festival's key attraction has been its wide appeal to all ages, but this year the youngsters have been especially catered for. The Lego truck will be in town and the Giggles, who bear more than a passing resemblance to a well-known group of children's entertainers, are sure to be a hit. Children can follow a "yellow brick road" to Fantasyland, where they will encounter Fairy Kingdom, a Teddy Bears' Picnic, kitemaking and face painting and Playstation video games.
Buskers sing rainswept blues -- Warrnambool Standard 8th Feb 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
ORGANISERS of the Mortlake Buskers Festival are hoping to escape with no more than a small loss from this year's storm-battered event. In a cruel end to a week of scorching temperatures, the seventh annual festival squelched to a soggy halt on Saturday when rain and fierce winds drove the last hardy souls back to their cars or into the cafes and hotels. President of the organising committee Greg Howat said yesterday he would be happy for this year's festival to break even or register a small loss. "A good result would be to break even," said a disappointed Mr Howat, who has seen both festivals he has presided over plagued by rain. "From an overall budget of $150,000 or so, to lose a few thousand is no big deal." Mr Howat said successive washouts did not threaten the future of the popular festival, which managed to attract several thousand visitors despite the weather. "No, we would need another three or four years like this before it got to that stage. We are not in a position where we will tip over tomorrow." Mr Howat said sponsors, stallholders and other supporters realised the festival was an outdoor event in which the weather was always an unknown factor. The rain which began in the early afternoon suddenly became a full-blown squall when a fresh front blew in minutes before 5pm. Strong winds caught many street stall operators in Dunlop Street in the process of packing up, causing havoc as tarpaulins turned into flapping sails. The roof of an inflatable jumping castle in Market Square collapsed onto children, sending parents scurrying to pull them clear amid a flurry of leaves and debris. The west-facing main stage, which took the brunt of the driving rain, was closed for safety reasons mid-way through the Busker of the Year performances. Several trees had branches torn off, including a large limb which crashed across a road in the camping ground, close to horse transports parked for the showjumping events. No injuries were reported. The closing highlight of the festival, a sound and light spectacular at the D.C. Farran Oval, went ahead as scheduled following a meeting by the organising committee to assess safety issues. The show was preceded with brief performances by Turning Blue and Eric Bogle, whose earlier scheduled appearances at the main stage had to be abandoned.
Young busker is best in the west - and east -- Warrnambool Standard 7th Feb 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000 All rights reserved
WARRNAMBOOL teenager Rebecca Martin was happy when she was named the best junior at the Mortlake Buskers' Festival, but she was lost for words when she was named Australian busker of the year. The 14-year-old singer-guitarist and songwriter was named the winner of the busking championships on Saturday after beating stiff competition from other categories, such as street theatre, group musical and individual. Rebecca, a year nine student at Brauer College in Warrnambool is originally from Tasmania. She won the title after performing three of her own songs: Slipp, Can't and Just Me, and received $750 in prizemoney and vouchers. She said her family, including father Ross, stepmother Carol, sister Laura, 12, and brother David, 4, were "stoked". Rebecca said the festival was the first event at which she had busked with her guitar. She described the fest as "great fun" and a good opportunity to meet and see different musicians. Rebecca said she had the competition just to "have a go". She was enlisted on the spot to perform at the Dandenong folk festival.
Warm weather and plenty of sunshine set the scene for the rejuvenated festival, putting the event "back in the black." After two years of washouts, festival committee executive officer John MacInnes said the gods had finally smiled on the event. "This is ideal, perhaps a little too breezy, but let's not be too picky," he said with a laugh. Mr MacInnes estimated up to 20,000 people attended the festival and were treated to music styles from around the world. Mortlake is 45km north-east of Warrnambool. He said he was pleased with the turnout to Saturday's festival and the new Sunday concert at which the crowd swelled to 3000 people, surpassing expectations. The committee was particularly happy with the success of the festival after it incurred a loss last year due to heavy rain. Mr MacInnes estimated that although the final sums still needed to be calculated, the group was "back in the black". Organisers hoped to make the successful Sunday concert - which featured acts including Vika and Linda Bull, Andy Cowan and Big Mamas Door, Tom Yates and Jane Saunders - a regular event. Among the busking prizes a Warrnambool outfit, the Guy Smiley Trio, won the amplified bands category. Hexham junior group Girl Power won their category followed by a group representing Mortlake College, while acts fromAnglesea and Greendale impressed roving, anonymous judges by winning their divisions. The new venue for the festival at the football oval proved a hit with organisers but was slammed by some traders who recorded "lousy" sales figures and called for the event to return to Dunlop Street. However, organisers were united in their support for the new site which committee president Greg Howat said complimented the festival's family focus. Festival site co-ordinator Peter Goddard described the new venue as "theonly way to go". Meanwhile, Senior Constable Peter Newell, of Mortlake police, said crowds were generally well behaved but some young people had ignored a ban on drinking in the town and as a result had their alcohol tipped into the gutter on Saturday night. "There were a lot of drunk rats in the sewer," he said with a chuckle.
Ready to busk -- Warrnambool Standard 9th Mar 2001 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2001 All rights reserved
THE Mortlake Buskers’ Festival swings into its ninth year this Saturday, presenting a revitalised new one-day format in a bid to ensure its long-term future. Feature acts of the festival include Uncle Bill, a Melbourne bluegrass band which supported Paul Kelly on Smoke, his excursion into that style of music in late 1999. Also appearing will be blues performer Bo Jenkins, who scored rave reviews for his self-financed solo debut Razorback Road when it was released in mid-1998. Jenkins, who moved to Melbourne from the Mississippi Delta with his Australian-born wife in 1994, plays an acoustic live set mixing originals and covers of artists including Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and Hank Williams. The Hornet, an acoustic blues band with members drawn from the Black Sorrows, Daddy Cool and Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, and six-piece act The Caam are other major players. Returning to the festival is the Australian Busking Champion 2000 Rebecca Martin, who has performed at a number of festivals since winning the competition last year. Festival president Tony Phillips said the busking championship would again be a highlight of the day. “The performers are brilliant in their own right and deserve the opportunity to compete for such a national accredited award,” he said. Festival executive administrator David Stratford said there would be about 100 performers and buskers from all over the state, about 200 stalls, an acrobatics display and the dog jump. Other leading performers include The Sweet Hearts of Swing, The Hip Catz, Neil Adam & Judy Turner and Dave McFarlane. The festival runs from 10am until midnight at D.C. Farran Oval.
Buskers' Festival faces third change of venue -- Warrnambool Standard 5th June 2001 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2001 All rights reserved
ORGANISERS are remaining tight-lipped on the future of the troubled Mortlake Buskers Festival with plans to relocate the event. The festival committee has its eye on the more central location, the shore of Tea Tree Lake, for next year's event - which would be the third move in its nine-year history. The festival has been held at the D.C. Farran Oval for the past two years but was dogged by unfavorable weather and a drop in attendance figures. Moyne Shire councillor Brenda Hampson said she had been aware of discussions about a relocation but the committee would not disclose its plans to move. "All I can say is that it's going to Tea Tree Lake," she said. "It's a magnificent venue for any social function. We're making a step in the right direction and it will please the local community." Festival organisers said yesterday they had not reached a decision on the location of the annual event. "There's several issues that the festival organisers have to address and until that time we're not prepared to make a statement," committee president Anthony Phillips said. Only 1500 people attended the February 3 festival which was affected by sweltering weather. Last year, organisers said 3000 were in attendance. Stallholders have since threatened to boycott the festival, saying it was the worst year in the event's history. Another location considered is the central business area, where strong profits were made in the past. However, Cr Hampson said the idea had been dismissed at the last annual meeting. "The setting and packing up of the festival by 6pm was a big problem," she said. The lake area has the advantage of providing attractive surroundings and adequate shelter but a lack of fences makes the task of collecting money difficult. Cr Hampson said she was enthusiastic about the festival's future. "The busking is fantastic, the music is brilliant, you just have to have the right weather and they'll have the best festival in Australia. I wish them well," she said.
