Warrnambool Standard 11th March 1999 -
SOME of the south-west's musical treasures will take the stage at this weekend's Apollo Bay Music Festival. The festival will pay tribute to the depth of songwriting talent to emerge from the region with a special concert featuring singer-songwriters Shane Howard, Andy Alberts, Dave Steel and Archie Roach. Billed as Songwriters of the Southwest Coast and Plains, the Saturday afternoon concert is just one highlight of the festival which will also include performances by Mark Seymour (ex-Hunters and Collectors) and The Gadflys. The weekend will be nothing if not diverse, taking in every musical style from reggae and gospel to classical, folk, jazz and alternative rock. Also on the bill is electric string quartet FourPlay, which went down a storm at the Port Fairy Folk Festival earlier this month. The festival kicks off tomorrow night with a fire ceremony — a combination of performance and procession culminating in a fire sculpture on the beach — and continues throughout the weekend. For information call 5237 6761.
Island ritual moves singer
by Katie Hyder. Warrnambool Standard 29th April 1999 -
SINGER and songwriter Andy Alberts of Warrnambool doesn't see himself as a political sort of person but a visit to Flinders Island had provided a different slant. After performing there as part of a ceremony to hand back a site to the local Koorie people, Alberts said sometimes it's necessary to take on important issues. “I've never been one to be in political things or be a political person but some things must be said,” he explained. Alberts performed his award-winning song Gunditjmara Land, which fans may have heard at the Tarerer concert to mark the handing over of the south-west's Sorry Book. The song won an award in Warrnambool's Spirit of the Sea music festival earlier this year. “To go over there and sing Gunditjmara Land, it meant a lot to me,” he said of the song which he claimed also related to the experience of Flinders Island Aborigines. “We've had the problems they had; the same atrocities that went on there went on here.” Along with other Warrnambool musicians Chris Van Bakel, Lyn Eales, Richard Tankard and Paul Smith, Alberts flew over to the island on Saturday, performed that night and returned home on Sunday. Performing to a good-sized audience in a hall in Lady Baron, a town on the south side of the island, Alberts said he received a positive response to songs from the album Gunditjmara Land. “I was really happy because they just started dancing to tracks like Wisdom Man and people came up and said ‘great song!',” he recalled.
Land song on new CD
Warrnambool Standard 19th Aug.1999 -
WA R R N A M B O O L -BA S E D s i n g e r -songwriter Andy Alberts is again lending his great musical talents to the cause of reconciliation. Alberts' award-winning song Gunditjmara Land has been chosen for inclusion on a CD to raise awareness of the reconciliation process. South-west talent will feature strongly on the album,with Goanna and Archie Roach also contributing tracks.They will join a stellarline-up of Australian talent on the CD, including Yothu Yindi, Midnight Oil, Paul Kelly, Kev Carmody, Wendy Matthews and Tiddas. The CD is a joint project of Catholic Mission and Antar (Australian Native Title and Reconciliation) aimed at promoting a constructive dialogue on the issue of reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-indigenous Australia.Alberts said he had always strongly believed in the powerof song in bringing people together.“It's a great way of building bridges, I have noticed that through playing music over the years. A lot can be achieved with song, it's unbelievable.” He said reconciliation was an issue that would not go away, and acknowledging the past was an important part of the process. “Personally, reconciliation for me is more than a handshake — it goes deeper.” But Alberts was hopeful about the future of reconciliation. “We can move forward, we can walk together,” he said. He will travel to Sydney next month for the launch of the CD, to perform alongside other contributing artists at The Metro. South-west audiences may have a chance to catch Alberts live as a guest performer with former Goanna frontman Shane Howard at the Killarney Hotel tomorrow night. He will also appear at the Port Campbell Blues Festival later this month. In the meantime, Alberts is in the process of recording songs for a new album, due for release in mid-2000.