The sounds of music filled the air in mortlake on Saturday afternoon for the first annual Mortlake Buskers Festival. Hundreds of people lined Dunlop Street, Mortlake, to take advantage of the art, crafts and entertainment at the festival. Most were probably expecting plenty of acoustic guitars, bare feet and simplistic folk songs. But somehow the character of the busker seems to have changed. the Mortlake festival boasted stages featuring bands with electric guitars and rock and roll music. And instead of renditions of "American Pie", "Knockin' on heaven's door" or "Maggie" sounding out in unison, this festival included a few Guns and Roses numbers being [sic] during the afternoon.
Anyhow, the crowd seemed to enjoy it. Food, craft and art of all sorts was on display for sale at the festival. And there was something for everyone. The hotels provided drinks and food for the adults and the youngsters loved the horse rides, face painting and sheep shearing. But it was the music that stole the show. One of the more mature musicians, Frank Callahan, in particular seemed to be loving every minute of it. As did his audience. After singing a moving rendition of "Maggie", he went on to sing an Elvis song "for the younger generation". "Elvis who?" one youngster was heard to ask.
Buskers of course aren't restricted to music. There was also a mime artist and poet in attendance. One magician had a large crowd of children flabbergasted at how he did his tricks. One mind boggler, however, nearly "backfired" on the trickster. The magician promised one youngster an electric shock if put one of his fingers in between two matches stuck in a matchbox. When the unbelieving child did as he was requested the magician let of [sic] a loud noise, similar to that of a cap gun. "Gave you a shock didn't it. And you, and you, and you", he said pointing to the children in the crowd.
Color and spectacle at busker's festival -- Warrnambool Standard 3rd Feb. 1997 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1997. All rights reserved
There was plenty of color and spectacle at the Mortlake Buskers' Festival on Saturday, with a wide and eclectic variety of musical and non-musical acts. Buskers, acrobats and comedians lined Mortlake's central streets, creating a cacophony of noise. Instruments ranged from the trusty acoustic guitar and harmonica to a home-made didgeridoo, bagpipes, Celtic drums, violins, synthesisers and backing tapes.Apart from the music, festival goers were kept on their toes with Roulette planes flying overhead, dogs leaping seemingly impossible heights in the dog jump, displays-o-f old and new cars and motorbikes, and plenty of market stalls.
Mortlake set for big song and dance-- Warrnambool Standard 6th Feb 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
MARKET Square at Mortlake is alive once more. Children dance in front of a stage while mums, dads and grandparents relax on fold-up chairs or recline on the grass, tapping their toes to the familiar country strains of Hilton and Neil.
The warm air wafts an enticing mix of fast food and picnic aromas over the whole scene of friendly country enjoyment.
It can mean only one thing - the Buskers Festival is back.T he festivities kicked off in typically entertaining style last night with a concert in the heart of the town, 50km north-east of Warrnambool. The concert was but a taste of things to come today, when the focus shifts to Dunlop Street for perhaps the most individual day of fun on the district calendar. Music spanning a wealth of styles will again sound from the main stage, providing a suitably varied background for the main stars - the buskers themselves - whose best for 1999 will be decided between 4.30 and 6.30pm. Throw in bike racing, belly dancing, vintage cars, antique sales, horse jumping and dog jumping, beer keg races, a hot air balloon, boxing kangaroos, 250 market stalls and a sound and light spectacular and the problem is not what to see, but what to see next. Since its inception seven years ago the festival's key attraction has been its wide appeal to all ages, but this year the youngsters have been especially catered for. The Lego truck will be in town and the Giggles, who bear more than a passing resemblance to a well-known group of children's entertainers, are sure to be a hit. Children can follow a "yellow brick road" to Fantasyland, where they will encounter Fairy Kingdom, a Teddy Bears' Picnic, kitemaking and face painting and Playstation video games.
Buskers sing rainswept blues -- Warrnambool Standard 8th Feb 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
ORGANISERS of the Mortlake Buskers Festival are hoping to escape with no more than a small loss from this year's storm-battered event. In a cruel end to a week of scorching temperatures, the seventh annual festival squelched to a soggy halt on Saturday when rain and fierce winds drove the last hardy souls back to their cars or into the cafes and hotels. President of the organising committee Greg Howat said yesterday he would be happy for this year's festival to break even or register a small loss. "A good result would be to break even," said a disappointed Mr Howat, who has seen both festivals he has presided over plagued by rain. "From an overall budget of $150,000 or so, to lose a few thousand is no big deal." Mr Howat said successive washouts did not threaten the future of the popular festival, which managed to attract several thousand visitors despite the weather. "No, we would need another three or four years like this before it got to that stage. We are not in a position where we will tip over tomorrow." Mr Howat said sponsors, stallholders and other supporters realised the festival was an outdoor event in which the weather was always an unknown factor. The rain which began in the early afternoon suddenly became a full-blown squall when a fresh front blew in minutes before 5pm. Strong winds caught many street stall operators in Dunlop Street in the process of packing up, causing havoc as tarpaulins turned into flapping sails. The roof of an inflatable jumping castle in Market Square collapsed onto children, sending parents scurrying to pull them clear amid a flurry of leaves and debris. The west-facing main stage, which took the brunt of the driving rain, was closed for safety reasons mid-way through the Busker of the Year performances. Several trees had branches torn off, including a large limb which crashed across a road in the camping ground, close to horse transports parked for the showjumping events. No injuries were reported. The closing highlight of the festival, a sound and light spectacular at the D.C. Farran Oval, went ahead as scheduled following a meeting by the organising committee to assess safety issues. The show was preceded with brief performances by Turning Blue and Eric Bogle, whose earlier scheduled appearances at the main stage had to be abandoned.
Young busker is best in the west - and east -- Warrnambool Standard 7th Feb 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000 All rights reserved
WARRNAMBOOL teenager Rebecca Martin was happy when she was named the best junior at the Mortlake Buskers' Festival, but she was lost for words when she was named Australian busker of the year. The 14-year-old singer-guitarist and songwriter was named the winner of the busking championships on Saturday after beating stiff competition from other categories, such as street theatre, group musical and individual. Rebecca, a year nine student at Brauer College in Warrnambool is originally from Tasmania. She won the title after performing three of her own songs: Slipp, Can't and Just Me, and received $750 in prizemoney and vouchers. She said her family, including father Ross, stepmother Carol, sister Laura, 12, and brother David, 4, were "stoked". Rebecca said the festival was the first event at which she had busked with her guitar. She described the fest as "great fun" and a good opportunity to meet and see different musicians. Rebecca said she had the competition just to "have a go". She was enlisted on the spot to perform at the Dandenong folk festival.
Warm weather and plenty of sunshine set the scene for the rejuvenated festival, putting the event "back in the black." After two years of washouts, festival committee executive officer John MacInnes said the gods had finally smiled on the event. "This is ideal, perhaps a little too breezy, but let's not be too picky," he said with a laugh. Mr MacInnes estimated up to 20,000 people attended the festival and were treated to music styles from around the world. Mortlake is 45km north-east of Warrnambool. He said he was pleased with the turnout to Saturday's festival and the new Sunday concert at which the crowd swelled to 3000 people, surpassing expectations. The committee was particularly happy with the success of the festival after it incurred a loss last year due to heavy rain. Mr MacInnes estimated that although the final sums still needed to be calculated, the group was "back in the black". Organisers hoped to make the successful Sunday concert - which featured acts including Vika and Linda Bull, Andy Cowan and Big Mamas Door, Tom Yates and Jane Saunders - a regular event. Among the busking prizes a Warrnambool outfit, the Guy Smiley Trio, won the amplified bands category. Hexham junior group Girl Power won their category followed by a group representing Mortlake College, while acts fromAnglesea and Greendale impressed roving, anonymous judges by winning their divisions. The new venue for the festival at the football oval proved a hit with organisers but was slammed by some traders who recorded "lousy" sales figures and called for the event to return to Dunlop Street. However, organisers were united in their support for the new site which committee president Greg Howat said complimented the festival's family focus. Festival site co-ordinator Peter Goddard described the new venue as "theonly way to go". Meanwhile, Senior Constable Peter Newell, of Mortlake police, said crowds were generally well behaved but some young people had ignored a ban on drinking in the town and as a result had their alcohol tipped into the gutter on Saturday night. "There were a lot of drunk rats in the sewer," he said with a chuckle.
Ready to busk -- Warrnambool Standard 9th Mar 2001 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2001 All rights reserved
THE Mortlake Buskers’ Festival swings into its ninth year this Saturday, presenting a revitalised new one-day format in a bid to ensure its long-term future. Feature acts of the festival include Uncle Bill, a Melbourne bluegrass band which supported Paul Kelly on Smoke, his excursion into that style of music in late 1999. Also appearing will be blues performer Bo Jenkins, who scored rave reviews for his self-financed solo debut Razorback Road when it was released in mid-1998. Jenkins, who moved to Melbourne from the Mississippi Delta with his Australian-born wife in 1994, plays an acoustic live set mixing originals and covers of artists including Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and Hank Williams. The Hornet, an acoustic blues band with members drawn from the Black Sorrows, Daddy Cool and Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, and six-piece act The Caam are other major players. Returning to the festival is the Australian Busking Champion 2000 Rebecca Martin, who has performed at a number of festivals since winning the competition last year. Festival president Tony Phillips said the busking championship would again be a highlight of the day. “The performers are brilliant in their own right and deserve the opportunity to compete for such a national accredited award,” he said. Festival executive administrator David Stratford said there would be about 100 performers and buskers from all over the state, about 200 stalls, an acrobatics display and the dog jump. Other leading performers include The Sweet Hearts of Swing, The Hip Catz, Neil Adam & Judy Turner and Dave McFarlane. The festival runs from 10am until midnight at D.C. Farran Oval.
Buskers' Festival faces third change of venue -- Warrnambool Standard 5th June 2001 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2001 All rights reserved
ORGANISERS are remaining tight-lipped on the future of the troubled Mortlake Buskers Festival with plans to relocate the event. The festival committee has its eye on the more central location, the shore of Tea Tree Lake, for next year's event - which would be the third move in its nine-year history. The festival has been held at the D.C. Farran Oval for the past two years but was dogged by unfavorable weather and a drop in attendance figures. Moyne Shire councillor Brenda Hampson said she had been aware of discussions about a relocation but the committee would not disclose its plans to move. "All I can say is that it's going to Tea Tree Lake," she said. "It's a magnificent venue for any social function. We're making a step in the right direction and it will please the local community." Festival organisers said yesterday they had not reached a decision on the location of the annual event. "There's several issues that the festival organisers have to address and until that time we're not prepared to make a statement," committee president Anthony Phillips said. Only 1500 people attended the February 3 festival which was affected by sweltering weather. Last year, organisers said 3000 were in attendance. Stallholders have since threatened to boycott the festival, saying it was the worst year in the event's history. Another location considered is the central business area, where strong profits were made in the past. However, Cr Hampson said the idea had been dismissed at the last annual meeting. "The setting and packing up of the festival by 6pm was a big problem," she said. The lake area has the advantage of providing attractive surroundings and adequate shelter but a lack of fences makes the task of collecting money difficult. Cr Hampson said she was enthusiastic about the festival's future. "The busking is fantastic, the music is brilliant, you just have to have the right weather and they'll have the best festival in Australia. I wish them well," she said.
Violinist Emma Ansell, 13. of Hamilton, stood apart from the throng of buskers with her distinctive classical sound at the 1997 festival
Hilton and Neil
John Hudson
Matt Willis
Rain at the 1999 festival
NFN members (left) Anthony Leek, 18 and Brett Unwin (17) Camperdown play a Guns and Roses song at the 1993 Festival
2000 Australian busker of the year Rebecca Martin, 14, of Warrnambool.
Rural myth
Travellin Grannies
Country act returns
Warrnambool Standard May 14th, 2009 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2009. All rights reserved
POPULAR country act The Moonee Valley Drifters will mosey back into the south-west this weekend for two gigs. The MVD will be at Warrnambool's Victoria Hotel on Saturday from 9pm and the Caledonian Inn in Port Fairy on Sunday from 3pm. The band will be launching their new record Live At The Nighthawk, which was mixed by Warrnambool producer Pete Bird.
POPULAR country act The Moonee Valley Drifters will mosey back into the south-west this weekend for two gigs. The MVD will be at Warrnambool's Victoria Hotel on Saturday from 9pm and the Caledonian Inn in Port Fairy on Sunday from 3pm. The band will be launching their new record Live At The Nighthawk, which was mixed by Warrnambool producer Pete Bird.
Montana -- Port Fairy band
Montana, based in Port Fairy, started out as your average cover band but became something of a cult band and was the starting point for both Marco Goldsmith and Nucky Stewart. Wayne "Nobby" Stewart and Neil "Radar" Thornton were the other partners. Vocals were shared by both Nobby and Marco, with the occasional song by Nucky. Marco and Nucky: guitars; Nobby: bass; Radar: drums. Mostly covers, some pretty obscure, and a couple of originals penned by Marco. Played damn near everywhere and lasted three years.
Newspaper articles on Warrnambool band the Monaros
Monaros roll -- Warrnambool Standard 23rd Apr. 1998 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1998. All rights reserved.
The infamous Monaro is a car that conjures up all sorts of associated images from our Australian heritage. But the name has taken on a whole new meaning in Warrnambool. The Monaros are the latest band to hit the scene, having been formed only four months ago. The band consists of Gavin Steere (bass and vocals), Jack Richards (drums) and Sam McNeil (guitar and vocals). They are aged between 33 and 24. Though with a solid set of 26 original songs under its belt, Steere said that the group was a "recreational hobby" at the moment but had ambitions to record and was waiting for the finances to self-fund the venture. He described the Monaros as a modern rock and roll unit with various styles from borderline heavy to country and western influences ranging from punk to Jimi The Human. Despite the name, none of the band members owns a Monaro, though Steere admits there were a few Kingswoods around the traps. The Monaros have been gigging for the past two months, but Saturday night sees its first solo appearance at the Criterion Hotel. All previous shows have been support acts or short sets at the Lady Bay Hotel and Hotel Grand. Steere said the band's music was "gaining a little bit of a following".
Album released -- Warrnambool Standard 23rd Mar 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000 All rights reserved
Fans of Warrnambool's yobbo pub rock band the Monaros will be pleased to know their much anticipated second release album will hit the shelves this week. Shortly after its launch, band members faced some minor technical problems which have now been overcome and the CDs are finally available to buy from Capricorn Records in Warrnambool. "Dirty Angel" was released after the Monaros established a cult following with the 1998 release of the EP "Six Pack" which sold out of the first pressing of 500 copies. With a little bit of Cosmic Psycho mixed with Screaming Jets, the hard rock trio Sam McNeil (guitar, vocals), Gavin Steere (bass, vocals) and Jack Richards (drums and vocals) have developed their own unique style of Australian pub music and fans will be pleased to know they're heading back into the studio. Set to hit the recording studio in the next few months, the Monaros expect to have their next album out later this year.
Rockin’ in store -- Warrnambool Standard 19th Oct. 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000 All rights reserved
As part of Australian Music Week, Warrnambool pub rockers The Monaros will perform at Capricorn Records tomorrow from 6pm. And for hard-core Monaro fans, the in-store appearance will be chance to hear some the tracks off its next album, tentatively titled The Good the Bad and the Ug Boots. The new album will be the third from The Monaros which has released EP, Six Pack and Dirty Angel.