Country concert
Warrnambool Standard 11th Nov. 1999
INSPIRED by the recent 3WAY-FM Hank Williams tribute night, Warrnambool-based singer-songwriter Andy Alberts is planning a country performance of his own. Alberts will be joined by some special guests, including Lyn Eales and Pete Bird, for an evening of country music, tomorrow night at the Royal Hotel from 9pm. He said despite a resurgence in the popularity of country music there wasn't much of it being heard live in the Warrnambool region. “There's not a venue around for that (country) music — it's on the comeback I guess.” Alberts said he would be playing a “bit of everything” from Slim Dusty to Troy Cassar-Daly and warned people to bring their dancing boots for some dance floor action.
Radio station celebrates 10 years of making airwaves Warrnambool Standard 11th Oct. 2000 -
Presenter Brendan Dowd was joined by Oriel Glennon [sic], Tommy Carty and Andy Alberts who helped to promote Oriel's new CD Two Pink Turtles during yesterday's 3WAY-FM 10th anniversary celebrations. The Warrnambool community FM station members are broadcasting their programs live from Gateway Plaza this week.
Links reforged Warrnambool Standard 2nd Nov. 2000 -
SOME of the south-west music heavyweights will gather to perform alongside Australian rock icons Paul Hester and Dave Steel on Wednesday night. Andy Alberts and the Walkabouts, which features Robbie Bundle, Richard Tankard, Lyn Eales, John Emry, Brendan Dowd and Chris Van Bakel, will join Hester (Crowded House) and Steel (Weddings Parties Anything) downstairs at Images Restaurant. Bundle and Alberts first linked with the latter two as part of Songlines, a mentor program that links Aboriginal musicians and some of Australia's well-known artists. Alberts, who is preparing to record an album soon, said the mentor program which paired him with Hester had helped to expand his musical horizons. "It's been good because we're in contact with key people in the music industry, so we thought we'd take this opportunity to show people what we've done and put on a gig," he said. Robbie Bundle said being matched with Dave Steel as part of the program helped him to give something back to the community. "We've all got a wealth of experience but this gives us another level and it's good because it sets us up as role models for younger people who may be considering taking up a career in music," he said. Alberts said that, in addition to the big line-up for Wednesday night's gig, there would be a special "mystery guest" appearance from a prominent musician. He was remaining tight-lipped about it. "We won't be giving away too much but it will be a great night" he said with a laugh. Andy Alberts and The Wanderers will be playing downstairs at Images Restaurant from 9pm.
EP is close to home Warrnambool Standard 22 Feb. 2001 -
POPULAR Aboriginal artist Andy Alberts and his band The Walkabouts will officially launch their newest EP Close to Home at Saturday's Tarerer Festival. Two of the tracks were recorded at former Crowded House drummer Paul Hester's Elwood studio; the remaining four tracks were recorded at Warrnambool's Yelp Studio. Close to Home is Alberts' second recording following the success of his 1998 release Gunditjmara Land, which won the Australian Roots Music Awards album of the year and song of the year. The EP also showcases the talents of a number of musicians including Lyn Eales, Chris Van Bakel, Rob Bundle, John Emry, Richard Tankard, Brendan Dowd, Mark and Anthony Alberts, Shane Howard and Paul Hester. Close to Home will be officially released at the Tarerer Festival at Killarney Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Sizzling way to start off weekBy JEN CRADDOCK Warrnambool Standard 24 May 2001 -
GUNDITJMARA song-writer Andy Alberts will be singing and strumming with his band The Walkabouts while a bar-becue sizzles at the Hotel Warrnambool this Sunday. Between 3pm and 6pm, Alberts will entertain his home crowd with songs from his second album, Close to Home, in a gig to mark the start of Reconciliation Week. Former Crowded House drummer Paul Hester, who produced the songs Jabiluka and Warran Pookar on the six-track EP, is one of several guest musicians joining in at the event. Alberts, a familiar face at local music events like the Port Fairy Folk Festival and the Tarerer Festival, said he was looking forward to kicking off his two-week tour with friends. "This'll be a good start," he said. "It's really great fun to play with a full band. A lot of the rockier songs everyone dances along to. "Next week, Alberts plays the Wool Shed in Geelong then heads to Melbourne to do two shows as part of the Songlines festival. He said he had been taking a "more serious approach" to his singing in the last few years.His protest song Jabiluka had just been included on a Greens CD.