Monaros get ready to rev -- Warrnambool Standard 9th Oct. 2003 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2003 All rights reserved
HIDE ya esky and ya fluffy dice — The Monaros are back. Guitarist and vocalist Sam McNeil and his wife are home from their trip around Australia which can mean only one thing. With a couple of shows in Melbourne recently and another tonight in Geelong supporting The Persian Rugs and The Living End — The Monaros say they intend to be revved up for a huge gig at Warrnambool’s Criterion Hotel this Saturday night. Saturday’s gig will be with the support of The Go Set and will feature numbers off the Monaros’ new CD The First Band In Afghanistan. Fans of The Monaros’ golden oldies are not likely to be disappointed on Saturday night but the band’s Jack Monaro advises to “keep ya ears open for a couple of newies”. “We’ve done a tribute song to Slim Dusty called Slim’s Dusty and a Shane Warne song entitled Honey Warney may even rear its ugly head,” Jack said. “It will be a huge night for everyone.”
Monaros revved up after time in garage -- Warrnambool Standard 17/06/2004 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2004. All rights reserved.
THE last time Warrnambool’s legendary rock band The Monaros played in their home town, it was like Christmas. . . in fact it was Christmas. Since their fifth annual Christmas Eve bash at the Criterion Hotel last year, the pub-rockers have been hiding away in their rehearsal room working on new material, reemerging only for a handful of select shows in Melbourne. But on Saturday night, the trio will again step out of the shed and return to the Cri for a gig with new local band Jawbone. Drummer Jack Richards said fans could expect a big show, as the band had been working hard after taking a few months off last year. “For the last three or four months we’ve been getting reorganised and getting back into the practice shed,” he said. “We’re back to how we were playing (before the break). “I’m looking forward to playing this week — it’s been so long since we played to a Warrnambool crowd.” He said fans could expect four or five new songs among the set list of old favourites. The new material was “pretty rockin’” the drummer said, hinting that when they pulled together a few more songs and got back up to Motherlode Studios, the resulting album would be a real headbanger. “It will be more of a consistent album — it will be hard edge rock ‘n’ roll,” Richards said. The Monaros intend to head up the east coast in a few months for a tour that will hopefully take in Byron Bay, Sydney and Brisbane. “It’s our seventh year but we’re still enthusiastic,” Richards said. The pub-rock trio will be joined on Saturday at the Cri from 10pm by Jawbone, a hard rock cover band consisting of members of Warrnambool acts such as Tarp, Solid State and Forcefed.
Monaros play on -- Warrnambool Standard 30th Sept. 2004 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2004. All rights reserved
IF there was one band in Warrnambool qualified to farewell another footy season would be The Monaros. The local pub-rock legends love footy almost as much as they love a beer and there will be plenty of both at the Criterion Hotel on Saturday night. “What better way to celebrate the closure of the footy season than a night out at the Criterion Hotel with The Monaros,” Sam, Gav and Jack announced this week. The trio is believed to be working on its fifth album, so fans can expect a few new songs on the list among the old favourites. Not only will Melbourne band Fire Underground be the support act, but The Monaros also promise a night of “footballers, umpires and plenty of cheering . . . and you might even see the lads running through a Monaros banner at the start of the night”. The gig will be the trio’s first in Warrnambool since June and only the second this year. The Monaros will make up for lost time by playing another one later in October as part of Deakin Uni’s Oktoberfest ’04 celebrations. The Monaros and Fire Underground will perform their “footy show you won’t forget” from about 10pm at the Cri on Saturday night.
Festive music fuel -- Warrnambool Standard 22nd Dec. 2005 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2005. All rights reserved
CHRISTMAS Eve in Warrnambool means many things to many people but for some it just wouldn’t be the same without The Monaros at the Criterion Hotel. Thankfully the veteran trio will continue the tradition on Saturday night, bringing a yob-rock yuletide to the Cri for the seventh festive season in a row. ‘‘This year is gunna be nuts,’’ Sam, Gav and Jack said, despite being unable to recall exactly how many Christmas Eve Cri gigs they’ve staged. As a Christmas present to its fans, The Monaros will use the night to launch its new single. The Perculator, perhaps its most polished recording to date, was recorded at Tony Peel’s Motherlode Studio. The b-side is a classic Monaros track On The Road, taken from the long sold-out Six Pack EP. The single will appear on the Monaros’ forthcoming untitled 13-track album due out next year, its fifth record and first since 2003. Fans who go to the Cri on Christmas Eve will also be contributing to a special upcoming project – the band is recording and filming Saturday night’s performance for use down the track. Fellow Warrnambool hard-rockers Permydian will support The Monaros and Sam, Gav and Jack promised the event would also feature the usual array of surprises and special guests. The Christmas Eve gig will bring to an end a relatively quiet year for The Monaros, but 2006 is shaping up to be busier. The band is in discussions about releasing film clips to accompany its new album and there is also the possibility of a tour with The Cosmic Psychos.
Pub rock legends return -- Warrnambool Standard 8th June 2006 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2006. All rights reserved
A NEW album looms on the horizon for Warrnambool’s iconic pub rock legends The Monaros. Its fifth record — Monday Killed The Weekend — will feature 13 tracks, some of which will be previewed on Saturday night at The Loft from 10pm. It’s the first Monaros show since Wunta and Summer Daze in February. More shows are planned around the state to coincide with the release of its fifth album, which shouldn’t be too far away.
Monaros tune up for next album -- Warrnambool Standard August 2nd, 2007 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2007. All rights reserved
Despite a lot of kilometres on the clock The Monaros are far from running out of fuel. Warrnambool’s favourite pub-rock trio is close to celebrating its 10th birthday but the new material keeps on coming with the launch of the band’s fifth album on Saturday night at The Loft. Monday Killed The Weekend was recorded over a week at the former Motherlode Studios about a year-and-a-half ago. Drummer Jack Richards said the album was a long time coming due to delays with cover art and mixing and general ‘‘buggerising around’’. In fact, it’s taken so long to be released, Richards said guitarist Sam McNeil was already itching to get back into the studio to work on new material. The launch for Monday Killed The Weekend — the band’s first album since 2003’s First Band In Afghanistan—is expected to be a marathon of Monaros music. Richards estimated the band would bust out between 30 and 40 originals, drawing from all their five releases. The Monaros perform at The Loft on Saturday night. Doors open 9pm.
Barnesy fan hits top gear-- by Chamon Vogels. Warrnambool Standard January 2th, 2009 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2009. All rights reserved
IT'S not unusual to see crowds in awe of Gavin Steere's Warrnambool-based band The Monaros. Generally the 43-year-old is cool, calm and collected while playing the bass and belting out pub-rock originals with Jack Richards on drums and guitarist Sam McNeil. The tables will be turned tomorrow night when The Monaros support Jimmy Barnes at the Warrnambool racecourse. In Warrnambool for the first time since 1997, Barnesy is sure to send the crowds wild and The Monaros will be only too happy to take a back seat. Mr Steere has been a fan of the rocker for more than 30 years and owns every album, has attended several concerts and regularly sings Barnsey songs with his daughters on a karaoke video game. Mr Steere said he was ecstatic to be involved in the night and that he thought Barnes - as a soloist and during his days in the band Cold Chisel - was at the forefront of Australian music. "I'll be pretty nervous," Steere said of stepping on stage knowing Barnsey would be within earshot. "It's probably one of the biggest gigs that we've ever played." The Monaros have previously supported Ian Moss at Warrnambool's former Criterion Hotel and The Living End in Geelong. Event organiser Max Anderson said tickets had been selling well but would still be available at the door on the night. Buses will run between both Surfside One and Surfside Two caravan parks. The event was organised to raise money for charities including Relay For Life. Gates will open at 6pm.