Fame catches up with unwary Andy
Warrnambool Standard 16th August 2001- Report: REBECCA TROTT.
INDIGENOUS musician Andy Alberts has become the first person inducted into the Warrnambool Associated Music Industry's Hall of Fame. The talented singer-songwriter who has played at many festivals throughout Australia, was awarded Warrnambool's Musical Ambassador in the second WAMI awards night. Held earlier this week, the awards are run by South West Institute of TAFE music industry skills students to recognise the role many people play in Warrnambool's vibrant music scene. Alberts, who has played many festivals across the country, recorded tracks for CDs and played with some of the country's finest musicians, said yesterday he was thrilled with his award. "I knew something was going on but I couldn't put my finger on it until it actually happened," he said. Alberts said he was excited about the win, which makes him the first musican to be inducted into the WAMI Hall of Fame. "Now that I've had some time for it to sink in, it's a real honor," he said. Alberts said to be named as an ambassador for local music "put a lump in the throat". "We're lucky here, all the musicians are close, it's really good," he said. TAFE music industry skills course coordinator Lyn Eales said Alberts was a "stand-out choice" for the award. "He's done a lot of work within his community and within the wider community," she said. Ms Eales said Alberts had recently had one of his songs listed on the Australian Greens double compilation CD, alongside top musicians such as Paul Kelly and Vince Jones, which reflected his talents as a performer. Ms Eales said the second awards night had been a success. "The idea of the awards is so people who are not normally acknowledged within the community are acknowledged on the night," she said. Ms Eales congratulated the music industry skills course students who she said had put in a lot of work into the night. They provided music, presented the awards, made the award statues and launched their CD.
Muso's help Alby's reconciliation ride Warrnambool Standard 15th August 2002 -
A talented line-up of musicians is pulling together to help veteran cyclist Alby Clarke in his bid to undertake a reconciliation ride from Perth to Warrnambool. A fund-raising concert has been organised for this Saturday night at the Warrnambool showgrounds' Wannon Rooms. From 6pm, there will be raffles, music, auctions and entertainment — to help Clarke on his inspirational journey. Local and nationally-acclaimed musicians have signed on for the event, with concert organiser Andy Alberts saying he had received so many offers from performers wishing to play at the event he had been forced to turn down many. Former Goanna frontman Shane Howard and ex-Warumpi Band singer-songwriter Neil Murray are just two of the big names on the all-star line-up. Other musicians to take the stage include Andy Alberts and the Walkabouts, Rob Bundle, Lee Morgan, Marcia Howard, Oriel Glennen, The Stray Blacks with Tony Lovett, and Pat and Brett Clarke. Organisers are hoping to attract up to 600 people, with all proceeds helping the 67-year-old cyclist in his 3300-kilometre mission across the country. One of the items up for auction on the night will be a poster signed by all artists who perform. Doors open at 6pm, with tickets available at Warrnambool's performing arts centre.
Channel into music talent
Warrnambool Standard 26th Nov. 2004 -
A Melbourne television series has come to the south-west to point its spotlight on local musicians Andy Alberts, Robbie Bundle and Shane Howard.The trio, who perform together as The Buddas, will be filmed for Songlines In The City, a show that focuses on indigenous musicians. Grant Hansen, the program's executive producer and chief executive officer of Songlines Aboriginal Music Corporation, said the episode looking at Alberts, Bundle and Howard would screen in April on Channel 31."The aim of the show is to promote indigenous acts to a larger audience and highlight these artists," Hansen said. He said the film crew would spend about three days in the region looking at the music and relationship of the three men. It was the first time the makers of Songlines In The City had ventured out of Melbourne to see the musicians on their home turf. Alberts said it was his third time on the program, which had provided him with great spin-offs in the past. Alberts, who worked with former Crowded House drummer Paul Hester in the mentor program, said that since taking part in the project he had been asked back as a mentor this year. Hansen said the crew would also shoot three film clips, one for Alberts, one for Bundle and one for The Buddas, during its stay in the south-west.