The infamous Monaro is a car that conjures up all sorts of associated images from our Australian heritage. But the name has taken on a whole new meaning in Warrnambool. The Monaros are the latest band to hit the scene, having been formed only four months ago. The band consists of Gavin Steere (bass and vocals), Jack Richards (drums) and Sam McNeil (guitar and vocals). They are aged between 33 and 24. Though with a solid set of 26 original songs under its belt, Steere said that the group was a "recreational hobby" at the moment but had ambitions to record and was waiting for the finances to self-fund the venture. He described the Monaros as a modern rock and roll unit with various styles from borderline heavy to country and western influences ranging from punk to Jimi The Human. Despite the name, none of the band members owns a Monaro, though Steere admits there were a few Kingswoods around the traps. The Monaros have been gigging for the past two months, but Saturday night sees its first solo appearance at the Criterion Hotel. All previous shows have been support acts or short sets at the Lady Bay Hotel and Hotel Grand. Steere said the band's music was "gaining a little bit of a following".
Album released -- Warrnambool Standard 23rd Mar 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000 All rights reserved
Fans of Warrnambool's yobbo pub rock band the Monaros will be pleased to know their much anticipated second release album will hit the shelves this week. Shortly after its launch, band members faced some minor technical problems which have now been overcome and the CDs are finally available to buy from Capricorn Records in Warrnambool. "Dirty Angel" was released after the Monaros established a cult following with the 1998 release of the EP "Six Pack" which sold out of the first pressing of 500 copies. With a little bit of Cosmic Psycho mixed with Screaming Jets, the hard rock trio Sam McNeil (guitar, vocals), Gavin Steere (bass, vocals) and Jack Richards (drums and vocals) have developed their own unique style of Australian pub music and fans will be pleased to know they're heading back into the studio. Set to hit the recording studio in the next few months, the Monaros expect to have their next album out later this year.
Rockin’ in store -- Warrnambool Standard 19th Oct. 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000 All rights reserved
As part of Australian Music Week, Warrnambool pub rockers The Monaros will perform at Capricorn Records tomorrow from 6pm. And for hard-core Monaro fans, the in-store appearance will be chance to hear some the tracks off its next album, tentatively titled The Good the Bad and the Ug Boots. The new album will be the third from The Monaros which has released EP, Six Pack and Dirty Angel.
Monaros get ready to rev -- Warrnambool Standard 9th Oct. 2003 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2003 All rights reserved
HIDE ya esky and ya fluffy dice — The Monaros are back. Guitarist and vocalist Sam McNeil and his wife are home from their trip around Australia which can mean only one thing. With a couple of shows in Melbourne recently and another tonight in Geelong supporting The Persian Rugs and The Living End — The Monaros say they intend to be revved up for a huge gig at Warrnambool’s Criterion Hotel this Saturday night. Saturday’s gig will be with the support of The Go Set and will feature numbers off the Monaros’ new CD The First Band In Afghanistan. Fans of The Monaros’ golden oldies are not likely to be disappointed on Saturday night but the band’s Jack Monaro advises to “keep ya ears open for a couple of newies”. “We’ve done a tribute song to Slim Dusty called Slim’s Dusty and a Shane Warne song entitled Honey Warney may even rear its ugly head,” Jack said. “It will be a huge night for everyone.”
Monaros revved up after time in garage -- Warrnambool Standard 17/06/2004 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2004. All rights reserved.
THE last time Warrnambool’s legendary rock band The Monaros played in their home town, it was like Christmas. . . in fact it was Christmas. Since their fifth annual Christmas Eve bash at the Criterion Hotel last year, the pub-rockers have been hiding away in their rehearsal room working on new material, reemerging only for a handful of select shows in Melbourne. But on Saturday night, the trio will again step out of the shed and return to the Cri for a gig with new local band Jawbone. Drummer Jack Richards said fans could expect a big show, as the band had been working hard after taking a few months off last year. “For the last three or four months we’ve been getting reorganised and getting back into the practice shed,” he said. “We’re back to how we were playing (before the break). “I’m looking forward to playing this week — it’s been so long since we played to a Warrnambool crowd.” He said fans could expect four or five new songs among the set list of old favourites. The new material was “pretty rockin’” the drummer said, hinting that when they pulled together a few more songs and got back up to Motherlode Studios, the resulting album would be a real headbanger. “It will be more of a consistent album — it will be hard edge rock ‘n’ roll,” Richards said. The Monaros intend to head up the east coast in a few months for a tour that will hopefully take in Byron Bay, Sydney and Brisbane. “It’s our seventh year but we’re still enthusiastic,” Richards said. The pub-rock trio will be joined on Saturday at the Cri from 10pm by Jawbone, a hard rock cover band consisting of members of Warrnambool acts such as Tarp, Solid State and Forcefed.
Monaros play on -- Warrnambool Standard 30th Sept. 2004 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2004. All rights reserved
IF there was one band in Warrnambool qualified to farewell another footy season would be The Monaros. The local pub-rock legends love footy almost as much as they love a beer and there will be plenty of both at the Criterion Hotel on Saturday night. “What better way to celebrate the closure of the footy season than a night out at the Criterion Hotel with The Monaros,” Sam, Gav and Jack announced this week. The trio is believed to be working on its fifth album, so fans can expect a few new songs on the list among the old favourites. Not only will Melbourne band Fire Underground be the support act, but The Monaros also promise a night of “footballers, umpires and plenty of cheering . . . and you might even see the lads running through a Monaros banner at the start of the night”. The gig will be the trio’s first in Warrnambool since June and only the second this year. The Monaros will make up for lost time by playing another one later in October as part of Deakin Uni’s Oktoberfest ’04 celebrations. The Monaros and Fire Underground will perform their “footy show you won’t forget” from about 10pm at the Cri on Saturday night.
Festive music fuel -- Warrnambool Standard 22nd Dec. 2005 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2005. All rights reserved
CHRISTMAS Eve in Warrnambool means many things to many people but for some it just wouldn’t be the same without The Monaros at the Criterion Hotel. Thankfully the veteran trio will continue the tradition on Saturday night, bringing a yob-rock yuletide to the Cri for the seventh festive season in a row. ‘‘This year is gunna be nuts,’’ Sam, Gav and Jack said, despite being unable to recall exactly how many Christmas Eve Cri gigs they’ve staged. As a Christmas present to its fans, The Monaros will use the night to launch its new single. The Perculator, perhaps its most polished recording to date, was recorded at Tony Peel’s Motherlode Studio. The b-side is a classic Monaros track On The Road, taken from the long sold-out Six Pack EP. The single will appear on the Monaros’ forthcoming untitled 13-track album due out next year, its fifth record and first since 2003. Fans who go to the Cri on Christmas Eve will also be contributing to a special upcoming project – the band is recording and filming Saturday night’s performance for use down the track. Fellow Warrnambool hard-rockers Permydian will support The Monaros and Sam, Gav and Jack promised the event would also feature the usual array of surprises and special guests. The Christmas Eve gig will bring to an end a relatively quiet year for The Monaros, but 2006 is shaping up to be busier. The band is in discussions about releasing film clips to accompany its new album and there is also the possibility of a tour with The Cosmic Psychos.
Pub rock legends return -- Warrnambool Standard 8th June 2006 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2006. All rights reserved
A NEW album looms on the horizon for Warrnambool’s iconic pub rock legends The Monaros. Its fifth record — Monday Killed The Weekend — will feature 13 tracks, some of which will be previewed on Saturday night at The Loft from 10pm. It’s the first Monaros show since Wunta and Summer Daze in February. More shows are planned around the state to coincide with the release of its fifth album, which shouldn’t be too far away.