Alberts on walkabout to Tamworth festival Warrnambool Standard 13th Jan. 2005 -
FOR country artists the Tamworth Country Music Festival is the biggest gig on the calendar. While Andy Alberts and his band The Walkabouts aren't solely a country act, they know an invitation to play Tamworth is too good an opportunity to pass up. “I was going to go up there solo but when the band got wind of it they wanted to come,” Alberts laughed. The singer-songwriter said it was a costly exercise taking himself and The Walkabouts up to Tamworth for two shows but some local generosity had helped ease the strain. Alberts said a fund-raising gig at the Criterion Hotel had raised $1200 and some of the local Aboriginal co-ops had pitched in. “A lot of people believe in what I'm doing,” the Gunditjmara man said. “I hope to put Warrnambool and my mob on the map.” Alberts said the shows at the Oasis Hotel and Bicentennial Park would allow the band to showcase the more-countrified songs in their set list. It was those songs that initially caught the attention of one of the Tamworth festival organisers who saw The Walkabouts at a gig in Melbourne last year. Tamworth continues a busy run for Alberts and his band which began with the Warrnambool Tsunami Appeal Concert at Lake Pertobe on Sunday. The band will head to Melbourne to perform in the Share The Spirit Music Festival at Treasury Gardens on January 26 along with Ross Wilson, Paul Hester, Richard Frankland and Frankie J. Holden. The Walkabouts will return to the state capital on February 5 on the invitation of the Melbourne City Council to perform as part of the Summer In The Park gig series at Fitzroy Gardens. A few local gigs and plans to complete the album he started at Peter Bird's Yelp Studios are also on the books, Alberts said.
Alberts' Australia Day
Warrnambool Standard 20th Jan. 2005 -
FRESH from its Tamworth success, where the band performed two highly praised showcase sets, Andy Alberts and The Walkabouts will return to Victoria to take part in a special Australia Day concert in Melbourne. The Share The Spirit Music Festival 2005 will be held in the Treasury Gardens from 11am. Andy Alberts and The Walkabouts will be joined by Vic Simms, Frankie J. Holden and Wilbur Wilde, Nick Barker, Bob Wilson, Richard Frankland, Ross Wilson, Deniece Hudson, Paul Hester, Peter Rotumah, Johnny Mac and Maricki.
Albert's Hester homage
Warrnambool Standard 7th Apr. 2005 -
Andy Alberts and the Walkabouts will pay tribute to their late mate Paul Hester when they perform at the Warrnambool Hotel on Sunday. Alberts worked with Hester on the Warrnambool singer-songwriter's debut album. Alberts said he and the band would dedicate much of the set to the drummer by playing a lot of Crowded House numbers. Hester died last month in Melbourne.
Black and proud
Warrnambool Standard 11th Aug. 2005 -
THE south-west will get its first look at new Warrnambool Koori band The Weelarns on Saturday when it performs at the Gunditjmara Co-op. The band, whose name means “black cockatoo” in the local Gunditjmara dialect, has developed over the past three months through an indigenous music project run out of Community Connections in Warrnambool. Facilitator Andy Alberts said the VicHealth-sponsored Karweeyn Music Project was about building self-confidence in young Kooris. Alberts said Karweeyn was a Koori word for “dancing” and The Weelarns had begun writing songs with the aim of working in some indigenous words into the lyrics. The band comprises vocalists Annette Austin, Rebecca Harold, Sharon Alberts and Dominique De Bono, with backing by Brady Dalton (bass), Nathan Douglas (drums) and Justin Alberts (drums). The project, which began about three months ago, will continue until the end of the year thanks to support from the Gunditjmara Co-op. Alberts said Saturday's performance at the co-op from 1pm would be The Weelarns' first chance to play live but he hoped more gigs will come for the group at the end of the project. “They're surprising themselves and this will be a good little test for them,” he said. “I'd love to see them go out and do gigs.” Alberts said there were also plans to record later in the year.