Monaros tune up for next album -- Warrnambool Standard August 2nd, 2007 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2007. All rights reserved
Despite a lot of kilometres on the clock The Monaros are far from running out of fuel. Warrnambool’s favourite pub-rock trio is close to celebrating its 10th birthday but the new material keeps on coming with the launch of the band’s fifth album on Saturday night at The Loft. Monday Killed The Weekend was recorded over a week at the former Motherlode Studios about a year-and-a-half ago. Drummer Jack Richards said the album was a long time coming due to delays with cover art and mixing and general ‘‘buggerising around’’. In fact, it’s taken so long to be released, Richards said guitarist Sam McNeil was already itching to get back into the studio to work on new material. The launch for Monday Killed The Weekend — the band’s first album since 2003’s First Band In Afghanistan—is expected to be a marathon of Monaros music. Richards estimated the band would bust out between 30 and 40 originals, drawing from all their five releases. The Monaros perform at The Loft on Saturday night. Doors open 9pm.
Barnesy fan hits top gear-- by Chamon Vogels. Warrnambool Standard January 2th, 2009 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2009. All rights reserved
IT'S not unusual to see crowds in awe of Gavin Steere's Warrnambool-based band The Monaros. Generally the 43-year-old is cool, calm and collected while playing the bass and belting out pub-rock originals with Jack Richards on drums and guitarist Sam McNeil. The tables will be turned tomorrow night when The Monaros support Jimmy Barnes at the Warrnambool racecourse. In Warrnambool for the first time since 1997, Barnesy is sure to send the crowds wild and The Monaros will be only too happy to take a back seat. Mr Steere has been a fan of the rocker for more than 30 years and owns every album, has attended several concerts and regularly sings Barnsey songs with his daughters on a karaoke video game. Mr Steere said he was ecstatic to be involved in the night and that he thought Barnes - as a soloist and during his days in the band Cold Chisel - was at the forefront of Australian music. "I'll be pretty nervous," Steere said of stepping on stage knowing Barnsey would be within earshot. "It's probably one of the biggest gigs that we've ever played." The Monaros have previously supported Ian Moss at Warrnambool's former Criterion Hotel and The Living End in Geelong. Event organiser Max Anderson said tickets had been selling well but would still be available at the door on the night. Buses will run between both Surfside One and Surfside Two caravan parks. The event was organised to raise money for charities including Relay For Life. Gates will open at 6pm.
Performing at South West TAFE on 16th Feb. 1999
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Mod Squad - Warrnambool Band
Formed in the early 1970s with Dick Barns, John Maher, Eoin Cameron, Pete Bird, the band split in 1977 but continued under that name with new members.
Ian Barton (lead guitar), Bob Edwards (drums) and David Clarke (bass) perform as Mod Squad at La Bella's (Warrnambool) in September 1979.
Ian Barton (guitar)
Barry Shiells (saxophone)
Bob Edwards (drums)
David Clarke (bass)
Gavin Franklin (piano)
Trevor Moorfield (vocals)
Mod Squad lineup early 70s Dick Barns, John Maher (back), Eoin Cameron, Pete Bird (front)
Pete Bird, Dick Barns
Eoin Cameron
Eoin Cameron, Pete Bird,Tim Netherway, John Maher, Dick Barns (front)
Dick Barns and John Maher
Eoin Cameron
Lone Liver at Koroit
Warrnambool Standard 7th June 2001 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2001 All rights reserved
MUSICIAN Brendan Mitchell, the Dead Liver with a new liver, returns to the south-west this weekend. Mitchell, pedal steel guitarist with country band the Dead Livers — and, as fate would have it, recipient of a liver transplant mid-last year — plays with Behind the Mike at Mickey Bourke's Hotel, Koroit from 8pm tomorrow. Behind the Mike also features Dead Livers guitarist Michael Schack, Hannah and Rebecca Schack.
See more on Brendan here
MUSICIAN Brendan Mitchell, the Dead Liver with a new liver, returns to the south-west this weekend. Mitchell, pedal steel guitarist with country band the Dead Livers — and, as fate would have it, recipient of a liver transplant mid-last year — plays with Behind the Mike at Mickey Bourke's Hotel, Koroit from 8pm tomorrow. Behind the Mike also features Dead Livers guitarist Michael Schack, Hannah and Rebecca Schack.
See more on Brendan here
Newspaper articles on South West TAFE Music Industry Skills course
Quick learners have given a successful start to the music industry skills course run by the South West Institute of TAFE. The students gave their second performance this week at the TAFE cafe - only eight days into the course. For the next 12 weeks, under the instruction of Warrnambool musicians Chris van Bakel and Lyn Eales, students are getting an overview of the music industry. This will include performance, networking, business management, technical aspects, song writing and making a demo tape. The course efforts are to result in formal accreditation for the students. At Tuesday's performance, Ms. Eales said she was impressed with the variety, multiple skills, and talent of the 20 students, aged 16 to 42. She said there were heavy metal, thrash, country and alternative. "One of the main things is that they're learning to diversify their music" she said. Those normally into heavy metal were learning to play country music to enable other students to sing, Ms. Eales said. "Its a good network. They're supporting each other" she said. The next course will be held in February.
Big day out for all -- Warrnambool Standard 6th Nov. 1997 - Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1997. All rights reserved.
Catering to music tastes of all kinds is high on the agenda of the South West Institute of TAFE's music industry skills course. Featuring everything from the technical side to performing to songwriting, students are required to organise a community event as part of their course. Not scared of going the "whole hog" the students are planning the Big Bay Out in conjunction with Brauer College students and Warrnambool City Council on November 29. In an attempt to satisfy everybody's interests, the event will feature all kinds of music, market stalls and could even include a giant jumping castle for the kids. The TAFE students will host an all-ages gig in and around the Lady Bay Hotel between 1pm and 7pm while Brauer students will take over the organisation between 7.30pm and 2am with an under 18s gig at the Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club. There is no reason not to attend what is expected to be a large affair, aiming for about 20 bands and a major headline act. Tafe student, Jake Tuck said the Lady Bay Hotel had been deregulated in the event of wet weather. The Brauer students also do modules of the music course. Confirmed as an Ausmusic event, coinciding with Australian Music Week, the event also has Freeza funding. Tafe student Heidi Gass said during the day they were hoping for music workshops and clinics with well-known players. A promotional marquee will also be erected for local bands who want to display their CD, posters and contact numbers. Tafe tutor Lyn Eales said she was impressed with the way the institutions were working together and students taking on the challenge.
Tafe students in Sorry Day -- Warrnambool Standard 21st May 1998 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1998. All rights reserved.
Music industry skills students at South West Institute of TAFE on Tuesday will present an industry night aimed at establishing contacts and raising awareness. Throughout their course, students have written, recorded and engineered their own songs which will be performed on the night. To be held at Images Restaurant from 7 pm it will be part of National Sorry Day. The students said it was their way to "contribute our point of view to the "stolen generations" discussion". District musician Andy Alberts will be among the performers. Participants in the course will include members of local bands Motorvators, Toe Jam, Second Line, Mix Bowl, Liquid Nales, Gramps, Fryd-knot and It's Your Thing. The students hope it will become a regular event, presenting an opportunity for the music industry to come together. Tickets are $5 ($4 concession). The funds will be put into a special music industry skills development fund to enable more nights to happen.
Seeking music notes -- by Kylie Smith - Warrnambool Standard 28th Oct. 1998 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1998. All rights reserved.
Collecting snippets of musical history, from front, are Kate Gane, Cherie Amor, Kerrie Dawe, Andy Shirtcliffe, Robert Allen and Peter Maudsley.