Buskers are back
Warrnambool Standard 30th March 2006 -
A TRIUMPHANT return to its roots is the aim of this Saturday's Mortlake Buskers Festival. After strong beginnings as a street festival in the early 1990s, venue changes and bad luck with the weather saw the event dwindle in popularity. The festival returns to its first home on Dunlop Street on Saturday in a move expected to deliver more good positions for non-competing buskers. There will also be a great collection of headline acts on stage including the Victoria Police Showband, the south-west's own Koori-roots group Andy Alberts And The Walkabouts, blues guitarist Luke Watt and country act Louise Clancey Band. But all eyes will be on the Australian Busking Championship, with about $10,000 in prizes and cash up for grabs. Categories include individual male, duo/trio, group junior, fully amplified group, individual female, individual junior, street theatre and acoustic group. More than 80 buskers are expected to compete, plus there will be stalls, an alfresco wine bar, street performers and children's entertainers.
Walkabouts bound for Hamilton
Warrnambool Standard October 5, 2006 -
Country roots combo Andy Alberts and the Walkabouts will make their Hamilton debut at the George Hotel on Saturday night. It will be the group's first south west outing for some time but the band has been added to the Portland Bay Festival next month.
New from Andy Alberts
Warrnambool Standard August 2nd 2007 -
GUNDITJMARA man Andy Alberts launches his new album Life And Land at the Northcote Social Club on Saturday night before returning to Warrnambool for a local launch at the Beach House on August 10. Learn more about the man himself and his long-awaited new record in tomorrow's W magazine
Home-grown talent for folkie
By Matt Neal. Warrnambool Standard 06 March 2008 -
ANOTHER huge Folkie awaits in Port Fairy this weekend. There's more than 20 international acts plus the Aussie headliners, ranging from Weddings Parties Anything to Kasey Chambers and Fourplay String Quartet. But let's not forget about the locals. Folk-rockers The Ploughboys and Celt-punks The Go Set have south-west connections but there's four bona fide bands of locals to look out for.
Andy Alberts & The Walkabouts
A REGULAR fixture at the Folkie, this Gunditjmara singer-songwriter and his talented backing band have been kept busy since the release last year of Alberts' album Life And Land. Recorded at Yelp Studios in Warrnambool, the album encompasses country, blues and rock and has been garnering airplay and good reviews across the country.
Hog Stompin' Zydegators
THE new-look line-up for the long-running Zydegators sees the return of guitarist Mick Murphy (Hullabaloos Band, Wahyu, It's Your Thing) and the arrival of singer Kate Gane (Tukan Sam, Kate Gane&The Regulators). With a zydeco-blues sound that could have come straight out of the Louisiana swamps, HSZ have been a popular act at the Folkie in recent years.
The Chosen Few
PART folk, part acoustic rock, part pop and all groove, The Chosen Few have been regular performers at The Loft and Hotel Warrnambool, as well as impressing the 1000-strong crowd at last month's Wunta Fiesta. Featuring something of an all-star line-up of Warrnambool musicians, The Chosen Few released a self-produced EP The Seed to a warm reception recently.
Tom Richardson Project
THIS rootsy trio could be Warrnambool's answer to the John Butler Trio. Richardson released his debut EP Follow Me in late 2006 and has been touring the nation ever since. Armed with a drummer and bassist to bring his bluesy grooves to life, Richardson is performing four shows over the weekend.
Alberts gets call
Warrnambool Standard Dec. 3rd, 2009 -
ANDY Alberts will make a return to the region this weekend, reteaming with his band The Walkabouts for the first time in about a year. The indigenous singer-songwriter is now based in Gippsland, where he's been working with troubled Aboriginal men as part of a justice program. “It's about giving them a bit of hope and assisting them,” Alberts said, adding that it was fulfilling work. “But I've been missing home ... I'm getting the calling.” Andy Alberts & The Walkabouts will reunite on Sun day afternoon to perform at the Hotel Warrnambool and while its his first hit-out with the band since moving to Gippsland at the start of the year, Alberts hasn't been quiet. “I've missed it but it was good to take a break and have a real job for a change,” Alberts joked. “I've done a couple of shows down here. I've teamed up with another muso in Yarram and we did a NAIDOC gig at Lake Tyers. “And I've been writing a lot of acoustic stuff. I've heard a lot of nice, heartfelt stories and I've been putting pen to paper. “I'm thinking about doing another recording and it'll probably be an acoustic-type record, maybe with fiddle and mandolin.” But the prospect of getting the band back together this weekend has got Alberts excited. “You can't beat it — I can't wait, especially the way (guitarist) Lee Morgan is playing at the moment.” Morgan and Alberts will be joined by Tim Conlan (bass), Jon Emry (drums), Richard Tankard (keys) and Lyn Eales (vocals), plus there could be a couple of surprises, Alberts said. He said the reason for the gig was a bit of a Christmas catch-up and he added that he might wheel out a few new songs during the show.
Welcome back gig for Andy Alberts
Warrnambool Standard June 3rd , 2010 -
SONGWRITER Andy Alberts will celebrate his return to the south-west with his fi rst gig in six months. Alberts moved back to the region from Gippsland for family reasons but is keen to pick up where he left off musically and will put his Walkabouts back together for a gig at the Victoria Hotel in Warrnambool tomorrow night. The lineup is expected to feature Lee Morgan (guitar), Richard Tankard (keys), Jon Emry (drums), Lyn Eales (vocals) and Tim Conlan (bass). Alberts & The Walkabouts last performed in December at the Hotel Warrnambool
Look who's back in town
Warrnambool Standard Nov. 3rd, 2011 -
WARRNAMBOOL singer-songwriter Andy Alberts is back in town and preparing for his first gig in a long time. Alberts is getting his backing band The Walkabouts together again for a series of shows over the next few months, starting with an afternoon session at the Hotel Warrnambool on Sunday from 3pm. The Walkabouts will comprise Jonny Emry on drums, Richard Tankard on keyboards, Tim Conlan on bass, Lyn Eales on vocals and Lee Morgan on lead guitar. The Hotel Warrnambool gig will be followed by a performance at the Heywood Hotel on November 12 and a show in Horsham in December. Andy Alberts & The Walkabouts will also play New Year’s Day at the Warrnambool Hotel and are expected to line up at the Lake Bolac Eel Festival next March. The group released their third and most recent album back in 2007.
Musicians get behind Blake
Warrnambool Standard August 2nd, 2012 -
Young Blake Gibson will be getting a helping hand from two musical fund-raisers this weekend. The 20-month-old Warrnambool boy suffers from neuroblastoma — a form of cancer that targets children. Money will be raised tomorrow evening by a metal night at The Loft in Warrnambool and on Sunday arvo by an indigenousthemed concert at the Whalers Hotel. Organiser Chris Saunders, a longtime friend of Blake's dad Aaron, has pulled together two impressive line-ups for the night. Saunders, a former Warrnambool man, will bring his recently signed Melbourne-based metal band Moth to The Loft to join Portland-connected group Xenos, Warrnambool stalwarts POD and the sadly soon-to-be-defunct Warrnambool group Deliverance We Prey. Doors open 8pm. On Sunday afternoon, Brett Clarke, Andy Alberts & The Walkabouts and The Lee Morgan Band will perform from 2pm. Saunders said raffles would be held throughout the gigs and donation tins would be doing the rounds, with all money raised going straight to the Gibson family to help with their medical expenses. The organiser said local businesses had contributed items to be raffled as well as musical equipment to be used at the gigs.
Andy Alberts photographed for the Warrnambool Standard in 1986
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