TAFE music industry skills studentsWARRNAMBOOL has never been lacking in musicianship and now the prodigious musical history of the area is to go ondisplay. South West TAFE's music industry skills students are seeking rock 'n' roll memorabilia from the region for an exhibition as part of Ausmusic week next month. The display will form part of "Expose Your Arts", a night of celebration of Warrnambool's music and arts scene, including live musical and poetry performances. Music industry skills student Kate Gane said the exhibition organisers were trying to get hold of any display items that related to the Warrnambool music scene. Ms Gane said the students hoped to include film footage, photographs, clothing, old instruments, recordings and other items of memorabilia. Skills course coordinator Lyn Eales said the night would be an opportunity to showcase the diversity of musical talent in the region. "The idea is to have a real selection of musical genres," Ms Eales said. The students will perform original songs they have written as part of the course and hope to have other local musicians on stage during the night. The students are also looking for sponsors for the exhibition and hope that if a venue can be found it may become a permanent display. "It would be a pity if the exhibit dribbled back into people's homes and garages," Ms Eales said. "Expose Your Arts" will begin at the Gallery Nightclub on November 24.(Report: KYLIE SMITH. Picture: ROBIN SHARROCK)
Emerging stars - Students launch first CD -- Warrnambool Standard 13th April 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
CATCH a taste of emerging original musicians and show your support for local music publication Com-fusion at a benefit gig in Warrnambool next Tuesday night. Students from Tafe’s Music Industry Skills course will be launching their CD of original tunes at the Warrnambool Surf Life-saving Club, which will also feature live comedy and an art exhibition including work from Tafe and Deakin students. MIS student Kat Anderson said the Tafe musicians had spent the past three weeks in recording sessions at Warrnambool’s Motherlode studios to complete the 17-track CD. As a member of Warrnambool band Tukan Sam, which released its debut album last year, Anderson is familiar with the inside of a studio.However, for most of the students the sessions were their first recording experience and the result is a diverse mix of sounds and influences. Fellow student Nick Costa said the students had already performed at lunchtime gigs at Tafe and the CD launch promised to be a great night of music with “lots of vibe”. The musical newcomers on the night will be joined by some of the south-west’s well-established musicians — Slap ’N’ The Cats, Hi-Way and Guy Smiley Trio, featuring Richard Tankard.Money raised will go towards Comfusion, a regular music newsletter run by volunteers which has been published for less than a year. Anderson said the publication was important for the Warrnambool music scene because of the exposure it gave to local musicians. Get Com-fused at the surf club on May 18 from 8pm until 1am. Tickets will be $5 or $3 concession.
Skilled performance - Review -- By KYLIE SMITH Warrnambool Standard 20th May 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
THE latest crop of talented south-west musicians took to the stage this week at the Tafe music industry skills course CD launch. The evening was a chance for the students to showcase the fruits of their labor over the last few weeks — 15 original songs that make up the Cut The Mustard CD. It was also a great testament to the hard work and musical abilities of those involved, and a truly collaborative effort. The night featured an amazing variety of musical styles, with songwriters tackling subjects as diverse as single motherhood, car chases and sentimental love songs. Highlights of the evening included an appearance by the Guy Smiley Trio, featuring the magnificent multi-talented Richard Tankard, who set the keyboard on fire with some original tunes. MIS graduate Cassandra, who reportedly had no musical aspirations when she joined the course, made a great stage debut with her composition Advice For The Emotional Cripple. Greg Logan, another performer to watch out for, showed his impressive vocal talents on Backyard Love and an impromptu rendition of Let Me Buzz Around Your Honey Pot. Also worth a mention is the gorgeous vocals of Jenni Finch, as backing singer for Logan and on her own track, Got So Much. The CD was recorded and produced at Warrnambool’s Motherlode studios on a shoestring budget and may only be available according to demand. Anyone who missed out on last Tuesday night’s performance can check out MIS graduates Nick Costa (in a solo acoustic set) and Steph Walter and Kat Anderson (one half of the brilliant Tukan Sam) at the Gallery tonight. For those interested in the Warrnambool music scene and its future directions,Cut The Mustard is well worth checking out and a great way to support the MIS course. For a copy or to find out more, call the Tafe music department on 5564 8911.
New class kicks off -- Warrnambool Standard 27th May 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
SOUTH-WEST musicians will have a chance to hone their songwriting and performing skills with the introduction of a new Tafe course. The music industry skills course at South West Institute of Tafe has been extended to include a certificate in contemporary performance, beginning on June 8. Course coordinator Lyn Eales said the course will expand on the teaching of earlier certificate courses. “The first course was a general course, this one specifically focuses on performance,” Eales said. An information session for the course will be held at the Tafe band hall at 6 pm on Tuesday, June 1. SOUTH West Tafe’s musical maestros will be cutting the mustard again today with a mini-launch of their new CD. Following last week’s successful benefit gig and CD launch for Cut The Mustard, the music industry skills’ students will perform at the Tafe cafeteria at lunch time today. Anyone who missed the gig last Thursday at the Warrnambool Surf Club should get on down to Tafe to see some great original music from a range of performers. The CD, featuring 15 tracks from Tafe students, will be on sale at today’s gig, where punters can also enter a raffle to win a host of gift vouchers.
Broderick shares wisdom -- By KYLIE SMITH Warrnambool Standard 22nd July 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
WARRNAMBOOL’S Tafe music students had a rare opportunity yesterday to draw on a wealth of Australian music industry experience. Renowned Australian bluesman Broderick Smith and fellow guitarist Mick Ahearn joined a Tafe music industry skills class to talk about music, songwriting and the perils and pleasures of the business. Smith, who has been playing the blues since 1962, has released 12 albums to date and recorded with the likes of Jimmy Barnes and Tommy Emmanuel.His message to Warrnambool’s budding musicians was to avoid the increasing corporatisation of music and draw on life experiences when writing songs. “We are in a very mechanical period in pop music, especially what you hear on the radio,” Smith said. “It’s very important people get back to themselves instead of making music in a corporate way.” The epitome of the corporatisation of music was the trend toward tying movies, merchandising and songs together, Smith said. “Those songs, I think they are a disease, they all sound the same,” he said. What the music industry needed was more Australian songs on radio playlists, and legislation to enforce a greater percentage of Australian content on air, Smith said. “The Australian music scene needs to be protected, it’s still at a fairly young age, and if it’s not protected it is very easy for it to become swamped.” Smith, who is currently working on a new album, is a regular visitor to the south-west. “Warrnambool has always been traditionally a music town ... I think it’s something to do with the surf.” After a gig last night at the Hotel Warrnambool, Smith will visit Brauer College today to perform and speak with secondary students. “I’m at an age when I am really hoping to pass on anything I have learned in the hope someone will take advantage of it,” he said.
Tafe jazzes up session -- Warrnambool Standard 12th August 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
Performers from South West Tafe’s music industry course are set to take over the running of next week’s jam session at the Jazz Blues Restaurant. It’s been a busy two weeks for the students, who also provided behind the scenes support at a Warrnambool gig on Tuesday in honor of the state’s fearless leader, one Jeffrey Kennett.
Tafe turns up the music -- Warrnambool Standard 2nd September 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
TAFE music students will be turning up the amps at the Criterion Hotel tomorrow night for a gig designed to showcase the heavier side of the Warrnambool music scene. Kingswood 69 and S.I.R. will be among the local bands taking to the stage, with students from Tafe’s music industry course forming some new combinations for the night. Tickets, for a measly $2, are available at the door of the Cellar Bar at the Criterion Hotel.
High energy year-end bash -- Warrnambool Standard 18th November 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
As part of the Tafe end of year bash six-piece ensemble The Hoodangers will be playing at the Gallery Nightclub on Sunday night. The Hoodangers’ high energy blend of jazz, funk, rock and punk should provide audiences with a unique
performance. With a fusion of brass, woodwind, strings and percussion, The Hoodangers are headlining the Tafe Gongbangers Ball, which will also include an art exhibition, spoken word performances and the Music Industry Skills Course CD launch. Doors open from 7pm, tickets at $5 or $3 concession.
Music industry course session -- Warrnambool Standard 27th Feb 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000 All rights reserved
ANYONE after an inside edge on how to survive in the cut-throat music world will get a chance to see how things work with an information session tonight. The South West Tafe music industry skills course is running again this year, with the addition of a Koorie music course which will also offer dance and movement classes. Program coordinator Lyn Eales said it would also utilise the teaching talents of both local and outside performers, such as Andy Alberts, Richard Tankard and in March, Western Australia’s Velvet Jones. The information night will be held at the Tafe Band Hall from 7pm.
Tribute night to music industry -- Warrnambool Standard 25 May 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000 All rights reserved
THE best of the Warrnambool music industry will be honored next Monday night at a local music industry awards night. Warrnambool Associated Music Industry awards night, organised by students of South West TAFE’s Music Industry Skills course, will acknowledge the contribution of local community members to the Warrnambool music industry. Music Industry Skills student Stephen Griegson said the WAMI awards night was a light-hearted and fun way to pay tribute to everyone who contributed to the local music scene. He said the night would resemble an Oscars or Logies award night, with a fancy formal dress code. While many of the awards honored people who had made significant contributions to the local industry, the majority were fun awards, Mr Griegson said. He said an example was the ‘medicinal support to industry award’, which would be awarded to a local cafe that supplies the best coffee to hungover musicians. A feature of the evening will be the launch of a CD of work by Music Industry Skills students. “Part of the curriculum is we actually write and record a compilation CD of our works. We have to launch it and plan an event as well,” Mr Griegson said.He said the WAMI awards night providedan opportunity for the students to fulfill both requirements.
Koorie focus to CD launch-- Warrnambool Standard 7th Sept. 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000 All rights reserved
A film and live music night will launch the latest CD offering from South West TAFE Music Industry Skills students. The latest Music Industry Skills course a Koorie-based course, designed specifically for Koorie students. The students’ combined CD features songs "straight from the heart". Released under the name The Rainbow Mob, it will be launched at a musical and film night at Proudfoots’ chapel. The evening will open with a short film viewing of eight Koorie-based films on loan from the state film library. The collection of films entitled Shifting Sands — from Sand to Celluloid will be shown before the CD launch. Each of the films, which run for about 10 minutes, focus on different indigenous issues. The Rainbow Mob CD will be launched with live performances from contributors, featuring a diverse range of musical styles. The evening will conclude with a performance by Port Campbell surf band Surge Whitewater and the Filthy Left. Surge and the boys will perform their classic guitar instrumental surf rock to round off the night. Their music will be accompanied by footage of legendary Koorie surfer Normie Cooper. The Rainbow Mob CD launch will be held on Saturday, September 16.
Moving music to centre stage -- Warrnambool Standard 12th October 2001 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2001 All rights reserved
Australian music week has almost passed completely unnoticed in Warrnambool this week, but TAFE's Music Industry Skills students intend to change that. The MIS crew will hold an open mic afternoon in the TAFE cafeteria today from 1 pm until 2 pm and are inviting all former MIS students to take part. The one hour jam will be followed up on Saturday by a group busking session to be held near the finish line of the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic. MIS student Carly Clifford said the students had organised the open mic and busking because of a lack of Australian music week events in town. She attributed the lack of gigs to a failure by Warrnambool venues to support original bands in town, and lack of promotion from the week's organising body. Other original bands performing in Warrnambool include the Frisky Go Cats, which will play at the Caffe Regal's Sandpit Bar on Friday night, and the Hog Stompin' Zydegators, who are performing at the Criterion on Saturday night with the Elements and Rob Bundle.
MIS a hit at TAFE -- Warrnambool Standard 25th July 2002 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2002 All rights reserved
A new teacher and record student levels have given this semester’s TAFE Music Industry Skills course a flying start. Twenty-three budding musicians have signed on for MIS Certificate III, which will run for six months, culminating in a CD launch and gig at the end of the year. Running the course is former MIS student and GFX percussionist Georgia Henderson, who will be ably assisted by some esteemed fellow musicians, including Richard Tankard, Ben Hedderman, John Hudson, John Maroniti and Jason Nelson. Henderson completed Certificate II in 1999 and Certificate III last year and said she was excited by the prospect of being on the other side of the student desk for this semester’s course. She said Certificate III focuses on "performance and song composition, maximising a performer’s employability and evaluating and improving their performances". There is also a major business component, covering finance, contracts, negotiations and copyright. Henderson said the wealth of students meant the end of semester class recording project could turn into a double album, which would be a first for the MIS course. As usual there is an eclectic range of musicians, covering genres from rock and metal to folk and funk, plus everything in between.
Big year for MIS -- Warrnambool Standard Feb 02 2006 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2006. All rights reserved
TAFE’S Music Industry Skills (MIS) course returns with what could be its biggest year. The long-running course, which has helped produce some of Warrnambool’s top musicians, will cover certificates three and four simultaneously when it kicks off on February 13. Teachers Lyn Eales and Gavin Franklin said the MIS would feature a strong emphasis on performance, rehearsing, song composition and home recording. Eales said the course would also have a visual component, with the opportunity for students to produce a film clip.
TAFE students rock the Green -- By AMY MARSHALL Warrnambool Standard April 15, 2006 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2006. All rights reserved
SUMMER is over and budding local bands have practically passed up the opportunity for free-of-charge exposure. However, the powerful, gravelly tones of acoustic rock singer- songwriter Essie Thomas drew a lunch-time crowd to Warrnambool’s Civic Green stage Thursday, proving the venue provided an excellent opportunity for musicians to be heard. Warrnambool City Council offered the stage free of charge during summer hoping to add to the festive summer holiday environment, saying at the time the stage was grossly under-used. Miss Thomas, 15, was one of an eight-member force from South West TAFE’S Certificate III/IV in Music class which utilised the space. Their teacher Lyn Eales sprang the task on the group the day before, issuing them the challenge of playing a repertoire together as a band which didn’t include songs they had performed before. “We’re making the metal guys play with the country guys. . . the idea is that they have to develop their repertoires and be back-up in a band,” she said. Miss Thomas said the stage was an awesome venue. “We’re pretty stoked, it’s nice people have come along, it’s really accessible and there’s lots of space,” she said. Ms Eales said Thursday’s performance was a fantastic experience for her students and it was a great stage. We would love to use it more,” she said.
South West TAFE music students CD
PUBLISHED: [Warrnambool, Vic.] : Project Music, c1998.
DESCRIPTION :1 sound disc : digital ; 4 3/4 in.
NOTES: All songs written, recorded, engineered and produced by Music Industry Skills students at South West TAFE. Album recorded at Motherlode Studios, Warrnambool, under the supervision of Tony Peel.
CONTENTS: Hitting the wall / Matt Hewson -- In the army now / Mal Hill -- Naked / Kristen Smith -- The big wheel / Clare Hussey -- Diggin up the underground / Henry Bird -- Over the top / Sean McKeever -- Over reaction / Mark Reeves -- Point / Daegel Almond -- Cold winter blues / Brian Mitchell -- Last dance of the glass soul / Mic Murphy -- Expressions / John Emry -- Its too late / Robyn Jeans -- Dead sheep / Tim Edwards -- I'm there / Dave Wilson -- -- Drive carefully / Nathan Batten.
Music students perform at SW TAFE open day 1999
James O'Connor, Adam Burgess-Miles, Nick Costa and others
Glynn Coulson, Ian Beere, Nick Costa
Ruben Shannon, Wendy Goyen and others
South West TAFE Music Industry Skills Course Performance November 5th 1998
Leigh Lewis
Kate Gane & Chris Van Bakel
Chris Van Bakel
Kate Gane
Lyn Eales
Cherie Amor & Ross Krzyzanski
Leigh Lewis (bass), Liam Sullivan (drums) and Danny Grigg
(guitar)
(guitar)
Andrew Shirtcliffe
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